Helen Love

Helen Love
Background information
Genres Punk rock, bubblegum pop
Years active 1992–present
Labels Damaged Goods (1993-1997; 2001-2002)
Ché Trading (1997-2000)
Elefant Records (2005-present)
Website www.helenlove.com
Members Helen Love
Sheena
Ricardo Autobahn
Past members Roxy
Mark
Corrine
Beth

Helen Love are an indie band from Wales whose music is a combination of punk rock, bubblegum pop and disco dance music. The band was formed in 1992 by Helen Love (vocals, guitar) with Sheena (guitar, keyboards), Roxy (bass, drum machine), and Mark (keyboards).[1] Current members are Helen, Sheena and Ricardo Autobahn.[2]

Helen Love released only singles and EPs until 2000, when their debut studio album Love and Glitter, Hot Days and Music was released. They have since released two more studio albums, It's My Club and I'll Play What I Want To (2007, Elefant) and Day-Glo Dreams (2013, Elefant), and are scheduled to release a fourth, Smash Hits, on Alcopop! Records on 20 May 2016.[3] Damaged Goods released three compilations of tracks from the band's early singles and EPs, entitled Radio Hits (1994), Radio Hits 2 (1997) and Radio Hits 3 (2002).

The band have released recordings on many labels, including Damaged Goods, Che Trading, Sympathy for the Record Industry, Wurlizter Jukebox, Invicta Hi-Fi and Elefant Records. They are currently signed to Alcopop! records.[4]

History

The band was formed in 1992 by Helen Love (vocals, guitar) with Sheena (guitar, keyboards), Roxy (bass, drum machine), and Mark (keyboards).[1] Current members are Helen, Sheena and Ricardo Autobahn.[5]

The main thematic elements in their oeuvre are Joey Ramone, summer days and bubblegum music. Love claims only to listen to the music of The Ramones.

Helen Love released the album, It's My Club and I'll Play What I Want To, in the first week of November 2007 on Elefant Records in Spain and February 2008 in the UK. Their lead singer also provided vocal tracks from "We Love You" for a 2009 cover of their song, "Better Set Your Phasers to Stun", by American synthpop band Hyperbubble. The latter song later appeared on that band's Live in London album.

In 2013 they released the album Day-Glo Dreams. They supported this with their first gig since 2001 at the Indietracks festival, and then in November played at 100 Club for Damaged Goods 25th anniversary.

Influence and notable fans

While none of their singles have reached the UK Top 40, Helen Love have developed a devoted cult following in indie circles, particularly at indie discos, with songs including "Long Live The UK Music Scene", "Shifty Disco Girl", "Does Your Heart Go Boom?", "We Love You", "Girl About Town", "Punk Boy" and "Debbie Loves Joey".

They recorded a session for John Peel in October 1997, and had three songs in his Festive Fifty.[6]

Their songs have also been covered by Ash,[1] The Queers, Katz and Tullycraft.

The band contributed a specially written song for the DVD release of Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure. Gorman, a fan of the band, had previously played Helen Love songs to his audiences before he went on stage. Another big fan is Phill Jupitus, for whom the band composed the theme song for his Breakfast Show on BBC 6 Music.

Joey Ramone

Helen Love's second single was titled "(Sheena's In Love With) Joey Ramoney", a tribute to the band's favourite singer. A play on The Ramones' song "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", the single was brought to Joey's attention by the UK branch of the Ramones fan club.[7] Joey subsequently invited the band to New York to play a gig.[7][8]

Joey introduced the band's Evening Session on Radio 1, and duetted with Helen on the album version of "Punk Boy".

Helen provided backing vocals on the Joey Ramone album Don't Worry About Me, singing on the track "Mr. Punchy".

Discography

Singles

Year Single B-side Label Cat. no. Format/Notes
1993 Formula One Racing Girls Riding Hi Damaged Goods DAMGOOD18 7" only - 500 pink, black, then 250 red (reissue)
Joey Ramoney Greatest Fan DAMGOOD27 7" only 500 green vinyl
Happiest Time of the Year Where's Me F*cking Presents (by Wat Tyler) DAMPUD33 1/3 split single; 7" greeny vinyl only
1994 Punk Boy Punk Boy 2 DAMGOOD38 7" only 500 pale blue, then black vinyl
1995 Bubblegum Let's Go DAMGOOD61 7" 500 pink, then black vinyl
Ahead of the Race Diet Coke Girl DAMGOOD80 CD + 7" 500 white, then black vinyl
Beat Him Up Super Boy Super Girl
+ Matthew Kaplan Superstar (cd only)
DAMGOOD89 CD + 7" 500 pale blue, then black vinyl
We Love You Girl about town + We Love You (2) + Punk Boy DAMGOOD95 CD + 7" white + orange vinyl
1997 Does Your Heart Go Boom So in Love with You + Yeah Yeah We're Helen Love
+ Put Yr Foot on the Fuzzbox Baby
Ché Trading CHE72 CD + 7" bubblegum pink vinyl, UK No. 71[9]
1998 Long Live the UK Music Scene Sunburst Super Kay + Great in Formula One CHE82 CD + 7", UK No. 65[9]
2000 Shifty Disco Girl King of Kung Fu + Leader of the Pack CHE89 CD + 7"
Jump Up and Down
Atomic Beat Boy
Big Pink Candyfloss Haircut CHE90 CD + 7" - double A-side
2001 Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight) Damaged Goods DAMGOOD206 One-sided 7" only. A cover of a Ramones song.
2004 Debbie Loves Joey Free download from helenlove.com
2005 Long Hot Summer Long Hot Summer 2
Helen Love on 45 (a medley of Helen Love hits)
Invicta Hi-Fi LIQ029 CD + translucent orange 7"
2006 Junk Shop Discothèque Debbie Loves Joey (Kid Karate remix)
Shut Your Mouth
Elefant Records ER-249 (vinyl)
ER-363 (cd)
CD + baby pink 7" + Download
2007 It's My Club Boots On + Jennifer Hanley ER-370 CD + Download
2009 Calm Down Dad John Peel Roadshow + Candeelips ER-267 Orange 7" + Download
2012 And The Salvation Army Band Plays And The Salvation Army Band Plays (Disco Mix) Damaged Goods DAMGOOD410 7" + Download. With Ricardo Autobahn
2013 New Boy In Town Television Generation DAMGOOD423 7" Picture Disc
Atomic A Giant Kiss + Judy Don't Dance Elefant Records ER-D028 Download
Hark The Herald Angels Sing ER-D034 Free download from elefant.com
2014 Pogo Pogo Make Up, Break Up + Red Light + Julie's Got A New 7 Inch Single ER-328 Red 7" + Download
Pogo Pogo (Ricardo Autobahn Italo Disco Remix) ER-D047 Free download from elefant.com
Where Dylan Thomas Talks To Me ER-D051 Free download from elefant.com
2015 You Can't Beat a Boy Who Loves the Ramones You Can't Beat a Boy Who Loves the Ramones (Ricardo Autobahn 80s Remix) POST/POP Records PXP035 (Cassette) Cassette + Download
The Townhall Band Alcopop! Records Download

