The Korgis

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The Korgis
Origin England
Genres Pop, new wave, synthpop
Years active 1978–1982
1985–1986
1990–1993
2005–present
Labels Rialto Records
Asylum
Warner Bros.
London Records
Angel Air
Associated acts Stackridge
The Welders
Website www.thekorgis.com
Members James Warren
Andy Cresswell-Davis
Past members Stuart Gordon
Phil Harrison
John Baker
Bill Birks
Roy Dodds
Maggie Stewart
Steve Buck

The Korgis are a British pop band known mainly for their hit single "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" in 1980. The band was originally composed of singer/guitarist/keyboardist Andy Davis (born Andrew Cresswell-Davis 10 August 1949) and singer/bassist James Warren (born 25 August 1951), both former members of 1970s band Stackridge, along with violinist Stuart Gordon and keyboardist Phil Harrison.

Career

The Korgis released their first single "Young 'n' Russian" in early March 1979 on the label Rialto Records, owned by their managers Nick Heath and Tim Heath. Joined by Bill Birks on drums and acoustic guitar, their next single "If I Had You," was released soon after and moved up to Number 13 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] prompting the release of an eponymous debut album, The Korgis, in July 1979.

Their next single, from their second album Dumb Waiters (1980) was "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" (1980), a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, hitting Number 5 in the UK[1] and 18 in the US. The album reached Number 40 in the UK in 1980 and was followed by the singles "If It's Alright With You Baby" and "Rovers Return". The band was alternatively marketed as a duo, a trio and a quartet around this time. The commercial breakthrough that accompanied the release of their second album and the resulting singles was not enough to keep them together, however, and after a third album, Sticky George – and with lead single "That Was My Big Mistake" released under the name 'James Warren & The Korgis' marking the fact that the group had now more or less evolved into a one man band; Davis and Warren had gone their separate ways. By the end of 1980, Warren had begun performing with musicians such as John Baker, Maggie Stewart, and Roy Dodds as the band to promote "Everybody's got to learn" and subsequent singles on European TV and promotional appearances. This line up, along with Steve Buck, was contemplating a Korgis Live show but it never materialised and Warren went solo. The single "Don't Look Back", originally a demo from the Sticky George sessions, was however remixed by Trevor Horn, at the time best known for his work with The Buggles, Dollar and Yes, and issued by London Records in the summer of 1982. A follow-up single with Horn, "Endangered Species", was planned but never materialised.

Warren would go on to issue a solo LP entitled Burning Questions in 1986. Some of the singles during this era were released as 'The Korgis' and co-produced by Andy Davis.

The band reunited in 1990 to re-record "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime". The re-formed group, consisting of James Warren, Andy Davis and John Baker, released the album This World's For Everyone in 1992, having some success in Continental Europe and Japan, before breaking up again.

1999 saw the three original Korgis albums being re-issued by Edsel Records, followed by the two disc anthology Don't Look Back – The Very Best of The Korgis in 2003, issued by Sanctuary Records/Castle Communications.

In 2005 Warren, Davis and Baker reunited again for a film shoot for DVD/compilation album Kollection and recorded the fourteen-track album Unplugged, which was released on the Angel Air record label the following year.

In 2006 the Korgis released their first single in thirteen years, "Something About The Beatles", which can be heard on Myspace.[2] This song belatedly acknowledges the influences of John Lennon in particular, which was very strong on "If I Had You" and "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" which capture the ethereal sounds of Lennon's early 1970s output. The band acknowledged John Lennon's influence in interviews at the time, shortly before his murder.

Former member Stuart Gordon, died on 28 August 2014 from lung cancer.[3]

The re-formed Stackridge usually include some Korgis songs in their live set.

While Stackridge took a break from touring in late 2014, The Korgis began a tour of the UK that began in March 2015 using exactly the same 5-piece line-up as Stackridge, and therefore included a couple of Stackridge songs in their set.

Cover versions

In September 2004 Zucchero and Vanessa Carlton entered the French charts, with their cover version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" and had some success. That same year, Beck also covered the song for the Michel Gondry film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In 2003 it was included on Erasure's cover album Other People's Songs.

Other cover versions of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" also took the song back into the UK Singles Chart over the years, most notably those by The Dream Academy (1987), Yazz (1991), Baby D (1995), Army Of Lovers (1995) and German techno duo Marc et Claude (2000). In 1997 a cappella group The King's Singers recorded the track with lead vocals by James Warren. Tracey Ullman and Rod Stewart have also covered "If I Had You." Ginger of The Wildhearts performed "If I Had You" live at the 12 Bar in 1998, which can be heard on the "Grievous Acoustic Behaviour - Live at the 12 bar" double album.

