Everything But The Girl are Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn. Married and with three children, they met at The University of Hull. Coincidentally, they both had recording contracts with Cherry Red Records, Ben as a solo artist and Tracey with Marine Girls. They each released separate, successful recordings with Cherry Red, and as a duo before signing as Everything But The Girl with Blanco y Negro. Their name comes from the slogan of a local furniture shop (it is also a line in the 1937 film: 'Daughter Of Shanghai'. There is a science fiction novel by John D. MacDonald: 'The Girl, The Gold Watch and Everything').
Their first single was a version of Cole Porter's 'Night and Day' on a Cherry Red compilation record that also included songs from The Monochrome Set, Thomas Leer, Eyeless In Gaza and a spoken word recording from Quintin Crisp. Their first LP was released as 'Eden' in the U.K., 'Everything But The Girl' in the U.S. (half the songs were from 'Eden', half were earlier recordings, more acousic rock, less syntho-pop than 'Eden'). They have had a wildly eclectic career, following 'Eden' with the pure pop of 'Love Not Money', then 'Baby The Stars Shine Bright', a self-produced album of pop songs with full orchestral accompaniment. 'Idlewild' was next, a more MOR offering. then 'The Language Of Love', featuring the single 'Driving' which was later re-mixed and re-released as a dance record, becoming a staple of the ecstacy fueled Rave movement in London and Manchester, as did the song 'Missing' from their next LP: 'Amplified Heart'. 'Walking Wounded' and 'Temperamental' were increasingly electronic and featured Ben Watt's mixing abilities, something he was pursuing with projects outside the band, producing other bands and D.J.ing. Watt continues to produce, has his own record label (Buzzin Fly) and runs a club night with DJ partner Jay Hannan. He is fully recovered from the near-fatal bout of Churg-Strauss syndrome he contracted in 1992.
Tracey Thorn released her first solo LP: 'Out Of The Woods' last year. Most of their albums are available at Amazon.com., a good sampling - with the notable exception of this album - are on iTUNES. Visit the bands' web-site at: www.ebtg.co.uk
Everything But The Girl are Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn. Married and with three children, they met at The University of Hull. Coincidentally, they both had recording contracts with Cherry Red Records, Ben as a solo artist and Tracey with Marine Girls. They each released separate, successful recordings with Cherry Red, and as a duo before signing as Everything But The Girl with Blanco y Negro. Their name comes from the slogan of a local furniture shop (it is also a line in the 1937 film: 'Daughter Of Shanghai'. There is a science fiction novel by John D. MacDonald: 'The Girl, The Gold Watch and Everything').
Their first single was a version of Cole Porter's 'Night and Day' on a Cherry Red compilation record that also included songs from The Monochrome Set, Thomas Leer, Eyeless In Gaza and a spoken word recording from Quintin Crisp. Their first LP was released as 'Eden' in the U.K., 'Everything But The Girl' in the U.S. (half the songs were from 'Eden', half were earlier recordings, more acousic rock, less syntho-pop than 'Eden'). They have had a wildly eclectic career, following 'Eden' with the pure pop of 'Love Not Money', then 'Baby The Stars Shine Bright', a self-produced album of pop songs with full orchestral accompaniment. 'Idlewild' was next, a more MOR offering. then 'The Language Of Love', featuring the single 'Driving' which was later re-mixed and re-released as a dance record, becoming a staple of the ecstacy fueled Rave movement in London and Manchester, as did the song 'Missing' from their next LP: 'Amplified Heart'. 'Walking Wounded' and 'Temperamental' were increasingly electronic and featured Ben Watt's mixing abilities, something he was pursuing with projects outside the band, producing other bands and D.J.ing. Watt continues to produce, has his own record label (Buzzin Fly) and runs a club night with DJ partner Jay Hannan. He is fully recovered from the near-fatal bout of Churg-Strauss syndrome he contracted in 1992.
Tracey Thorn released her first solo LP: 'Out Of The Woods' last year. Most of their albums are available at Amazon.com., a good sampling - with the notable exception of this album - are on iTUNES. Visit the bands' web-site at: www.ebtg.co.uk
