Racing Cars

This article is about the Welsh pop band. For auto racing, see Racing cars.
Racing Cars
Origin Rhondda Valleys, Wales
Genres Pop
Years active 1973 —2010
Labels Chrysalis Records, Angel Air

Racing Cars are a Welsh pop band, formed in the Rhondda Valleys, Wales in 1973.[1]

Career

They were signed to one of the biggest British record labels of the time, Chrysalis Records.[2] Racing Cars's debut album yielded their only hit single with "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" It reached number fourteen in the UK Singles Chart in 1977, and was inspired by the film, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Touring to promote their debut releases, Racing Cars backed Bad Company in 1976, including dates at Earls Court and the York Theatre Royal. Without any similar further chart appearances, Racing Cars ultimately acquired the dreaded one hit wonder label. However, the band was sufficiently established on the touring circuit to issue two further albums which included bit parts for the session pianist Geraint Watkins; American saxophonist Jerry Jumonville; The Bowles Brothers Band (on vocal harmonies); and Ray Ennis from Newport, Gwent who had previously played with a band called Good Habit. (Note. Not to be confused with Ray Ennis of Swinging Blue Jeans.) These never reached the same commercial heights. Morty and Graham Williams had played together in local bands such as Morty and the Frantics and later evolutions including Strawberry Dust for years before. They were very well known in the Welsh club circuit.

Racing Cars split up for the first time in the late 1970s. In 1980 Morty released a solo album Love Blind. In 1981, Morty joined a band called The Bleeding Hearts with musicians Paul Rosser, Bob Watkins and Dave Iles, it was suggested by Morty that they call themselves Racing Cars, as it was his name. When this band came to an end, lead vocalist Morty has sung backing vocals for artists including The Beach Boys, Tina Turner and Bryan Adams. Morty got together with local musicians and formed the Gareth Thomas Mortimer Band (GTM Band).

Morty, Graham Hedley Williams and Paul Rosser reunited as Racing Cars but said "We were a bit reluctant. We're a bit long in the tooth and a bit out of touch but we finally said yes." They continue to play gigs across Europe, after reforming in 2000 with a new album, Bolt From The Blue' which was released on DA Records and a gig at the Cardiff International Arena.

Racing Cars final album, Second Wind, was released in October 2007.[3][4] Racing Cars performed a concert together on 11 April 2009 at the Parc and Dare theatre, Treorchy, and made an appearance at the tribute concerts for Man guitarist Micky Jones in Pontardawe on 18 September 2010. They also reformed for a one-off concert 'Rock At The Park' at Merthyr Tydfil's Football ground, however these were without Simon Davies.

Gareth Mortimer died on 17 December 2015 at his home in Rhondda, Wales, from cancer at the age of 66.[5][6]

Band members

UK discography

Singles

Albums

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Racing Cars | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  2. ↑ Archived November 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Archived September 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Jo-Ann Greene (2007-10-01). "Second Wind - Racing Cars | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  5. ↑ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2015 July to December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  6. ↑ Paul Cashmere (2015-12-22). "R.I.P. Gareth Mortimer of Racing Cars At Age 66". Noise11.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  7. 1 2 David Roberts (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 447. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. ↑ "Racing Cars | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
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