August 8, 201014 yr Author Sorry for the confusion as the sentence was supposed to feature three separate acts. Maybe I should have used Indecent Obsession instead of Check 1-2 as David Dickinson, the lead singer of this Australian Brother Beyond, ended up in Home & Away after his band failed to chart in the UK. Yes you are correct, Craig McLachlan was indeed the lead singer of Check 1-2, though they were credited as Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 by the time the band had their hits, as that billing built upon McLachlan’s success as Henry from Neighbours. I now seem to think that the former name of Check 1-2 was ‘The Y Frontz’ and I think this band may have featured the guy who played Des Clarke on sax. I remember that ‘Des Clarke’ was part of a band during his years on Neighbours and I think that many other cast members were involved too. Unfortunately, I do not think he was able to capitalise on his success, even as a ‘Karl Kennedy’ type of ‘student turn’, because last time his name was mentioned in a conversation at work, someone said he is now homeless. I do not know if you remember an Irish band called The Forget-Me-Nots? Well they were a band who released a jolly tune in 1991 called “Soap Singer’s Beat” [the chorus went “All those records you release, same to me to me”]. It was a pity that the song was not released a couple of years earlier when Kylie & Jason were having all their Number Ones, as I think it would have been a hit back then, especially as those were the days when the charts were also full of ‘Cut Magazine’ acts such as Texas, Deacon Blue and The Bible [if you want to imagine the sound of this record think about what would happen if Claire Grogan was the lead singer of The Frank & Walters]. By 1991, S/A/W had been superseded by the success of New Kids On The Block and even that group’s success was fading as bands like Take That came onto the scene. Even though it seemed that every soap star who featured in ‘Big Magazine’ [for example Abi Tucker and Laura Vasquez] were saying how they were about to release a record, most of these recordings would not trouble Take That in the charts as the majority of these releases were generally worse than any tunes that S/A/W may have recorded in the late stages of their career [including the ones written for Big Fun and Sonia]. Therefore if I had a choice between an album of S/A/W produced tracks and an album of singing soap stars I think I would select the former, as the S/A/W compilation would no doubt have Dead Or Alive’s “You Soin Me Round” as one of the tracks, whilst the latter would probably feature Adam Ricketts or Sid Owen. Unless you or anybody else can come up with any other good examples, I think that the only decent soap star-turned pop singer is Kylie Minogue. Even though I was a big Neighbours fan when I was younger [even watching the first episode], these days I only think of her in terms of pop music and so when she does turn up acting in a film, I generally think of her in a way similar to that of Madonna. Loz to me, kylie stopped being an 'ex neighbours star' and became a pop star around ten years ago when her resurgence came with 'spinning around'.. and id probabally agree that an album of s/a/w would be better then an album of ex soap stars... although i did quite like craig mc clachlans 'one reason why'... at the time anyway, im not fussed now. nope, never heard of the forget me nots...
August 19, 201014 yr to me, kylie stopped being an 'ex neighbours star' and became a pop star around ten years ago when her resurgence came with 'spinning around'.. I'd jump 6 years earlier and have 'Confide In Me' as her 'moment'. Her time with the DeConstruction label was proof she more than a professional puppet. But I digress... For every one great SAW track, there were ten that were not (granted I may like many of this ten, but it's beside the point!). Anyone remember 'Roadblock'? What a track! And, when the wheels on the SAW bus were falling off, they got their fingers out of their arse and put a little effort in and conceived Kylie's signiature single "Better The Devil You Know".
January 23, 201114 yr They are AMAZING!!!! if it wasn't for them I might not have been into music as much as I am now! Where would pop music now be without PWL? They were the nearest thing to Motown. Classic, adorable and more importantly FUN.
April 16, 201114 yr Kylie's signiature single "Better The Devil You Know". what a very average song - except if you're gay - then it's revered as much as Like a Prayer. :angry:
June 11, 201114 yr Always thought that the work SAW did with Donna Summer was good work. And their most sucessful work as well, internationally speaking.
June 11, 201114 yr what a very average song - except if you're gay - then it's revered as much as Like a Prayer. :angry: Average song? Most fans whether gay or straight would disagree and say its one of her signature tunes along with Can't get you out of my head and Confide me. I think "devil" was the emergence of Kylie taking more control in her career and moving away from the typical PWL mold that many SAW artists seemed to fit.
March 20, 201213 yr http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/2...g?newsfeed=true Steps and Bananarama to play gig in honour of Stock, Aitken and Waterman Source: guardian.co.uk July concert in Hyde Park will also feature SAW acts Rick Astley and Jason Donovan – but no confirmation of Kylie Minogue yet Rick Astley, Jason Donovan, Bananarama and the other acts who made the Stock, Aitken and Waterman songwriting team one of the most successful pop production outfits of all time are to join forces for a one-off gig in Hyde Park in London. Titled "Hit Factory Live", the show on 11 July is being billed as a celebration of the SAW team, consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, and of PWL records. In the 1980s and 1990s, SAW's acts enjoyed ubiquitous success, scoring more than 100 UK top 40 hits, selling 40m records and earning an estimated £60m. The Guardian once retitled the trio "Schlock, Aimless and Waterdown". Pete Waterman said: "I've been saying no for years to a Hit Factory concert but now, 25 years on, the timing feels right. It's time to celebrate the hit single and we have a tremendous lineup of our classic artists confirmed to play … it's set to be the biggest and best ever celebration of SAW and PWL!" Headlining the bill will be Steps, who recently reformed and embark on a 20-date UK arena tour next month. The band post-date the SAW era but were signed to Waterman's label PWL and mined the same sound. Other acts scheduled to perform include Pepsi & Shirlie, Sinitta, Princess, Hazell Dean, Sonia, Sybil, 2 Unlimited, Lonnie Gordon and Brother Beyond, as well as Dead or Alive – the act who gave SAW their first No 1 in March 1985 with You Spin Me Round (Like a Record). One artist not on the bill at present is Kylie Minogue, the former soap star whose recording career began with an appointment at SAW's south London HQ. But Waterman has promised further surprises and the show's promoters have mentioned "a very special duet", prompting speculation that Minogue will be reunited on stage with her ex-boyfriend Jason Donovan.
March 20, 201213 yr I am so excited about this! After failing to get Steps tickets I shall go to the ball :kink:
March 21, 201213 yr In reality, the only great records SAW made were for Bananarama, Divine and Dead or Alive. The rest of the motley crew mentioned here..... ugh. Bargain bin fodder.
March 21, 201213 yr I'm going too! It's a 9am on ticketmaster jobby! Edited March 21, 201213 yr by ScottyEm
March 22, 201213 yr Naaaa.... the thought of sitting through a Steps gig with a load of old camp gayers doing the routines makes me feel physically ill..... I can see Dead or Alive and Bananarama in provincial gay clubs across the land most weekends of the year ;)
March 22, 201213 yr Naaaa.... the thought of sitting through a Steps gig with a load of old camp gayers doing the routines makes me feel physically ill..... I can see Dead or Alive and Bananarama in provincial gay clubs across the land most weekends of the year ;) I'll be honest, I really can't stand Steps either. I'll have to ride the rough with the smooth.
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