Stereo MC's

Stereo MC's are a British hip hop/electronic dance group which formed in Clapham, London, in 1985.[1] They had a transatlantic Top 20 hit with their single "Connected". After releasing eight albums for Island Records, K7, Graffiti Recordings, and Pias, they formed the label Connected[2] with Terranova to release their own material and that of other artists within the house/techno/electronic medium.

Stereo MC's
Stereo MCs in concert, August 2006
Background information
OriginLondon, United Kingdom
GenresHip hop, electronica, alternative hip hop, house, alternative dance, hip house
Years active1985–present
Labels4th & Broadway, Gee Street Records, Island Records, Graffiti Recording, Rhino
WebsiteOfficial website
MembersThe Head
Rob Birch
Owen If
Cath Coffey
Aina Roxx

Career
Stereo MC's 2005 in Berlin

Vocalist Rob Birch and disc jockey (DJ)/producer Nick Hallam founded their Gee Street recording studio and record label with money they were given to leave their London flat[1] and, dispensing with using a backing band, travelled to early gigs on public transport.[3]

As Birch & Hallam they recorded two synth-pop singles in 1983: 'What You Say' and 'Pray For Me', both released on the A&M label.[4]

When Gee Street attracted the attention of 4th & Broadway, they recorded the debut Stereo MCs' album, 33-45-78 (1989), on a shoestring budget with DJ Cesare, drummer Owen If and backing vocalist Cath Coffey.[1] In 1990, "Elevate My Mind" by the Stereos was the first British hip hop single to reach the United States R&B record chart.[3] Having supported the Happy Mondays on a US tour, in the emerging UK alternative dance scene, it took an alliance with the Jungle Brothers to ensure chart success for Supernatural (1990).[1] Remix work for U2 and Queen Latifah followed.[3]

Their live band included singers Andrea Bedassie and Verona Davis,[1] and they were one of the few hip hop outfits to play at rock music festivals at the time.[3] 1992's mainstream breakthrough Connected, a UK Albums Chart #2, contained the hit singles "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation", and "Ground Level", and won them BRIT Awards for Best Group and Best Album.[1] Hallam and Birch then created the music-publishing firm Spirit Songs, which signed Finley Quaye.[3]

However, the follow-up to Connected did not appear for almost a decade. Further remix duties for Madonna ("Frozen") and the Jungle Brothers ("Jungle Brother") in 1998 kept the Stereo MCs' name in the limelight.[3] Madonna went on to use the "Frozen" remix on her 2001 Drowned World Tour.

In 2000, they released a Disc Jockey mix for Studio !K7's DJ-Kicks series and remixed another song for Madonna ("Music"). The following year saw the release of Deep Down & Dirty, followed by a tour including slots opening for the recently re-united Jane's Addiction.

Their sixth studio album, Double Bubble, was released in July 2008, followed by their seventh, Emperor's Nightingale, in August 2011. In December 2008, they supported Madness at the O2 Arena in London.

Stereo MC's at the Orange Music Experience Festival, Haifa, 29 June 2005

Members

Discography

EPs
  • The Stereo MCs (1990)
  1. "What Is Soul?"
  2. "On 33"
  3. "Bring It On"
  4. "Neighbourhood"
  5. "Gee Street"

This EP was written, produced and composed by the Stereo MC's and released on Island Records. The songs were a compilation of their first 3 singles, and would later appear on their first album.

  • Samples:
  1. "What Is Soul?" - Ben E. King - "What Is Soul?", David Byrne and Brian Eno - "Regiment", and Talking Heads - "Once In A Lifetime")
  2. "On 33" - (George Clinton - "Atomic Dog", and Deep Purple - "And The Address")
  3. "Gee Street" - (Rose Royce - "6 O'Clock DJ")

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums
  • Retroactive (2002)
  • Live at the BBC (2008)

Other Albums

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[8][7]		 IRE
[9]		 NED
[10]		 BEL
(FLA)
[11]		 FRA
[12]		 SWI
[13]		 GER
[14]		 AUT
[15]		 SWE
[16]		 AUS
[6]		 NZ
[17]		 US
[18]		 US Alt Rock
[19]		 US Dance
[20]
1988 "Move It" (with DJ Cesare) —————————————— Single only
"What Is Soul?" —————————————— 33-45-78
1989 "On 33" 94—————————————
"Lyrical Machine" —————————————— Single only
1990 "Elevate My Mind" 74——————————39—— Supernatural
1991 "Lost in Music" 46—20——————————1
"I'm a Believer" (Continental Europe only) ——————————————
1992 "Connected" 18—5419276—584724205— Connected
"Step It Up" 12——2950——1288713581625
1993 "Ground Level" 19—————————————
"Creation" 1925————————————
2001 "Deep Down & Dirty" 17—98——9792——————— Deep Down & Dirty
"We Belong in This World Together" 59—————————————
2002 "Running" 81—————————————
2005 "Warhead" —————————————— Paradise
"Paradise" ——————————————
"Set It Off" ——————————————
2008 "Black Gold" —————————————— Double Bubble
2011 "Boy" (featuring Jamie Cullum) —————————————— Emperor's Nightingale
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

Song appearances in other media
  • "Wake Up" appeared on the Shopping soundtrack[21] (1994), and on the compilation album of film soundtrack songs, Trackspotting (1997).[22]
  • "Human Being (Bedrock Steady)" appeared on The Flintstones OST - Music From Bedrock (1994)
  • "Sweetest Truth (Show No Fear)" appeared on the "Help" charity compilation album (1995).
  • "Flash" appeared on The Avengers: The Album - Music From & Inspired By The Motion Picture (1998).
  • "Connected" appeared on Hackers (1995 film)
gollark: Where?
gollark: - lack of TLS, while ALL is to be utterly secured- no extensibility- what if I want to send 1025 bytes
gollark: I don't like this.
gollark: Oh, never mind.
gollark: What's UDTP?

See also
  • List of number-one dance hits (United States)
  • List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References
  1. Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 935. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  2. "KOMPAKT.FM // BLOG // Read: Terranova and Stereo MC's start new label, Connected + win merch". www.kompakt.fm. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  3. Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 420. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
  4. "Birch And Hallam Discography - UK - 45cat". www.45cat.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. "Interview with Rob B of Stereo MC's". chaoscontrol.com. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  6. Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
    • Top 50 peaks: "Stereo MC's - Australian Chart". australian-charts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
    • Top 100 peaks: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 528. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. "Stereo MC's - UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  9. "Stereo MC's - Irish Chart Search". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  10. "Stereo MC's - Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  11. "Stereo MC's - Flemish Chart". ultratop.be Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  12. "Stereo MC's - French Chart". lescharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  13. "Stereo MC's - Swiss Chart". hitparade.ch Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  14. "Stereo MC's - German Chart". germancharts.de. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  15. "Stereo MC's - Austrian Chart". austriancharts.at Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  16. "Stereo MC's - Swedish Chart". swedishcharts.com Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  17. "Stereo MC's - New Zealand Chart". charts.nz. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  18. "Stereo MC's - US Hot 100". billboard.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  19. "Stereo MC's - US Alternative Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  20. "Stereo MC's - US Dance Club Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  21. "Various - Shopping". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  22. "Various - Trackspotting". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
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