The Arrows
Encyclopedia
Arrows were an English American
band
based in London
, England
. The group, which formed in 1974 and disbanded in 1977, included singer/bassist Alan Merrill
, guitarist Jake Hooker
and drummer Paul Varley
. They had hit singles
in 1974 and 1975 with "Touch Too Much", "My Last Night With You
" and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll
," all produced
by Mickie Most
on RAK Records
. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was later covered by Joan Jett
.
The Arrows had two fourteen week television shows
called Arrows in 1976 and 1977 on Granada Television
, produced by Muriel Young
. They are the only band to have two weekly TV series and no records
released during the run of either series, a result of a conflict between the band and Mickie Most. Each series consisted of fourteen shows, 30 minutes in length. There were twenty eight shows broadcast in total. Their final single, "Once Upon A Time", was released two months before the first show of their first series in 1976.
The first manager of the Arrows was Peter Meaden
, who had also managed The Who
in the early 1960s. He came up with the band's name, which originates from The Who's logo, with the arrow pointing up.
English American
English Americans are citizens or residents of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England....
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The group, which formed in 1974 and disbanded in 1977, included singer/bassist Alan Merrill
Alan Merrill
Alan Merrill is an American vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. In the early 1970s Merrill was the first westerner to achieve pop star status in Japan...
, guitarist Jake Hooker
Jake Hooker (musician)
Jake Hooker Is an Israeli born Musician. He was the Guitarist for the Rock/Pop band Arrows. His family moved to the United States when he was a child, but Jake moved to England to pursue his Adult life. Now Jake currently lives in Los Angeles,CA.-Career:Jake Hooker was one of the Founders of the...
and drummer Paul Varley
Paul Varley
Paul Varley was an English musician best known as the drummer in the band Arrows.Born in Preston, he played on several top 30 hit records, including "Touch Too Much," "My Last Night With You" and "I Love Rock 'N' Roll"....
. They had hit singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1974 and 1975 with "Touch Too Much", "My Last Night With You
My Last Night With You
"My Last Night with You" was a UK top 30 chart hit record for the band Arrows in 1975.A soulful ballad, the song was written by Roger Ferris, and sung by Arrows lead vocalist Alan Merrill....
" and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll
I Love Rock 'n' Roll
"I Love Rock 'n Roll" is a rock song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of Arrows, who recorded the first released version. The song was later made famous by the hit version recorded by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1981....
," all produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Mickie Most
Mickie Most
Mickie Most was an English record producer, with a string of hit singles with acts such as The Animals, Arrows, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and the Jeff Beck Group often issued on his own RAK Records label....
on RAK Records
RAK Records
Rak Records was a British record label, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. Rak was home of artists like Herman's Hermits, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Kenny, Hot Chocolate, Smokie, Arrows, Span, Racey and Kim Wilde. Rak Records were distributed via a licensing deal with EMI, which bought the...
. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was later covered by Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
.
The Arrows had two fourteen week television shows
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
called Arrows in 1976 and 1977 on Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, produced by Muriel Young
Muriel Young
Muriel Young was a British television continuity announcer, presenter and producer.-Early life:...
. They are the only band to have two weekly TV series and no records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
released during the run of either series, a result of a conflict between the band and Mickie Most. Each series consisted of fourteen shows, 30 minutes in length. There were twenty eight shows broadcast in total. Their final single, "Once Upon A Time", was released two months before the first show of their first series in 1976.
The first manager of the Arrows was Peter Meaden
Peter Meaden
Peter Alexander Edwin Meaden was a publicist for various musicians and the first manager for The Who. He was a prominent figure in the English mod subculture of the early 1960s....
, who had also managed 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...
in the early 1960s. He came up with the band's name, which originates from The Who's logo, with the arrow pointing up.
Singles
- "Touch Too Much" (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) b/w "We Can Make It Together" (A.Merrill/J.Hooker) (1974) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#8 - "Toughen Up" (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) b/w "Diesel Locomotive Dancer" (A.Merrill/J.Hooker) (1974)
- "My Last Night With YouMy Last Night With You"My Last Night with You" was a UK top 30 chart hit record for the band Arrows in 1975.A soulful ballad, the song was written by Roger Ferris, and sung by Arrows lead vocalist Alan Merrill....
" (R.FerrisRoger FerrisRoger Ferris is a British pop music composer, who wrote a Top 30 UK chart hit single in 1975 for the band Arrows, entitled "My Last Night With You." The song was produced by Mickie Most on his RAK label....
) b/w "Movin' Next Door To You" (A.Merrill/J.Hooker) (1975) UK #25 - "Hard Hearted" (R.FerrisRoger FerrisRoger Ferris is a British pop music composer, who wrote a Top 30 UK chart hit single in 1975 for the band Arrows, entitled "My Last Night With You." The song was produced by Mickie Most on his RAK label....
) b/w "My World Is Turning On Love" (A.Merrill/J.Hooker) (1975) - "I Love Rock 'n' RollI Love Rock 'n' Roll"I Love Rock 'n Roll" is a rock song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of Arrows, who recorded the first released version. The song was later made famous by the hit version recorded by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1981....
" (A.Merrill/J.Hooker) b/w "Broken Down HeartBroken Down Heart"Broken Down Heart" was the a song with the dubious distinction of first being on the a-side, and then subsequently flipped to the b-side of a 45 rpm record by the band Arrows in 1975...
" (R.FerrisRoger FerrisRoger Ferris is a British pop music composer, who wrote a Top 30 UK chart hit single in 1975 for the band Arrows, entitled "My Last Night With You." The song was produced by Mickie Most on his RAK label....
) (1975) - "Once Upon A Time" (B.Martin/P.Coulter) b/w "Boogiest Band In Town" (B.Martin/P.CoulterPhil CoulterPhil Coulter is an artist with an international reputation as a successful songwriter, pianist, music producer, arranger and director. His success has spanned four decades and he is one of the biggest record sellers in Ireland...
) (1976)
Archival releases
- First Hit (reissue with bonus tracks) - CDCompact DiscThe Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
- (1998) - Singles Collection Plus (2001)
- Tawny Tracks (2002)
- A's B's and Rarities (2004)