The Flying Pickets was a British a cappella vocal group, known for a surpri… Read Full Bio ↴The Flying Pickets was a British a cappella vocal group, known for a surprise number one hit in 1983 on the U.K. singles chart with their cover of the Yazoo's track "Only You". Their version, having peaked around Christmastime, is remembered fondly by many radio stations during the season. The name 'Flying Pickets' refers to mobile strikers who travel in order to join a picket. The group of six was founded by Brian Hibbard in 1982 based off of a group of actors called the "7:84 Theatre group", a fringe theatre group who had sung a capella in their production of 'One Big Blow.

Said production was based on a previous U.K. miners' strike. "Only You", their debut single, was the British Christmas number one in 1983, spending a total of five weeks at the top, and it also did well around Europe. Ironically enough, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, fighting an acrimonious political battle with unions at the time, said that the single was one of her favorite songs. A second single, a cover of the soul classic "When You're Young and in Love" by Van McCoy, reached number seven, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics' track "Who's That Girl?", barely charted at all.

Joining Hibbard in the Flying Pickets were Rick Lloyd, Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson, and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins). They were internationally renowned for their appearances: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripes thick eyeliner, and four others showing off flamboyant suits and large hats. A group like the Pickets were very lucky to get into the charts at all, let alone a Christmas number one and a pleasing number seven afterwards.

Hibbard and Gittins tried desperately to stay in the music business, and they formed their own act called 'Brian and Stripe'. Unfortunately, their first and only single failed, and they returned to their separate acting careers. Other group members drifted into various careers.

Since the original Flying Pickets split, a new team of five ambitious men have tried to follow in the original's footsteps. Yet they have had no chart success. Still, they've toured around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, trying to at least touch the giddy heights of their predecessors.

Medley: Coral Island / Summertime
Flying Pickets Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Flying Pickets:

Blowing Away I've been romanced, dined and danced Crazy nights and wild t…
Blue Money Photographer smile take a break for a while Take a rest,…
Buffalo Soldier Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta There was a Buffalo Soldier…
Coral island/Summertime Summertime and the livin' is easy Fish are jumpin' and the…
Crazy Love She give me love, love, love, love Crazy love She give me…
Dance The Night Away Have you seen her? So fine and pretty Fooled me with…
Disco Down We're sharp as the suit's the zoot boys wear We're as…
Don't Turn Around If you wanna leave baby I won't beg you to stay And…
eternal flame Close your eyes, give me your hand, darlin' Do you feel…

Factory Early in the morning factory whistle blows Man rises from b…
Get Off My Cloud I live in an apartment on the Ninety-ninth floor of my…
Groovin Groovin', on a Sunday afternoon Really couldn't get away too…
Here There and Everywhere To lead a better life I need My love to be…
Higher and Higher Your love is lifting me higher Than I've ever been lifted…
I Feel for You Baby, baby, when I look at you I get a warm…
I Got You Babe They say we're young and we don't know We won't find…
I Heard It Through the Grapevine I bet you're wonderin' how I knew 'Bout your plans to…
Master Of War Come you masters of war You that build the big guns You…
Only The Lonely (Dum-dum-dummy doo-wah, ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah) (Oh, oh, oh…
Only You Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba…
Psycho Killer I can't seem to face up through the facts I'm tense…
Purple Rain I never meant to cause you any sorrow I never meant…
Remember This Remember this, nothing is sacred. We live right beside the…
Road To Nowhere Well we know where we're goin' But we don't know where…
Sealed With a Kiss Though we gotta say goodbye for the summer Darling, I promis…
She Drives Me Crazy I can't stop the way I feel Things you do don't…
Sign Your Name Fortunately you've got someone who Relies on you we started …
Smells Like Teen Spirit Load up on guns, bring your friends It's fun to lose…
So close There is a better way to live our lives And I…
Space Oddity Sit back and fasten your seat belts now As Flying Pickets…
Summer In The City Hot town, summer in the city Back of my neck…
Take my Breath away In my foolish lover's game On this endless ocean Finally lov…
The Happiest Place in Town Oh deliver me, there's danger here There's wind to fill this…
The Tears of a Clown Now if there's a smile upon my face it's only…
Tracks Of My Tears People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell…
Traffic Jam Damn this traffic jam how I hate to be late Hurts…
Under the bridge Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner Sometimes I…
When Doves Cry Dig if you will, the picture Of you and I engaged…
When You (la la la la la la la....) Spring in the air…
When You're Young (La la la la la la la) Spring in the air…
When Youre Young And In Love (la la la la la la la....) Spring in the air…
Who The language of love Slips from my lover's tongue Cooler tha…
Wide Boy I went to school out in the streets Kicking cans and…
Wonderful World Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't …
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' You never close your eyes anymore When I kiss your lips And …

You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling You never close your eyes anymore When I kiss your lips And…

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