Lene Lovich -

Lene Lovich is an American-English new wave singer, best known for the hits “Lucky Number,” “Say When,” “Bird Song,” and “New Toy.” Between 1978 and 1982, she released three albums: Stateless, Flex, and No Man’s Land.

Background

Lovich was born Lili Marlene Premilovich on March 30, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, to an English mother and Serbian–American father. At thirteen, Lene moved with her mother and three siblings to Kingston Upon Hull. As a teenager, she met songwriter Les Chappell, who became her musical collaborator and personal partner. In 1968, they enrolled at a London art school, where Lena cultivated her braided hairstyle (initially to keep it free of clay in pottery class).

In the early seventies, Lene portrayed an Oriental dancer at cabaret clubs and go-go danced for the Radio One Roadshow. She sang in the choir of the Royal Albert Hall production Quintessence and partook in the Lanchester Arts Festival audience singalong featured on the 1972 Chuck Berry hit “My Ding-a-Ling.”

Lene played saxophone for Bob Flag’s Balloon and Banana Band (a comedy act) and The Sensations (a cabaret girl trio).

The Diversions

In 1975, Lovich and Chappell joined The Diversions, a funk sextet with Van Der Graaf Generator co-founder Chris Judge Smith. They released three 1975–76 Polydor singles and a fourth under the name Commandos.

On September 12, 1975, The Diversions released their first single: “Fattie Bum-Bum,” a reggae cover backed with “Jamaica,” a group-credited original. Technician Pepe Rush produced the single for Gull Records, a Decca-distributed startup whose nascent roster included Judas Priest, electro-rockers Seventh Wave, and jazz-rockers If and Isotope.

A. “Fattie Bum-Bum” originated months earlier as a UK Records a-side by Jamaican reggae percussionist Carl Malcolm.
B. “Jamaica”

On February 13, 1976, The Diversions released their first single: “But Is It Funky” backed with “To Make Us Happy,” both group-written numbers issued by Gull in the UK, Germany, and New Zealand. Ex-Vinegar Joe guitarist Pete Gage (then-husband of Elkie Brooks) produced the single in sequence with albums by Casino, The Movies, Sassafras, and Stackridge.

A. “But Is It Funky” (3:12)
B. “To Make Us Happy” (4:31)

The Diversions reappeared as the Commandos on Polydor for the September 1976 single “The Bump,” a Commodores cover backed with “Drop In Sometime,” a Judge-Smith co-write. Kiwi soundman Bruce Lynch produced the single amid output by his wife, singer Suzanne Lynch (once of Sixties New Zealand girl group The Chicks).

A. “The Bump” originated on the 1974 debut Commodores album Machine Gun, written by their keyboardist Milan Williams.
B. “Drop In Sometime”

On October 8, 1976, The Diversions released their final single: “Raincheck,” a co-write by Judge-Smith and William Dumaresq (aka Max Frith, writer of the Rolf Harris/Peter & Gordon song “I Know a Man”). Diversions bassist Dave Quinn (a subsequent Movies member) wrote the b-side, “Disco Limbo.” Veteran soundman Mike Stone produced the single amid albums by Charlie (Fantasy Girls) and Easy Street (S/T).

A. “Raincheck”
B. “Disco Limbo”

In late 1976, Lene Lovich debuted under her own name with the Polydor Christmas maxi-single “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus / The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) / Happy Christmas.”

In 1977, Lovich collaborated with engineer Alain Wisniak on they lyrics to “Supernature,” recorded by French disco artist Cerrone.

1978

In 1978, Lovich and Chappell covered “I Think We’re Alone Now,” a hit for Sixties American popsters Tommy James & The Shondells. Their version gained favor with Charlie Gillett, a Radio London DJ whose Honky Tonky program recently lifted Dire Straits, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, and Ian Dury to national prominence.

Gillett passed the recording onto Costello/Parker benefactor Dave Robinson, the co-founder of Stiff Records, which signed Lovich for the proposed single and full album with original material by the couple. In July, 1978, Stiff released “I Think We’re Alone Now” as Lene’s first single, backed with the Lovich/Chappell original “Lucky Number.”

Lovich and Chappell also appeared with erstwhile Diversions drummer Tony Richard on “S.E.X. as Advertised” (b/w “4 O’clock in the Morning”), a 1978 Swiss EMI single by Roy Taylor’s Bad Taste with singer Chrissie McGowan.

Stateless

Lene Lovich released her debut album, Stateless, in October 1978 on Stiff.

Stateless contains both sides of the “Lucky Number” single and six new Lovich/Chappell originals: “Home,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Momentary Breakdown,” “Writing on the Wall,” “One in a 1,000,000,” and the ballad “Too Tender (To Touch).”

