Texas

Texas are a Scottish pop rock band from Glasgow, active since 1986. The group forms around Sharleen Spiteri, Johnny McElhone and Ally McErlaine, and its listed line-up also includes Eddie Campbell, Robert Hodgens, Richard Hynd and Stuart Kerr. Their sound is associated with alternative rock, blue-eyed soul, indie rock, pop rock, rock and soft rock.

Early years and breakthrough

Texas make their live debut in March 1988 at the University of Dundee. Their first single, “I Don’t Want a Lover”, appears in 1989 and is followed by the debut album Southside the same year. The album reaches number three in the UK and enters the US Billboard 200, later selling more than two million copies worldwide.

Their next albums, Mothers Heaven and Ricks Road, arrive in 1991 and 1993 and achieve more modest commercial success, especially in parts of Europe.

Commercial peak

The band’s fourth album, White on Blonde, is released in 1997 and becomes a major commercial success. It reaches number one in the UK and Scotland, becomes their best-selling record and earns multi-platinum certification. The album produces several UK top-ten singles, including “Say What You Want”, “Black Eyed Boy”, “Halo” and “Put Your Arms Around Me”. A later version of “Say What You Want” features the Wu-Tang Clan.

The Hush follows in 1999 and also reaches number one in the UK, with singles including “In Our Lifetime” and “Summer Son”. In 2000, the compilation The Greatest Hits becomes their third straight UK number-one album and adds new tracks such as “In Demand” and “Inner Smile”.

Later releases and return

Texas release Careful What You Wish For in 2003, which reaches the UK top five, and Red Book in 2005, which includes “Getaway”, “Can’t Resist” and “Sleep”. The band then enters a hiatus, during which Sharleen Spiteri releases the solo albums Melody and The Movie Songbook.

Texas reunite in 2011 and release The Conversation in 2013, their first studio album in eight years. It reaches the UK top five and includes the title track and “Detroit City”. To mark their 25th anniversary, they issue Texas 25 in 2015, which combines reworked older material with new songs.

The band’s ninth studio album, Jump on Board, appears in 2017 and performs well in several European markets. Hi follows in 2021 and becomes their highest-charting UK release since The Hush, with singles including “Hi” and “Mr Haze” and collaborations involving the Wu-Tang Clan and other artists. In 2023, they release The Very Best of 1989–2023 and continue to perform live, including at Glastonbury.

Legacy

Texas have sold an estimated 40 million records worldwide and remain one of the most commercially successful Scottish bands of their era.