52nd Street was a jazz funk band formed in Manchester UK in late 1980, around the period in which both punk/new wave and jazz funk rocked the club scene. Throughout the 1980s they would enjoy success not only in the UK, but also on the Billboard charts stateside. This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Funk is an African American musical style. ... See also: Musical groups established in 1980 Record labels established in 1980 list of years in music 1980s in music. ... See also: 1991 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1991 Record labels established in 1991 // 1991 was the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... FAC 115: Factory Records Stationery (1984) Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label, started in 1978 which featured several prominent musical acts, such as Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, and (briefly) James and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. ... A&M Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Universal Music Group. ... Profile Records was a record label known as Panorama Records until Cory Robbins and Steve Plotnicki bought the label from MCA Records. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by Music Corporation of America (MCA). ... Tony Thompson (November 15, 1954 – November 12, 2003) was a session drummer with a long list of studio credits. ... Derrick OHara Johnson (born November 11, 1982 in Waco, Texas) is an American football player linebacker drafted fifteenth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Funk is an African American musical style. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ...

The original line-up consisted of Tony Henry (guitar), Derrick Johnson (bass), Desmond Isaacs (keyboards), Tony Thompson (drums) and Beverly McCloud (vocals). Within six months vocalist Rose Williams and saxophonist Eric Godden both came and departed before the line-up settled with John Dennison (keyboards) replacing Desmond Isaacs and Beverley McDonald (lead vocals) replacing Beverly McCloud. Derrick OHara Johnson (born November 11, 1982 in Waco, Texas) is an American football player linebacker drafted fifteenth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. ...

Early years

The band played gigs around the Manchester scene in many dingy and trendy venues, whilst at the same time recording demo tapes in local studios. Local funk DJ Mike Shaft became their mentor and would play 52nd Street demos on his Piccadilly Radio shows. In mid-1981 soul DJ Richard Searling and ex-Sad Café manager Derek Brandwood (both of RCA Records) put the band in Revolution Studios Manchester to record what was supposed to be their debut single. The irony of this liaison was that Searling and Brandwood were also responsible for early pre-Factory Joy Division recordings, when they were called Warsaw. Piccadilly Magic 1152 AM Piccadilly Magic 1152 (also known as Magic 1152) ‘Greatest Hits Non-Stop,’ was Manchesters first commercial radio station. ... Sad Café are a British rock band who started in the late 1970s. ... RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. ... Joy Division were an English rock band that formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. ...

Whilst recording demos for RCA, the band was also put into Strawberry Studios to record tracks for Warner Brothers A&R scout and club promotions manager, Erskine Thompson. With both major labels increasing the pressure to talk to the manager-less 52nd Street, bass player Derrick Johnson instead contacted ex-DJ Rob Gretton, co-owner of Factory Records, and Joy Division’s manager. (The connection was through Johnson's brother Donald, the drummer for Factory act A Certain Ratio.) Gretton went to see the band play at jazz venue The Band on the Wall in Manchester. Soon after, Gretton and his reluctant partner Tony Wilson agreed to take a chance and add the band to their roster. Funk/soul was not what Factory Records was about and that initially frightened Wilson, although he had previously released a single from Manchester reggae act X-o-dus. Strawberry Studios is a recording studio in Stockport, England. ... Warner Bros. ... In the music industry, Artists and Repertoire (A&R) refers to the division of a record label that is responsible for scouting and artist development. ... Rob Gretton (January 15, 1953 - May 15, 1999) was best known as the manager of the post punk bands Joy Division and New Order. ... FAC 115: Factory Records Stationery (1984) Factory Records was a Manchester-based British independent record label, started in 1978 which featured several prominent musical acts, such as Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, and (briefly) James and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. ... Donald James Don Johnson (born September 9, 1968, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) is a former professional tennis player from the United States who reached the World No. ... No U.K. act crystallized independent, punk-influenced funk more than Manchesters A Certain Ratio. ... Band on the Wall Band on the Wall is a live music venue in the Northern Quarter area of Manchester City Centre. ... Tony Wilson presents So It Goes in 1976 Anthony Howard Wilson (20 February 1950 – 10 August 2007) was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC. // Wilson was born 20 February 1950, in Salford, Greater Manchester. ...