Aside from the Tommy James chestnut, Stateless also includes songs by Nick Lowe (“Tonight”) and Fingerprintz frontman Jimme O’Neill, who submitted “Telepathy” and “Say When,” the album’s second hit.

Lene plays occasional saxophone on Stateless, backed by Les Chappell on guitar, percussion, and the EMS synthesizer. Their backing band features synthesist Jeff Smith, ex-Rooglator organist Nick Plytas (Hammond, piano), and The Sinceros rhythm section: bassist Ron François and drummer Bobby Irwin.

A1. “Home” (3:40)
A2. “Sleeping Beauty” (3:00)
A3. “Lucky Number” (2:47)
A4. “Too Tender (To Touch)” (4:04) features Sinceros pianist Don Snow.
A5. “Say When” (2:49)

B1. “Writing on the Wall” (3:08)
B2. “Telepathy” (2:45)
B3. “Momentary Breakdown” (3:18)
B4. “I Think We’re Alone Now” (2:45)
B5. “One in a 1,000,000” (2:48)
B6. “Tonight” (4:27)

Sessions occurred in the summer of 1978 in North London at Pathway (Islington) and Wessex Sound (Highbury), where Lovich and Chappell self-produced Stateless under their title-sake pseudonym, The Stateless.

Wessex soundman Jeremy Green engineered Stateless in sequence with titles by The Lurkers, The Saints, Tom Robinson Band, and Keith Tippett‘s Ark; assisted by freelancers Aldo Bocca (Dr. Feelgood) and Roger Bechirian, who also engineered 1978 albums by The Jam (All Mod Cons), The Rumour (Frogs Sprouts Clogs and Krauts), and fellow Stiff signee Rachel Sweet.

Stateless first appeared on red vinyl in with a monochrome down-angled profile of Lene beside a brick wall clutching her temples. The album gained a champion in BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, who aired “Home,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Lucky Number” on his October 13 broadcast, which also featured cuts by The Buzzcocks, The Edge, Gang of Four, Penetration, Rory Gallagher, and Spherical Objects. He aired six further Stateless tracks across his next two broadcasts.

On November 11, Lene and her band played their first Peel session for the DJ’s 11/27 broadcast, which aired BBC in-studio renditions of “Home,” “Lucky Number,” “Say When,” and a new number, “Money Talk.”

Meanwhile, Lovich embarked on the Be Stiff Route 78 tour, a 33-date package blitz with labelmates Rachel Sweet (backed by The Records), Mickey Jupp, Wreckless Eric, and Jona Lewie. Tour launched on October 10 at London’s Olympia Station and wrapped on November 19 at the Lyceum Ballroom, followed by a four-night stand (minus Jupp) at New York’s Bottom Line.

In late January 1979, “Lucky Number” reappeared as a single a-side (b/w “Home”). In the video, Lene lip syncs in a cab, mimes with her band in a dark studio, and cross-points the vocable refrain in a messy cubicle while onlookers clap from a balcony.

Lene mimed “Lucky Number” amid geometric state fixtures for the February 15 and March 15 broadcasts of Top of the Pops, which thrice aired the song amid late-winter hits by Chic (“I Want Your Love”), David Essex (“Imperial Wizard”), Generation X (“King Rocker”), The Jam (“Strange Town”), The Pretenders (“Stop Your Sobbing”), Skids (“Into the Valley”), Thin Lizzy (“Waiting for an Alibi”), and Violinski (“Clog Dance”). Lene also mimed “Lucky Number” in a green headwrap between empty chairs for the Dutch music program TopPop.

“Lucky Number” reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 7 in Ireland. Abroad, it reached No. 5 in Belgium, No. 4 in the Netherlands, No. 3 in New Zealand, and No. 2 in Australia.

On May 11, Stiff lifted “Say When” as the third Stateless a-side, backed with “One Lonely Heart,” a Lovich/Chappell exclusive.

B. “One Lonely Heart”

In the “Say When” video, a red-robed Lene performs with a her band in a dark club before a rowdy audience. The song peaked at No. 14 in Belgium, No. 17 in New Zealand, and No. 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

Stateless reached No. 13 in Australia, No. 17 in the Netherlands, and No. 19 in New Zealand. In 1979, Stiff issued a revised edition with remixed and half-remade tracks. Epic Records released the album in the US and Canada with an alternate portrait shot of Lene hands-to-breast in a tunic jacket.

Interim

Eight months after Stateless, The Sinceros — François, Irwin, Snow, and guitarist Mark Kjeldsen — released The Sound of Sunbathing, their first of two albums on Epic/Columbia. Snow joined Squeeze for their 1982 album, Sweets from a Stranger.

