Formed: London, England, UK
Very poppy band with an extremely dominant keyboard sound, akin to The Stranglers' but not so flashy,
The Doll was nonetheless responsible for two great fast punk tracks on their first single. B-Side 'Trash' had previously appeared on the Streets compilation. Single #2 Desire Me was much slicker, enough so to propel them into the Top 30 and earn them a two-month chart residence and a Top Of The Pops appearance. Or maybe it was the sleeve (lead singer Marion 'Baby Doll' Valentine in a leopard skin suit), or the multiple format releases. Regardless, the amount of attention paid to the sexpot singer splintered the group, and the new band that emerged in its wake was even poppier and smoother sounding.
Cinderella With A Husky Voice, a tale of transvestism, might have been vaguely risque and was certainly catchy, but it didn't chart, and neither did the follow up singles.
Listen To The Silence, their sole album, is pretty dull, closer to Gary Numan than the frantic pop/punk of their earlier singles.
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Lineup 1 (1976-1977):
Black Lou - vocals
Marion 'Baby Doll' Valentine rn Marion Suava - guitar
Christopher 'Whizz Kidd' Yianni - bass
Max Splodge - drums
This lineup lasted "about a year" (according to Max Splodge) and never recorded anything.
Lineup 2 (1977):
Marion 'Baby Doll' Valentine - guitar & vocals
Adonis - keyboards
Christopher 'Whizz Kidd' Yianni - bass
Max Splodge - drums
This lineup recorded a demo in 1977, after which Splodge left to join a band called The Mistakes.
Lineup 3 (1977-1979):
Marion 'Baby Doll' Valentine - guitar & vocals
Adonis - keyboards
Christopher 'Whizz Kidd' Yianni - bass
Mario Watts - drums
The lineup responsible for Don't Tango On My Heart (7", 1978), and Desire Me although Splodge was coaxed back into the fold briefly in '78.
Lineup 4 (1979-1980):
Marion Valentine - vocals, rhythm guitar
James West-Oram - rhythm & lead guitar
Denis Haines - keyboards, backing vocals
Christopher Yianni - bass
Paul Turner - drums
West-Oram later joined The Fixx, while Yianni joined The Shoppers.
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DISCOGRAPHY
Singles & Albums
Don't Tango On My Heart (7", 1978)
Desire Me (7"/2x7"/12", 1979)
Cinderella With A Husky Voice (7", 1979)
You Used To Be My Hero (7", 1979)
Listen To The Silence (LP, 1979)
Burning Up Like A Fire (7", 1980)
Various Artists
Streets UK LP 1977 (Beggars Banquet): Trash
Nu Muzik Canada LP 1980 (Nu Muzik): Desire Me
The Indie Scene 78 UK CD 1991 (Connoisseur Collection): Desire Me
Beggars Banquet - The Punk Singles Collection UK CD 1996 (Anagram): Don't Tango On My Heart / Trash / Desire Me / Cinderella With A Husky Voice / You Used To Be My Hero
Charts Pur Pop & Wave Germany 2xCD 2009 (ZYX Music): Desire Me
My Girlfriend Was A Punk! Rare Early Female Punkrockers France LP ???? (no label): Trash
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