Coast to Coast (band)

Coast to Coast were a British band from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, that was signed to Polydor Records. They are best known for their 1981 top 5 hit in the UK with "(Do) The Hucklebuck".

Career

The band were formed in 1977 by bassist Bud Smith and guitarist Bob Debank, who recruited Alan Mills as lead vocalist, Graham Woofe on drums and, later, saxophonist Sonnie Torlot. Earl Barton replaced Woofe at a later date.[1]

The band's best-known single, a cover version of the rock and roll classic "The Hucklebuck", was recorded in 1980 and reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart the following year.[2] However, tensions surfaced between band members and Mills left before the song became successful, to be replaced by Sandy Fontaine (born Alex Giannini). Although the British Hit Singles & Albums book cites Fontaine as the singer for the single, it was actually Mills' vocal that appeared, with Fontaine's vocal dubbed onto the album version.

The follow-up release, a cover version of "Let's Jump the Broomstick", peaked at number 28 in June 1981.[3]

The group disbanded in 1982. Smith and Torlot retain the performing rights to the band name and several line-ups have since been attempted with new members for live performances, but with little commercial success. The single "(Do) The Hucklebuck" has been made available on a number of various artists compilation CDs, to date: however, follow-up hit single "Let's Jump the Broomstick" and parent album Coastin' have yet to be made available on CD.[4]

Lead singer Alan Mills died on 21 July 2016,[5][6] whilst replacement lead singer Sandy Fontaine (Alex Giannini) died on 2 October 2015.

Band members
  • Alan Mills (vocals) 1975-1980
  • Sandy Fontaine (vocals) 1980-1982
  • Sonnie Torlot (sax, vocals) 1978-1982
  • Jamie Ling (guitar, vocals) 1976-1982
  • Bud Smith (bass, vocals) 1975-late 1979 then rejoining in 1980 to late 1982
  • Earl Barton (drums) 1980-1982
  • Bob Debank (guitarist, vocals) 1975-1979 (founder member along with Bud Smith) departed from the band before signing a record contract with Polydor.

Discography

Albums
  • Coastin' (1981)

Singles and EPs
Year Title UK[7] GER[8] AUS[9] Label
1978 Coast to Coast EP - - - Yorkie
1979 "The Hucklebuck" - - - Yorkie
1980 "(Do) the Hucklebuck" 5 37 70 Polydor
1981 "Let's Jump the Broomstick" 28 - - Polydor
1981 "Coastin'" 76 - - Polydor
1981 "Baby Why Let Go" - - - Polydor
1982 "Dance On" - - - Polydor

References
  1. "The Year is 1981 - The Country Bumpkin - Andover". Amitty.co.uk. 7 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. "80s music charts: 1981 Jan-Jun". Pure80spop.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 112. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "Coast to Coast | Discography & Songs". Discogs. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. Weaver, Stephanie (22 July 2016). "Tributes paid to well-known councillor who served Rothwell and Kettering". Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph . Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. Cllr Ash Davies [@CllrAshDavies] (21 July 2016). "Saddened to hear about the passing of my colleague Cllr Alan Mills. He will be missed" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. "Coast to Coast Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  8. "Coast To Coast - (Do) The Hucklebuck - hitparade.ch". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  9. "Australian Chart Book". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
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