Hi-Tension
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Hi Tension were a London based boy band, seen as pioneers of Brit funk and started as Hott Waxx in the early 1970s. They included Phil Fearon (Galaxy and Kandidate) and Lloyd Phillips (Kandidate) brother of Paul, before becoming Hi Tension and riding high on the Brit funk wave with tracks "Hi Tension" and "British Hustle".
The group comprised of brothers Paul Mclean (lead guitar), Patrick Mclean (saxophone); brothers David Joseph (keyboards / lead vocals) and Ken Joseph (bass guitar); uncle and nephew Jeffrey Guishard (percussion / lead vocals) Leroy Williams (congas) Paul Phillips (rhythm guitar / vocals) David Reid (drums) and Courtney Pine (saxophone on tour).
The band split in the early 1980s with David Joseph pursuing a solo career. In 1984 Ken Joseph, Leroy Williams and Jeffrey Guishard reformed the band (with old members David Joseph and Paul Phillips playing on the recording sessions) and released "Rat Race" in 1984, and "You Make Me Happy" (originally recorded as "Happy" by Surface) in 1985. Both versions scored in the UK Singles Chart.
Discography
Singles
- "Autumn Love" / "Unspoken" - Island Records (Germany) 1978
- "British Hustle" / "Peace On Earth" - Island Records (UK) 1978
- "Hi Tension" / "Girl I Betcha" - Island Records (UK) 1978
- "Funktified" - Island Records (UK) 1979
- "There's A Reason" - Island Records (UK) 1979
- "We've Got The Funk" - EMI (UK) 1981
- "Rat Race" - Serdisco 1984
- "You Make Me Happy" - Streetwave 1984
Album
- Hi-Tension - Island Records (U.S.) 1978
Paul Mclean is currently in a band called new beginnings.
