Candy Flip
| Company type | Music duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Founder | Danny Spencer, Ric Peet |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Stoke-on-Trent , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Electronic music, singles, album |
Candy Flip was an electronic music duo hailing from Stoke-on-Trent, England, active between 1989 and 1992. They were associated with the early 1990s indie dance movement commonly referred to as Madchester. Their most notable achievement is their electronic rendition of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever," which climbed to number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in 1990.
Name origin and band formation
The name Candy Flip derives from the slang term for combining ecstasy with LSD. The group was established in 1990 by Danny Spencer (vocals, keyboards) alongside Ric Peet (keyboards). Prior to adopting the Candy Flip moniker, they performed under the name Yin Yang.
Chart breakthrough with "Strawberry Fields Forever"
Candy Flip achieved a top 10 UK hit with their electronic cover of the Beatles' classic "Strawberry Fields Forever." This version incorporated a sample from James Brown’s "Funky Drummer," enhanced by hi-hat rhythms and pronounced reverb effects. Initially embraced within rave culture, the track eventually reached mainstream chart success. It was reissued on vinyl in 2005 featuring a Disco Mix Club remix that altered the beat and included an interpolation of "Hey Jude" during the outro.
The B-side of the original 12" single presented "Can You Feel the Love," while a separate 12" release showcased the 'Raspberry Ripple Remix' along with "Rhythim of Love."
In 1991, Candy Flip released their first album, Madstock..., which fused rave elements with synthpop styles reminiscent of acts like Pet Shop Boys, New Order, and The Beloved. They followed up with two additional singles: "Space," which reached number 98 in the UK, and "This Can Be Real," peaking at number 60. The duo parted ways in 1992.
Later developments
Following the split, Ric Peet pursued a career as a record producer and audio engineer, working with groups including the Charlatans and Six by Seven.
In the early 1990s, Danny Spencer teamed up with his brother Kelvin Andrews to form the remix duo Sure Is Pure. They crafted remixes for artists such as UK band Space and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame. Their reimagined Sister Sledge tracks secured several UK top 20 hits in 1993, highlighted by a number 5 placement for "We Are Family." Sure Is Pure also managed the Pharm label, which scored a UK number 8 hit in 1997 through Blue Boy’s "Remember Me" after licensing it to Jive Records.
By the late 1990s, Spencer and Andrews launched Sound 5, releasing No Illicit Dancing in 2000 on Gut Records before transitioning into Soul Mekanik. Under this name, they contributed four tracks to Robbie Williams’ Rudebox (2006) and co-wrote ten songs on his 2009 album Reality Killed the Video Star as Central Midfield.
As of 2021, Kelvin Andrews hosted Down to the Sea & Back, a radio program broadcast on Brighton’s community station 1 BTN 101.4FM.
Albums
- Madstock... (1990)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | BEL (FLA) |
AUS | NZ | US Modern Rock | US Dance | |||
| 1989 | "Love Is Life" | 144 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Madstock... |
| 1990 | "Strawberry Fields Forever" | 3 | 7 | 47 | 29 | 20 | 11 | 9 | |
| "This Can Be Real" | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Space" | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991 | "Redhills Road" | 86 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 10 | |
External links
- Candy Flip's rendition of "Strawberry Fields Forever" featured on Top of the Pops, 29 March 1990