Be-Bop Deluxe

{{Short description|English rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use British English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Be-Bop Deluxe | image = Be Bop Deluxe2.jpg | caption = [[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]] fronting the band at [[Massey Hall]], [[Toronto]], 1977 | image_size = | origin = [[Wakefield]], [[West Yorkshire]], England | genre = {{Flatlist| * [[Art rock]] * [[glam rock]] * [[progressive rock]] }} | years_active = 1972–1978 | label = [[Harvest Records|Harvest]] | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = | past_members = [[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]] Robert Bryan Nicholas Chatterton-Dew [[Ian Parkin]] Richard Brown [[Simon Fox]] [[Paul Jeffreys]] Milton Reame-James [[Charlie Tumahai]] [[Andy Clark (musician)|Andrew Clark]] }}

'''Be-Bop Deluxe''' were an English [[rock music|rock]] band who achieved critical acclaim and moderate commercial success during the mid to late 1970s.

== History == === Be-Bop Deluxe === Be-Bop Deluxe were founded in [[Wakefield]], [[West Yorkshire]], England, by singer, guitarist and principal songwriter [[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]] in 1972.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=203}}</ref> The founding line-up consisted of Nelson, guitarist [[Ian Parkin]], bassist and vocalist Robert Bryan, drummer Nicholas Chatterton-Dew, and keyboardist Richard Brown (who left in December of that year).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billnelson.com/usarchives/interview/record97.htm |title=Record Collector (UK) article by Mark Hodkinson |access-date=2014-04-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820003111/http://www.billnelson.com/usarchives/interview/record97.htm |archive-date=20 August 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> They started off playing the West Yorkshire pub scene, with one regular venue being the Staging Post in [[Whinmoor]], [[Leeds]]. They never played [[bebop]] music, but instead came out of the [[blues]]-based [[British rock]] scene of the late 1960s. At first they were compared to the more successful [[David Bowie]], but Nelson never tried to copy Bowie, and appears to have disliked comparisons or being pigeon-holed.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

After signing to [[EMI Records|EMI]]'s [[Harvest Records]] subsidiary, the initial line-up of the band only lasted for one album, 1974's ''[[Axe Victim]]'', and a short tour. It seems that the band were badly managed and were given little time for rehearsal by a cash-strapped manager, desperate to make money, with the inevitable result that, shortly after this, Nelson dissolved the band and reformed with a new line-up with bassist [[Paul Jeffreys]], keyboardist Milton Reame-James (both formerly of [[Cockney Rebel]]), and drummer [[Simon Fox]], the latter introduced by Reame-James to Nelson.<ref name="Nelson, Bill 2004 Pp. 78-9">Nelson, Bill ''diary of a hyperdreamer'' (2004) Pp. 78-9 Bill Nelson's collected diaries from between 1999 and 2003, previously published on his official website Pomona {{ISBN|1-904590-06-3}}</ref> Jeffreys and Reame-James soon departed the band, and New Zealand-born bassist-vocalist [[Charlie Tumahai]] (formerly of Australian bands [[Mississippi (band)|Mississippi]] and Healing Force) joined in late 1974. This line-up recorded 1975's [[Futurama (Be-Bop Deluxe album)|''Futurama'']] album (produced by [[Roy Thomas Baker]], the then-producer for [[Queen (band)|Queen]]) and was then supplemented by keyboardist [[Andy Clark (musician)|Andrew Clark]] for the subsequent tour, after which Clark joined the band. This final line-up remained constant until the band's dissolution in 1978. Jeffreys died in the bombing of [[Pan Am Flight 103]] over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.<ref name="Nelson, Bill 2004 Pp. 78-9"/>

Stylistically, the songs took elements from progressive rock, glam rock (the band had flirted with make-up in the early days), and hard guitar rock. "Ships in the Night", taken from the band's third album ''[[Sunburst Finish (album)|Sunburst Finish]]'', was their most successful single in both the UK and the US. The single features an [[alto saxophone]] solo by [[Ian Nelson (musician)|Ian Nelson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=135677|title=Be Bop Deluxe - Sunburst Finish, review by Easy Livin|website=Progarchives.com|access-date=28 October 2018}}</ref> The album was notably the first to be produced by EMI employee [[John Leckie]], who had hitherto worked for the company as a recording engineer, in which capacity he had served on ''Axe Victim'',<ref>{{cite web|title=John Leckie Q & A, Exclusive to Skids Fans Website|url=http://www.the-skids.com/apps/blog/entries/show/42874481-bill-leckie-q-a-exclusie-to-skids-fans-website|website=The-skids.com|access-date=12 May 2015|year=2014}}</ref> which he also in effect produced. Leckie would go on to produce all the subsequent Be-Bop Deluxe and [[Bill Nelson's Red Noise]] albums for Harvest, including the proposed Red Noise album ''Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam'' that Harvest refused to release. Nelson shared producing credits with Leckie from ''[[Drastic Plastic]]'' onward.

The first three Be-Bop Deluxe albums are all, in one way or another, named after guitars. "Axe" is slang for a guitar, "Futurama" is a particular make of guitar,<ref>https://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofnerfs/futurama/fut.html</ref> while "Sunburst Finish" refers to a style of finishing for the instrument.

