Racey

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title: "Racey" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["english-pop-music-groups", "english-glam-rock-groups", "english-new-wave-musical-groups", "musicians-from-weston-super-mare", "rak-records-artists", "musical-groups-established-in-1976", "musical-groups-disestablished-in-1985", "musical-groups-reestablished-in-1990", "musical-groups-from-somerset", "1976-establishments-in-england", "1985-disestablishments-in-england"] description: "English pop group" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racey" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary English pop group ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	Racey
image	Richard Gower Racey.jpg
caption	Richard Gower, 2006
background	group_or_band
origin	Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
genre
label	RAK Records
years_active	1976–1985 (original lineup)
1990–present (Racey)
1991–present (Racey featuring Richard Gower)
past_members	Richard Gower
Phil Fursdon
Pete Miller (†2003)
Steven Lawrence
Clive Wilson
Nigel "Woody" Woods
website
::

| name = Racey | image = Richard Gower Racey.jpg | caption = Richard Gower, 2006 | background = group_or_band | origin = Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England | genre = | label = RAK Records | years_active = 1976–1985 (original lineup) 1990–present (Racey) 1991–present (Racey featuring Richard Gower) | past_members = Richard Gower Phil Fursdon Pete Miller (†2003) Steven Lawrence Clive Wilson Nigel "Woody" Woods | website =

Racey are an English pop/rock group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, by Clive Wilson and Phil Fursdon. They achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with hits such as "Lay Your Love on Me" and "Some Girls". Their 1979 song "Kitty" was an international hit in 1981 for Toni Basil when she reworked it into "Mickey".

Career

The original line-up featured Richard Gower (born 1955, Hackney, London, England; vocals, keyboards, piano, guitar), Phil Fursdon (guitar, vocals), Pete Miller (bass, vocals) and Clive Wilson (drums, percussion, vocals). After early success in their local pub circuit, they came to the attention of Mickie Most. Racey's first single, "Baby It's You", was penned by Smokie members Chris Norman and Pete Spencer, and released in 1978. Their second single, "Lay Your Love on Me", was the group's first hit single, peaking at No.3 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1978 through to early 1979. Their third single, "Some Girls", was also written by Mike Chapman and reached No.2 in the UK chart. ("Some Girls" was later recorded by Barry Manilow for his 1982 Here Comes the Night album.)

The only album they made with the original line-up was their 1979 debut Smash and Grab. The band's hits were either written and/or produced by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. The band parted company with Chinn and Chapman after the album was released and, although they continued to play and tour, they released only a few more singles, which did not match their previous successes.

The band formally split in 1985.

In 1990, Racey reformed after Wilson and Fursdon were approached to play at a Fourth of July party. Miller died of cancer on 6 May 2003. In 1991, Richard Gower formed his own version of the group with Gary Combes, Steven Lawrence and Simon Ryland Both groups are still active and performing. Several albums and CDs, with re-recordings of the original hits as well as new material, are available from both of the present-day versions of the group.

In August 2021, the band released "It's a Glorious Day".

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

::data[format=table] | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | AUS | AUT | GER | NZ | SWE | Smash and Grab | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 5 | 15 | 29 | 10 | 32 | | | | ::

Compilation albums

::data[format=table]

Title	Album details	The Best of Racey	Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest)	Lay Your Love on Me	Some Girls	The Very Best Of	Racey	Lay Your Love on Me
::

Singles

::data[format=table] | Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | UK | AUS | AUT | BEL (FL) | DEN | GER | IRE | NL | NZ | SA | SWE | SWI | "Baby It's You" | "Lay Your Love on Me" | "Some Girls" | "Boy Oh Boy" | "Such a Night" | "Rest of My Life" | "Runaround Sue" | "Shame" | "Little Darlin'" | "There's a Party Going On" | "Not Too Young to Get Married" | "Little Girls Don't, But Big Girls Do" | "Party On!" | "Cry Cry Time" | "It's a Glorious Day" | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1978 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | | Smash and Grab | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1979 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | 12 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 24 | 12 | 2 | — | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1980 | — | 94 | — | — | 4 | 13 | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | 45 | — | — | 6 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | 91 | — | 4 | 7 | 36 | 9 | 13 | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1981 | — | — | — | 32 | — | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1982 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1992 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1996 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

References

References

1. "Racey | Biography & History". [[AllMusic]].
2. "Racey".
3. "History".
4. "The Story of Racey".
5. (18 August 2021). "Racey's New Single – It's a Glorious Day".
6. "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal".
7. "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal".
8. "Swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal".
9. Roberts, David. (2006). "British Hit Singles & Albums". Guinness World Records Limited.
10. "RACEY {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company".
11. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
12. "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal".
13. "ultratop.be - Ultratop Belgian Charts".
14. "Danish Chart Archive - Singles 1979 - ____ (B.T./IFPI DK)".
15. "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts".
16. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know".
17. "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl".
18. "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal".
19. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (R)".
20. "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal".
21. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch".
22. (17 May 1980). "International Certifiations".
23. (18 August 2021). "Racey's New Single – It's a Glorious Day".

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