Total Contrast
Encyclopedia
Total Contrast was a male duo
from England
, specialising in soul
and electro music. Group members were Robin Achampong and Delroy Murray.
on the US
Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart
, including "Takes a Little Time," which hit #1 in 1985. In their homeland, the same song, reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart
. Further releases included "Hit and Run", a minor hit which reached #41 in the UK
in 1985, "The River" which peaked at #44 UK in early 1986, and "What You Gonna Do About It" peaking at #63 in the summer of 1986. The latter track was also featured on the band's 1986 self-titled album
. They recorded on London Records
.
They appeared on the Dance Aid single, released in April 1987. Another album
, Beat To Beat, was released in 1987. Two singles, "Kiss" and "Jody", despite being popular on the dance floors, failed to chart. The same happened to their 1988 cover version
of Bob Marley
's "Waiting in Vain
".
Achampong and Murray formed Tongue 'n' Cheek
.
Total Contrast found popularity with 1980s revivalists, in particular the Canadian duo Chromeo
, who included "Takes A Little Time" on their 2005 album, Chromeo Presents Un Joli Mix Pour Toi.
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
from 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...
, specialising in soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and electro music. Group members were Robin Achampong and Delroy Murray.
Career
In the mid 1980s, they scored several hitsHit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
on the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, including "Takes a Little Time," which hit #1 in 1985. In their homeland, the same song, reached number 17 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
. Further releases included "Hit and Run", a minor hit which reached #41 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1985, "The River" which peaked at #44 UK in early 1986, and "What You Gonna Do About It" peaking at #63 in the summer of 1986. The latter track was also featured on the band's 1986 self-titled album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
. They recorded on London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
.
They appeared on the Dance Aid single, released in April 1987. Another album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Beat To Beat, was released in 1987. Two singles, "Kiss" and "Jody", despite being popular on the dance floors, failed to chart. The same happened to their 1988 cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
's "Waiting in Vain
Waiting in Vain
"Waiting in Vain" is a song written by reggae musician Bob Marley and recorded by Bob Marley & The Wailers, for his 1977 album Exodus. Released as a single, it hit number twenty-seven in the UK Singles Chart.-Annie Lennox version:...
".
Achampong and Murray formed Tongue 'n' Cheek
Tongue 'n' Cheek
Tongue 'n' Cheek were a British late 1980s and early 1990s electro music band, that were primarily popular in the UK club scene between 1987 and 1991....
.
Total Contrast found popularity with 1980s revivalists, in particular the Canadian duo Chromeo
Chromeo
Chromeo is an electrofunk duo formed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 2004.-History:Chromeo is composed of P-Thugg on keyboards, synthesizers, and talk box, and Dave 1 on guitar and lead vocals...
, who included "Takes A Little Time" on their 2005 album, Chromeo Presents Un Joli Mix Pour Toi.
Singles
- "Be With You Tonight" (1983)
- "The Apple of My Eye" (1984) as (Carroll ThompsonCarroll ThompsonCarroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
featuring Total Contrast) - "Hit and Run" (1985) UK #41
- "Takes a Little Time" (1985) UK#17
- "The River" (1985) UK #44
- "What You Gonna Do About It" (1986) UK #63
- "Jody" (1987)
- "Kiss" (1987)
- "Waiting in VainWaiting in Vain"Waiting in Vain" is a song written by reggae musician Bob Marley and recorded by Bob Marley & The Wailers, for his 1977 album Exodus. Released as a single, it hit number twenty-seven in the UK Singles Chart.-Annie Lennox version:...
" (1988) - "Takes A Little Time" / "Hit And Run" (1990)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart