Not to be confused with the singer with the same name (the one who had a hit with 'Every time you go away'). "This" Paul Young was a member of Sad Cafe. [I still remember when I bought my first Sad Cafe album. It was a vinyl. The A-side was quite good, but when I listened to the B-side, it was recorded at 45 rpm!! I instantly went to the record store to give it back and get a new copy, but to my disappointment, the whole Spanish release had been pressed this way!! So I had to give up to the album]
Paul Young was born on June 18th, 1947. He started singing in the band Toggery Five (from Manchestetr), also including future members of Jethro Tull, Mick Abrahams and Clive Bunker:
They split without recording any track with this lineup.Paul Young (vocals)
Mick Abrahams (guitar)
Dave Cakebread (bass)
Graham Waller (keyboards)
Arthur Hasford (trumpet)
Bernie Hetherington (sax)
Clive Bunker (drums)
Several years later, we find Paul Young in a band called Gyro:
In 1976, Paul and Ian formed Sad Cafe at merging with members from another band from Manchester, called Mandalaband:Paul Young (vocals)
Ian Wilson (guitar)
+ others unknown to me. Help!
They recorded an album for Chrysalis label in 1976, but it was never released. Some of the songs were included in their 1st album, Fanx tara (1977), recorded for RCA.Paul Young (vocals)
Ian Wilson (guitar)
Ashley Mumford (guitar)
Vic Emerson (keyboards)
John Stimpson (bass)
Tony Creswell (drums)
Mandalaband had been a project conceived by David Rohl. They recorded an album in 1975, but some years later, David Rohl started recording a new album, and he called some of his old bandmates to play on it. This way, Paul Young also came to collaborate with them. The album was called The eye of Wendor: prophecies. It features most of the members of Sad Cafe, plus some other famous guests, from 10CC, Moody Blues, Steeleye Span or Barclay James Harvest. The album was recorded during two years, and it was finally released in 1978.
Sad Cafe released two more albums, Hungry eyes (1977) and Misplaced ideals (1978), before changing their drummer:
In 1979, they released the album Facades with this lineup:Paul Young (vocals)
Ian Wilson (guitar)
Ashley Mumford (guitar)
Vic Emerson (keyboards)
John Stimpson (bass)
Dave Irving (drums)
The album included their biggest hit, 'Every day hurts' (it reached the top 3 - the song was usually covered by Mike + The Mechanics in their tours).Paul Young (vocals)
Ian Wilson (guitar)
Ashley Mumford (guitar)
Vic Emerson (keyboards)
John Stimpson (bass)
Dave Irving (drums)
They slightly changed their lineup around 1980, when Stimpson stopped playing to become their manager:
They released some more albums: Sad Cafe (1980), Live (1981), Olé (1981), before finally splitting around 1981.Paul Young (vocals)
Ian Wilson (guitar)
Ashley Mumford (guitar)
Vic Emerson (keyboards)
Des Tong (bass)
Dave Irving (drums)
When Mike Rutherford formed his own band around 1985, Mike + The Mechanics, Paul was called to be part of it. He shared lead vocals with Paul Carrack:
In 1986, Paul reforms Sad Cafe, this time as a duo:
They released a new album, Politics of existance, with guest musicians, including Paul's mates Mike Rutherford and Paul Carrack.Paul Young (vocals)
Ian Wilson (guitar)
In the 1989 tour, Mike + The Mechanics are are joined by Tim Renwick:
New album released, with lots of guest musicians: Whatever it takes.Paul Young (vocals)
Ian Wilson (guitar)
In September 1993, Pink Floyd are asked to play in a benefit concert for a hospital. They agree to play there, and they appear with an unusual lineup (half Pink Floyd, half Mike + The Mechanics, I'd say!).
Next tour by Mike + The Mechanics was in 1999. This was the lineup this time:
Thanks section
Special thanks to: Mike Barton, for the sad news about Paul's passing.
Thanks to: ...
If you can contribute (with additions, corrections, opinions, etc.), please, send me an e-mail message at mterol@myrealbox.com
Press here to come back to
Tim Renwick's biography page