Seventh Avenue - Love's Gone Mad

I find it amazing that this classic High Energy anthem sold fifty thousand copies without ever showing in the charts. In 1985, this kind of music was selling by the truckload out of specialist shops, not least of which was Record Shack itself, and therefore these vast numbers weren't contributing to the Gallup charts of the time. But in Scotland, this was the biggest record of the year in clubs, and in Record Mirror, it topped the High Energy charts for a staggering twelve weeks, being the overall biggest record of that year. By the time their American hit, "The Love I Lost", came out, Seventh Avenue had changed line-up four times since the AVI days of "Midnight In Manhattan". They were the first "Boyband" ever to present a sexy, somewhat homoerotic image. "The Love I Lost" was a major release in the USA, on Atlantic records, and very big on the Billboard dance charts. The original 1979 album had been a disco concept album, but by the time "I Hear Thunder" and "Ending Up On A High" had become so big, the identity of a sexy homoerotic boy band was set, paving the way for Take That and Boyzone.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• High-Energy
• Boybands
• Disco
• Eighties
• Eurobeat
• Pop

[GEMangrum]

We sure were skinny then - Great fun days! I would loive to hear from Steven, John and Andrew.

[IanLevine]

Hello George. How wonderful to hear from you.

But tragically, Steven committed suicide.

Obviously you didn't know. Neither did I till someone contacted me on here to tell me.

Ian.

[richardgough2006]

my uncle was in this band, his name was steven harper. he died a few years ago rip. so any die hard fans, get in touch

[IanLevine]

I'm confused. Someone posted a comment below, calling himself Huskymannia, saying he was Steven's partner, but he never mentioned Steven had died. What happened and when ?? Please do reply.

[richardgough2006]

steven hung himself in his place in manchester about 3years ago sorry. did you not know at all? IanLevine

[IanLevine]

No, I'm so sorry, this is the first I heard of it.

Why ??

What happened ??

How terrible.

[shazjeb]

Anyone got " I HEAR THUNDER"by these guys? Awesome tune..

[gogarloch]

i cant believe stevens gone i saw the band so many times at FIRE ISLAND in Edinburgh in the 80s is so sad john Edinburgh the best Hi Hrg ever!

[gogarloch]

just reminds me so much of fire island gay nightclub in edinburgh in the mid 80s unfortunately now a bookshop! just fab HI NRG music to dance and drink too all night!

[psjtache]

Now those are shorts that are SEXY! Bring em back! Slightly higher rate beat to this and that's the one I danced to night after night at Part Two in Nottingham, Rockshotts, Bolts and all over Gay UK! RIP!

[nickywolves46]

oo yes i remember we had then at the silver web yes

[martiansf]

i followed these guys EVERYWHERE in the west Midlands in 84-85.....I ADORED them.....

[Samwisp]

Message for Ian Levine: Thanks for bringing us such fantastic music over the years. I'd love to hear 'Science Fiction' by Scott Stryker on the Nightmare Records label again. Is there a video you could upload please?

[garydoncaster]

Love it

[egglondon]

I think the club was Silks in the Shepherd's Bush precinct = now called West 12 and the old Silks is now Reily's pool hall.

[malarki5]

May God rest his soul! He brought sooo many people joy!

mel

london

[garydoncaster]

I love this song

[garydoncaster]

Love this song, takes me back

[mikeharrisonrussell]

I used to know Andrew in the group but lost touch with him some years ago. Does anyone know how he is these days and I hope the years were kind to him.

Mike Harrison

[mikeharrisonrussell]

I am so sorry to hear Steven passed away. Knew him through one of the other members of the group slighly. Very sad news

[huskymannia]

Hi Ian, sorry .. this is Huskymannia. Stephen passed tragically, and we all miss jhim very much. Would be nice not to have people mentioning the cause and reasons as we all wish to remember him at his best....

[zander169]

love this song takes me back to my dancing days at hollywood studios in glasgow when I was a teenager top song that everyone loved brings back great memories

[filmnet]

I believe this was the first "Powerplay" (payola song) played on the European offshore radio station, Laser Hot Hits, way back in December 1986! Well, according to my recordings going back that far anyway! :-)

[leatherguy4669]

yes i remember it very well i got my single sigh by the group ps if you want to email me i am trying to set up a web site about the club and the history

[IzzyGarnetBricka]

the lead singer, steven stafford is my uncle, who i miss very much

[IzzyGarnetBricka]

the lead singer of this band is my uncle, steven stafford............he was amazing

[wintermelody]

Jeeze these guys were hot hot hot

[krumstets]

The Silver Web, The 1980's. There I am listening to this song and dreaming. Oh my god!! Somebody else remembers!!

[mikeharrisonrussell]

How great to see and hear this again and to see the great Mr Day again.