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The Mike Flowers Pops

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The Mike Flowers Pops
OriginLondon, England
GenresPop
LabelsSony Music
MembersMike Flowers

The Mike Flowers Pops (also known as MFP, The Pops or The Mike Flowers Pops Orchestra) are a British easy listening band fronted by Mike Flowers (real name Michael Roberts).

The title "MFP" parodies the budget record label Music for Pleasure, also known as MFP, which produced a series of "Hot Hits" cover version albums in the 1960s and 1970s. [1]

History

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The band became famous in the UK in 1995 when they released a cover version of Oasis' hit song "Wonderwall".[2] After seeing the band perform, BBC radio producer Will Saunders recruited Flowers for BBC Radio 1 DJ Kevin Greening in order to cover the 'Hits of 95' for Greening's Saturday show; "Wonderwall" was his first week's project. Chris Evans heard the song and made it 'single of the week' on his Radio 1 breakfast show, telling listeners that this was the original version of the song.[2] The single, issued by London Records under the name The Mike Flowers Pops, was released while the Oasis original was still in the UK Singles Chart, and itself reached the Top 10. Flowers' version peaked at number 2 in the UK Christmas 1995 chart and got to number one in Scotland.[3][4] Lou Reed, when asked at the time whether he had heard anything by Oasis, claimed: "Not that I would know. Oh, Wonderwall? The one I know is the Mike Flowers one. That is one of the funniest things I've ever heard in my life."[5]

Following the success of "Wonderwall", The Mike Flowers Pops quickly advanced from performing shows in nightclubs and small concert halls to touring festivals and larger venues across Britain and Europe. A Groovy Place was released on 24 June 1996. At the end of 1996 they toured Britain with Gary Glitter on his last 'Who's in the Gang' tour.[2] They played large venues including Wembley Arena and Birmingham NEC. Cover versions of The Doors' "Light My Fire" and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" also reached the top 40 of the UK chart.[4]

The Mike Flowers Pops played at the Shiiine On Weekender in November 2016[6] and at the 100 Club in London in December 2016[7] and December 2017.

Mike Flowers

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Mike Flowers
Birth nameMichael Roberts
Also known asMike Flowers
Born1960 (age 63–64)
Liverpool, England, U.K.
OriginLondon, England, U.K.
GenresPop
OccupationSinger
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Formerly ofMike Flowers Pops

Michael Roberts (born 1960), known professionally as Mike Flowers, is an English pop singer.

Career

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In the mid-1990s he enjoyed an unlikely pop profile as easy-listening bandleader Mike Flowers of The Mike Flowers Pops, including a UK No. 2 chart hit with his version of the Oasis song Wonderwall (which Lou Reed said was one of the funniest things he’d ever heard). Formed in 1993, The Mike Flowers Pops can have up to fourteen members on stage at any time, and they are principally known for easy listening or lounge music covers of both 'classic' and contemporary pop music.

He has since scored music for film and television, and made music documentaries for Sky Arts and London’s Barbican Centre. How Art Made Pop is his first book[2] and supported by the "Sounds Superb Singers" and "Super Stereo Brass".

Personal life

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He lives in London, is still married and has two children. He studied Painting at Chelsea School of Art (1978-81) and did an MA in Music at Goldsmiths (2012-14).

Discography

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Albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[8]
A Groovy Place
  • Released: June 1996[2]
  • Format: CD, cassette
  • Label: London Records (828 743.2)
 . 138

Extended plays

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List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
The Freebase Connection
  • Released: 1996[2]
  • Format: CD, 12" LP
  • Label: Lo Recordings (LOEP 02)
Hold the Corner
(with Cornershop)
  • Released: 2016[2]
  • Format: digital
  • Label: Ample Play

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Chart positions Album
UK
[9] 		AUS
[8]
"Wonderwall" 1995 2 48 A Groovy Place
"Light My Fire" / "Please Release Me" 1996 39 158
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" 30 — non album singles
"Talk" 2005 — —

References

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  1. ^ "Music for Pleasure". Seniors Network. 3 April 2006. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Jody Macgregor. "The Mike Flowers Pops | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
  4. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 206. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ Q, April 1996, p. 38
  6. ^ "Past Events". Shiiine On Weekender. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Mike Flowers Pops, Lorraine Bowen – The 100 Club, Soho". The Red Penguin. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Mike Flowers Pops ARIA chart history to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  9. ^ "Mike Flowers Popsd". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
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