Red Box

Red Box

Red Box is a British pop group from London, active since 1978. The line-up associated with the group includes Simon Toulson-Clarke, Julian Close, Rob Legge, Martin Nickson and Paddy Talbot.

History and sound

The group begins as a five-piece and releases its debut single, “Chenko”, on Cherry Red Records. It then reduces to a duo of Simon Toulson-Clarke and Julian Close and moves towards a synthpop sound. Its second single, “Saskatchewan”, is a cover of a Buffy Sainte-Marie song and leads to a deal with WEA.

1980s releases

Red Box has its first UK hit in 1985 with “Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)”, a song promoted with a video featuring a British sign language interpreter translating the lyrics. The following year, with help from a number of guest musicians, the group releases The Circle & The Square. In response to WEA’s request for a track aimed at American radio, Toulson-Clarke writes “For America”, a song that criticises style over substance in the American media and refers to US military involvement in Grenada and Nicaragua. It becomes a top-ten single in several countries, including the UK, although it does not chart in the United States.

Later work

In 1990, Red Box scores a club hit with “Enjoy”, a remix of an earlier B-side by Paul Oakenfold under the Solid Gold Easy Amex name. By this point the project is effectively centred on Simon Toulson-Clarke, with Train and the album Motive functioning more like solo releases. “Train” is withdrawn from sale, Motive receives little coverage, and the group goes on hiatus.

Simon Toulson-Clarke and the return of Red Box

Toulson-Clarke continues working in music. In 1997, he joins Alistair Gavin and Phill Brown in SPA, who release a self-titled album dedicated to the American comedian Bill Hicks. Red Box later returns with a new line-up headed by Toulson-Clarke, alongside musicians including Derek Adams, formerly of Dream Academy and The Act, and singer-songwriter Emily Maguire. The album Plenty follows in 2010, and Chase the Setting Sun is released in 2019.

Discography

Singles: “Chenko”, “Saskatchewan”, “Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)”, “Chenko” (reissue), “For America”, “Heart Of The Sun”, “Chenko (Tenka-Io)”, “Enjoy” with Solid Gold Easy Amex, “Train”.

Albums: The Circle & The Square, Motive, Plenty, Chase the Setting Sun.