Talk Talk

Mark Hollis, Paul Webb, and Lee Harris

Talk Talk were an English synth-pop group formed in 1981 by Mark Hollis (vocals/guitar/songwriter), Paul Webb (bass), Lee Harris (drums), and Simon Brenner (keyboards).

The band achieved moderate success in the early to mid 1980s with several hit singles, including, "Today" (1982), "Talk Talk" (1982), "Such A Shame" (1984), "Its My Life" (1984) and "Life's What You Make It" (1986).

Though they were identified with the New Romantic movement and bands such as Duran Duran, Talk Talk had a progressive depth their contemporaries lacked. With the addition of unofficial fourth member Tim Friese-Greene in 1983, replacing Simon Brenner on keyboards and becoming producer for the band, each successive Talk Talk release became more sophisticated and original.

They eventually abandoned the New Romantic style completely with Spirit of Eden (1988), an album founded on improvised structures and diverse, natural instruments (violin, harmonica) instead of a synth-driven, pop song mold. The less commercial sound did not go well with their label EMI, so they moved to Verve Records to release Laughing Stock in 1991. Laughing Stock crystallized the experimental sound the band started with Spirit of Eden (which has been retroactively categorized as "post-rock" by some critics) and both are widely regarded as the group's masterpieces.

After Laughing Stock, the band broke up. Paul Webb and Lee Harris went on to form the band .O.rang. In 1998, Mark Hollis released his eponymous debut Mark Hollis. Webb also collaborated under the name of Rustin Man with Beth Gibbons and released Out of Season in 2002. In 2003 No Doubt released a cover version of "It's My Life" which became a international hit.

Discography

Original albums

  • The Party's Over (1982)
  • It's My Life (1984)
  • The Colour of Spring (1986)
  • Spirit of Eden (1988)
  • Laughing Stock (1991)
  • London 1986 (live) (1999)

Compilations

  • Natural History (1990)
  • The Very Best of Talk Talk (1997)
  • Asides Besides (1998)
  • The Collection (2000)
  • Missing Pieces (2001)
  • Essential (2003)
  • Introducing (2003)
  • Time It's Time (2003)

Remixes

  • History Revisited (1991)
  • 12X12 Original Remixes (2000)
  • Remixed (2001)

Singles

  • Mirror Man (1982)
  • Talk Talk (1982) (UK #23)
  • Today (1982) (UK #14)
  • My Foolish Friend (1983)
  • It's My Life (1984) (USA #31)
  • Such A Shame (1984) (USA #89)
  • Dum Dum Girl (1984)
  • Life's What You Make It (1986) (USA #90, UK #16)
  • Living In Another World (1986)
  • Give It Up (1986)
  • I Don't Believe In You (1986)
  • I Believe In You (1988)
  • It's My Life (1990)
  • Life's What You Make It (1990)
  • Such A Shame (1990)
  • Living In Another World (1991)
  • After The Flood (1991)
  • New Grass (1991)
  • Ascension Day (1991)

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In 2003 No Doubt released a cover version of "It's My Life" which became a international hit. Only later on, Ya Kid K was allowed to appear. Webb also collaborated under the name of Rustin Man with Beth Gibbons and released Out of Season in 2002. Originally, Bogaert used a model in order to promote the song. In 1998, Mark Hollis released his eponymous debut Mark Hollis. Bogaert later on worked together with different vocalists. Paul Webb and Lee Harris went on to form the band .O.rang. Together with Ya Kid K, he wrote the hit single Pump Up the Jam which meant the start of the Belgian hip hop scene.

After Laughing Stock, the band broke up. Technotronic is a Belgian Techno band formed by Jo Bogaert in the late eighties. Laughing Stock crystallized the experimental sound the band started with Spirit of Eden (which has been retroactively categorized as "post-rock" by some critics) and both are widely regarded as the group's masterpieces. The less commercial sound did not go well with their label EMI, so they moved to Verve Records to release Laughing Stock in 1991. They eventually abandoned the New Romantic style completely with Spirit of Eden (1988), an album founded on improvised structures and diverse, natural instruments (violin, harmonica) instead of a synth-driven, pop song mold.

With the addition of unofficial fourth member Tim Friese-Greene in 1983, replacing Simon Brenner on keyboards and becoming producer for the band, each successive Talk Talk release became more sophisticated and original. Though they were identified with the New Romantic movement and bands such as Duran Duran, Talk Talk had a progressive depth their contemporaries lacked. The band achieved moderate success in the early to mid 1980s with several hit singles, including, "Today" (1982), "Talk Talk" (1982), "Such A Shame" (1984), "Its My Life" (1984) and "Life's What You Make It" (1986). Talk Talk were an English synth-pop group formed in 1981 by Mark Hollis (vocals/guitar/songwriter), Paul Webb (bass), Lee Harris (drums), and Simon Brenner (keyboards).

Ascension Day (1991). New Grass (1991). After The Flood (1991). Living In Another World (1991).

Such A Shame (1990). Life's What You Make It (1990). It's My Life (1990). I Believe In You (1988).

I Don't Believe In You (1986). Give It Up (1986). Living In Another World (1986). Life's What You Make It (1986) (USA #90, UK #16).

Dum Dum Girl (1984). Such A Shame (1984) (USA #89). It's My Life (1984) (USA #31). My Foolish Friend (1983).

Today (1982) (UK #14). Talk Talk (1982) (UK #23). Mirror Man (1982). Remixed (2001).

12X12 Original Remixes (2000). History Revisited (1991). Time It's Time (2003). Introducing (2003).

Essential (2003). Missing Pieces (2001). The Collection (2000). Asides Besides (1998).

The Very Best of Talk Talk (1997). Natural History (1990). London 1986 (live) (1999). Laughing Stock (1991).

Spirit of Eden (1988). The Colour of Spring (1986). It's My Life (1984). The Party's Over (1982).