Corduroy (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Acid jazz music, albums, live performances |
Corduroy is a London-originated English quartet specializing in acid jazz, formed around twin brothers Ben Addison (drums and vocals) and Scott Addison (keyboards and vocals), who were previously members of the Sire Records group Boys Wonder. The lineup also includes guitarist Simon Nelson-Smith and bassist Richard Searle, formerly of Doctor and the Medics. Searle had collaborated with the Addison twins in Boys Wonder before Corduroy came into existence in 1991, initially assembling for a New Year's Eve event.
Often referred to as the "fabric four," Corduroy crafted music with a cinematic soundtrack influence, frequently focusing on instrumental compositions. Their first album, Dad Man Cat, was met with acclaim for its assured and playful style within the acid jazz genre.
The band released three albums under Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz Records label, achieving radio exposure with their 1993 single "Something in My Eye." Although mainstream chart success was modest, several tracks from their High Havoc album charted on the UK Independent Chart, and their 1994 release Out of Here peaked at number 73 on the UK Albums Chart.
Corduroy sustained a strong presence in live performances, particularly at college venues, and cultivated a dedicated fanbase in Japan, where they toured beginning in 1993 and produced the live album Quattro - Live in Japan. Following their departure from Acid Jazz Records, they signed with Big Cat Records, releasing The New You! in 1997 and Clik! in 1999, the latter produced by Rob Playford. The group disbanded after Big Cat was dropped by its parent company V2 Records.
Reuniting without Richard Searle in 2007, Corduroy performed two sold-out gigs at London's Jazz Cafe. Updates on their Myspace page revealed work on an album covering Motown classics. Additionally, Ben Addison released Beatles tribute recordings under the name 'Ben from Corduroy.'
In April 2017, Corduroy headlined the Le Beat Bespoké weekend event in London, unveiling four new compositions. The following year, they announced Return of the Fabric Four, their first studio album in eighteen years, which received praise from Record Collector's Lois Wilson as both "groovy" and "thrilling."
Albums
- Dad Man Cat (1992) Acid Jazz JAZID 60
- High Havoc (1993) Acid Jazz JAZID 85
- Out of Here (1994) Acid Jazz JAZID 107
- The New You! (April 1997) Big Cat ABB 139
- Clik! (July 1999) Big Cat ABB 1008391
- Quattro - Live in Japan 1994 (2001) Castle Music
- Return of the Fabric Four (2018) Acid Jazz AJXLP439
Compilations
- Mini!: The Best of Corduroy (1998) Music Club
- London, England (2001) Castle Music
- The Fabric Four: The Best of Corduroy (2002) Felicity
- Something in My Eye: The Best of Corduroy (2004) Castle Music
- Very Yeah - The Director's Cut: Complete Compositions 1992-1996 (2013) Cherry Red
- Rare Stock : Rarities From The Corduroy Vaults (2019) Acid Jazz
- Winky Wagon: Best of the Psy-Fi Years (2019) Well Suspect Records
- Winky Wagon 2 (2021) Well Suspect Records
Singles
- Something in My Eye (1993) Acid Jazz JAZID 68
- The Frighteners (1993) Acid Jazz JAZID 80
- Motorhead (1993) Acid Jazz JAZID 95
- Mini (1994) Acid Jazz JAZID 105
- The Joker is Wild (1997) Big Cat ABB 129
- Moshi Moshi (1999) Big Cat ABB 5007353
- Thing For Love (1999) Big Cat ABB 5008836