Marc Tanner Band
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Albums, singles |
The Marc Tanner Band was a rock ensemble from the United States, fronted by Marc Tanner. They produced two albums released through the Elektra label and attained modest chart success with their 1979 single "Elena."
Background
Their discography comprises two albums: No Escape (1979) and Temptation (1980). In 1979, the band issued the singles "Elena" backed with "Lady in Blue" and "She's So High" paired with "Never Again." The subsequent year featured the releases "Hold Your Head Up" coupled with "Don't Say No (Surrender)" and "Hot and Cold" alongside "Temptation."
Career
The debut album No Escape was introduced to the market by Elektra in February 1979, accompanied by the single "Elena." Contributions from notable musicians included William "Smitty" Smith (formerly of Motherlode) and Vanetta Fields.
During the week ending April 7, 1979, "Elena" advanced from position #53 to #45 on the music charts. That April, with a lineup finalized two months earlier, the group delivered a 51-minute performance at the Golden Bear venue in Huntington Beach. A review in Billboard highlighted the band's powerful sonic presence but suggested a better balance between volume and instrumental definition. In May 1979, Billboard recognized "She's So High" as a recommended single. To promote No Escape, Elektra launched a marketing initiative distributing 10,000 handcuff-shaped tie clips aimed at restaurants and nightclubs, complementing traditional retail and radio promotion efforts. Concurrently, "Never Again" was also marketed as a single.
By late 1979, recording sessions for their sophomore album were underway. The album Temptation represented a move toward greater group collaboration compared to the more solo-driven approach of their first record.
Management responsibilities were handled by Lewis Kaplan, who also managed Louise Goffin, daughter of Carole King.
Later years
Marc Tanner shifted focus to production and songwriting after the band's active years. He currently holds the role of executive producer for a Broadway production and has contributed to projects resulting in over 60 million records sold globally. The song "Elena" was later featured in the 2010 compilation California Groove II, a four-disc set.
Members
- Marc Tanner – lead vocals
- Linda Stanley – vocals
- Steve Mann – flute, saxophone
- Stephen Lyle – keyboards
- Michael Stevens – lead guitar
- Irvin Kramer – guitar
- Ronny Edwards – bass guitar
- Joe Romersa – drums
Discography
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Elena" / "Lady In Blue" | Elektra E-46003 | 1979 | |
| "She's So High" / "Never Again" | Elektra E-46043 | 1979 | |
| "Never Again" / "Never Again" | Elektra AS-11419 | 1979 | 12", 33⅓ RPM promotional release |
| "Hold Your Head Up" / "Don't Say No (Surrender)" | Elektra E-46589 | 1980 | |
| "Hot And Cold" / "Temptation" | Elektra E-46614 | 1980 |
| Title | Release info | Year | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Escape | Elektra 6E-168 | 1979 | LP | |
| Temptation | Elektra 6E-240 | 1980 | LP |