Candy Flip

Candy Flip were an English electronic music duo from Stoke-on-Trent, who were associated with the indie dance music scene in the early 1990s (a scene more commonly known as Madchester or baggy).[1][2][3] They are best remembered for their cover version of the Beatles song "Strawberry Fields Forever", which was a No. 3 hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1990.[4]

For the film, see CandyFlip.
Candy Flip
OriginStoke-on-Trent, England
GenresElectronic, dance, Madchester
Years active1989–1992
LabelsDebut, Atlantic
Past membersDanny Spencer
Ric Peet

Origins of name and formation

Candy Flip were named after "candyflipping", the slang term for the practice of taking ecstasy and LSD at the same time. The band was formed in 1990 by Danny Spencer (vocals, keyboards) and Ric Peet (keyboards),[5] and was originally called Yin Yang.[6]

"Strawberry Fields Forever" and chart success

The duo had a top 10 UK hit single with an electronic cover of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" in 1990.[3] The track sampled the drum beat from James Brown's "Funky Drummer",[7] overdubbing a hi hat and heavy reverb. Candy Flip's track was initially a club hit on the rave scene before crossing over into the pop chart.[3] The track is now considered a "rave classic", and was reissued on vinyl in 2005 on S12 Records. The UK DJ remix service Disco Mix Club remixed the Candy Flip version, removing the beat and adding an interpolation of "Hey Jude" to the outro.

The B-side of the first 12" single contained another electronic track entitled "Can You Feel the Love".[3] A second 12" single release featured the 'Raspberry Ripple Remix' of the lead track backed by "Rhythim of Love" (sic).

In 1991, Candy Flip released their first album, Madstock...,[3] which combined rave beats with synthpop, strongly influenced by bands such as the Pet Shop Boys, New Order and the Beloved. A further two singles were released, the first being "Space" which made UK No. 98 and "This Can Be Real", which fared slightly better, reaching UK No. 60.[4] Candy Flip split up in 1992.[3]

Recent activity

Peet became a record producer and engineer, working with bands such as the Charlatans and Six by Seven.[3]

In the early 1990s, Spencer, together with his brother Kelvin Andrews, became the remix duo Sure Is Pure who provided remixes for other artists such as UK band Space and Eurythmics' Dave Stewart.[8] The duo's remixes of the Sister Sledge back catalogue, scored the 1970s disco group a couple of UK top 20 chart hits in 1993, including a number 5 position for an updated version of "We Are Family".[9][10][11] Sure Is Pure also had a label called Pharm, which scored a UK number 8 hit in 1997 with Blue Boy's "Remember Me" after it was licensed to Jive Records.[12][13]

In the late 1990s, Spencer and Andrews went on to form Sound 5, releasing the album No Illicit Dancing in 2000 on Gut Records, before the duo became Soul Mekanik. In 2006, the duo (as Soul Mekanik) produced four songs on the Robbie Williams album Rudebox and, under the name Central Midfield, co-wrote ten of the tracks on Williams' 2009 album Reality Killed the Video Star.

By 2021, Andrews was presenting a radio show Down to the Sea & Back on Brighton and Hove-based community radio station 1 BTN 101.4FM (1 Brighton FM).[14]

Discography

Albums

Singles
Year Title Chart Position Album
UK IRE BEL
(FLA)		 AUS[15] NZ US Modern Rock
1989 "Love Is Life" —————— Madstock...
1990 "Strawberry Fields Forever" 3747292011
"This Can Be Real" 60————18
"Space" 98—————
1991 "Redhills Road" 86————19

References
  1. "The 90s spawned this genuinely terrible cover version". Radio X.
  2. "Indie Moans And The Raiders Of The Pop Charts. Or, 'Don't Pop': How The Stone Roses Killed Indie And The Problem With Populism". 4 September 2018.
  3. Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 75. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 91. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. "Candy Flip | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  6. "10 of the Best Madchester Anthems". 22 October 2015.
  7. "It Was Twenty Years Ago Today AKA What Were Candy Flip Thinking? – FreakyTrigger". 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  8. "Sure is Pure | Ultimate Eurythmics". 20 February 2022.
  9. "Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  10. Sister Sledge – "We Are Family (Sure Is Pure Remix)", 1993 Atlantic Recording Corp/Warner Music/Rhino Records – A4508T
  11. Sister Sledge – "Lost In Music (Sure Is Pure Remixes)", 1993 Atlantic Recording Corp/Warner Music/Rhino Records – A4509CD
  12. "BLUE BOY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  13. "Soul Mekanik · Biography". Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  14. "Down to the Sea & Back – New Kelvin Andrews show on 1BTN – 1BTN".
  15. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 48.
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