Hey Y'all,

Do you remember this Aussie group who had a hit in the 80's with the remake of Lipps Inc.'s "Funkytown"? Did they ever have another hit here in the US? What are they up to now?

I have no idea what these guys are doing today, but I remember wishing they had stayed away altogether. Their version of Funky Town was one of those summer hits in Europe that wouldn't go away. I swear I had more requests for this song than most other songs in the 80's. I got pale just from seeing their name here. I was worried that it was getting re-released in some dreadful 2002 dance version. That will hopefully never happen.

Psuedo Echo were pretty big in their native Australia, but only managed to score one hit here in the US with their version of "Funkytown". Here's some info I dug up on them:

Album sales in excess of one million worldwide, a Top 10 single on the Billboard US pop charts, a No. 1 single on the Billboard US dance charts, a Top 10 single in the UK, a No. 1 single in Australia for 12 consecutive weeks, 7 Top 10 singles in Australia, a No. 1 single in Canada, Sweden and Finland, 4 albums reaching gold and platinum status and a swag of industry awards………

and what they are up to now:

The band have been back on the road in Australia since a "one night only" gig at Sydney's Club Retro on New Years Eve 1998, and now regularly play to packed houses. Not only are they playing all the hits, Pseudo Echo are performing brand new material and the crowds are loving it!!! The band kicked off the year 2000 touring Australia in late February with Culture Club and the Village People

I really loved that version of "funkytown" better than the original by lipps inc.

Originally posted by 80sTrivia
The band kicked off the year 2000 touring Australia in late February with Culture Club and the Village People

Funkytown and YMCA on the same nite! :eek: Brings a completely new meaning to the term Musical Torture. I wouldn't want that for my worst enemy...or Recker.

*hides his Psuedo Echo CD*

So I take it you're not a fan of Pseudo Echo, Flix? :D

Pseudo Echo had a hit single a year or two before "Funky Town", in New Zealand. This was when they were still wearing make up. "A Beat for You". Cool song. I liked this song more than their version of Funky Town. And it wasn't overplayed either!

Originally posted by Recker
Pseudo Echo had a hit single a year or two before "Funky Town", in New Zealand. This was when they were still wearing make up. "A Beat for You". Cool song. I liked this song more than their version of Funky Town. And it wasn't overplayed either!

I think I remember 'A Beat For You'. I liked 'Funkytown' and 'Living In A Dream'. It appears they are still together as I found this website for them: http://www.geocities.com/~pseudoecho/

"Welcome to the official Pseudo Echo website...

...the ultimate Pseudo Echo resource!
Whether you're a fan from way back or just discovering them for the first time, you'll find everything you're looking for here!"

I remember Pseudo Echo, but I only heard them do Funky Town. I had a friend who had a Swedish pen pal and she would always write to him about Pseudo Echo. I didn't think they did a very good cover, but I didn't think the original version was that good either. I think the song could be done very well, especially if it was done by a rock band.

I always liked Pseudo Echo, however I never liked Funky Town. The first song I remember from them is Living in a Dream which I really liked and why I bought their album.

Another case of bigger overseas than the US, sadly because this group sounded like they had a lot of potential to go far here in the US, but then again, it's like poison sometimes to start off with a re-make of a cherished classic! :)

I originally heard about Pseudo Echo via my Australian penpal, Janelle. She actually sent me the 45 single of "Funkytown" about a year or so before it became a hit in the States. She exposed me to a great deal of fantastic Aussie music, much of which never made it across the ocean to the States, sadly...

I was taking care of answering mails on the unofficial Spandau Ballet Site. You may ask yourself now "is she in the wrong threat, this is not about Spandau Ballet?". No i am not, one of the messages in the guestbook was by Darren Danielson from Pseudo Echo. :) He was not part of the original line up but anyway, appearantly he likes Spandau. I mailed him back and got some update about the band. They are still touring in Australia every once and a while. Check out their website for info: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Frontrow/6345/index2.html

I had one of their tapes in the 80's but I would have to listen to it again to remember the songs. :) I vaguely recall, 'Funkytown'

Pseudo Echo's Funky Town cover was one of those covers which you couldn't compare to the original. What I mean is, both their version and the original stood on their own very well. At least for me anyway. I love both of them. Even if Pseudo's video sucked :)

(sorry Flix)

that's odd I thought "Love An Adventure" would've charted in the US.

There first single was called "Mullets Rule!" :lol: have you seen some of their early clips? mullet city!!

I thought LIVING IN A DREAM was at least a top 40 hit. THey played the hell out of it up in Philly when it was out. Oh well, I guess not.

I have written an album review for Pseudo Echo in the reviews section. If you are keen for more information, then have a look. I trust my writing style is adequate.

Maybe it was a case of too many new romantics at once. Pseudo Echo began in the early '80's and definately had that new romantic sound, though they did use real guitars and had a live drummer who often struck those cool electric drums. If Visage; Ultravox; Gary Numan; early Depeche Mode; Yazoo etc is your thing, then I have no doubt that Pseudo Echo will be to your liking.

One of the "looks" of the band in the early days was a red Korg synthesizer that was shaped like a guitar. The player wore it around their neck. There was one of those "Where Are They Now" articles in a magazine and one of the articles featured Pseudo Echo. In the article Brian Canham (the lead singer) was asked about the Korg and he replied that he thought he saw it in his children's toybox!

In 1988, Pseudo Echo teamed up with producer (? - I think he was) Julian Mendleson and produced an album called 'Race'. This sounded very Van Halen esque (think songs like Jump) though Brian Canahan did not kinda screech his lyrics like David LeRoth or indeed Sammy Hagar - heavier guitar riffs and "stronger" (if that's the word) sounding songs. The keyboard was still present but less "plinky-plonky" of days gone by.

Worth finding for new romantic fans. You won't be disappointed.

Hello all,

I thought I'd add some more comments as to what's happened to Pseudo Echo. Most of it has been already mentioned, but here's some more info:-

Lead singer Brian Canham went into writing TV jingles and has formed a new project called "Origene" who have hit the local charts with "Suddenly Silently". The lead singer is a female and the song itself is very 80's new romantic sounding. Well worth checking out.

A couple of other members (Vince and James Leigh) went on to form Invertigo (formerly known as Vertigo), who released another 80's sounding album and had a couple of hits with "Say you do" "Chances are" and "De sensitized".

For those who liked Pseudo Echo, a very decent compilation "Best Adventures" is well worth checking out.

Regards,

Jim

That was a good version of "Funky Town." I do not remember another song from them.

g'day. some of psuedo's hits here in oz that probably didn't make it anywhere else include: listening, a beat for you, love an adventure, and living in a dream. of course funky town was there biggest hit.
in 1988 they released an album called "race" that did nothing on the charts but sounded great. they used more guitars instead of keyboards like on everything else they did. i remember going to see them play at a club about this time, and only about 30 people showed up. they ended up playing all their hits as well as requests.
i'm not aware of them playing to many gigs lately, except for that support slot a couple of years ago for culture club and village people.
as far as i know, brian canham (singer) started a new band a few years back called "brill" and released one album. he is now producing. brothers james and vince leigh (keyboards and drums) are now playing in a band called "invertigo" and getting some airplay in oz. don't know what happened to pierre gigliotti.
cheers.

I had no idea that there was that much info on Pseudo Echo. I only knew Funky Town and that's it. This is one of the reasons why this place is so great.