Coast to Coast (band)

Coast to Coast were a British band from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, that was signed to Polydor Records. They are best known for their 1981 top 5 hit in the UK with "(Do) The Hucklebuck".

Career

The band were formed in 1977 by bassist Bud Smith and guitarist Bob Debank, who recruited Alan Mills as lead vocalist, Graham Woofe on drums and, later, saxophonist Sonnie Torlot. Earl Barton replaced Woofe at a later date.{{cite web |url=http://www.amitty.co.uk/bumpkin/the-year-is-1981/p_3/ |website=Amitty.co.uk |date=7 February 2009 |title=The Year is 1981 – The Country Bumpkin – Andover |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619051052/http://www.amitty.co.uk/bumpkin/the-year-is-1981/p_3/ |archive-date=19 June 2013 |access-date=12 February 2019 |url-status=live }}

The band's best-known single, a cover version of the rock and roll classic "The Hucklebuck", was recorded in 1980 and reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart the following year.{{cite web |url=http://www.pure80spop.co.uk/chart1981jan-june.htm |title=80s music charts: 1981 Jan–Jun |website=Pure80spop.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224073801/http://www.pure80spop.co.uk/chart1981jan-june.htm |archive-date=24 December 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2019 }} However, tensions surfaced between band members and Mills left before the song became successful, to be replaced by Sandy Fontaine (born Alex Giannini). Although the British Hit Singles & Albums book cites Fontaine as the singer for the single, it was actually Mills' vocal that appeared, with Fontaine's vocal dubbed onto the album version.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The follow-up release, a cover version of "Let's Jump the Broomstick", peaked at number 28 in June 1981.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 112}}

The group disbanded in 1982. Smith and Torlot retain the performing rights to the band name and several line-ups have since been attempted with new members for live performances, but with little commercial success. The single "(Do) The Hucklebuck" has been made available on a number of various artists compilation CDs, to date: however, follow-up hit single "Let's Jump the Broomstick" and parent album Coastin' have yet to be made available on CD.{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/168370-Coast-To-Coast?filter_anv=0&type=Releases |title=Coast to Coast | Discography & Songs |website=Discogs |access-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105224345/https://www.discogs.com/artist/168370-Coast-To-Coast?filter_anv=0&type=Releases |archive-date=5 January 2017 |url-status=live }}

Lead singer Alan Mills died on 21 July 2016,{{cite news |url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/tributes-paid-to-well-known-councillor-who-served-rothwell-and-kettering-1-7489844 |title=Tributes paid to well-known councillor who served Rothwell and Kettering |publisher=Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph |date=22 July 2016 |last=Weaver |first=Stephanie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623085034/https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/tributes-paid-to-well-known-councillor-who-served-rothwell-and-kettering-1-7489844 |archive-date=23 June 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2019 }}{{cite tweet|user=CllrAshDavies|author=Cllr Ash Davies|number=756232338338680832|date=21 July 2016 |title=Saddened to hear about the passing of my colleague Cllr Alan Mills. He will be missed}} whilst replacement lead singer Sandy Fontaine (Alex Giannini) died on 2 October 2015.

Band members

Alan Mills (vocals) 1975–1980
Sandy Fontaine (vocals) 1980–1982
Sonnie Torlot (sax, vocals) 1978–1982
Jamie Ling (guitar, vocals) 1976–1982
Bud Smith (bass, vocals) 1975-late 1979 then rejoining in 1980 to late 1982
Earl Barton (drums) 1980–1982
Bob Debank (guitarist, vocals) 1975–1979 (founder member along with Bud Smith) departed from the band before signing a record contract with Polydor.

Discography

=Albums=

Coastin' (1981)

=Singles and EPs=

class="wikitable"

! style="text-align: center;" | Year

! style="text-align: center;" | Title

! style="text-align: center;" | UK{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Coast+to+Coast|title=Coast to Coast Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts|website=Musicvf.com|access-date=24 November 2020}}

! style="text-align: center;" | GER{{Cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/song/Coast-To-Coast/(Do)-The-Hucklebuck-27552|title=Coast To Coast – (Do) The Hucklebuck – hitparade.ch|website=Hitparade.ch|access-date=24 November 2020}}

! style="text-align: center;" | AUS{{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |access-date=2016-10-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archive-date=5 March 2016 |df=dmy }}

! style="text-align: center;" | Label

style="text-align: center;" | 1978

| Coast to Coast EP

| style="text-align: center;" | –

| style="text-align: center;" | Yorkie

style="text-align: center;" | 1979

| "The Hucklebuck"

| style="text-align: center;" | –

| style="text-align: center;" | Yorkie

style="text-align: center;" | 1980

| "(Do) the Hucklebuck"

| style="text-align: center;" | 5