Animal Nightlife


Animal Nightlife was a British group in the 1980s. It consisted of Andy Polaris on vocals, Leonardo Chignoli on bass, Steve Brown on guitar, Billy Chapman on saxophone and Paul Waller on drums.

History

Founded in 1980 in the London night club scene, their sound has been described as white funk or cool jazz – a 1980s dance sound that is rooted in blues, soul, R&B and jazz.
Their debut single, "Love Is Just The Great Pretender" and the follow-up "Native Boy", came out on the Innervision label. The latter entered the UK Singles Chart at Number 60 in 1983. In August 1984, they reached Number 25 with "Mr. Solitaire", their most successful release. They hit the chart again in July 1985 with a re-recording of "Love is Just the Great Pretender", which reached Number 28.
Their first album, Shangri-La, was released on Island Records a month later in August 1985. The band ended its recording career in 1988 after the release of their second album, Lush Life, on Virgin subsidiary 10 Records. In November 2016, Shangri-la was re-issued in a deluxe two-CD edition by Cherry Red.
Frontman Andy Polaris has recently resurfaced creating fashionable window displays in Dalston's Oxfam shop.

Discography

Albums

  1. "Native Boy"
  2. "Waiting for the Bait to Bite"
  3. "Perfect Match"
  4. "Love is Just the Great Pretender '85"
  5. "Insomniazz"
  6. "Lazy Afternoon"
  7. "Between Lovers"
  8. "After Hours"
  9. "Basic Ingredients"
  10. "Throw in the Towel"
  11. "Bittersweet"
  12. "Mr Solitaire"
Shangri-la was released on Island Records. It entered the UK Albums Chart on 24 August 1985, and remained in the chart for six weeks, reaching number 36.
  1. "Why Couldn't Your Black Heart Tell a White Lie"
  2. "Always Your Humble Slave"
  3. "TV Scene"
  4. "Sweet Smell of Success"
  5. "Boys With the Best Intentions"
  6. "Luck"
  7. "The War I Lost"
  8. "Mouth"
  9. "Last Hotel of the World"
  10. "Breakaway"

    Singles

Animal Nightlife had four singles in the UK Singles Chart during the 1980s.
Date of chart entryTitleLabel and referenceHighest positionWeeks in the chart
13 August 1983"Native Boy "Innervision A3584603
18 August 1984"Mr. Solitaire"Island Records IS 1932512
6 July 1985"Love is Just the Great Pretender"Island Records IS 200286
5 October 1985"Preacher, Preacher"Island Records IS 245671

Band members