Everything But The Girl

Everything But The Girl date back to 1982 when the early pop careers of Tracey Thorn (b. 26.09.62) and Ben Watt (b.06.12.62) converged. As teenagers during the post-punk years of the early 80's both Ben and Tracey were signed separately to London independent label Cherry Red. Tracey initially with her first band, The Marine Girls and Ben as a solo artist. After a clutch of critically acclaimed, indie-chart topping independent releases, including two Marine Girls albums, a collaboration single - using the name Everything But The Girl for the first time, and their respective minimalist solo albums (Tracey's 'A Distant Shore' (1981) and Ben's 'North Marine Drive' (1982), the pair finally shelved their own projects and signed as Everything But The Girl to the fledgling label Blanco Y Negro (distributed by WEA in 1984.)

Between 1984 and 1991 EBTG released six studio albums. 'Eden' (1984) featuring the European hit, 'Each And Everyone', (and later released as 'Everything But The Girl' in the U.S. with a new sleeve and six different tracks on side two). 'Love Not Money' (1985). 'Baby The Stars Shine Bright' (1986) including 'Come On Home'. 'Idlewild' (1988) including the UK no. 3 hit 'I Don't Want To Talk About It' and 'Apron Strings', written for the John Hughes film 'She's Having A Baby'. 'The Language Of Life' (1990) including U.S. VH1 hit 'Driving'. And the sixth album being, 'Worldwide' (1991).

Around 1992/3 and Ben's lengthy recovery from an unexpected and near fatal illness, EBTG, returned to work with renewed dedication. 1994 saw the release of their seventh studio album 'Amplified Heart', which earned some of the best reviews of their career. A year later it spawned a massive, multimillion selling world-wide hit with Todd Terry's thumping melancholy house remix of 'Missing'.

Reaching No.2 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, No.3 U.K. (and top ten for over three months), Germany No.1, Canada No.1, Italy No. 1 and top 5 in another six major European countries. EBTG played almost ninety concerts throughout North America and in Europe in support of 'Amplified Heart' and 'Missing'. In the same period, Tracey sang lead vocals and co-wrote two songs (one with Ben) for Massive Attack's second album Protection (1994).

In 1995 Ben and Tracey divided their songwriting time between spells in London and New York, and then recording EBTG's eighth studio album, 'Walking Wounded' (1996) in London. The album, released in May 1996, has proved the most successful of their career so far, spawning four hit singles, 'Walking Wounded', 'Wrong', 'Single' and 'Before Today'. The album signaled the adoption of a whole new set of influences from the burgeoning dance and breakbeat scene - influences hinted at on their previous album, Amplified Heart, and furthered in subsequent work with Massive Attack and the remixes of Missing. Walking Wounded established EBTG as one of the few groups of their generation to successfully bridge the gap between the 80's and the 90's.

In 1999 Everything But The Girl released their latest album 'Temperamental'. Building on the foundations laid during the previous few years, the album further explores the beats and textures of clubland. The sound points downwards to a deep and soulful level of rich song-based dance music.

Tracey retreated from the scene in 2000 to concentrate on raising her and Ben's young family. Ben has developed a lateral career as successful DJ, producer and remixer, launching his club night, Lazy Dog with DJ partner Jay Hannan in 1998, and his own club-bar in west London, Cherry Jam in 2002 to showcase underground music. He has delivered a clutch of stunning dance remixes since 2001 for Sade, Maxwell, Sunshine Anderson, Meshell N'degeocello and Sandy Rivera, and mixed the bulk of Beth Orton's acoustic-textured 2002 album, Daybreaker.

In 2002 Ben and Tracey compiled a personal retrospective CD and DVD charting their favourite moments over the past 20 years. Entitled Like The Deserts Miss The Rain, the CD features anthems, ballads, hits and b-sides - all high points as seen through Ben and Tracey's eyes, and to many a definitive best of Everything But The Girl.