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{{Short description|British vocal group}}
{{Short description|British vocal group}}
{{for|the band formed in the 1980s|The Stargazers (1980s group)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}


{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|name= The Stargazers
|name= The Stargazers
|image=The Stargazers.png
|origin= United Kingdom
|origin= United Kingdom
|genre= [[Traditional pop|Pop]], [[folk music|folk]]
|genre= [[w:Traditional pop|Pop]], [[w:folk music|folk]]
|years_active = 1949–c. 1960
|years_active = 1949–c. 1960
}}
}}
'''The Stargazers''' were a British [[human voice|vocal]] [[musical ensemble|group]], jointly founded in 1949 by [[Cliff Adams Singers|Cliff Adams]] and [[Ronald E.J. Milne|Ronnie Milne]].<ref name="Larkin50">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2002|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-937-0|page=418}}</ref> Other original members were Marie Benson, Fred Datchler and [[Dick James]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>   
'''The Stargazers''' were a British [[w:human voice|vocal]] [[w:musical ensemble|group]], jointly founded in 1949 by [[w:Cliff Adams Singers|Cliff Adams]] and [[w:Ronald E.J. Milne|Ronnie Milne]].<ref name="Larkin50">{{cite book|title=[[w:Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=w:Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[w:Virgin Books|]]|date=2002|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-937-0|page=418}}</ref> Other original members were Marie Benson, Fred Datchler and [[w:Dick James|Dick James]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>   
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Very shortly after the group made their first broadcasts with [[BBC Radio]] on such programs as ''[[Workers' Playtime (radio programme)|Workers' Playtime]]'' and ''[[The Goon Show]]'', Dick James decided to resume his career as a [[solo (music)|solo]] [[singing|vocalist]], left the group, and was replaced by Bob Brown. Ronnie Milne took care of the musical [[arrangement|arranging]], while Cliff Adams became their [[management|manager]], in addition to contributing scores for the group. In September 1953, Milne left the Stargazers to [[emigration|emigrate]] to Canada, and was replaced in the group by Dave Carey. The group served as [[backing vocalist]]s for [[Petula Clark]] on her first [[sound recording and reproduction|recordings]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>
Very shortly after the group made their first broadcasts with [[w:BBC Radio|BBC Radio]] on such programs as ''[[w:Workers' Playtime (radio programme)|Workers' Playtime]]'' and ''[[The Goon Show]]'', Dick James decided to resume his career as a [[w:solo (music)|solo]] [[w:singing|vocalist]], left the group, and was replaced by Bob Brown. Ronnie Milne took care of the musical [[w:arrangement|arranging]], while Cliff Adams became their [[w:management|manager]], in addition to contributing scores for the group. In September 1953, Milne left the Stargazers to [[w:emigration|emigrate]] to Canada, and was replaced in the group by Dave Carey. The group served as [[w:backing vocalist|backing vocalist]]s for [[w:Petula Clark|Petula Clark]] on her first [[w:sound recording and reproduction|recordings]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>


==Commercial success==
==Commercial success==
Recording for Decca, The Stargazers enjoyed considerable commercial success during the 1950s, including two United Kingdom number one [[hit record|hit]] [[single (music)|singles]] on their own, "[[Broken Wings (1953 song)|Broken Wings]]",<ref name="Larkin50"/> which was the first recording by a native British act to top the [[UK Singles Chart]] (all previous number one singles were by American artists),<ref name="British Hit Singles">{{cite book
Recording for Decca, The Stargazers enjoyed considerable commercial success during the 1950s, including two United Kingdom number one [[w:hit record|hit]] [[w:single (music)|singles]] on their own, "[[w:Broken Wings (1953 song)|Broken Wings]]",<ref name="Larkin50"/> which was the first recording by a native British act to top the [[w:UK Singles Chart|UK Singles Chart]] (all previous number one singles were by American artists),<ref name="British Hit Singles">{{cite book
| first= David
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| last= Roberts
Line 23: Line 23:
| location= London
| location= London
| page= 28
| page= 28
| isbn= 0-85156-156-X}}</ref> and "[[I See the Moon]]", along with a third number one hit with [[Dickie Valentine]] on "[[Finger of Suspicion|The Finger of Suspicion]]", and were much in demand for back-up work and broadcast work.<ref name="Larkin50"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
| isbn= 0-85156-156-X}}</ref> and "[[w:I See the Moon|I See the Moon]]", along with a third number one hit with [[w:Dickie Valentine|Dickie Valentine]] on "[[w:Finger of Suspicion|The Finger of Suspicion]]", and were much in demand for back-up work and broadcast work.<ref name="Larkin50"/><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>


