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Biography
Infobox musical artist | | name = Velvet Crush| image =| caption =| background = group_or_band| origin = Providence, Rhode Island|Providence , Rhode Island , USA | genre = Power pop | years_active = 1989 – present| label = Creation Records|Creation , Epic Records|Epic , http://www.parasol.com/labels/actionmusik/index.asp Action Musik, Bobsled, 550 Music http://web.archive.org/web/20091027162149/ http://geocities.com/patmil007/5680.jpg| associated_acts = Choo Choo Train Bag-O-Shells The Springfields Stephen Duffy Matthew Sweet | website = http://www.velvetcrushrockgroup.com www.velvetcrushrockgroup.com| current_members = Paul Chastain Ric Menck| past_members = Jeffrey Borchardt Velvet Crush is a power pop band from Rhode Island that achieved prominence in indie-rock circles in the early- and mid-1990s. The band broke up in 1996 but re-formed in 1998 and have continued to record, releasing their most recent album in 2004. Vocalist/bassist Paul Chastain and drummer Ric Menck are the band's core members, having previously worked together as Choo Choo Train , Bag-O-Shells , and The Springfields , and they share singing and songwriting duties. Guitarist Jeffrey Borchardt (of Honeybunch ) played on the band's first three albums, In the Presence of Greatness , Teenage Symphonies to God , and Heavy Changes , which were produced by Matthew Sweet and Mitch Easter , respectively.
History
Chastain had recorded in the mid-1980s as a solo artist and as a member of The Stupid Cupids, while Menck had been a member of The ReverbsRobbins, Ira " http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php? a=velvet_crush Velvet Crush, Trouser Press and The Paint Set.cite web | title = Compilations featuring Eleventh Dream Day | work = Dirk's Discography Website | url = http://dirkh.tripod.com/edd-other.html | accessdate = Dec. 2, 2009 The long association between Chastain and Menck began in 1987 with the indie pop band Choo Choo Train, who released two singles and an EP and were signed to the British indie label The Subway Organization. The duo also recorded for Sarah Records as The Springfields, and for Bus Stop as Bag-O-Shells. Both had been based in Chicago, but they relocated to Rhode Island around this time. Opting for a more rock-oriented power pop sound, the duo formed Velvet Crush in 1989, with Jeffery Borchardt of Honeybunch .Strong, Martin C. (2003) "Velvet Crush", in The Great Indie Discography , Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0 After three singles on Bus Stop Records , the band released a cover version of Teenage Fanclub 's "Everything Flows", leading them to be signed by Creation Records in the UK, who issued the band's debut album, In the Presence of Greatness , in 1991. The band stayed with Creation for a second album, Teenage Symphonies to God , released in 1994 (on Sony Records in the US). The group members spent the next few years acting as Stephen Duffy 's backing band, recording two albums with the singer. Velvet Crush returned in 1998 with the Heavy Changes album, now on the Action Musik label. Another album, Free Expression , followed in 1999, by which time the band was reduced to a duo of Chastain and Menck. Soft Sounds followed in 2002, and Stereo Blues in 2004.
Discography
Choo Choo Train
Singles
"This Perfect Day" (1987) Picture Book
The Briar Rose EP (1988) The Subway Organization
"High" (1988) The Subway Organization
Albums
Briar High (The 1988 Singles) (1992) The Subway Organization
The Springfields
"Sunflower" (1988) Sarah Records|Sarah ( UK Indie Chart|UK indie #8)Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie hits 1980-1989 , Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4
Hey Wimpus: The Early Recordings of Paul Chastain & Ric Menck (1998) Action Musik
Velvet Crush
Albums
In the Presence of Greatness (1991) Creation/Ringers Lactate
Teenage Symphonies to God (1994) Creation/Sony
Heavy Changes (1998) Action Musik
Free Expression (1999) Bobsled
Soft Sounds (2002) Action Musik
Stereo Blues (2004)
Compilations, live albums
Rock Concert (2000) Action Musik
A Single Odessey (2001) Action Musik
Timeless Melodies (2001) Epic Records|Epic
Melody Freaks (demos & outtakes 1990-1996) (2002) Action Musik
Singles
"If Not True" (1990) Bus Stop
"Walking Out on Love" (1990) Raving Pop Blast (split flexi disc with The Golden Dawn (Scottish band)|The Golden Dawn )
"Ash & Earth" (1991) Bus Stop
"Everything Flows" (1991) Seminal Twang
"Window to the World" (1992) Creation
The Post Greatness EP (1992) Creation
"Drive Me Down" (1992) Creation
"Hold Me Up" (1994) Parasol
"Hold Me Up" (1994) Creation
"Why Not Your Baby" (1995) Creation
"Gentle Breeze" (2000) Bobsled
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.velvetcrushrockgroup.com/default.htm Official website
http://www.ready-steady-go.org.uk/vcrush1.html 1994 interview with Ric Menck on Ready Steady Go
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/velvetcrush Velvet Crush at Rolling stone|Rolling Stone
Category:American power pop groups Category:American alternative country groups Category:American folk rock groups Category:Creation Records artists Category:Musical groups from Rhode Island
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