In 2005 Canadian musician turned record label executive Jaimie Vernon of Bullseye Records released his 2nd solo album "Time Enough At Last" which featured "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime."

Another version of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" has been recorded by the Dutch band, Krezip. In 2008, Dutch electro house producer Laidback Luke released a bootleg remix of "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometimes". Also in 2008, the Glasgow based band Glasvegas covered the song; it was as the b-side to their single, "Geraldine."

In 2008 the American artist Beck performed "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" live at the O2 Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park.

The Swedish artist known as 'The Field' released the album Yesterday and Today (2009), which covers the song "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime."

A version called "Need your Lovin" was created by Jungle producers NRG back in 1992 sampling the original Korgis track of which Baby D did a version.

In 2010 Sharon Corr, member of The Corrs, released a version of "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" on her solo album Dream Of You.

Members

Current members
  • James Warren - bass, vocals, guitar, keyboards (1978-1982, 1985-1986, 1990-1993, 2005-present)
  • Andy Cresswell-Davis - guitars, vocals, keyboards, drums (1978-1980, 1990-1993, 2005-present)
Former members
  • Stuart Gordon - violin (1978-1980; died 2014)
  • Phil Harrison - keyboards (1978-1980)
  • John Baker - guitar, vocals, keyboards ( 1981-1982 and 1990-1993 and 2005-2014)
  • Bill Birks - drums, acoustic guitar (1979)
  • Roy Dodds - drums (1980-1982)
  • Maggie Stewart - keyboards (1980-1982)
  • Steve Buck - flute (1981-1982)

Discography

Singles

  • "Young 'n' Russian" / "Cold Tea" (1979)
  • "If I Had You" (Single Version) / "Chinese Girl" (1979) UK No. 13
  • "Young 'n' Russian" / "Mount Everest Sings the Blues" (Re-release, 1980)
  • "I Just Can't Help It (Remix)" / "O Maxine" (1980)
  • "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" / "Dirty Postcards" (1980) UK No. 5, U.S. No. 18, Australia No. 11 France No. 1, Spain No. 1, Netherlands No. 3, Germany No. 3
  • "If It's Alright With You Baby" / "Love Ain't Too Far Away" (1980) UK No. 56
  • "Dumb Waiters" / "Perfect Hostess" (1980)
  • "Rover's Return" / "Wish You A Merry Christmas" (1980)
  • "That Was My Big Mistake" (Edit) / "Can't We Be Friends Now" (James Warren & The Korgis, 1981)
  • "All The Love In The World" (Edit) / "Intimate" (1981)
  • "Don't Say That It's Over" (Single Version) / "Drawn And Quartered" (1981)
  • "Sticky George" / "Nowhere To Run" (Single Version) (James Warren & The Korgis, 1981)
  • "Don't Look Back" /"Xenophobia" (1982)
  • "Burning Questions" / "Waiting For Godot" (1985)
  • "Burning Questions" (Extended) / "Waiting For Godot" (12", 1985)
  • "True Life Confessions" / "Possessed" (Edit) (1985)
  • "True Life Confessions" (Extended) / "I Know Something" / "Possessed (edited)" (12", 1985)
  • "They Don't Believe in Magic" / "I'll Be Here" (James Warren, 1986)
  • "It Won't Be the Same Old Place" (Single remix by David Lord) / "Climate of Treason" (James Warren, 1986)
  • "How Did You Know?" / "Can You Hear the Spirit Dying" (James Warren, 1987)
  • "True Life Confessions" ('88 Remix by Kenny Denton) / "Possessed" (edit) ('The Korgis', 1988)
  • "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" (1990 re-recording) - 4:09 / "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" (Instrumental) - 4:09 / "This World's for Everyone" (Home demo version) - 3:07 (CD, 1990)
  • "One Life" - 3:36 / "Wreckage of a Broken Heart" - 3:12 / "No Love in the World" - 3:39 (CD, 1992)
  • "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - DNA Remixes" (Slow & Moody 7") - 3:43 / (Slow & Moody 12") - 5:24 / (12" Disco Heaven Mix) - 6:47 /(Housey 7") - 3:51 (CD, 1993)
  • "Something About The Beatles" / "It All Comes Down To You" / "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" (2006)

Albums

Compilations

Videography

See also

References

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External links

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