Silver Convention
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Entertainment |
| Founded | 1970s |
| Founder | Michael Kunze, Sylvester Levay |
| Headquarters | Munich , West Germany |
| Products | Euro disco music |
Silver Convention was a 1970s German Euro disco group, initially known as Silver Bird Convention or simply Silver Bird.
History
The ensemble was established in Munich, then part of West Germany, by producers and songwriters Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay. The group's name derived from Levay’s nickname, "Silver." Kunze, who had a background as a pop lyricist and producer, joined forces with Levay, an arranger whose style was shaped by American music influences.
The project began with female session singers Ingrid, Wilma, and Monica, achieving chart success in the UK in 1975 with the single "Save Me," which reached number 30. Later recordings involved vocalists such as Gitta Walther, Lucy Neale, Betsy Allen, Roberta Kelly, and Jackie Carter. Since Silver Convention started as a studio concept, Kunze and Levay brought in professional performers Penny McLean, Ramona Wulf, and Linda G. Thompson to serve as the group’s public representatives.
They attained two significant hits in North America: "Fly, Robin, Fly," notable for its minimal lyrics, held the top spot on the US charts for three weeks toward the end of 1975. This track earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance and received a gold certification for surpassing one million copies sold. Before recording, the song was originally titled "Run, Rabbit, Run." Their next single, "Get Up and Boogie," also featuring sparse lyrics, reached number one in Canada and climbed to number two in the US and number seven in the UK during 1976.
Subsequent releases like "No No Joe" achieved only moderate recognition. After Linda G. Thompson departed from the group, she was succeeded by Rhonda Heath from New York following an open audition.
Kunze penned lyrics under the alias Stephan Prager for their initial two albums. During this timeframe, the three vocalists pursued solo endeavors with varying degrees of success: Penny McLean's "Lady Bump" and Linda G. Thompson's "Ooh What a Night" became hits; Ramona Wulf experienced moderate success with her solo work.
Silver Convention represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 1977 with their song "Telegram," finishing in eighth place. Although language rules typically applied, their English-language entry was accepted due to the timing of their selection. In 1994, Rhonda Heath made a return to Eurovision as a backing vocalist for Germany’s entry "Wir geben 'ne Party," which secured third place.
Under producer John Davis and featuring a revamped lineup including Suzie McClosky (also known as Zenda Jacks), Rhonda Heath, and Ramona Wulf, Silver Convention enjoyed renewed popularity in 1978 with the album Love in a Sleeper. From this release came the 12-inch single "Spend the Night With Me" backed by "Mission To Venus."
Levay collaborated with Giorgio Moroder while Kunze worked alongside Jim Steinman. As disco's appeal waned, the solo careers of the vocalists concluded swiftly, leading them to leave the music industry. Later on, Levay and Kunze partnered on successful Viennese musicals such as Elisabeth, Mozart!, and Rebecca.
First U.S. concert for Braniff Airways
Silver Convention’s debut performance in the United States occurred on February 23, 1977, at the North Hangar of Braniff International Airways’ Operations and Maintenance Base located at Dallas Love Field Airport in Dallas, Texas. Prior to this event, they performed on February 19 in Acapulco, Mexico at Braniff’s promotional event titled Three Evenings To Remember. This occasion launched Braniff’s Ultra Elegance Campaign and showcased new uniforms designed by American fashion designer Halston. For Braniff, Silver Convention composed the song "Ultra Ultra" specifically to promote the airline’s updated inflight service; they performed this piece both in Acapulco and Dallas. The day following their Dallas concert, they traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to appear on The Mike Douglas Show for an interview.
Cover renditions of their tracks
In 1976, American jazz flautist Herbie Mann interpreted "Fly, Robin, Fly" on his album Bird in a Silver Cage, which was co-produced and arranged by Sylvester Levay. The Australian-British string ensemble Bond included their version of the song on the 2004 release Classified. Additionally, in 2003, the German lifestyle brand Apartment20 issued a rendition featuring Ramona Wulf as the lead vocalist.
The anniversary album by The Dancing Tolmans and Johnny Brogan features a cover of "San Francisco Hustle."
The B-side track "Thank You, Mr. DJ," originally paired with "No, No, Joe," was sampled by Australian alternative rock group Regurgitator in their song "The Song Formally Known As" from the album Unit. Furthermore, American alternative rock band the Bloodhound Gang incorporated a sample from "Get Up and Boogie" as the primary riff in their 1996 track "Lift Your Head Up High (And Blow Your Brains Out)" from One Fierce Beer Coaster.
Discography
- Save Me (1975)
- Get Up and Boogie (1976)
- Madhouse (1976)
- Summernights (1977)
- Telegram (1977)
- Love in a Sleeper (1978)