Helen Love
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 | |
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| 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 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 three more studio albums, It's My Club and I'll Play What I Want To (2007, Elefant) and Day-Glo Dreams (2013, Elefant), and Smash Hits (2016, Alcopop! Records).[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.[2]
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 covers of their song, "Better Set Your Phasers to Stun", by American synthpop band Hyperbubble on their 2009 eponymous EP. 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.[5]
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 Ramoney
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.[6] Joey subsequently invited the band to New York to play a gig.[6][7]
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[8] |
| 1998 | Long Live the UK Music Scene | Sunburst Super Kay + Great in Formula One | CHE82 | CD + 7", UK No. 65[8] | |
| 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 | |||
| 2016 | A Boy From Wales Called Gareth Bale | Download | |||
| 2018 | Double Denim | Square clear 7" | |||
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 (unlisted on LP sleeve/label) 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 | |
| 2016 | Smash Hits | First Girl from Wales in New York We've Got a Formula One Team Thank You Polystyrene You Can't Beat a Boy Who Loves the Ramones Mario Kart Grand Prix Spaceboy! Yes We're in a Band That We Love Long Live the Modern Lovers Sheila B. Devotion No Hit Radio Belle of St. Mark Stardust and Glitter |
Alcopop! | CD + LP |
References
- Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 785
- "Helen Love: We Are All The Lo-Fi Kids". Elefant Records. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- "Helen Love announce new Smash Hits LP and free download". digitalspy.com. 16 March 2016.
- Malt, Andy (14 December 2015). "Helen Love signs to Alcopop! Records | Complete Music Update". www.completemusicupdate.com.
- "Helen Love", Keeping It Peel, BBC, retrieved 2011-01-21
- Bevan, Nathan (11 May 2014). "The Ramones' love for a cult Swansea band". Wales Online.
- Rees, Mark (3 November 2014). "Helen Love talks about her tribute to Dylan Thomas, Where Dylan Thomas Talks To Me". South Wales Evening Post.
- "Helen Love", Chart Stats, retrieved 2011-01-21
External links
- Helen Love discography at Discogs
- Helen Love biography from BBC Wales
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