Go West

Go West

Go West is a British pop group formed in London in 1982 by Peter Cox and Richard Drummie. The act is active from 1982 to the present and is associated with blue-eyed soul, new wave, pop, pop rock, pop soul and sophisti-pop.

Early development and record deal

After forming, Cox and Drummie secure a publishing deal and have access to a portastudio, but they do not yet have a band or a recording company. With help from their manager, John Glover, they look for a producer and record two songs. We Close Our Eyes and Call Me lead to a record deal with Chrysalis Records.

Breakthrough and early chart success

Their debut single, We Close Our Eyes, reaches number 5 in the UK singles chart, number 5 on the US Dance Club Play chart and number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its video becomes an early MTV favourite. The song helps the group win the Best Newcomers award at the 1986 BRIT Awards. The self-titled debut album also includes two more US Hot 100 entries, Call Me, which reaches number 54, and Eye to Eye, which reaches number 73. The album also features Don’t Look Down, which later connects to the band’s first US Top 40 hit. The album reaches number 8 in the UK albums chart and number 60 on the Billboard 200.

Follow-up releases

In 1987, Go West release Dancing on the Couch, which peaks at number 19 in the UK albums chart and number 172 in the US. The album includes Don’t Look Down - The Sequel, the group’s first US Top 40 hit, which peaks at number 39. This track continues the earlier song Don’t Look Down. In the UK CD versions, the track is replaced by Let’s Build A Boat, which becomes the B-side of the US release of Don’t Look Down - The Sequel.

Mainstream success

In 1990, the group scores a top 10 US hit with King of Wishful Thinking, which appears in the film Pretty Woman.