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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

EURYTHMICS, The

Pop duo: David Allan Stewart (b 9 September 1952, Sunderland), guitars, keyboards, composer, vocals; Annie Lennox (b 25 December 1954, Aberdeen), vocals. Stewart began as a folkie mid-'60s, worked with folk group Amazing Blondel; formed Longdancer in Lindisfarne mould and signed to Elton John's Rocket label. He met Lennox '77 waitressing in a Hampstead restaurant and formed the Tourists, who made three albums, had UK hits 'Loneliest Man In The World', a cover of Dusty Springfield's 'I Only Want To Be With You', and 'So Good To Be Back Home Again'. The group split '80 but Stewart and Lennox carried on together. Debut LP In The Garden '81 was made in Germany with guests Clem Burke (of Blondie), Holger Czukay and Marcus Stockhausen; its blend of psychedelia and mildly avant-garde electronics included 'Belinda' and 'Never Gonna Cry Again'. Critics were divided; the Lennox/Stewart personal relationship was over; Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) '82 was a make-or-break album, establishing them with hits 'Love Is A Stranger' and title cut (no. 1 USA '83), aided by clever videos emphasizing Lennox's androgynous appeal; Touch '83 was even bigger, with UK/USA hits 'Who's That Girl', 'Right By Your Side', 'Here Comes The Rain Again'. RCA issued tracks remixed from Touch in mini-album Touch Dance to critical hostility and adverse comments from the duo. They landed the plum job of scoring film Nineteen Eighty-Four, but problems with producers led to the music being shelved, it was shoved onto a soundtrack LP anyway by Virgin including the hit 'Sexcrime'.

Lennox's marriage to Hare Krishna devotee made news (it didn't last); she had cameo role in flop film Revolution '85. Be Yourself Tonight '85 was another hit LP, including guests Daryl Hall, Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin duet with Lennox on 'Sisters (Are Doin' It For Themselves)'. Single 'It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)' entered '86 another hit; album Revenge '86 included 'When Tomorrow Comes'. The Eurythmics were one of the best and brightest UK pop acts, thanks to Stewart's melodies and technique, Lennox's blue-eyed soul and looks; Savage '87 was a reversion to the hot-blooded synth-pop duo. We Too Are One '89 switched from RCA to Arista, the punning title presaging a split.

Her albums without him Diva '92 on Arista and Medusa '95 on Miramar/RCA seemed merely brittle and slick, the former also available in a limited edition including a recorded interview. Stewart worked '85-6 as a producer with Tom Petty, Feargal Sharkey, Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Mick Jagger, Daryl Hall; he formed band the Spiritual Cowboys '90 for a couple of albums which didn't set the world on fire, and his first proper solo album Greetings From The Gutter '94 further demonstrated a curious inability to project anything of himself: for all his talent, he needs to shine through clients. He is also a photographer, exhibiting in London galleries. He worked on music for Joe Eszterhas script Showgirls and with Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement on stage musical The Secret Life Of Queen Victoria.