Under the alias ‘Lala,’ Lene wrote lyrics for a self-titled album by singer Michele Freeman, a client of French disco producer (an Cerrone keyboardist) Don Ray.

On September 28, 1979, Lene Lovich released her fifth single: “Bird Song,” a taster from her upcoming album backed with “Trixie,” a Lovich/Chappell exclusive. The single spotlights her head register with a quavering tone reminiscent of Yma Sumac.

B. “Trixie”

The “Bird Song” video opens to a stained glass of Second Sitting for the Last Supper and pans to an alter as nuptials commence between Les and Lene, who flees in her white gown as birds flock outside. Subsequent scenes take place in a courtyard, where Chappell walks away and vanishes into thin air; and a funeral, where a head-wrapped Lena walks past the zombified, hat-and-scarf attendees. Her bulging-eyed, gap-jawed expressions occur throughout.

Lene and band mimed “Bird Song” for the November 1 TotP, which also aired in-studio numbers by Darts (“Can’t Get Enough of Your Love”), The Jam (“The Eton Rifles”), Sparks (“Tryouts for the Human Race”), and Thin Lizzy (“Sarah”).

On December 2, Lene and band cut their second Peel session for the DJ’s 12/10 broadcast, which aired rough takes of “Bird Song,” “One in a Million,” and the soon-to-be-released “Angels.”

Flex

Lene Lovich released her second album, Flex, on January 18, 1980, on Stiff.

Flex contains seven Lovich/Chappell originals, including “Egghead,” “The Freeze,” “Wonderful One,” and the singles “Bird Song” and “Angels.” Their ex-Diversions bandmate Chris Judge-Smith provided two songs: “You Can’t Kill Me” and the third single, “What Will I Do Without You?” Side A included “The Night,” a Four Seasons cover.

Lena and Les retained the backing of keyboardist Nick Plytas, who invited his ex-Roogalator bandmate, drummer Justin Hildreth. Flex features Judge-Smith on backing vocals and two additional players: bassist Mark Heyward-Chaplin and third keyboardist Dean Klevatt, both newcomers.

Musically, Flex weds Lene’s patented vocal exotica to proto-zolo arrangements akin to Wazmo Nariz and the first two XTC albums.

A1. “Bird Song” (4:27)
A2. “What Will I Do Without You?” (3:35)
A3. “Angels” (3:08)
A4. “The Night” (4:31) originated on the 1972 Four Seasons album Chameleon, co-written by their musical director Bob Gaudio with Al Ruzicka. Their original version became a 1975 UK Top 10 hit after it gained popularity on the Northern Soul circuit.
A5. “You Can’t Kill Me” (3:45)

B1. “Egghead” (2:26)
B2. “Wonderful One” (4:28)
B3. “Monkey Talk” (3:20)
B4. “Joan” (3:18)
B5. “The Freeze” (4:40)

Sessions occurred in late 1979 at Wisseloord Studios, a two-year-old facility in Hilversum, Netherlands, used for recent titles by Flairck, Golden Earring, Kayak, Partner, and the 1980 Police release Zenyatta Mondatta.

Lovich and Chappell co-produced Flex with Roger Bechirian and Stranglers soundman Alan Winstanley, who recently partnered with ex-Deaf School mastermind Clive Langer and hit instant paydirt with One Step Beyond…, the debut album by Madness. Bechirian worked on Flex in sequence with albums by Nick Lowe, The Undertones, and the Easy Street spinoff Twist.

Flex features cover photography by Stateless photographer Brian Griffin, who pictured Lene crouched in a white wedding dress. Griffin’s photography also graces 1978–80 covers for Gloria Mundi, Joe Jackson (Look Sharp), Peter Hammill (The Future Now), and Ultravox (Vienna). C-More-Tone Studios designed the hand and body illustrations on the cover, sleeve, and labels, which follow a black/orange scheme. In Germany, the album appeared on sky blue and pink marble vinyl.

“Angels” accompanied Flex as the second single, backed with “The Fly,” a Lovich/Chappell outtake from the sessions. The video shows dark-room scenes of Lene up-close with cuts to oncoming headlights and zoom-ins of her white-robe ensemble and green-braided look.

B. “The Fly” (2:57)

In March, Stiff lifted “What Will I Do Without You?” as the third Flex single (b/w “Joan”). In Europe and Australia, the single appeared as a double-7″ with a 33rpm second disc with live renditions of “Monkey Talk,” “You Can’t Kill Me,” “The Night,” and the earlier “Too Tender (To Touch).” In Germany, Stiff issued a single 33rpm 7″ with only the a-side and the three live Flex numbers.

Flex peaked at No. 19 on the UK Albums Chart and went Top 40 in Sweden and Germany.

