Tin Tin (band): Difference between revisions

▲Tin Tin were formed in 1966 in Melbourne as a beat pop group, The 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 | authorlink1 = Ian McFarlane | title = [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]] | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'The Kinetics' | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20040419092517/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=986 | url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=986 | accessdate = 9 June 2013 | year = 1999 | publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]] | location = [[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]] | archivedate = 19 April 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}</ref> In September they issued their debut single, "Excuses", which was a local hit at No.&nbsp;19 and followed with two further singles which did not chart.<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 were named after the lead character from the popular Belgian cartoon, ''[[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 =[[Allmusic]] | accessdate = 9 June 2013 }}</ref> [[Maurice Gibb]] ([[Bee Gees|The Bee Gees]] member) introduced the duo to [[Robert Stigwood]] and they signed to a one-album contract with [[Polydor Records]].<ref name="McFarlane"/> By that time they were joined by Geoff Bridgford on drums and Kipner was performing bass guitar, harpsichord, mellotron, percussion, piano, electric piano, tambourine, and vocals.<ref name="TinTinAlb"/> Gibb produced their debut [[Tin Tin (album)|self-titled album]] (February 1970) and performed various instruments (bass guitar, drums, harpsichord, mellotron, organ) on about half the tracks,<ref name="TinTinAlb">{{cite web | url = {{Allmusic | pure_url=yes | class=album/credits | id=r51230 }} | title=''Tin Tin'' – Tin Tin: Credits | publisher = [[Rovi Corporation]] | work = [[Allmusic]] | accessdate = 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 they issued a second single, "[[Toast and Marmalade for Tea]]" (written by Groves,<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 | accessdate = 9 June 2013 }}</ref>) in 1970.<ref name="McFarlane"/> In May 1971 Vallins joined the line-up.<ref name="McFarlane"/> In June "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" became a No.&nbsp;10 hit on the ''[[Go-Set#Go-Set Australian National Charts|Go-Set]]'' National Top&nbsp;40, where it remained on the charts for 15&nbsp;weeks and on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] Singles Chart.<ref name="GoSetToast">{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1971/19710911.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | authorlink1 = Ed Nimmervoll | work = [[Go-Set]] | title = National Top&nbsp;40 | publisher = Waverley Press | date = 11 September 1971 | accessdate = 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 | authorlink1 = 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, which reach No.&nbsp;20 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="BillboardChart">{{cite web | url = {{Allmusic | pure_url=yes | class=album/awards | id=r51230 }} | title=''Tin Tin'' – Tin Tin: Awards | publisher = [[Allmusic]] | accessdate = 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]</ref> repeated over distorted [[piano]] 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 now Tin Tin's best-remembered song. The album appeared on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="BillboardChart"/> "Toast and Marmalade for Tea", while seldom played on oldies radio today, is regarded by some critics as one of the finest and most ambitious singles by a [[one hit wonder]], and a late [[psychedelic]] classic.