The Dummies
| Company type | Musical endeavor |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Jim Lea, Frank Lea |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Products | Music singles, album |
The Dummies was a musical endeavor initiated in 1979 by Slade bassist Jim Lea along with his brother Frank Lea. From 1979 through 1981, the duo released three singles featuring both original compositions and reinterpretations of Slade tracks, which were later assembled in the 1992 release A Day in the Life of the Dummies.
History
Following Slade's return to the UK in 1976, the band experienced a downturn in popularity accompanied by reduced radio exposure. To determine whether this decline was linked to their songwriting or DJs’ unwillingness to play their music, Jim Lea decided to issue songs anonymously. In 1978, Frank Lea convinced Jim to record a demo of "When the Lights Are Out", which attracted interest from record labels but remained unreleased by them. Consequently, the brothers established Cheapskate Records and independently issued the track under the name The Dummies in December 1979.
An initial pressing of 1,000 copies was produced, and Frank actively promoted the single throughout Britain, securing regional radio airtime as well as support from BBC Radio 1 and Radio Luxembourg. Despite this, distribution challenges limited sales; even after a reissue through Pye Records in January 1980 and a subsequent German release in April, the single did not enter the charts.
Motivated by continued radio support, they proceeded to record additional material. Their follow-up single, "Didn't You Use to Use to Be You?", co-written by Jim Lea and lead vocalist Noddy Holder with backing vocals contributed by Jim’s wife Louise, was released on Cheapskate in August 1980. It achieved placement on BBC Radio 1's 'A' playlist and received recognition from Radio Luxembourg; however, distribution difficulties once again prevented chart success. Plans to release "Nobody's Fool" were abandoned after further recordings were completed.
The brothers also created new songs including Holder-Lea collaborations like "Maybe Tonite" and "The Minute I Lost Control," alongside covers of Slade tracks such as "Little Sheila," which Slade themselves later recorded for their 1985 album Rogues Gallery. "Maybe Tonite" was issued as their third single in February 1981 but failed to chart despite receiving airplay. Reflecting on the project later, Jim acknowledged that it reaffirmed his capability as a songwriter.
In May 1982, a reimagined version of Slade’s "Lemme Love into Ya," retitled "Poland," was released under Jim’s alias Greenfields of Tong. That same year saw "Didn't You Use to Use to Be You?" reissued as "One Hit Wonder" by the China Dolls on Speed Records. During the late 1980s, Frank compiled The Dummies’ recordings into what became the 1992 album A Day in the Life of the Dummies, released through Receiver Records Limited.
Members
- Jim Lea – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
- Frank Lea – drums
Discography
- Albums
- Singles
- "When the Lights Are Out" (1979)
- "Didn't You Use to Use to Be You?" (1980)
- "Maybe Tonite" (1981)