the Mott archive
a Mott The Hoople website
with news, discographies, picture sleeve gallery and guide to cover versions for Mott The Hoople and all members and spin-off bands
site index
- Partners In Crime
- Mott The Hoople
- Ian Hunter
- Mick Ronson
- Mick Ralphs
- Verden Allen
- Overend Watts
- Dale Griffin
- Luther Grosvenor
- Morgan Fisher
- Blue Weaver
- Mick Bolton
- Nigel Benjamin
- Ray Majors
- Bad Company
- Medicine Head
- British Lions
- John Fiddler
- Spooky Tooth
- Love Affair
- Mott
- Doc Thomas Group
- Box Of Frogs
- Widowmaker
- Steve Hyams
- Sandy Dillon
- Darrell Bath
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PARTNERS IN CRIME
Ray Majors teamed up with John Fiddler in 1983 to form Freeway, a band that also featured John Coghlan (drums, ex-Status Quo) and Terry Uttley (bass, ex-Smokie). After a year spent making demos, Fiddler left to join Box Of Frogs instead.
The band were originally called Stranger and at one point also included bass player Ian Ellis (ex-Savoy Brown and Steamhammer) and keyboard player Jeff Banister. Fiddler was eventually replaced by Noel McCalla (ex-Moon and Jody Street). With the addition of bass player Mac McCaffrey and Mark De Vanchque (aka Mark Booty - formerly with Wildlife) on keyboards, the band changed their name to Partners In Crime and signed with Epic Records.
Quick links: albums | singles | BBC sessions | miscellaneous
"ORGANISED CRIME" UK LP | 1985
(Epic EPC 26356)
Tracklisting: Hollywood Dreams / Miracles / Fools / Hold On / Gypsy Tricks / Heat Of The Night / No Way Out Of Here / I Can't Forget / What Does It Take / She's Got Eyes
Ray Majors wrote "Gypsy Tricks", "Heat Of The Night" (with John Fiddler), "No Way Out Of Here" and "What Does It Take" for the album, entitled "Organised Crime". It received favourable reviews upon its May 1985 release, but it sold poorly, like the three singles preceeding it. The band decided to call it quits by the end of the year.
"HOLD ON" UK 7" single | 1984
(Epic A4803)
"Hold On" was released on single in October 1984, backed with "She's Got Eyes" (also available as 12": Epic TX4803). "Hold On" was originally written by Trevor Rabin, Jon Anderson and Chris Squire from Yes and it was included on Yes' most successful album "90125", released in 1983 by ATCO.
"MIRACLES" 7" single | 1985
(UK: Epic A5040) - pictured left top
(Japan: Epic/Sony 07-5P-339) - pictured left below
"Miracles" was backed with the non-LP "What You Gonna Do?" for this 1985 single. The songwriting credit for the B-side was 'Partners In Crime' - it was the only song written by all band members.
A 12" edition of this single was also available in the UK, with an extended remix of "Miracles" by James Guthrie on the A-side (Epic TX 5040). The 12" picture cover is the same as the 7" edition but with the added wording 'extended remix'.
James Guthrie is perhaps best known for his work with Pink Floyd, having served as a producer and engineer for the band since 1978.
"HOLLYWOOD DREAMS" UK 12" single | 1985
(Epic TX 6170)
The third and final single was "Hollywood Dreams" backed with "She's Got Eyes For You". This 12" single has an extended remix of "Hollywood Dreams" by James Guthrie on the A-side. The 7" picture sleeve edition (Epic A6170) looks identical, but is missing the 'extended remix' wording.
Mark De Vanchque wrote "Hollywood Dreams" with his former Wildlife colleagues Steve and Chris Overland. The Overland brothers would eventually form FM.
TRIVIA ALERT! The self-titled second Wildlife album from 1983 was produced by Mick Ralphs.
JOHN PEEL SESSION: Partners In Crime recorded "Hollywood Dreams", "Gypsy Tricks", "She's Got Eyes For You" and "What Does It Take?" in session for John Peel on 17 November 1984. The session was produced by Dale Griffin at the BBC studio in Maida Vale 4, and aired on 29 November 1984.
IN CONCERT: The band also recorded six songs live at the Greyhound in Fulham on 16 January 1985 for BBC 'live in concert': What Does It Take / Miracles / Heat Of The Night / Fools / Gypsy Tricks / Hollywood Dreams.
LINE-UP (left to right):
Mac McCaffrey (bass guitar)
Noel McCalla (vocals)
John Coghlan (drums)
Mark De Vanchque (keyboards)
Ray Majors (guitar)
Noel McCalla has maintained a solo career since the demise of Partners In Crime, and he was also the lead vocalist for Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1991 until September 2009. Be sure to visit his website for more information.
John Coghlan also has his own website, well worth a visit. He is still active in the music business, drumming better than ever!