Hipsway (1986)

Hipsway - Hipsway (1986)

Hipsway were a Scottish pop/rock band whose style has been described as 'white soul/funk'.

The band were formed in Glasgow in 1984 by ex-Altered Images guitarist Johnny McElhone on bass, and featuring Grahame Skinner (vocals), Pim Jones (guitar) and Harry Travers (drums). Their music was characterized by Skinner's deep vocals and Jones' tight guitar playing. They were quickly signed up by Mercury Records and by 1985 had released their first, eponymously-titled album. The album was a moderate success in the UK Albums Chart; while the single, "Honeythief", made number 17 in the UK Singles Chart, and also reached the Top 20 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another song from the album, "Tinder", became well-known in Scotland as the soundtrack to a McEwan's Lager commercial.



However the band failed to build on its success; McElhone left to found Texas, and by the time the second album Scratch the Surface was recorded, Travers had also left (to be replaced by Stephen Ferrera). Released in 1989, the album was not as critically or commercially successful as its predecessor, and the band split up shortly afterwards.

Skinner and Jones subsequently went on to found the band Witness before Skinner joined former members of Glasgow peers Love and Money in the band Cowboymouth.

Johnny McElhone - Bass
Grahame Skinner - Vocals
Pim Jones - Guitar
Harry Travers - Drums

Tracklist:
1. The Honeythief
2. Ask The Lord
3. Bad Thing Longing
4. Upon A Thread
5. Long White Car
6. The Broken Years
7. Tinder
8. Forbidden
9. Set This Day Apart
10. The Honeythief (Galus Mix)
11. Ask The Lord (Extended Version)
12. The Broken Years (Extended Version)

Mercury Records 1986