EPs

Year Title Tracks Label Cat. no. Format/Notes
1994 Summer Pop Punk Pop EP Love; Kiss; Run; Sing; Shout; Jump!
Rollercoasting
Rockaway Beach for Me, Heartbreak Hotel For You
Summer Pop Radio
So Hot
Golden Summer
Damaged Goods DAMGOOD42 10" only 500 pink vinyl
2000 [Helen Love vs The Cuban Boys]
Does Your Heart Go Boom remixes
"Emma Peel"
"Tea Leoni"
"John Peel"
"Juliette Binoche"
Ché Trading CHE88 one-sided 12" only.
2005 The Bubblegum Killers EP Debbie Loves Joey
Saturday Night Kicks
A Boy Like You
Better Pop Your Bubblegum [cd only]
(The Continuing Adventures of) The Girl About Town
wigwambam [cd only]
Sympathy for the
Record Industry
SFTRI751 CD + bubblegum pink 7"

Albums

Year Title Tracks Label Cat. no. Format/Notes
1994 Radio Hits Formula One Racing Girls
Riding Hi
Joey Ramoney
Greatest Fan
Punk Boy 1
Punk Boy 2
Love; Kiss; Run; Sing; Shout; Jump!
Rollercoasting
Rockaway Beach for Me, Heartbreak Hotel For You
Summer Pop Radio
So Hot
Golden Summer
Damaged Goods DAMGOOD51 CD and 1000 yellow glitter vinyl
Compilation of the first three singles and the Summer Pop Punk Pop EP
1997 Radio Hits 2 Bubblegum
Let's Go
Ahead of the Race
Diet Coke Girl
Beat Him Up
Super Boy Super Girl
Matthew Kaplan Superstar
Il Fait Beau (CD only)
We Love You
Girl About Town
We Love You (2)
DAMGOOD117 CD and 1000 green glitter vinyl
Compilation of the four 1995 singles, plus one previously unreleased track
2000 Love & Glitter, Hot Days and Music Shifty Disco Girl
Jump Up and Down
Atomic Beat Boy
Who Stole The Starz
2000MPHgirl
Love and Glitter, Hot Days and Musik
Does Your Heart Go BOOOOOOOMM
HappyHardCore
BigBigKiss
MC5
Punk Boy (with Joey Ramone)
Better Set Your Phasers To Stun
Ché Trading CHE87 CD only
2001 Love & Glitter, Hot Days and Musik
(Damaged Goods reissue)
As above, plus the following bonus tracks:
Automatic Disco Club
MC5
BigBigKiss
Jump Up and Down
Damaged Goods DAMGOOD202 CD + LP
Bonus tracks taken from a 1999 New York radio session
2002 Radio Hits 3 Does Your Heart Go Boom
So In Love With You
Yeah Yeah We're Helen Love
Put Your Foot on the Fuzzbox, Baby
Long Live The UK Music Scene
Sunburst Super Kay
Great in Formula One
Shifty Disco Girl
King of Kung Fu
Leader of the Pack
Jump Up and Down
Atomic Beat Boy
Big Pink Candyfloss Haircut
Does Your Heart Go Boom (Cuban Boys "Emma Peel" Remix)
Number One Fantastic Day
DAMGOOD203 CD + LP
Compilation of the Ché singles
2007 It's My Club And I'll Play What I Want To It's My Club
Debbie loves Joey
Dance on (Solid Gold)
You Better Learn Karate
The 1910 Fruitgum Company
Transistor Radio (Radio)
Jet
First Boyfriend
Rodney's English Disco
Honolulu Superstar
Garageband
Queen Of The Discobeat
Staying IN
A New Squad Attacking Formation
Junkshop Discothèque
Saturday... NITE!!!
Elefant Records ER-1129 CD + LP
2013 Day-Glo Dreams We Are All The Lo-Fi Kids
Day-Glo Dreams
Shy Girl
My Imagination
Spin Those Records
Our Mum And Dad
Atomic
Don't Forget About This Town
J.Pop
You And Stacy
Teenage Soap Opera
ER-1180 CD + LP

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.