B-Movie - The Platinum Collection (2006)

B-Movie were a futurist band from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England, active in the first half of the 1980s. They were signed to the Some Bizzare record label, and had a track "Moles" featured on the original Some Bizzare Album.

Background

BackgroundIn 1981, they signed to Phonogram imprint Deram and had their biggest UK commercial success when their single "Remembrance Day", which reached #61 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] The follow-up single, "Marilyn Dreams", failed to chart.

In 1982, they released "Nowhere Girl", which made the Top 10 in many European countries and reached #68 in the United Kingdom, but there was no follow-up and no sign of an album. The popular webcomic Nowhere Girl was named after this single.

Keyboard player Rick Holliday left in 1983 to form Six Sed Red with Soft Cell associate Cindy Ecstasy. Paul Statham switched from guitar to keyboards and was briefly replaced by Stuart McLean (Charming Snakes) for an Israel Tour. Their biggest success was having their song "Dream Baby" covered by Bananarama on their eponymous 1984 LP. The rest of the band re-surfaced in 1984 (with Adi Hardy on guitar) with the single "A Letter From Afar" produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez but this failed to chart.

Towards the end of 1985, they finally released an album with Sire Records called Forever Running containing re-recorded versions of the two hits, but both it and the single "Switch On Switch Off" were flops despite a tour to promote them.

The band broke up soon after. Frontman Steve Hovington formed a band called One in the late 1980s with Seven Webster and drummer Bob Thompson, releasing an album and two singles on Chrysalis.

Drummer Graham Boffey meanwhile joined Slaughterhouse 5 releasing two singles "Pathetic Girlfriend" and "Things She Did", and an album, Wide Open on IRS. After this venture, Boffey and Davy Lawrence formed Enormous.

Guitarist Paul Statham collaborated with ex-Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy, as part of Murphy's solo backing band 'The Hundred Men', probably making him the most successful member in the aftermath of B-Movie's demise. He co-wrote and performed on Murphy's solo albums Love Hysteria(1988) and Deep (1990). Statham has also co-written several songs, including "Nail Through My Heart", on the Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr album.

After a long hiatus, in March 2006, B-Movie performed at The Metro nightclub in London

The Platinum Collection
2006 Warner platinum Records
B-MOVIE
Steve Hovington (v), Paul Statham (g), Graham Boffey (d), Rick Holliday (k)

Track listing

1. "Letter From Afar"
2. "Forever Running"
3. "Heart Of Gold"
4. "My Ship Of Dreams"
5. "Just An Echo"
6. "Remembrance Day"
7. "Switch On Switch Off"
8. "Blind Allegiance"
9. "Arctic Summer"
10. "Nowhere Girl"
11. "Polar Opposites"
12. "Switch On Switch Off [S.O.R. Mix] [1985]"
13. "Letter From Afar [12" Long Version]"
14. "Forever Running [12" Long Version]"
15. "Letter From Afar [7" Dub] [1985]"

nWu BONUS

16. "Remembrance Day" (Nightmare In Wax Album)
17. "Nowhere Girl" (Forever Running Album)