Edison Lighthouse
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| Edison Lighthouse | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Pop, MOR |
| Years active | 1970–1977, 2001–present |
| Labels | Bell Records, RRO Entertainment |
| Website | http://www.edison-lighthouse.com/ |
| Members | see text at foot of career section |
| Past members | Tony Burrows Stuart Edwards David Taylor George Weyman Ray Dorey Paul Vigrass David Kerr-Clemenson Andy Locke Eddie Richards Wally Scott Ken Reeves Eamonn Carr Mike Prophet |
Edison Lighthouse was a UK pop group, initially a studio-only assemblage that included Tony Burrows and songwriter/record producers Tony Macaulay and Barry Mason. The band are best known for their 1970 UK chart topper and million-selling record, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)".[1][2] They are widely regarded as a one-hit wonder, with only two songs entering any chart worldwide: "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" and "It's Up to You, Petula".
Contents
Career
The 'original' Edison Lighthouse was Tony Burrows (lead vocalist), Stuart Edwards (lead guitar), David Taylor (bass guitar), George Weyman (drums), and Ray Dorey (guitar). The group's Top 40 hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)"[1] (1970) was one of four near-contemporaneous UK Singles Chart Top Ten hit singles that Burrows released under differing names. The other songs were "Gimme Dat Ding" (The Pipkins), "My Baby Loves Lovin'" (White Plains), and "United We Stand" (Brotherhood of Man).[3] Burrows was also lead vocalist on the single "Beach Baby" (1974) for another studio-only group, The First Class.
"Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" was #1 for five weeks and sold 250,000 copies in the UK.[2] It reached the top of the chart in its second week.[4] The United States release was in February 1970 and reached #5 in the Billboard Hot 100, selling a million copies there by April and earning an RIAA gold disc.[2] In Canada the song reached #3.
Burrows left after "Love Grows", and Macaulay (who owned the rights to the name Edison Lighthouse) brought in other musicians.[3] Actor and singer Paul Vigrass replaced Burrows. Other members included David Kerr-Clemenson (bass guitar), Andy Locke (vocals, guitar), Eddie Richards (drums), Wally Scott (guitar), Peter Butt (bass guitar), Brian Huggins (Lead vocals) and Ken Reeves (vocals,session). Other temps included Mike Prophet (bass). The band's song "It's Up to You, Petula" reached the UK Top 50. It's next single was "What's Happening?" coupled with "Take a Little Time", which was written by the band. They then went on to tour Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Africa. The single released for the Africa tour was "Reconsider My Belinda". The last single released was "Find Mr Zebedee". The band then called it a day after returning from a tour of Europe. Dave Kerr-Clemenson, after touring with White Plains and Andy Locke, went on to form Fast Buck, recorded an album with Jet Records, and toured the world extensively supporting ELO. Eddie Richards was the drummer in The First Class who had a hit with "Beach Baby".[1][3]
In 2001, Les Fradkin, obtaining the trademark to the name Edison Lighthouse, formed a new group for touring and recording. Les Fradkin only has the right to use the name in the USA. In the UK that right belongs to Brian Huggins and, since 1973, Huggins has been fronting the band. The current Edison Lighthouse line-up is as follows:
- Brian Huggins − lead vocals (1973)
- Peter Butt − bass guitar (1973)
- Stephane Booroff − drums
- Simon Aldridge − lead guitar
Origin of the name
Edison Lighthouse was named after the Eddystone Lighthouse off the coast of Devon.
Singles
- Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) (1970, Bell) #1 UK, #5 US
- It's Up To You, Petula (1971, Bell) #49 UK, #72 US
- What's Happening (1971, Bell)
- Find Mr. Zebedee (1972, Bell)
- Endearing Young Charms (1981, Greenstone)
LPs
- Already (1971, Bell, Sweden)
CDs
- Love Grows -- Complete Collection (1994, Sunflower, Italy)
- Best of Edison Lighthouse -- Love Grows (1999, Repertoire, Germany)
- On the Rocks (2002, Park South, US)
See also
- List of one-hit wonders on the UK Singles Chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1970s
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- List of one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of number-one singles of 1970 (Ireland)
- List of Top 25 singles for 1970 in Australia