In 1954, The Stargazers recorded "[[The Happy Wanderer]]" by F.W. Möller with Syd Dean and His Band, which reached number 12 in April of that year.<ref name="Larkin50"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Chart Log UK 1952-1962: S|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk50/CLUK5_S.HTM|access-date=2021-06-26|website=www.zobbel.de}}</ref> Other UK [[record chart|chart]] hits included "[[Close the Door (song)|Close the Door]]", which reached number 6 in September 1955, and "Twenty Tiny Fingers", which reached number 4 in November 1955.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
In 1954, The Stargazers recorded "[[w:The Happy Wanderer|The Happy Wanderer]]" by F.W. Möller with Syd Dean and His Band, which reached number 12 in April of that year.<ref name="Larkin50"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Chart Log UK 1952-1962: S|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk50/CLUK5_S.HTM|access-date=2021-06-26|website=www.zobbel.de}}</ref> Other UK [[w:record chart|chart]] hits included "[[w:Close the Door (song)|Close the Door]]", which reached number 6 in September 1955, and "Twenty Tiny Fingers", which reached number 4 in November 1955.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| last= Roberts
Line 34: Line 34:
| location= London
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 524}}</ref> They were voted "most popular vocal group" by readers of the ''[[NME|New Musical Express]]'' for five years running.
| page= 524}}</ref> They were voted "most popular vocal group" by readers of the ''[[w:NME|New Musical Express]]'' for five years running.


Stargazers' member Fred Datchler went on to form the Polkadots, who enjoyed success in their own right.<ref name="Larkin50"/> Beyond their own hit singles and [[album]]s, which included a [[cover version]] of "[[April in Paris (song)|April in Paris]]", the group recorded extensively with [[Jo Stafford]], [[Peggy Lee]] and [[Frank Sinatra]]. One of Datchler's sons is [[Clark Datchler]] of [[Johnny Hates Jazz]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>
Stargazers' member Fred Datchler went on to form the Polkadots, who enjoyed success in their own right.<ref name="Larkin50"/> Beyond their own hit singles and [w:[album|]]s, which included a [[w:cover version|cover version]] of "[[w:April in Paris (song)|April in Paris]]", the group recorded extensively with [[w:Jo Stafford|Jo Stafford]], [[w:Peggy Lee|Peggy Lee]] and [[w:Frank Sinatra|Frank Sinatra]]. One of Datchler's sons is [[w:Clark Datchler|Clark Datchler]] of [[w:Johnny Hates Jazz|Johnny Hates Jazz]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>


== Discography ==
== Discography ==


=== Albums ===
=== Albums ===
* ''Presenting the Stargazers'' ([[Decca Records|Decca]], 1954)
* ''Presenting the Stargazers'' ([[w:Decca Records|Decca]], 1954)
* ''South of the Border'' (Decca, 1959)
* ''South of the Border'' (Decca, 1959)
* ''Songs of [[Harry Lauder]]'' (with [[George Elrick]]) (London, 1960)
* ''Songs of [[w:Harry Lauder|Harry Lauder]]'' (with [[w:George Elrick|George Elrick]]) (London, 1960)
* ''The Very Best of the Stargazers'' ([[Universal Music Group|Universal/Spectrum]], 1999)
* ''The Very Best of the Stargazers'' ([[w:Universal Music Group|Universal/Spectrum]], 1999)
* ''South of the Border and a Singles Compilation 1953–58'' (Vocalion, 2003)
* ''South of the Border and a Singles Compilation 1953–58'' (Vocalion, 2003)


