This is another group who caused a surprise or two on the chart in the late-90s. No Doubt are a group from California, and they formed in the mid-80s. It was definitely a long time before they found success. Their first single and album were released in 1992, and they had what would turn out to be their biggest hit about a decade after they formed. What helped bring some attention to them was their frontwoman Gwen Stefani.
Their musical style could be described in lots of ways, with ska influences, some funk pieces, even heavy rock instruments if they need them. They first came to the attention of the UK when in October 1996 “Just A Girl” became their first Top 40 hit, and this is among my favourites. But it was in February 1997 when they made it big, when “Don’t Speak” was a chart-topper for three weeks (and curiously this also spent three weeks at no. 3).
This clearly moved a lot of people as this was a success in many other countries too. It was a problem though as this wasn’t really representative of their usual sound. This also helped their album (actually their third) to go up the chart. In July 1997 it was decided to give “Just A Girl” another go, which this time reached the Top Ten. It was also around this time that Gwen was a real talking point and appeared on the cover of Melody Maker.
They ended their great year with two more hits that were “Spiderwebs” and “Sunday Morning”. By 1999 we go into what could be described as “the pink hair years”, when their hits were getting smaller. “New”, “Ex-Girlfriend”, and “Simple Kind Of Life” didn’t make the Top 20. After this, Gwen decided to go out on her own. Was it all over? They returned in February 2002 when “Hey Baby” reached no. 2, this really was a great comeback.
This turned out to be their third and final Top Ten hit in the UK though. But they continued with some more good songs, in 2002 “Hella Good” and “Underneath It All” (which was their biggest hit in America) made the Top 20. By now, they were winning a lot of Grammys. By 2003, it was time to promote their best-of album. They released “It’s My Life”, a cover of the Talk Talk song from the mid-80s, which was an unexpected move.
And then in 2004, barely three months on, “It’s My Life” was re-released, “Bathwater” was added to make this a double A-side, and this made the Top 20 for a second time, but a Top Ten place was hoped for. And it was at this point that Gwen concentrated on her successful solo career for the next five years or so. In 2012 “Don’t Speak” made the lower end of the chart again. And No Doubt still occasionally get back together, how terrific!
ADAM'S NOSTALGIC MEMORIES 