New Toy

In 1981, Lene Lovich released New Toy, a six-song EP with four Les Chappell co-writes and “Never Never Land,” their third song submitted by Jimme O’Neill. Thomas Dolby wrote the title song, a US club hit.

A1. “New Toy” (3:18)
A2. “Savages” (3:50)
A3. “Special Star” (3:11)

B1. “Never Never Land” (4:05)
B2. “Cats Away” (3:41)
B3. “Details” (3:12)

New Toy appeared in a black sleeve with scrawled yellow face-embedded text (ala Drums and Wires) with scant info apart from “produced by Lene Lovich and Les Chappell.”

The “New Toy” video opens in a neon green drapery tunnel and cuts to a doorside where Lene tears tags that bear words from the song’s lyrics. She reappears in a chair, where men in lab coats approach and apply the tags to her layered black ensemble. She writhes in the drapes and sings call-and-response with her band and cuts the tags (in slow motion) with giant scissors.

Stiff released the canonical New Toy EP in the US and Canada but not in the UK, Europe, or Oceania, where the title track appeared as a February 1981 standalone single (b/w “Cats Away) in a black-on-white sleeve. In Japan, Stiff released an alternate New Toy EP in a die-cut sleeve with three tracks from the North American version (“New Toy,” “Cats Away,” “Details”), two Flex cuts (“Bird Song,” “Joan”), and a ‘disco version’ of “Lucky Number.”

Lene mimed “New Toy” for the March 26 TotP broadcast, which also featured in-studio numbers by Bad Manners (“Just a Feeling”), Gillan (“New Orleans”), Graham Bonnet (“Night Games”), Hazel O’Connor (“D-Days”), and the Polecats’ rendition of the David Bowie classic “John, I’m Only Dancing.”

No Man’s Land

Lene Lovich released her third album, No Man’s Land, on November 12, 1982, on Stiff.

No Man’s Land features seven originals by Lovich and Les Chappell, including “Rocky Road,” “Faces,” “Maria,” and two repeats from the New Toy EP, “Special Star” and “Savages.” Italian pop writer Mauro Goldsand co-wrote “Blue Hotel,” a US/European single. Side A opens with “It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz),” a cover of Dutch band The Meteors, an Alquin spinoff.

Side B opens with “Sister Video,” Lene’s fourth song by Jimme O’Neill of the now-disbanded Fingerprintz, whose drummer, Bogdan Wiczling, joins her backing players. No Man’s Land also retains Nick Plytas and the Flex rhythm section (Mark Heyward-Chaplin, Justin Hildreth) and keyboardist Dean Klevatt, plus Stateless synthesist Jeff Smith. Lovich plays trumpet and sax on select passages.

A1. “It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz)” (3:42) originated on the 1979 Meteors debut, written by Ferdinand Bakker and Hugo Sinzheimer.
A2. “Blue Hotel” (3:43)
A3. “Faces” (3:32)
A4. “Walking Low” (3:16)
A5. “Special Star” (4:31)

B1. “Sister Video” (4:45) features O’Neill on rhythm synthesizer and backing vocals.
B2. “Maria” (3:02)
B3. “Savages” (3:47)
B4. “Rocky Road” (6:37) features Thomas Dolby on synthesizer.

Sessions occurred sporadically between 1980 and 1982 at five London studios: AIR, Wessex, Basing St., Tony Viscont’s Good Earth, and Ray Davies’ Konk Studios. Further work took place in Camden (Sound Suite) and Genetic Studios, a converted barn in West Berkshire, where owner Martin Rushent co-produced No Man’s Land sessions amid projects with Altered Images and the Human League.

Bryan Ferry soundman Steve Nye engineered the AIR sessions amid work Tin Drum, the 1981 Japan swan song. Nye associate Jon Walls (aka Johnny Bijoux, an earlier mixer for Twenty-Five Views of Worthing) assisted the AIR and Wessex sessions.

Chappell took the cover photos, which show Lena in her Victorian ragdoll attire, seen shaded from nearby (front) and bar-wielding from afar (back). North American copies use the back photo on front, backed with an empty photo of the sandy flat plain.

“It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz)” appeared in late October as a UK single, backed with “Blue” (aka “Blue Hotel”). In Australia and Italy, “Maria” appeared as a single (b/w “Mein Schmerz”). In the US, Stiff issued “Blue Hotel” as an a-side, backed with “Details” from the New Toy EP. Stiff-Epic also released a 12″ extended “Blue Hotel” dance mix (5:17).

In Germany, Stiff released an edited “Blue Hotel” (3:09) as a 1983 blue-vinyl promo single, backed with “Oh Seasons Oh Castle,” a Lovich/Chappell exclusive.

B. “Oh Seasons Oh Castle” (3:05)