Line 53: Line 53:
! colspan="2" |Peak chart positions
! colspan="2" |Peak chart positions
|-
|-
!<small>[[UK Singles Chart|AUS]]</small>
!<small>[[w:UK Singles Chart|AUS]]</small>
!<small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><br /><ref>{{Cite web|title=STAR GAZERS {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11031/stargazers/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref>
!<small>[[w:UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><br /><ref>{{Cite web|title=STAR GAZERS {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/11031/stargazers/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan="8" |1950
| rowspan="8" |1950
| align="left" |"[[Music! Music! Music!|Music, Music, Music]]" <small>(with [[Petula Clark]]; Australia-only release)</small><br /><small>b/w "Blossoms on the Bough"</small>
| align="left" |"[[w:Music! Music! Music!|Music, Music, Music]]" <small>(with [[w:Petula Clark|Petula Clark]]; Australia-only release)</small><br /><small>b/w "Blossoms on the Bough"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
Line 69: Line 69:
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"Ashes of Roses" <small>(with Steve Conway)</small><br /><small>b/w "[[Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole song)|Mona Lisa]]"</small>
| align="left" |"Ashes of Roses" <small>(with Steve Conway)</small><br /><small>b/w "[[w:Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole song)|Mona Lisa]]"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
Line 77: Line 77:
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"Ferry Boat Inn" <small>(with [[Benny Lee]] and Mary)</small><br /><small>b/w "[[I Taut I Taw a Puddy-Tat|I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat]]"</small>
| align="left" |"Ferry Boat Inn" <small>(with [[w:Benny Lee|Benny Lee]] and Mary)</small><br /><small>b/w "[[w:I Taut I Taw a Puddy-Tat|I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat|]]"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"[[Red Silk Stockings and Green Perfume|Red Silken Stockings]]"<br /><small>b/w "Oh Babe"</small>
| align="left" |"[[w:Red Silk Stockings and Green Perfume|Red Silken Stockings]]"<br /><small>b/w "Oh Babe"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
Line 98: Line 98:
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"Mary Rose (Bloesem Van Seringen)" <small>(by [[Stanley Black]] and His Orchestra; vocals by [[Dick James]], the Stargazers and the [[George Mitchell (Scottish musician)|George Mitchell Choir]])</small><br /><small>b/w "Eleanor"</small>
| align="left" |"Mary Rose (Bloesem Van Seringen)" <small>(by [[w:Stanley Black|Stanley Black]] and His Orchestra; vocals by [[w:Dick James|Dick James]], the Stargazers and the [[w:George Mitchell (Scottish musician)|George Mitchell Choir]])</small><br /><small>b/w "Eleanor"</small>
|8
|8
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"[[In the Pines|Black Girl]]" <small>(with [[Josh White]])</small><br /><small>b/w "[[On Top of Old Smoky]]"</small>
| align="left" |"[[w:In the Pines|Black Girl]]" <small>(with [[w:Josh White|Josh White]])</small><br /><small>b/w "[[w:On Top of Old Smoky|On Top of Old Smoky]]"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"The King's Horses" <small>(by [[Ted Heath (bandleader)|Ted Heath and His Music]]; vocals by [[Dennis Lotis]] and the Stargazers)</small><br /><small>b/w "[[Prince of Denmark's March|Trumpet Voluntary]]"</small>
| align="left" |"The King's Horses" <small>(by [[w:Ted Heath (bandleader)|Ted Heath and His Music]]; vocals by [[w:Dennis Lotis|Dennis Lotis]] and the Stargazers)</small><br /><small>b/w "[[w:Prince of Denmark's March|Trumpet Voluntary]]"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
Line 115: Line 115:
|-
|-
| rowspan="6" |1952
| rowspan="6" |1952
| align="left" |"Rollin' Stone"<br /><small>b/w "[[Greensleeves|Gleensleeves]]"</small>
| align="left" |"Rollin' Stone"<br /><small>b/w "[[w:Greensleeves|Gleensleeves]]"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
Line 131: Line 131:
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"[[A-round the Corner (Beneath the Berry Tree)]]" <small>(with [[Harry Bidgood|Primo Scala]] and His Banjo and Accordion Band)</small><br /><small>b/w "Dance Me Loose"</small>
| align="left" |"[[A-round the Corner (Beneath the Berry Tree)]]" <small>(with [[w:Harry Bidgood|Primo Scala]] and His Banjo and Accordion Band)</small><br /><small>b/w "Dance Me Loose"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|-
| align="left" |"The Day of Jubilo"<br /><small>b/w "[[Sugar Bush (song)|Sugarbush]]"</small>
| align="left" |"The Day of Jubilo"<br /><small>b/w "[[w:Sugar Bush (song)|Sugarbush]]"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |1953
| rowspan="3" |1953
| align="left" |"[[Broken Wings (1953 song)|Broken Wings]]"<br /><small>b/w "Make It Soon"</small>
| align="left" |"[[w:Broken Wings (1953 song)|Broken Wings]]"<br /><small>b/w "Make It Soon"</small>
|—
|—
|1
|1
|-
|-
| align="left" |"[[Vaya con Dios (song)|Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You)]]"<br /><small>b/w "[[You, You, You|You You You]]"</small>
| align="left" |"[[w:Vaya con Dios (song)|Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You)]]"<br /><small>b/w "[[w:You, You, You|You You You]]"</small>
|—
|—
|—
|—

