T'Pau (band)
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Album cover of Bridge of Spies by T'Pau |
T'Pau was a late-
1980s rock group who originated from the towns of
Shrewsbury and
Wellington in central
England.
They had a string of
Top 40 hits in the
UK, and several hits in the
United States and
Europe. The band took their name from a
Star Trek character and formed in
1986.
*
Carol Decker (born
10 September,
1957, in
London) —
Vocalist /
Songwriter*Dean Howard (b.
7 May,
1961 in
Greenwich, London) — Lead
Guitarist*Ronnie Rogers (b.
13 March,
1959, in Shrewsbury) — Rhythm Guitarist / Songwriter
*Tim Burgess - (b.
6 October,
1961 in
Macclesfield) —
Percussionist*Michael Chetwood (b.
26 August,
1954 in
Telford) —
Keyboardist*Paul Jackson (b.
8 August,
1961, in Telford) —
BassistT'Pau's
debut single and first
hit was the
1987 release "Heart and Soul". Initially a flop in the UK, it first became a hit in the
U.S. charts, reaching Number 4, a feat it repeated in the
UK singles chart some months later. The same year, the band had their biggest hit with the
ballad, "
China in Your Hand", which spent five weeks at
Number One in the UK chart, and also claimed the top slot in several
European countries, although oddly the
song made little impact on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100 chart.
They had a number of smaller hits which made it to at least the UK
Top 40, including the singles "Valentine", "Sex Talk" (a new recording of early flop single "Intimate Strangers"), "I Will Be With You", and "Secret Garden". Their
1987 album
Bridge Of Spies (the album was called
T'Pau in the U.S.) was a best seller and won several British record industry awards.
Nevertheless, the band failed to maintain their success and split in
1991. But Decker reformed the band with a new line-up in
1998, and T'Pau have in recent years attempted a comeback.
In May
2005, Carol Decker reached the final round of the
ITV show
Hit Me Baby One More Time, singing the T'Pau hit "China in Your Hand".
Albums*
Bridge Of Spies (1987, UK No. 1)
*
Rage (1988, UK No. 4)
*
The Promise (1991, UK No. 10)
*
Heart And Soul - The Very Best Of T'Pau (1993, UK No. 35)
*
The Greatest Hits (1997)
*
Red (1998)
*
Greatest Hits Live (2003)
*
Hits (re-issued, repackaged version of
The Greatest Hits) (2005, UK No. ?)
Singles* "Heart And Soul" (1987, US No. 4)
* "Intimate Strangers" (1987)
* "Heart And Soul" (re-issue) (1987, UK No. 4)
* "China in Your Hand" (1987, UK No. 1)
* "Bridge of Spies" (1988, U.S./
German release only)
* "Valentine" (1988, UK No. 9)
* "Sex Talk (Live)" (1988, UK No. 23)
* "I Will Be With You" (1988, UK No. 14)
* "Secret Garden" (1988, UK No. 18)
* "Road To Our Dream" (1988, UK No. 42)
* "Only The Lonely" (1989, UK No. 28)
* "Whenever You Need Me" (1991, UK No. 16)
* "Walk On Air" (1991, UK No. 62)
* "Soul Destruction" (1991)
* "Only A Heartbeat" (1991, U.S./
Japan release only)
* "Valentine" (re-issue) (1993, UK No. 53)
* "Heart And Soul '97" (1997)
* "With A Little Luck" (1998, Promo release only)
* "Giving Up The Ghost" (1999)
*
Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 085112-190-X
* Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
*
Official website*
Fan website*
All Music Guide
