Living in a Box

This article is about the band. For their song of this name, see Living in a Box (song). For their debut album, see Living in a Box (album).

Living in a Box
OriginSheffield, United Kingdom
GenresPop,[1] funk,[1] sophisti-pop[2]
Years active1985–1990, 2016–present
LabelsChrysalis
MembersAnthony "Tich" Critchlow
Marcus Vere
Bryan Chambers
Past membersRichard Darbyshire
Kenny Thomas
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Living in a Box are a British band founded in 1985. The group's 1987 eponymous debut single reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and was a top-20 hit in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100. Their 1989 single "Room in Your Heart" reached No. 5 in the UK.

The group, which formerly included vocalist Richard Darbyshire, currently consists of founding members Anthony "Tich" Critchlow (drums) and Marcus Vere (keyboards, synthesizers) along with new vocalist Bryan Chambers.

Career

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Formation and split

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Living in a Box were formed in 1985 in Sheffield.[3] The group named themselves after the first song they had recorded together in the studio. Vere and Critchlow were recording the demo version of the tune in a studio also being visited by Richard Darbyshire, an independent recording artist at the time. Darbyshire was invited to join his two future bandmates in the studio to record vocals for the track, and the three officially became a band.

Released two years later, "Living in a Box" was their most commercially successful single, peaking at #5 on the UK Singles Chart[4] and became the band's only single to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.[5] The single was featured on the group's self-titled debut album, which also included follow-up singles "Love is the Art", "So the Story Goes", and "Scales of Justice". While "So the Story Goes" was the only one of these additional singles to reach the US Billboard Hot 100, all three songs charted in their home country.

Their follow-up album, Gatecrashing in 1989 proved to be even more successful in the UK, generating two top-10 hits, "Blow the House Down" (which featured Queen's Brian May on guitar)[6][7] and "Room in Your Heart". The album itself peaked at #21. Artistic differences, as well as changes to their record label Chrysalis, caused the band to break up in 1990 before a third album could be released.

After Living in a Box

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Frontman Richard Darbyshire has continued his long-standing music career, writing songs for artists such as Lisa Stansfield and briefly enjoying modest success as a solo artist. His solo album, How Many Angels (1994) has been re-released a number of times (beginning in 1999, when it was re-issued under the title of Love Will Provide) accompanied by various new and unreleased tracks.

Anthony "Tich" Critchlow and Marcus Charles Vere temporarily retired from the music industry after the band split. Critchlow runs his own company providing bespoke illumination and lighting installations.[citation needed]

After a brief break, Vere changed direction and produced an award-winning series of educational DVDs called Here Comes A...! for pre-school aged children. The business moved online in early 2017 as Kids Trucks TV.[citation needed] In May 2016, Vere was credited with writing the songs "Viva Love", "Flames of Desire", "Kiss Me Goodbye" and "Ten Below Zero" on the Top 5 ABC album Lexicon of Love II.

Living in a Box reform

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In 2016, Living in a Box reformed with British soul singer Kenny Thomas replacing Darbyshire. In summer 2022, they announced via Twitter that they have a new singer, Bryan Chambers.[8] Since they have reformed, the band has appeared at live festival events in the UK such as Let's Rock, Rewind and Flashback.[citation needed]

Legacy

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The song "Living in a Box" was later covered by Bobby Womack, who had also worked with Living in a Box on the single, "So the Story Goes".[citation needed] In 2013 the song "Living In A Box" was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto V.

Personnel

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Current members

  • Anthony "Tich" Critchlow – drums (1985–1990, 2016–present)
  • Marcus Charles Vere – keyboards, synthesizers (1985–1990, 2016–present)
  • Bryan Chambers – vocals (2022–present)

Past members

Discography

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Studio albums

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Overview of studio albums from Living in a Box
Title Release Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[4] 		GER
 AUT
 NED
 SWE
 SWI
 US
[5]
Living in a Box
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: Chrysalis Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
 25 22 18 — 30 10 89
Gatecrashing
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Chrysalis Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
 21 — — 79 39 — —
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released.

Singles

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Overview of singles from Living in a Box
Year Song Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[4] 		AUS
[10] 		AUT
 BEL
(FLA)
 CAN
 GER
 IRE
 NLD
[11] 		SWE
 SWI
 US
[5]
1987 "Living in a Box" 5 49 11 20 18 4 6 18 4 2 17 Living in a Box
"Scales of Justice" 30 — — — — 35 27 — — — —
"So the Story Goes" 34 — — — — — — — — — 81
1988 "Love Is the Art" 45 — — — — — — — — — —
1989 "Blow the House Down" 10 166[12] — 12 — 28 12 10 15 26 — Gatecrashing
"Gatecrashing" 36 — — — — — — — — — —
"Room in Your Heart" 5 — 27 20 — — 6 16 20 — —
"Different Air" 57 — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

References

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  1. ^ a b Sutton, Michael. "Living in a Box – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. ^ Inskeep, Thomas; Soto, Alfred. "The Bluffer's Guide – Sophisti-Pop". Stylus. Archived from the original on 24 February 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  3. ^ "How It All Started for Living in a Box". www.livinginaboxmusic.com. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Living in a Box". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Living in a Box". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Brian". QueenVault.com. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  7. ^ "LIVING IN A BOX – Richard Darbyshire". Archived from the original on 14 February 2009.
  8. ^ "Living In A Box Twitter feed".
  9. ^ a b c "BRIT Certified – bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Living in a Box" and select "Search by Keyword"). British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 179. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Living in a Box | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  12. ^ "Week commencing 13 November 1989". Retrieved 19 February 2022.
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