Revision as of 11:39, 3 September 2022

The Stargazers
The Stargazers.png
Background information
OriginUnited Kingdom
GenresPop, folk
Years active1949–c. 1960

The Stargazers were a British vocal group, jointly founded in 1949 by Cliff Adams and Ronnie Milne.[1] Other original members were Marie Benson, Fred Datchler and Dick James.[1]

Very shortly after the group made their first broadcasts with BBC Radio on such programs as Workers' Playtime and The Goon Show, Dick James decided to resume his career as a solo vocalist, left the group, and was replaced by Bob Brown. Ronnie Milne took care of the musical arranging, while Cliff Adams became their manager, in addition to contributing scores for the group. In September 1953, Milne left the Stargazers to emigrate to Canada, and was replaced in the group by Dave Carey. The group served as backing vocalists for Petula Clark on her first recordings.[1]

Commercial success

Recording for Decca, The Stargazers enjoyed considerable commercial success during the 1950s, including two United Kingdom number one hit singles on their own, "Broken Wings",[1] which was the first recording by a native British act to top the UK Singles Chart (all previous number one singles were by American artists),[2] and "I See the Moon", along with a third number one hit with Dickie Valentine on "The Finger of Suspicion", and were much in demand for back-up work and broadcast work.[1][3]

In 1954, The Stargazers recorded "The Happy Wanderer" by F.W. Möller with Syd Dean and His Band, which reached number 12 in April of that year.[1][4] Other UK chart hits included "Close the Door", which reached number 6 in September 1955, and "Twenty Tiny Fingers", which reached number 4 in November 1955.[3] They were voted "most popular vocal group" by readers of the New Musical Express for five years running.

Stargazers' member Fred Datchler went on to form the Polkadots, who enjoyed success in their own right.[1] Beyond their own hit singles and [w:[album|]]s, which included a cover version of "April in Paris", the group recorded extensively with Jo Stafford, Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra. One of Datchler's sons is Clark Datchler of Johnny Hates Jazz.[1]

Discography

Albums

  • Presenting the Stargazers (Decca, 1954)
  • South of the Border (Decca, 1959)
  • Songs of Harry Lauder (with George Elrick) (London, 1960)
  • The Very Best of the Stargazers (Universal/Spectrum, 1999)
  • South of the Border and a Singles Compilation 1953–58 (Vocalion, 2003)

