City Boy - The Hap-ki-do Kid

City Boy - The Hap-ki-do Kid LIVE from "Top Of The Pops" 1976. City Boy's first 4 albums were recently (August 2008) re-released on cd. Don't miss!

Max Thomas (keyboards) own story about the recording:

"CB's first single release was Hap-Ki-Do in 1976, and we nearly had a hit with it. In those days "Top of the Pops" in the UK only concentrated on the top 30, as opposed to the top 40. The BBC would only include one song per week on the programme that wasn't in the top 30, and that had to be the fastest rising single of that week. We came straight in at 32* that week, and so we were offered to go on. Unfortunately, that was the first week for several years that the BBC (or the newly-appointed producer of the show) decided to allow only live music, and we were the first act on, and I remember NO opportunity for any soundcheck, and I also remember asking repeatedly for another plug socket so I could plug in the last of my four keyboards, and I finally got it about 30 seconds before we played.
It was a nightmare.

We'd even got Mutt Lange to be there in the mixing room to mix the sound, and he barely had time to make sure that everything was connected before we began. As a consequence, the song came across really badly...we played quite well as I recall, but the sound balance was appalling. We dropped out of the top 40 two weeks later."

* Seems like Hap-ki-do never made it to 32.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• cityboy
• hapkidokid
• slamer
• broughton
• lunt
• kent
• thomas
• dunn
• mason
• progressive
• 1976
• mutt
• lange
• pop
• rock

[collinsjamesl]

"The noble art of breaking someone's back" ....f*#k I loved these guys. One of the most underrated bands in the world.

I still listen to their music daily.

Thanks soooo much for posting!

[MrJonnybeegood]

its a forgotten song, but why? its so great!!!!!

[TheRobinor]

@cdtheduck What a great performance - and what a thrill to see you live on stage! Did you record any other songs at the same time? If you should ever re-unite - please visit Norway - if only for one show?!? There are lots of "afficionados" out here that would love your come-back! Thank you for lots of great songs - you have really made a big musical footprint.

[Tramp00999]

The drummer roger kent in this band is my dad

[cdtheduck]

Interestingly enough this was the first time EVER that an artist actually played LIVE on TOTP......meaning that we actually played the song in the studio while they recorded for the future broadcast...before this EVERY artist had to mime to their original record.......we were followed by YES who performed "Yours is no disgrace".....halcion days!!

[thomasandrews1]

Superb music and musicianship. Great lyrics as well.  What more do you need.

[Traceyleigh0]

LOVE this band! 

[PJAvenger]

My belt gets blacker by the hour too.

[Shinyshoesz]

BRAVO I SECOND THAT LAST COMMENT

[davidoran123]

These guys were so amazing. All their albums are still worth a listen. Too bad they never got the recognition they deserved. Great music and very clever lyrics. The vocals are versatile and the guitar work is superb. I am so glad I got to see them live. Wonderful while you are driving.

[littlehootch]

City Boy has been my favorite band since I first heard them in the Seventies, and so far no one has been able to outdo them, in my opinion. It's just such good fuckin' music!!!