Voyager (band)
Encyclopedia
Voyager were an English
pop
-rock
band
, formed initially in Newbury
, Berkshire
, as 'The Paul French Connection' by Paul French (vocals, keyboards
), Paul Hirsh (keyboards, guitar
), Chris Hook (bass guitar
), and former member of Mr Big
, John Marter (drum
s). Although they initially saw themselves as a progressive rock
group, they had to tailor their style to a more commercial mood, as evidenced by their debut single
, "Halfway Hotel". It was their only hit, reaching #33 in the UK Singles Chart
in 1979, and duly becoming the title track of their first album
.
A second album Act of Love (1980) yielded a turntable hit (heavily played on music radio
without ever entering the charts
), "Sing Out (Love Is Easy)". Part of the instrumental
section of the single was used for some time thereafter as background music
for the chart rundown on BBC Radio 1
each week.
A third album Voyager, followed in 1981 and featured Dominic Telfer on bass guitar, replacing Chris Hook. A single from this album, "Rosie", achieved some radio play but no chart success.
In 1981, they undertook two key tours, promoting the third album. The first tour was in support of the Greg Lake Band (ex Emerson, Lake & Palmer
). During December 1981 the band supported the Electric Light Orchestra on the English leg of their world "Time" tour. They played Wembley Arena and Birmingham NEC.
In the absence of further chart success, they subsequently disbanded. A compilation
, Travels in Time - The Best of the Early Years, was issued on CD
in 2004, containing digitally-remastered versions of thirteen songs from the first two albums, plus a previously unreleased track, "Time On Our Side". All three of the first albums, mastered from the vinyls, have now been released on CD
by Japanese label Air Mail Recordings.
Marter later joined Marillion
, then Alaska, and since 1994 has played on and off with the SAS Band, a loose conglomeration of musician
s and singers led by Spike Edney
, former keyboard player on stage with Queen
. He and Hook have also worked with The Purple Project, a Deep Purple
tribute band as well as the Yes
tribute act, Fragile, while Hook also plays with semi-pro outfit Bluefish. Hirsh temporarily joined Status Quo for live performances in 2000, whilst their regular keyboard player and guitarist Andy Bown
took a break for personal reasons. French went on to compose
classical
pieces premiered at the Wigmore Hall
by the ensemble Endymion, and composed production music in various styles for Chappell Music Library. It is unclear what happened to Telfer.
More recently Voyager reunited to record another album, entitled Eyecontact. However, their lack of further chart success leave them labeled as one-hit wonders.
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...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, formed initially in Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, as 'The Paul French Connection' by Paul French (vocals, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
), Paul Hirsh (keyboards, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Chris Hook (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and former member of Mr Big
Mr Big (UK Band)
Mr Big were a British pop rock band, active in the 1970s and 1990s. They were formed by Jeff Pain and best known for their 1977 Top 5 hit, "Romeo". The band was originally active from 1972–1978 and then for a second period from 1990-1998....
, John Marter (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s). Although they initially saw themselves as a progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group, they had to tailor their style to a more commercial mood, as evidenced by their debut single
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...
, "Halfway Hotel". It was their only hit, reaching #33 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 ...
in 1979, and duly becoming the title track of their first 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...
.
A second album Act of Love (1980) yielded a turntable hit (heavily played on music radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
without ever entering the charts
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....
), "Sing Out (Love Is Easy)". Part of the instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
section of the single was used for some time thereafter as background music
Background music
Although background music was by the end of the 20th century generally identified with Muzak or elevator music, there are several stages in the development of this concept.-Antecedents:...
for the chart rundown on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
each week.
A third album Voyager, followed in 1981 and featured Dominic Telfer on bass guitar, replacing Chris Hook. A single from this album, "Rosie", achieved some radio play but no chart success.
In 1981, they undertook two key tours, promoting the third album. The first tour was in support of the Greg Lake Band (ex Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
). During December 1981 the band supported the Electric Light Orchestra on the English leg of their world "Time" tour. They played Wembley Arena and Birmingham NEC.
In the absence of further chart success, they subsequently disbanded. A compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Travels in Time - The Best of the Early Years, was issued on CD
Compact Disc
The 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 ,...
in 2004, containing digitally-remastered versions of thirteen songs from the first two albums, plus a previously unreleased track, "Time On Our Side". All three of the first albums, mastered from the vinyls, have now been released on CD
Compact Disc
The 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 ,...
by Japanese label Air Mail Recordings.
Marter later joined Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
, then Alaska, and since 1994 has played on and off with the SAS Band, a loose conglomeration of musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s and singers led by Spike Edney
Spike Edney
Philip 'Spike' Edney is a British musician who, since early 1970s, has performed with a number of bands, most notably, Queen, where his participation, starting in 1984, has been so extensive that some writers have described him as the "fifth member of Queen". In the earlier phase of his career,...
, former keyboard player on stage with Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. He and Hook have also worked with The Purple Project, a Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
tribute band as well as the Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
tribute act, Fragile, while Hook also plays with semi-pro outfit Bluefish. Hirsh temporarily joined Status Quo for live performances in 2000, whilst their regular keyboard player and guitarist Andy Bown
Andy Bown
Andy Bown is an English musician, who has specialised in keyboards and bass guitar. He is a member of the rock band Status Quo.-Career:...
took a break for personal reasons. French went on to compose
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
pieces premiered at the Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
by the ensemble Endymion, and composed production music in various styles for Chappell Music Library. It is unclear what happened to Telfer.
More recently Voyager reunited to record another album, entitled Eyecontact. However, their lack of further chart success leave them labeled as one-hit wonders.
Album discography
- Halfway Hotel - (1979) - Mountain UK, ElektraElektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
US - Act of Love - (1980) - Mountain UK, RCARCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
US - Voyager - (1981) - RCA
- Travels in Time - The Best of the Early Years - (2004)
- Eyecontact - (2006) - Leadhead Records