A band that I have forgotten about since they collaborated with Chubby Brown, which must have been 30 years ago at least.

Not one original member, and this singer is okay, being Chris Norman and Mike Craft, but it's not Smokie. Another band that needs to retire the name.

Alan Silson was a key member with his signature harmonies and guitar.

They always had better success across Europe and in the Baltic states, even in Russia.

That song with Cubby Brown was literally beginning its long climb up the charts to the top three 30 years ago this week.

Smokie, the epitome of 70's bland. Who exactly were their fans in the 70s who bought their music?

This one is just about passable - It's Your Life. The harmonies in places remind me of The Sweet. The lead singer reminds me of a cross between Hollies Allan Clarke and Sweet's Brian Connolly.

youtu.be/UJydlZ-Z_hI?si=jQED8QZlKy7xuNwH

Interesting question.

I think Smokie tried to be a yacht rock band, Blue comes to mind. I didn't know who their fans were of Blue either; perhaps they were all in Scotland like Marmalade. Who were quite naff and bland.

Blue seem to be forgotten despite having a famous lawsuit with the boy band. They had a few catchy songs but nothing amazing. They were friends of Elton John, who I think did some session and production work with them later in the 1970s.




I didn't know anyone who bought Smokie records. Not even my Teenieboppers sisters, then again, they didn't like Barry Blue either. They called him a David Cassidy and a Les McKeown wannabe wanker.



Then again, I didn't know any Rod Stewart/Faces fans either in the '70s and '80s. Yet, he sold millions of records.

Hollies were middle of the road in the 70s and 80s; they were still popular with the baby boomers, who at the time were young.