Craig Allen says: ‘Meet Londonbeat’

Londonbeat is an England-based R&B/dance band that scored several top-40 and dance hits across Europe in the early 1990's...and scored one of "Jersey's Favorite Hits" in the process!

Londonbeat is American (YES!) Jimmy Helms, who previously had a successful solo career, and also sang on jingles for English radio. Also, Jimmy Chambers, from Trinidad, and Myles Kayne. Former members include William Henshall (credited as Willy M), George Chandler and Marc Goldschmitz.

Londonbeat first grabbed the public's attention in Holland, where the single "There's A Beat Going On" reached the Top-10, in 1988.

The followup "9A.M (The Comfort Zone)" blipped on the British pop charts.

The "In The Blood" album was produced in 1990...and it would put Londonbeat on the world pop music map!

Londonbeat is best known for their 1991 international smash hit "I've Been Thinking About You."

As one of "Jersey's Favorite Hits," the song was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the Billboard Dance/Club Play charts in 1991.

An interesting side note on the song in a moment...

Londonbeat's next song "A Better Love" climbed into the 20's on the Hot 100 chart.

And while "Come Back" would halt its Hot 100 chart run at #62, it was #1 on the Dance Chart!

The album "Harmony" was released in 1992. "Londonbeat" followed in 1994.

Londonbeat mounted a comeback in 1995, when they entered the British bands competition in the "Eurovision Song Contest."

"I'm Just Your Puppet On A...(String)" didn't win the contest...and the song stalled at #55 on the British Singles Charts.

After a few years off, Londonbeat regrouped in 2003, and signed to a German record label.

The new album "Back In The Hi-Life," released through "Coconut Records," included some new tracks (that did not chart), along with new versions of "A Better Love" and "I've Been Thinking About You."

Marc Goldschmitz left the band in 2004.

In 2011, Londonbeat was featured on two tracks of "The Crossing," an album by Brazilian composer Eumir Deodato.

If the name seems slightly familiar, "Deodato" had a #2 hit in 1973 with "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)." His version of the theme to the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Deodato also produced all the hits for Jersey's own "Kool & The Gang" between 1979 and 1982.

As promised, back to "I've Been Thinking Aboout You," Londonbeat's biggest single....

It could have been a big hit, earlier!

A demo of the song was completed in 1987, and it made the rounds of the record companies, on cassette, as early as 1988!

It was originally going to be included on the band's first album, "Speak," in 1988...but the record company advised the band to hold on to the song until the time that Londonbeat could "develop an audience."

So..."I've Been Thinking About You" COULD have been an 80's hit record...!