Moodswings (band)
Encyclopedia
Moodswings is a musical duo composed of Grant Showbiz
and James F.T. Hood. Grant Showbiz was a onetime roadie and guitar tech who later produced albums by The Smiths
, Billy Bragg
, Silverfish
, and Gong
. James Hood was a former drummer for The Pretenders
, The Impossible Dreamers
, Kid Creole & the Coconuts and Jeff Beck
. After Showbiz and Hood teamed up in 1989, the duo released the album Moodfood
(Arista/BMG
, 1992), which scored a hit with the single "Spiritual High (State of Independence
) Pt. II," which featured vocals by Chrissie Hynde
(The Pretenders
) and samples
from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream
" speech. "Spiritual High II" was played during the closing credits on the soundtrack of Single White Female
, the 1992 Bridget Fonda
film and was in 2000 included on The Pretenders Greatest Hits
.
The Live at Leeds EP (Arista
) followed in 1994 (with artwork styled after the album by the Who
of the same name
), and in 1997, the group released Psychedelicatessen (Arista/BMG
), which featured vocals from Tanita Tikaram
, on the song "Oh Happy Day'. Grant Showbiz was a member of Moodswings up until the album Horizontal, which James Hood solo-produced (Varèse Sarabande
, 2002). Julee Cruise
sings vocals on two tracks from Horizontal: "Seems to Remind Me" and "Into the Blue." James Hood contributed "Storm in a Teacup" from the same album for the 2005 documentary Do You Believe? Another World is Possible.
Grant Showbiz
Grant Showbiz is a British record producer principally known for his work with The Fall, The Smiths, and Billy Bragg plus as an artist in his own right with Moodswings. He continues his work with both Billy Bragg & The Fall to this day, having worked on more albums by both The Fall & Billy Bragg...
and James F.T. Hood. Grant Showbiz was a onetime roadie and guitar tech who later produced albums by The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, Silverfish
Silverfish
Lepisma saccharina, frequently called silverfish, fishmoths, carpet sharks or paramites, are small, wingless insects in the order Thysanura...
, and Gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
. James Hood was a former drummer for The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, The Impossible Dreamers
The Impossible Dreamers
The Impossible Dreamers were a 1980s new-wave band that had a major club hit with their 12” single “Spin”, before signing for RCA Records where they were produced by Johnny Marr . The band members have gone on to work with Robert Plant, The Pretenders and The Lilac Time.The Imps started off as...
, Kid Creole & the Coconuts and Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
. After Showbiz and Hood teamed up in 1989, the duo released the album Moodfood
Moodfood
-Track listing:All tracks by J.F.T. Hood and Showbiz except were noted# "Throw off the Shackles" – 6:19# "Moodswings Overture" – 5:56# "Problem Solved" – 8:11# "Skinthieves" – 6:08# "Rainsong" – 6:29# "100% Total Success" – 3:51...
(Arista/BMG
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, 1992), which scored a hit with the single "Spiritual High (State of Independence
State of Independence
"State of Independence" is a song originally written and recorded by Jon and Vangelis for their 1981 album The Friends of Mr. Cairo.- Jon and Vangelis version :...
) Pt. II," which featured vocals by Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
(The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
) and samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream
I Have a Dream
"I Have a Dream" is a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination...
" speech. "Spiritual High II" was played during the closing credits on the soundtrack of Single White Female
Single White Female
Single White Female is a 1992 American erotic thriller based on John Lutz's novel SWF Seeks Same. The film stars Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh and is directed by Barbet Schroeder.-Plot:...
, the 1992 Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
film and was in 2000 included on The Pretenders Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (The Pretenders)
Greatest Hits is a compilation album released by rock band The Pretenders in 2000. It was only their second greatest hits in 22 years, but less successful than its predecessor, The Singles, released in 1987...
.
The Live at Leeds EP (Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
) followed in 1994 (with artwork styled after the album by the Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
of the same name
Live at Leeds
Live at Leeds is The Who's first live album, and is the only live album that was released while the group were still recording and performing regularly. Initially released in the United States on 16 May 1970, by Decca and MCA and the United Kingdom on 23 May 1970, by Track and Polydor, the album...
), and in 1997, the group released Psychedelicatessen (Arista/BMG
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
), which featured vocals from Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram
Tanita Tikaram is a British pop/folk singer-songwriter, best known for the hits "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, Ancient Heart...
, on the song "Oh Happy Day'. Grant Showbiz was a member of Moodswings up until the album Horizontal, which James Hood solo-produced (Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...
, 2002). Julee Cruise
Julee Cruise
Julee Cruise is an American singer, and actress.With a distinctive, airy voice, Cruise has recorded three albums, but is probably best known for the lead vocal on "Falling," the theme song for the cult U.S. television series Twin Peaks...
sings vocals on two tracks from Horizontal: "Seems to Remind Me" and "Into the Blue." James Hood contributed "Storm in a Teacup" from the same album for the 2005 documentary Do You Believe? Another World is Possible.
Discography
- Moodfood (1992)
- Live at Leeds (1994)
- Psychedelicatessen (1997)
- Horizontal (2002)
DVDs
- Open Space - Volume 1 (Spiritual High video) (2006)
- Pretenders Greatest Hits (Spiritual High video) (2006)
- The Velvet Lounge (Into the Blue video) (2002)