Tarney/Spencer Band
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1975 in London, England |
| Founder | Trevor Spencer, Alan Tarney |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Fate | Disbanded |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, United States, South Africa |
Key people | Trevor Spencer, Alan Tarney |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
Number of employees | 2 (band members) (1975–1979) |
Tarney/Spencer Band was a rock group established in London in 1975 by Trevor Spencer (drums) and Alan Tarney (lead guitar, bass, vocals). Both musicians had previously been active in Australian bands such as James Taylor Move before moving to the United Kingdom. They produced three studio albums: Tarney and Spencer (1976), Three's a Crowd (1978), and Run for Your Life (1979). Their track "No Time to Lose" gained attention on US album-oriented rock radio and appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979, then again in 1981 after being re-released. By the close of 1979, the band had dissolved, with Spencer and Tarney continuing their careers as songwriters, session players, and producers.
1967–74: Early years: before formation
The initial meeting of Trevor Spencer and Alan Tarney occurred in Adelaide, where they were both members of the Hurricanes. Their subsequent collaborations included stints with Johnny Broome and The Handels (an R&B ensemble), the Vectormen, and in 1967 they joined James Taylor Move, a band known for psychedelic pop and progressive rock styles. Spencer handled drums while Tarney played organ; guitarist Kevin Peek was also part of this lineup. In 1968, Peek, Spencer, and Tarney formed the Kevin Peek Trio, a jazz outfit that relocated to the UK in 1969.
Once in London, Terry Britten joined them to create Quartet, which released two singles under Decca and recorded an album that was never issued before disbanding in 1970. In 1973, Britten, Spencer, Tarney, along with Australian-born John Farrar, performed as backing musicians for Cliff Richard at the Eurovision Song Contest 1973 with the song "Power to All Our Friends."
During their time with Quartet, Spencer and Tarney also worked as session musicians for Richard; additionally, Tarney was bassist for the Shadows from 1973 until 1977. Both artists contributed to recordings by various performers including Hank Marvin, Olivia Newton-John, Chris Squire, Bonnie Tyler, Charlie Dore, New Seekers, Peter Doyle, and the Real Thing.
1975–79: Band history
In London during 1975, Tarney/Spencer Band was formed as a rock duo featuring Spencer on drums and backing vocals alongside Tarney handling lead vocals, guitars, synthesizers, and keyboards. Their debut album, Tarney and Spencer, arrived in 1976 via Bradley's Records in the UK and was co-produced with Dave Mackay. Keyboard contributions came from future Shadows member Cliff Hall. This album was reissued on CD in 2003 including four additional tracks.
Their initial UK single "I'm Your Man Rock and Roll" (1976) did not break into the top 30 but gained visibility through a performance on BBC1's Top of the Pops. The single reached No. 71 on the US Cashbox chart. By 1978, they had signed with A&M Records targeting the American market; their single "Takin' Me Back" climbed to No. 7 on South African charts.
The follow-up album Three's a Crowd (1978), produced by David Kershenbaum and recorded in London, featured guest vocals from Stuart Calver and Tony Rivers along with members of Climax Blues Band. It peaked at No. 174 on the Billboard 200 chart while its single "It's Really You" reached No. 86 on the Hot 100. Although it received airplay on US AOR stations, it did not chart across Europe.
Their third release Run for Your Life (1979), also under Kershenbaum’s production and recorded in the United States, attained No. 181 on the Billboard 200. The lead single "No Time To Lose" made it to No. 84 on the Hot 100 chart. This album was issued with various cover art depending on regional markets.
Following a non-album single release—a cover of The Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown" produced by Bruce Welch in 1979—the band was dropped by A&M Records and subsequently parted ways. Although "Cathy's Clown" received some localized radio play, it did not enter national charts except in the Netherlands. After MTV began broadcasting in 1981, "No Time to Lose" was reissued by A&M and re-entered the Hot 100 at No. 74.
Later career
In the mid-1980s, Trevor Spencer moved back to Australia and established himself in Perth, where he partnered with Gary Taylor to launch Sh-Boom studios. Together, they worked on Hank Marvin's solo projects throughout the 1990s. Meanwhile, Alan Tarney, who had been active as a songwriter and producer since 1979, was instrumental in rejuvenating Cliff Richard's presence on the charts during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This included producing the successful single "We Don't Talk Anymore" and contributing to Richard's mid-1980s albums such as I'm No Hero, Wired for Sound, Stronger, and Always Guaranteed. Additionally, Tarney produced a-ha's first three albums: Hunting High and Low—which featured the hit "Take on Me"—as well as Scoundrel Days and Stay on These Roads.
Albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US | ||
| Tarney and Spencer | — | |
| Three's a Crowd | 174 | |
| Run for Your Life |
|
184 |
| "—" indicates albums that did not chart or were not released in that market. | ||
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart rankings | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Cash | US Hot | AUS | |||
| "I'm Your Man Rock and Roll" | 1976 | 71 | — | — | Tarney and Spencer |
| "If You Knew" | — | — | — | ||
| "I Can Hear Love" | — | — | — | ||
| "Takin' Me Back" | 1978 | — | — | — | Three's a Crowd |
| "Easier for You" | — | — | — | ||
| "It's Really You" | 89 | 86 | — | ||
| "No Time to Lose" | 1979 | 68 | 74 | 66 | Run for Your Life |
| "Cathy's Clown" | — | — | 86 | Non-album single | |
| "—" signifies singles that either failed to chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||
Production work by Alan Tarney & Trevor Spencer
- Blackie – "Making a Bad Boy Good," RAK 7" single (1979)
References
General
- Note: The archived online version offers restricted features.
Specific
External links
- [Tarney-Spencer Band profile on AllMusic]