Tin Tin (band): Difference between revisions

{{about|the musical group from the 1960s and 1970s|the British new wave group|StephenTin DuffyTin (British band)|the Belgian comics character|The Adventures of Tintin}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=JuneFebruary 20132023}}

| image = Mia Martini, Little Tony, Vena Veroutis and Tin-Tin.jpg

| caption = Mia Martini, Little Tony, Vena Veroutis and Tin-Tin

| associated_acts = [[Bee Gees]], [[The Fut]], Steve and the Board, [[The Groove (band)|The Groove]]

'''Tin Tin''' werewas a pop rock band, which were first formed in Australia as '''Thethe Kinetics''' in 1966. They relocated to the United Kingdom in 1969 and were renamed as Tin Tin, which comprised [[Steve Kipner]] (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Steve Groves (vocals, guitar, percussion), [[John Vallins]] (bass, guitar, vocals) and Geoff Bridgford (drums). In 1970 they issued a single, "[[Toast and Marmalade for Tea]]", which was a No. 10 hit on the [[Go-Set#Go-Set Australian National Charts|''Go-Set'']] National Singles Chart in June the following year. It also reached No. 20 in the United States on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. Their next single, "Is That the Way?" (1971), peaked at No. 59 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Tin Tin was formed in 1966 in Melbourne as a beat pop group, Thethe Kinetics, with a line-up of Steve Groves on vocals, guitar and harmonica, Ken Leroy on bass guitar, Ian Manzie on drums, piano and banjo, and John Vallins on guitar, drums and clarinet.<ref name="McFarlane">{{Cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | authorlink1author-link1 = Ian McFarlane | title = [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]] | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'The Kinetics' | archiveurlarchive-url = httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20040419092517/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=986 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=986 | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 | year = 1999 | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]] | location = [[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]] | archivedatearchive-date = 19 April 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}</ref> In September they released their debut single, "Excuses", which was reached #19 on the local charts, and followed up with two further singles which were unsuccessful.<ref name="McFarlane"/> At the end of 1967 the group broke up and Groves joined with [[Steve Kipner]] (ex-Steve & the Board) to form Steve and Stevie as a vocal harmony duo.<ref name="McFarlane"/> The duo released a single, "Remains to Be Seen", in 1968, and were then joined by Vallins to form Rombo's World.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

In 1969, Groves and Kipner travelled to the United Kingdom and formed a British-influenced pop group, Tin Tin,<ref name="McFarlane"/> which was named after the main character of the popular Belgian cartoon strip, ''[[The Adventures of Tintin]]''.<ref name="Hogan">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/song/toast-and-marmalade-for-tea-mt0011799393 | title='Toast and Marmalade for Tea' – Tin Tin | publisher =[[AllmusicAllMusic]] | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 }}</ref> [[Bee Gees]] member [[Maurice Gibb]] introduced the duo to [[Robert Stigwood]] and they signed a one-album contract with [[Polydor Records]].<ref name="McFarlane"/> By that time they had been joined by Geoff Bridgford on drums, and Kipner was playing bass guitar, harpsichord, mellotron, percussion, piano, electric piano, tambourine, as well as singing.<ref name="TinTinAlb"/> Gibb produced their debut [[Tin Tin (album)|self-titled album]] (February 1970) and played various instruments (bass guitar, drums, harpsichord, mellotron, organ) on about half the tracks,<ref name="TinTinAlb">{{cite web | url = {{AllmusicAllMusic | pure_url=yes | class=album/credits | id=r51230 }} | title=''Tin Tin'' – Tin Tin: Credits | publisher = [[Rovi CorporationAllMusic]] | work = [[Allmusic]] | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 }}</ref> which bore a marked resemblance to the tight harmonies of the Bee Gees. The lead single, "Only Ladies Play Croquet", was issued in May 1969 but did not chart.<ref name="McFarlane"/>

Tin Tin's debut album initially sold poorly, and in 1970 they issued a second single "[[Toast and Marmalade for Tea]]", written by Groves.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="APRA Toast">{{cite web | publisher = [[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA) | title = 'Toast and Marmalade for Tea' at APRA search engine | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Toast%20and%20Marmalade%20for%20Tea | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 }}</ref> In May 1971 Vallins joined the line-up.<ref name="McFarlane"/> In June "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" became a #10 hit on the ''[[Go-Set#Go-Set Australian National Charts|Go-Set]]'' National Top 40, and it remained on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] Singles Chart for 15 weeks.<ref name="GoSetToast">{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1971/19710911.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | authorlink1author-link1 = Ed Nimmervoll | work = [[Go-Set]] | title = National Top&nbsp;40 | publisher = Waverley Press | date = 11 September 1971 | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 }} Note: Single is listed as "Toast and {{Sic|Marmelade|expected=Marmalade}} for Tea".</ref><ref name="Kent">{{Cite book | title = [[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] | last1 = Kent | first1 = David | authorlink1author-link1 = David Kent (historian) | publisher = Australian Chart Book Ltd | location = [[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]] | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-646-11917-6 }} Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA) created their own [[ARIA Charts|charts]] in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.</ref> The dreamy ballad, with lead vocals by Kipner, was belatedly released as a single in mid-1971 in the US, and reached #20 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="BillboardChart">{{cite web | url = {{AllmusicAllMusic | pure_url=yes | class=album/awards | id=r51230 }} | title=''Tin Tin'' – Tin Tin: Awards | publisher = [[AllmusicAllMusic]] | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 }}</ref> The song featured just eight lines of [[nursery rhyme]]-like lyrics<ref>[http://www.tsrocks.com/t/tin_tin_texts/toast_and_marmalade_for_tea.html "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" lyrics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717110812/http://www.tsrocks.com/t/tin_tin_texts/toast_and_marmalade_for_tea.html |date=17 July 2011 }}</ref> repeated over a distinctive "vibrato" [[piano]] (achieved by manipulating the recorded tape reel) and [[electric guitar]] backing. The song gradually builds in intensity adding [[Steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic guitar]], [[bass guitar]], [[Drum kit|drums]], a [[string orchestra]], and finally [[brass instrument]]s, and is Tin Tin's best-remembered song. The album appeared on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="BillboardChart"/> While seldom played on oldies radio today, "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" is regarded by some critics as one of the finest and most ambitious singles by a [[one hit wonder]], and a late [[psychedelic music|psychedelic]] classic.

