The Icicle Works

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The Icicle Works was a British indie pop band from the 1980s around singer and songwriter Robert Ian McNabb .

Career

The band was named after a short story by Frederik Pohl . According to the advertising text of her German record company Virgin Records , her debut LP, released in 1984, had "influences that are reminiscent of Tom Waits , the Doors , or the Simple Minds , but have been processed with original independence."

The Icicle Works did not have any real commercial success, only the single Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) made it into the US Top 40 in 1984. In 1990, Ian McNabb released Permanent Damage, the last regular Icicle Works album, the was already more of a solo album by McNabbs, as the other original members of the band no longer played. After the band broke up, the singer and songwriter started a solo career. Musically he moved more in the direction of folk rock. The German Musikexpress named the album Truth & Beauty “Record of the Month”.

Members

  • Ian McNabb (vocals, guitar, keyboard)
  • Chris Layhe (bass)
  • Chris Sharrock (drums)
  • Dave Green (keyboard)
  • Roy Corkhill (bass)
  • Paul Burgess (drums)
  • Mark Revell (vocals)
  • Dave Baldwin (keyboard)

Discography

Chart positions
Explanation of the data
Albums
The Icicle Works
  UK 24 March 31, 1984 (6 weeks)
  US 40 04/21/1984 (18 weeks)
The Small Price of a Bicycle
  UK 55 09/28/1985 (3 weeks)
Seven Singles Deep
  UK 52 03/01/1986 (2 weeks)
If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song
  UK 28 03/21/1987 (4 weeks)
Blind
  UK 40 May 14, 1988 (3 weeks)
The Best of The Icicle Works
  UK 60 09/05/1992 (1 week)
Singles
Love is a wonderful color
  UK 15th December 24, 1983 (8 weeks)
Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) / In the Cauldron of Love
  UK 53 03/10/1984 (4 weeks)
Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) / In the Dance the Shamen Led
  US 37 04/21/1984 (12 weeks)
Understanding Jane
  UK 52 07/26/1986 (3 weeks)
Who Do You Want for Your Love?
  UK 54 04/10/1986 (4 weeks)
Evangeline
  UK 53 02/14/1987 (4 weeks)
Little Girl Lost
  UK 59 04/30/1988 (4 weeks)
Motorcycle rider
  UK 73 03/17/1990 (1 week)

Albums

  • 1984: The Icicle Works
  • 1985: Small Price of a Bicycle
  • 1985: Seven Singles Deep
  • 1985: The Icicle Works (Compilation)
  • 1987: If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song
  • 1988: Blind
  • 1990: Permanent Damage
  • 1992: The Best Of
  • 1994: BBC Live in Concert

Singles

  • 1982: Ascending ( EP - Cassette )
  • 1983: Nirvana
  • 1983: Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) / Reverie Girl
  • 1983: Love Is a Wonderful Color
  • 1984: Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) / In the Cauldron of Love (Re-Release; US B-side: In the Dance the Shamen Led )
  • 1984: Hollow Horse
  • 1985: All the Daughters (Of Her Father's House)
  • 1985: Seven Horses
  • 1985: When It All Comes Down
  • 1986: Rapids (Promo)
  • 1986: Understanding Jane
  • 1986: Who Do You Want for Your Love
  • 1986: Up Here in the North of England
  • 1987: Evangeline
  • 1987: high time
  • 1988: The Kiss Off (12 ″, CD and cassette as: The Numb EP )
  • 1988: Little Girl Lost
  • 1988: Here Comes Trouble
  • 1988: The Evening Show Sessions (November 14, 1982)
  • 1989: The Kiss Off (US single)
  • 1990: Motorcycle Rider
  • 1990: Melanie Still Hurts
  • 1990: I Still Want You
  • 1992: Understanding Jane '92

Video albums

  • 1986: Seven Horses Deep - Live (VHS)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ US placement according to MC Strong: The Great Rock Discography . 3rd ed. Edinburgh / Frankfurt am Main 1996, ISBN 0-86241-604-3 , p. 404.
  2. ↑ UK data according to David Roberts (Ed.): Guinness World Records - British Hit Singles and Albums . 19th edition. 2006, ISBN 1-904994-10-5 , p. 266. US data from Icicle Works Chartsurfer