The Factory Years

52nd Street’s first release on Factory Records in 1982 was "Look into My Eyes", backed with "Express", produced by Donald Johnson. Journalist Paul Morley, then reviewing singles for the NME, made it his single of the week, but his approval did very little to get daytime radio play or enhance sales. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Not to be confused with the Canadian music magazine Music Express The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a Popular music magazine in the United Kingdom which has been published weekly since March 1952. ...

Towards the end of 1982, 52nd Street started experimenting with electronic sounds and drum machines, after being influenced by productions from New York City’s hip hop community and Bill Laswell’s work with jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock. In the early weeks of 1983 a rough cassette demo was played to Rob Gretton in his Chorlton home by both Tony Henry and Derrick Johnson, after Gretton requested the band forward material for a new single. That track was "Cool as Ice". Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an Academy Award and multiple Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and composer from Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Hancock is one of jazz musics most important and influential pianists and composers. ...

Around that same period the band New Order, formed in 1980 from the remaining members of Joy Division after their lead singer's suicide, was also experimenting with electronic sounds. New Order's Bernard Sumner was at the forefront of 52nd Street's culture change. They were due to fly to New York to start work with producer Arthur Baker. Gretton, always quick with ideas, arranged for Donald Johnson, Sumner and 52nd Street to experiment with the latest technology synths and sequencers and complete "Cool as Ice", insisting though that the tune retain the 52nd Street vibe. New Order are an English rock group formed in 1980 from the remaining members of Joy Division—Bernard Sumner (vocals, guitars, synthesizers), Peter Hook (bass, electronic drums), and Stephen Morris (drums, synthesizers). ... Bernard Barney Sumner (born Bernard Dicken, 4 January 1956 in Broughton, Salford, Lancashire, England) was the guitarist and keyboardist with Joy Division. ... Arthur Baker (born April 22, 1955, Boston, Massachusetts[1]) is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol and the British group New Order. ...

This studio session helped create foundations that were to become the New Order techno sound. Sumner was credited under the pseudonym 'Bemusic' and Johnson under 'DoJo'.

With Gretton absent in New York with New Order, "Cool as Ice" (backed with "Twice as Nice") never officially received a release in the UK, although BBC Radio 1 DJs John Peel and Janice Long were playing the track on evening and late night shows from white label pressings that Factory Records had made available. The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... “Peel Sessions” redirects here. ...

A few bootlegs started to appear in the United States. Michael Shamberg, who headed Factory’s United States office in New York City, stepped in. Within the space of six weeks he had secured 52nd Street a major US deal with A&M Records and helped the song gain a top 20 Billboard Dance Chart position and rising. A&M flew the band to the US to promote the release, playing live club dates mainly on the east side of the country, including two nights at the famous Danceteria in New York City. A&M Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Universal Music Group. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... The Danceteria was a notable nightclub located in New York City which operated from 1982 until 1986. ...

Meanwhile in the UK, Wilson was not one to shy away from publicity and began to include the band on Factory’s more extravagant publicity materials and talk them up in interviews. They also appeared twice on his Granada Reports news programme. Granada Reports is the flagship news programme of ITV franchisee Granada, presented by Tony Morris (formerly of BBC North West) and Lucy Meacock, and transmitting to the North West of England. ...

More Success More Problems...

The success of "Cool as Ice" in 1983 led A&M US to demand a second single immediately to maintain momentum. Meanwhile in Manchester, Factory’s premier gold machine New Order were scoring worldwide breaking all kind of records with monster hits; "Blue Monday" and the Arthur Baker produced "Confusion". Many acts in this period at Factory suffered in the shadow of the New Order revolution, due to lack of label manpower. Creative decisions could not be made at short notice within the company as both principal executives Wilson and Gretton were constantly on tour with the group.

52nd Street became restless and started to implode. Major labels including A&M UK were starting to show interest, but certain band members felt loyal to the Factory organisation. On Rob's return from the New Order tour, where 52nd Street supported on some dates, a heated debate about commitment between band members and Gretton resulted in the suggestion that Wilson’s ex-wife Lindsay Reade become their full time manager. This plan was supposed to speed things up; she could make decisions on behalf of Factory Communications once this was clarified by either Rob Gretton or Tony Wilson. This very decision was soon to cause eruptions within the whole Factory Communications organisation).

The Lindsay Reade Years

Reade had returned to Factory Records in 1984, after her divorce from Tony Wilson, to run the Overseas Licensing Department. Gretton suggested that Reade needed something more challenging to do and that people tended to underestimate her abilities. He also overheard Reade tell another staff member that the only other band on the label worth spending money on was 52nd Street. "At least they made music that ordinary people would buy." Reade had not at that time met the band.

