Q-Tips

The Q-Tips were the blue-eyed soul band that effectively launched the career of ‘80s balladeer <a href="spotify:artist:6rqU9HQ57NYGBnBzbrY3a4">Paul Young</a>. Better known in England for their live performances and rigorous touring schedule than for their scant few recordings, the Q-Tips' bread and butter consisted of ‘60s soul covers (especially Motown), even though they did write competent original material in the same vein. The Q-Tips grew out of the ashes of a new wave group called the Streetband, which disbanded in late 1979 and featured singer/guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:6rqU9HQ57NYGBnBzbrY3a4">Young</a>, guitarist John Gifford, and bassist Mick Pearl. This trio re-teamed in the Q-Tips, switching their focus to American soul and adding drummer Barry Watts, keyboardist Ian Kewley (formerly of <a href="spotify:artist:5bx5qAbzG9w7NszPJkMjVW">Samson</a> [not the metal band], <a href="spotify:artist:5HYH9QyNo8CvxaSOwsVnGL">Strider</a>, and Limey), and a horn section composed of trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:3hnplrkmUcDKoXDzlEqINT">Tony Hughes</a>, saxophonist Steve Farr, and saxophonist/songwriter Stewart Blandmer. The group began a relentless touring schedule across the U.K., and soon issued their debut single, a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:5TbXjzD8tYgMD5JU2g2F8q">Joe Tex</a>'s "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)." Gifford departed not long after, and was replaced by guitarist Garth Watt-Roy. Having now caught the attention of Chrysalis Records, the band followed with their first major-label single, a cover of <a href="spotify:artist:6TKOZZDd5uV5KnyC5G4MUt">Smokey Robinson & the Miracles</a>' "Tracks of My Tears." Their self-titled debut album appeared in 1980, but didn't sell all that well, and Chrysalis soon dropped them. Signing to the smaller Rewind label, the Q-Tips next issued a cover of "Love Hurts," and followed it with the 1982 concert album Live at Last. By now, <a href="spotify:artist:6rqU9HQ57NYGBnBzbrY3a4">Young</a> was drawing interest as a solo artist, and signed with CBS in 1982. That, coupled with the toll exacted by their grueling tour schedule, ensured that the Q-Tips disbanded that fall (but only after a lengthy farewell jaunt). Retaining Kewley as a songwriting partner, <a href="spotify:artist:6rqU9HQ57NYGBnBzbrY3a4">Young</a> went on to stardom in the U.K., and topped the American charts in 1985 with "Every Time You Go Away." Meanwhile, several more archival live albums appeared under the Q-Tips name, including Come Back...Live and Live in Concert. <a href="spotify:artist:6rqU9HQ57NYGBnBzbrY3a4">Young</a> briefly reunited the Q-Tips for a tour in 1993. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi