Colourbox were an English electronic band on the 4AD label in the 1980s, trying to make soul-influenced pop music somewhat beyond the technology they had to hand. They released a number of records from 1982 until 1987. The band was formed by brothers Martyn and Steve Young, with guest singers until Lorita Grahame joined as a permanent member in 1983.

The band finally had an international hit in 1987 with "Pump Up The Volume", a collaboration with A.R. Kane under the name MARRS. The song was notable for being constructed almost entirely from samples of other records, a novel thing for a popular record at that time. The pressures of sudden success ended up causing the band never to record again.

UK Discography (all on the 4AD label):

Singles:

  • Breakdown/Tarantula (7" AD215, 12" BAD215) - 1982 - featuring Debian Curry
  • Breakdown/Tarantula (7" AD304, 12" BAD304) - 1st May 1983
  • Say You/Fast Pump (12" BAD403) - 1st March 1984
  • Punch/Keep On Pushing (7" AD406, 12" BAD406) - 1984
  • The Moon Is Blue/You Keep Me Hanging On (12" BAD507) - 15th July 1985
  • Baby I Love You So/Looks Like We’re Shy One Horse/Shoot Out (12" BAD604) - 14th April 1986
  • The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme/Philip Glass (7" AD605, 12" BAD605) - 1st April 1986

Albums:

  • Colourbox (mini-LP MAD315) - 1983
  • Colourbox (LP CAD508) - 1986 - these are different albums
  • Best Of 82/87 (CD GAD2107CD) - 15th October 2001

External links: