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Tin Tin (band)

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This article is about the musical group from the 1960s and 1970s. For the British new wave group, see Stephen Duffy. For the Belgian comics character, see The Adventures of Tintin.

Tin Tin were a pop rock band, which were first formed in Australia as The 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 National Singles Chart in June the following year. It reached No. 20 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100. Their next single, "Is That the Way?" (1971), peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Tin Tin
Also known asThe Kinetics, Steve and Stevie, Rombo's World
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresPop rock, blues rock, psychedelic rock
Years active1966 (1966)-1973 (1973)
LabelsPolydor, Atco
Past membersSteve Kipner
Steve Groves
Johnny Vallins
Geoff Bridgford

The group disbanded in 1973 and Kipner continued as a songwriter for various acts including Chicago, George Benson and Olivia Newton-John. Groves returned to Australia and worked as a singer-songwriter. 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.

History

Beginning

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.[1] In September they issued their debut single, "Excuses", which was a local hit at No. 19 and followed with two further singles which did not chart.[1] 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.[1] The duo released a single, "Remains to Be Seen" in 1968, and were then joined by Vallins to form Rombo's World.[1]

In 1969 Groves and Kipner travelled to the United Kingdom and formed a British-influenced pop group, Tin Tin,[1] which were named after the lead character from the popular Belgian cartoon, The Adventures of Tintin.[2] Maurice Gibb (The Bee Gees member) introduced the duo to Robert Stigwood and they signed to a one-album contract with Polydor Records.[1] 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.[3] Gibb produced their debut self-titled album (February 1970) and performed various instruments (bass guitar, drums, harpsichord, mellotron, organ) on about half the tracks,[3] 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.[1]

Toast and Marmalade

Tin Tin's debut album initially sold poorly, and they issued a second single, "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" (written by Groves,[4]) in 1970.[1] In May 1971 Vallins joined the line-up.[1] In June "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" became a No. 10 hit on the Go-Set National Top 40, where it remained on the charts for 15 weeks and on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[5][6] The dreamy ballad with lead vocals by Kipner, was belatedly released as a single in mid-1971 in the US, which reach No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] The song featured just eight lines of nursery rhyme-like lyrics[8] repeated over distorted piano and electric guitar backing. The song gradually builds in intensity adding acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, a string orchestra, and finally brass instruments, and is now Tin Tin's best-remembered song. The album appeared on the Billboard 200.[7] "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.

After Tea

Tin Tin's next single, "Come on Over Again", (1970) did not chart.[1] It was followed by "Is That the Way?" in 1971, which peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100,[7] ahead of their second album, Astral Taxi (December 1971). For the album they were joined by Carl Keats (aka Carl Grossman) on rhythm guitar, a former band mate from Steve & the Board.[9] 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.[1] 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 ("Hard Habit to Break"), Olivia Newton-John ("Physical" and "Twist of Fate"),[9] Christina Aguilera, 98 Degrees and Dream. In 1975 Groves returned to Australia and worked as a singer-songwriter, he co-wrote (with Brian Dawe) "On the Loose (Again)",[10] which was performed by Marty Rhone to win the Australian Popular Song Contest.[1][11] Groves formed his own group, Steve Groves Band, and released his version of "On the Loose (Again)" in November 1976.[1] 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.[1][12][13]

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Only Ladies Play Croquet" b/w "He Wants to be a Star" (1969)
  • "Toast and Marmalade For Tea" b/w "Manhattan Woman" (#20, 1970)
  • "Come On Over Again" b/w "Back to Winona" (1970)
  • "Shana" b/w "Rocky Mountain" (1971)
  • "Is That the Way" b/w "Swans on the Canal" (1971)
  • "Talking Turkey" b/w "The Cavalry are Coming" (1972)
  • "Strange One" b/w "Halfway Up the Hill" (1972)
  • "I'm Afraid" b/w "Handle Me Easy" (1973)
  • "It's a Long Way to Georgia" b/w "Can't Get Over You" (1974)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Kinetics'". [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]]. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2013. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  2. ^ "'Toast and Marmalade for Tea' – Tin Tin". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Tin Tin – Tin Tin: Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  4. ^ "'Toast and Marmalade for Tea' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  5. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed (11 September 1971). "National Top 40". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 9 June 2013. Note: Single is listed as "Toast and Marmelade [sic] for Tea".
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
  7. ^ a b c "Tin Tin – Tin Tin: Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" lyrics
  9. ^ a b McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Steve and the Board'". [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]]. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 1 September 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2013. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  10. ^ "'On the Loose (Again)' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  11. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Marty Rhone'". [[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]]. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 28 August 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2013. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  12. ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide.
  13. ^ "Top Album Picks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 22 July 1978. Retrieved 6 June 2013.

References

  • 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
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