The Flying Machine (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Tony Newman, Sam Kempe, Stuart Colman, Steve Jones, Paul Wilkinson |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
The Flying Machine was a British bubblegum pop ensemble primarily recognized for their 1969 American Top 5 single, "Smile a Little Smile for Me".
Career
Originating from the UK group Pinkerton's Assorted Colours, which scored a UK hit with "Mirror Mirror" in 1966, The Flying Machine formed by 1969 when vocalist/guitarist Tony Newman, original lead singer Sam Kempe, and bassist Stuart Colman—all formerly of Pinkerton's—joined forces with lead guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Wilkinson. Newman assumed the role of lead singer, and the band adopted the name The Flying Machine.
Their 1969 release "Smile a Little Smile for Me" climbed to No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart under Kapp Records' Congress imprint and reached No. 6 on the Adult Contemporary listing. That same year, their debut album, titled The Flying Machine, was issued by Janus Records. By December of that year, the single had surpassed one million copies sold, earning a gold certification from the R.I.A.A. Composed by Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens, the track was also released in the UK through Pye Records, though it failed to achieve chart success there.
In 1970, their subsequent single—a rendition of "Baby Make It Soon" originally performed by Marmalade—also entered the U.S. Hot 100. The band’s final release was "The Devil Has Possession Of Your Mind," after which they disbanded.
Following his time with the group, bassist Colman developed a notable career as a session player, record producer, and BBC Radio DJ.
Band members
- Tony Newman (born 1947, Rugby, Warwickshire, England) – lead vocals, guitar
- Steve Jones (born 1946, Coventry) – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Sam Kempe (born 1946, Rugby) – vocals (departed prior to debut album release)
- Stuart Colman (born Ian Stuart Colman, 19 December 1944, Harrogate, Yorkshire; died 19 April 2018) – bass guitar, electric piano
- Paul Wilkinson (born 1948, Coventry) – drums
Additional personnel
- Edie Andrews (born 1945, Detroit, Michigan) – backing vocals
- Mark Lansing (born 1952, USA) – guitars; sideman provided courtesy of Warner Bros. Records, 1969
- Troy Adam Jones (birth year unknown) – guitarist and backup drummer
Albums
- 1969: The Flying Machine (Janus Records)
- 1970: Down to Earth with the Flying Machine (Pye Records)
- 1998: Flight Recorder - From Pinkerton's Colours to the Flying Machine (double CD compilation released by Sequel Records)
Singles
- 1969: "Smile a Little Smile for Me" b/w "Maybe We've Been Loving Too Long" – peaked at No. 5 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100
- 1969: "Baby Make It Soon" b/w "There She Goes" – reached No. 87 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100
- 1969: "Send My Baby Home Again" b/w "Look At Me Look At Me"
- 1970: "Hanging on the Edge of Sadness" b/w "Flying Machine"
- 1970: "The Devil Has Possession of Your Mind" b/w "Hey Little Girl"
- 1970: "Yes I Understand" b/w "Pages of Your Life"
See also
External links
- Coventry Music History feature
- Stuart Colman biography
- [ Flying Machine biography] at Allmusic