Tin Tin's next single, "Come on Over Again", (1970) did not chart.<ref name="McFarlane"/> It was followed by "Is That the Way?" in 1971, which peaked at #59 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref name="BillboardChart"/> ahead of their second album, ''[[Astral Taxi]]'' (December 1971). For the album they were joined by Carl Keats (aka [[Carl GrossmanGroszmann]]) on rhythm guitar, a former band matebandmate from Steve & the Board.<ref name="McFarlaneSatB">{{Cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | authorlink1author-link1 = Ian McFarlane | title = [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]] | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Steve and the Board' | archiveurlarchive-url = httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20040901025636/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=413 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=413 | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 | year = 1999 | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]] | location = [[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]] | archivedatearchive-date = 1 September 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}</ref> After their unexpected success, Tin Tin toured with The Bee Gees on their 1972 American tour. Non-album singles, "Talking Turkey" (1972), "I'm Afraid" and "It's a Long Way to Georgia" (both 1973) followed but did not chart.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Another single, "Strange One", was released under the name Quire, also on the Polydor label, but had very little success.

After Tin Tin disbanded in 1973, Kipner went on to write and produce songs for [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]] ("[[Hard Habit to Break]]"), [[Olivia Newton-John]] ("[[Physical (Olivia Newton-John song)|Physical]]" and "[[Twist of Fate (Olivia Newton-John song)|Twist of Fate]]"),<ref name="McFarlaneSatB"/> [[Christina Aguilera]], [[98 Degrees]] and [[Dream (American group)|Dream]]. In 1975, Groves returned to Australia and worked as a singer-songwriter, co-writing (with Brian Dawe) "[[On the Loose (AgainMarty Rhone song)|On the Loose]]",<ref name="APRA Loose">{{cite web | publisher = [[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA) | title = 'On the Loose (Again)' at APRA search engine | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Im%20on%20the%20Loose%20Again | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 }}</ref> which was performed by [[Marty Rhone]] to win the Australian Popular Song Contest.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref name="McFarlaneMR">{{Cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | authorlink1author-link1 = Ian McFarlane | title = [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]] | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Marty Rhone' | archiveurlarchive-url = httphttps://web.archive.org/web/20040828074705/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=687 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=687 | accessdateaccess-date = 9 June 2013 | year = 1999 | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]] | location = [[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]] | archivedatearchive-date = 28 August 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}</ref> Groves formed his own group, Steve Groves Band, and released his version of "On the Loose (Again)" in November 1976.<ref name="McFarlane"/> Vallins teamed up with Kipner's father, Nat, to co-write "[[Too Much, Too Little, Too Late]]" for [[Johnny Mathis]] and [[Deniece Williams]], which was a number-one hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in March 1978.<ref name="McFarlane"/><ref>Lwin, Nanda (2000). ''Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide''.</ref><ref name="BillboardMag">{{cite newsmagazine | url = httphttps://books.google.com.au/books?id=kyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT86&dqq=%22Too+Much,%2C+Too+Little,%2C+Too+Late%22+Billboard&hlpg=en&sa=X&ei=Fye0UeCSFamyiQeKp4GgDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Too%20Much%2C%20Too%20Little%2C%20Too%20Late%22&f=falsePT86 | title = Top Album Picks | workmagazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | publisher = [[Prometheus Global Media]] | date = 22 July 1978 | accessdateaccess-date = 6 June 2013 }}</ref>

* "Only Ladies Play Croquet" b/w "He Wants to beBe a Star" (1969)

* "[[Toast and Marmalade Forfor Tea]]" b/w "Manhattan Woman" (1970) – AU #10, US #20), Can #11<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5189.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles – May 29, 1971}}</ref>

* "Come Onon Over Again" b/w "Back to Winona" (1970)

* "Is That the Way" b/w "Swans on the Canal" (1971,) – US #59), AU #99

* "Talking Turkey" b/w "The Cavalry areAre Coming" (1972)

{{Reflist|2}}

* Noel McGrath, ''Australian Encyclopedia of Rock & Pop'', Rigby Publishers, 1978. {{ISBN |0-7270-1909-0}}

* Chris Spencer, ''The Who's Who of Australian Rock'', Moonlight Publishing. {{ISBN |0-86788-668-4}}