Once manager, she put together a strategy to hasten productivity. After a short non-productive period, the band regrouped and reorganised. Vocalist Beverly McDonald was removed from the band and promptly began contributing to Quando Quango's LP Pigs and Battleships. Although not the strongest of singers, she had the Factory look and ethos which Tony Wilson loved. She was "rugged cool" (not unlike Macy Gray) and had an image that wouldn’t have looked out of place had she been lead vocalist with Joy Division. Wilson wasn’t happy with the change and stated that this decision would lead to the quick demise of 52nd Street. Quando Quango was a Manchester, England based new wave dance project formed by The Haçienda DJ and Factory Records A&R man Mike Pickering, Hillegonda Rietveld and Reinier Rietveld. ... Macy Gray (born Natalie Renee McIntyre on September 6, 1967[1]) is an American Grammy Award winning R&B, soul, and neo soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis. ...

McDonald was replaced by Diane Charlemagne (later lead vocalist with Moby). Charlemagne, even in 1984, was one of the strongest female soul voices in the UK. Moby (born Richard Melville Hall, September 11, 1965), is an American songwriter, musician and singer. ...

New Order’s Stephen Morris was called in by Rob to help out on production for 52nd Street’s 3rd single "Can’t Afford". Morris also completed production on two other tracks that were suppose to appear on a later EP. Like Sumner, Morris was now a deep philosopher in electronic funk and his ideas, intercut with Tony Henry’s sequenced bass lines and Charlemagne’s potent vocal delivery, excited everyone at Factory except for Wilson, who was still grieving the loss of McDonald. Both those additional tracks "Look I’ve Heard it all Before" and "Available" were re-recorded and release on the band’s 1986 Virgin debut album titled Children of the Night. Stephen Morris on the cover of Low-Life This article is about the musician Stephen Morris. ... In Roman times, Vestal Virgins were strictly celibate or they were punished by death. ...

Rumblings

Eleven months had passed since A&M US requested a follow up single. They finally lost patience with the unprofessionalism of Factory Records. Reade, implementing what she thought was agreed company policies and procedures, mailed copies of the new single to A&M US. They rejected the track, more on a business footing than artistic, thus leaving the band free to negotiate with other interested parties. Profile Records (home to RUN DMC among others), heard "Can’t Afford" on constant rotation in New York night clubs on import and were amazed that A&M had declined to exercise the option. Reade, as Overseas Licensing Manager, negotiated with Profile Records who wanted to move fast and put the record out on the streets as bootleg recordings were already beginning to surface. Profile Records was a record label known as Panorama Records until Cory Robbins and Steve Plotnicki bought the label from MCA Records. ... A nightclub (often dance club or club, particularly in the UK) is an entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ... An assortment of bootleg recordings A bootleg recording (or simply bootleg or boot) is an audio and/or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist, or under other legal authority. ...

Earthquake

Reade’s business dealings caused eruptions not just with Wilson and Gretton, but Michael Shamberg who ran Factory US. 52nd Street was caught in the middle and the band members' allegiance to Reade were beginning to fragment. They knew her aims and objectives were sincere and her method was for their artistic benefit. In December 1984, a crucial Factory Records Management meeting was hastily arranged with all directors in which Reade was subsequently sacked and told to leave the offices immediately without the band. [1]

"Can't Afford" was an even a bigger US success than "Cool as Ice", entering the Top 15 on the Billboard Dance Chart in early 1985.

Another Factory Divorce

Loyalties within the band were being truly tested. Derrick Johnson was a die hard Factory Records man. He not only played bass for 52nd Street, but was also session guitarist alongside his brother Barry Johnson (former bass player with Sweet Sensation) in Mike Pickering’s upcoming band Quando Quango. Also, Derrick’s other brother Donald was also starting to take on a more leading role in the band A Certain Ratio since the departure of both Simon Topping and Peter Terrell. After deliberation and much soul searching, against the wishes of both Gretton and Wilson, 52nd Street followed Lindsay Reade and left Factory Records in January 1985. Derrick Johnson refused to follow and stayed with the organisation. Sweet Sensation is the name of a female dance music trio from the Bronx New York who specialized in freestyle. ... Quando Quango was a Manchester, England based new wave dance project formed by The Haçienda DJ and Factory Records A&R man Mike Pickering, Hillegonda Rietveld and Reinier Rietveld. ...