The Darts

About

Three consecutive UK number two singles in a single year is a feat most bands never pull off once, but Darts did it in 1978 with "Come Back My Love", "The Boy from New York City", and their own original "It's Raining". The nine piece London outfit built their sound around doo wop and early rock and roll, breathing new life into 1950s American R&B with enough energy to pack out clubs and universities before they ever had a record deal. Signed to Magnet Records and produced by Tommy Boyce, the man behind early Monkees records, they scored their first hit in 1977 with a medley of "Daddy Cool" and Little Richard's "The Girl Can't Help It". They kept the momentum going into 1979 with a Roy Wood produced cover of "Duke of Earl", their last top 10 entry. After their chart run wound down they moved into theatre, serving as musical directors for the production of Yakety Yak. The band reformed in 2006 and has kept performing regularly since.