#164: You Take Me Up by Thompson Twins

City: Toronto, ON
Radio Station: CHUM
Peak Month: October 1984
Peak Position in Toronto ~ #5
Peak Position in Vancouver ~ did not chart
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ #44
YouTube: “You Take Me Up”
Lyrics: “You Take Me Up”

The Thompson Twins formed in the UK in Sheffield in 1977. The band’s name was based on the two bumbling detectives Thompson and Thompson (who are close doubles, not twins) in the English-language version of The Adventures of Tintin (Les aventures de Tintin). At various stages the Thompson Twins had up to seven members. However, their best known line-up was as a trio from 1982 to 1986. The band became a prominent act in the US during the Second British Invasion, and in 1985 performed at Live Aid in Philadelphia, where they were joined on stage by Madonna. The band was founded by Tom Bailey who was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire. He studied classical piano and before forming the band, he worked as a music teacher. When the band had six members in 1981, they released the debut album A Product of… (Participation). The album was not a commercial success. However, the second member of the classic Thompson Twins lineup, Joe Leeway, was now part of the band. Continue reading →