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
AUS UK
[5]
1950 "Music, Music, Music" (with Petula Clark; Australia-only release)
b/w "Blossoms on the Bough"
"Bamboo" (by The Organ, The Dance Band and Me; vocals by the Stargazers)
b/w "The French Can Can Polka"
"Brumas Brumas Brumas" (by The Organ, The Dance Band and Me; vocals by the Stargazers)
b/w "A Load of Hay"
"Ashes of Roses" (with Steve Conway)
b/w "Mona Lisa"
"The Trouble with Love, Is Love"
b/w "Me and My Imagination"
"Ferry Boat Inn" (with Benny Lee and Mary)
b/w "I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat|"
"Red Silken Stockings"
b/w "Oh Babe"
"Silver Dollar" (with Petula Clark; Australia-only release)
b/w "Talky, Talky, Talky"
1951 "You're the Sweetest in the Land" (with Petula Clark)
b/w "You Are My True Love"
"Beloved Be Faithful" (with Petula Clark)
b/w "Fly Away Peter, Fly Away Paul"
"Mary Rose (Bloesem Van Seringen)" (by Stanley Black and His Orchestra; vocals by Dick James, the Stargazers and the George Mitchell Choir)
b/w "Eleanor"
8
"Black Girl" (with Josh White)
b/w "On Top of Old Smoky"
"The King's Horses" (by Ted Heath and His Music; vocals by Dennis Lotis and the Stargazers)
b/w "Trumpet Voluntary"
"Silver Dollar" (with Marie Benson)
b/w "Look Mamma"
1952 "Rollin' Stone"
b/w "Gleensleeves"
"I Never Was Loved By Anyone Else (Until I Was Loved By You)"
b/w "The Lie-De-Lie Song"
"Saturday Rag" (with Les Howard)
b/w "Bless Your Heart"
"It's a Long Way (From Your House to My House)"
b/w "To Think You've Chosen Me"
"A-round the Corner (Beneath the Berry Tree)" (with Primo Scala and His Banjo and Accordion Band)
b/w "Dance Me Loose"
"The Day of Jubilo"
b/w "Sugarbush"
1953 "Broken Wings"
b/w "Make It Soon"
1
"Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You)"
b/w "You You You"
"I See the Moon"
b/w "Eh Cumpari"
1
"It's Christmas All Over the World"
b/w "The Little Fir Tree"
1954 "The Happy Wanderer"
b/w "Till We Two Are One"
12
"The Man With the Banjo"
b/w "Good Wholesome Beer"
"Look at That Girl" (with Dennis Lotis; Australia-only release)
b/w "I See the Moon"

2

"I Need You Now"
b/w "365 Kisses"
"The Finger of Suspicion" (with Dickie Valentine)
b/w "Who's Afraid (Not I, Not I, Not I)"
3 1
"Rose of the Wildwood"
b/w "Came the Morning"
1955 "Somebody" (with Sonny Farrar and His Banjo Band)
b/w "(My Baby Don't Love Me) No More"
20
"Hey Mr. Banjo"
b/w "The Crazy Otto Rag"
6

10

18

"Red Roses (For My Lady Fair)" (with Roy Smith)
b/w "The Devil's in Your Eyes"
"At the Steamboat River Ball" (with Sonny Farrar and His Banjo Band)
b/w "I Love You a Mountain"
"Close the Door"
b/w "I've Got Four Big Brothers"
6
"Twenty Tiny Fingers"
b/w "An Old Beer Bottle"
4
1956 "(Love Is) The Tender Trap"
b/w "When the Swallows Say Goodbye"
"Zambesi"
b/w "When the Swallows Say Goodbye"
"Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)"
b/w "Rockin' and Rollin'"
28
"John, Jacob, Jingleheimer Smith"
b/w "She Loves to Rock"
1957 "You Won't Be Around"
b/w "Mangos"
"Honky Tonk Song"
b/w "Golly!"
"Who Is It? (It's the Milkman)"
b/w "Sorry, You'll Have to Wait"
"The Skiffling Dogs"
b/w "Out of This World"
1958 "Big Man"
b/w "Lonely for a Letter"
1959 "My Blue Heaven"
b/w "How Ja Lika"
1960 "Secret Star" (US-only release)
b/w "Three Beautiful Words"
"Three Beautiful Words"
b/w "Manhattan Spiritual"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). [[w:Virgin Books|]]. p. 418. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2001). British Hit Singles (14th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 28. ISBN 0-85156-156-X.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 524. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ "Chart Log UK 1952-1962: S". www.zobbel.de. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  5. ^ "STAR GAZERS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 11 March 2021.

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