HISTORY
1984
A new record
contract is finally signed with Island Records and the group is now a five
piece consisting of Andy, Billy, 'Flid', Paul and new bass player Leonardo Chignoli.
The first single
on Island Mr Solitaire is released in August and Animal Nightlife
finally break into the top 40 with appearances on BBC’s Top of the Pops and
Channel 4’s Earsay. The single becomes their biggest hit at number 25.
Preacher Preacher
is rumoured to be the next single in November but they decide against releasing
it and instead travel to Philadelphia to begin work on their debut LP.
Flid in
Philadelphia
1985
With work on their
album complete, Animal Nightlife return from Philadelphia and announce a live
date at London’s Hammersmith Palais and a new single in June. Love Is Just
The Great Pretender ’85 is a re-recorded and updated version of their debut
single. Andy reveals that they recorded a new version because lack of promotion
from Innervision was the reason why it wasn’t a hit first time round. A chart
position of 28 seems to confirm that.
The group perform
their hit on Channel 4’s Soul Train.
In August the
group follow up the success of the single with the release of their debut album
Shangri-la.
The LP contains 10
tracks recorded in London and Philadelphia with a number of producers including
Bobby Eli, Mike Forte and Donald R. Robinson. It includes the recent hit single
and a re-recorded Native Boy but not Mr Solitaire (which only appears on the
cassette version).
All tracks on the
album are written by the group except Perfect Match, which is written with McKinley
Horton (a member of Cashmere and co-songwriter of Eugene Wilde's 1984
hit 'Gotta Get You Home Tonight'). Producer Bobby Eli was one of the founding
members of the famed Philadelphia label studio band MFSB who played on records
by The Stylistics, The Spinners, The O'Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
and many more.
Reviews of the
album are positive and Shangri-la reaches number 36 in the album charts.
A major tour is
organised for September and October to promote the album.
Cancelled from
last year, Preacher Preacher is finally released as a single in
September but only makes number 67.
Production on the
single is by Stephen Street, an engineer on The Smiths’ album Meat is Murder.
He goes on to work as producer on albums by The Smiths, Morrissey solo, Blur,
The Cranberries and The Kaiser Chiefs
1986
(Record Mirror 15 March 1986)
The New Year sees the
group leave Island Records and touring in Europe. Without a record contract,
they concentrate on writing new material and playing live.
A one off gig at
London’s Ronnie Scott’s in October sees the group showcasing the new songs.
A new record deal
is signed with Ten Records and work begins on the second album.
1987
First release
on the new label is the single Boys With The Best Intentions in
September but it fails to chart.
The group is now a
four piece of Andy, Billy, Flid and Leonardo.
1988
(promo picture 1988)
A follow up single
finally appears in May, Always Your Humble Slave but again fails to
reach the top 40.
July sees the
second album Lush Life released. Recorded in New York with Lenny White producing,
it has 10 tracks including the last two singles.
Lenny White is
a producer and jazz funk drummer best known for playing in Chick Corea's group
Return to Forever and working with the likes of Miles Davis, Stan Getz and
Freddie Hubbard.
As the group
decide to call it a day, the farewell concert of Animal Nightlife is played at
London’s Town & Country Club on 28 October.
(Record Mirror 29 October 1988)
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