The title track of the fourth album, [[Modern Music (Be-Bop Deluxe album)|''Modern Music'']], was a ten-minute suite of songs inspired by the experience of the band's touring the US. This was followed by the 1977 live album, ''Live! in the Air Age'', recorded on the subsequent UK tour promoting ''Modern Music'' although no songs from that studio album appeared on the live one, apart from a tantalizing snippet of the audience singing along to "Down on Terminal Street".<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Dick |first=Charlie |date=5 March 1991 |title=Live in the Air Age Review (reissue) |journal=Q Magazine |volume=55 |pages=84}}</ref> That recording – now featuring the song in its entirety – and a number of other live ''Modern Music'' tracks finally surfaced on 2011's five-CD set ''Futurist Manifesto''.

1978's ''[[Drastic Plastic]]'', recorded at Juan-Les-Pins in the South of France<ref name="Nelson, Bill 2004">Nelson, Bill ''Eight Millimetre Memories: Be-Bop Deluxe In The South Of France'' in ''Bill Nelson and the Lost Satellites''/''The Be Bop Deluxe And Beyond Tour 2004'' (2004) official tour programme</ref> with influences of [[Punk rock|punk]], [[New wave music|new wave]], and David Bowie's [[Berlin Trilogy]], was a substantial stylistic change from the progressive/guitar rock of the early Be-Bop Deluxe. Eager to embrace the changing musical landscape, Nelson dissolved Be-Bop Deluxe.

The band appeared three times on the BBC's ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]'', performing a total of six songs, and once on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', with their 1976 single, "Ships in the Night". For the band's ''Sight & Sound'' concert in 1978, the setlist was made up entirely of tracks from the ''Drastic Plastic'' album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/be-bop-deluxe-at-the-bbc-1974-1978|title=Be Bop Deluxe At The BBC 1974-1978 - Record Collector Magazine|website=Recordcollectormag.com|access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>

===After Be-Bop Deluxe=== Immediately thereafter, Nelson formed a new band, [[Bill Nelson's Red Noise]], retaining Andy Clark on keyboards,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> and adding his brother [[Ian Nelson (musician)|Ian]] on saxophone, in which capacity the latter had previously contributed to "Ships in the Night". An album followed. Nelson has subsequently released numerous albums and singles under his own name, frequently playing all instruments himself.

Nelson planned a four-guitarist, two-drummer band in the 1990s with his brother, but it never materialised; in 1992, Nelson released his own demos for this band as ''Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars'' on [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]. In 1995, former Be-Bop Deluxe members Ian Parkin and Charlie Tumahai both died. In February, 2003, Bill was asked to open the new East Coast Music Academy in Grimsby, where he met Nick Dew. This led to an invitation for Nick to play drums in 'The Lost Satellites' at the October 2003 'Nelsonica' Fan Convention held at the Duke of Cumberland pub in North Ferriby. In 2004, ''[[Sound on Sound]]'' magazine, whose website hosts Nelson's online shop<ref>{{cite web|title=Sound on Sound Bill Nelson Shop|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/shop/Dept.php?DeptID=17|access-date=30 April 2015|year=2003}}</ref> and is named after Red Noise's ''[[Sound-on-Sound]]'' album,<ref>{{cite web|last=Humberstone|first=Nigel|title=Bill Nelson: Guitar Boy In Wonderland|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1995_articles/oct95/billnelson.html|access-date=30 April 2015|year=1995}}</ref><ref name="soundonsound.com">{{cite web|title=BILL NELSON: Be-Bop Deluxe And Beyond Tour|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=7087|website=Soundcloud.com|access-date=30 April 2015|year=2004}}</ref> put up the money for Nelson to take his seven-piece band Bill Nelson and the Lost Satellites, originally formed to play the 2002 Nelsonica convention,<ref>Nelson, Bill ''diary of a hyperdreamer'' (2004) Pp. 425-31 Bill Nelson's collected diaries from between 1999 and 2003, previously published on his official website Pomona {{ISBN|1-904590-06-3}}</ref> on tour around the UK as The Be Bop Deluxe and Beyond Tour.<ref name="soundonsound.com"/> The drummer for the tour was Nick Dew who, under the name Nicholas Chatterton-Dew, had played with Be-Bop Deluxe in the early days.<ref name="Lost Satellites' 2004">''Bill Nelson and the Lost Satellites''/''The Be Bop Deluxe And Beyond Tour 2004'' (2004) official tour programme, centre spread showing band line-up</ref> The sax player was Ian Nelson,<ref name="Lost Satellites' 2004"/> who died two years later in 2006.

Nelson subsequently put together the seven-piece Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers, which included [[Dave Sturt]] (bass) and [[Theo Travis]] (assorted woodwind, brass), and, once again, Nick Dew on drums, to play songs with vocals from the extensive Be-Bop Deluxe/Bill Nelson back catalogue at his annual Nelsonica event in Yorkshire. In March 2011, the band played live to cameras at Metropolis Studios, London. Initially released on DVD, the resultant video and audio recording has subsequently been reissued on other formats including CD and LP. However, having signed away his rights to these recordings, Nelson has made no money on any of the Metropolis Studios releases.

In 2011, EMI upgraded the Be-Bop Deluxe catalogue with remasters by Peter Mew. EMI and Bill Nelson chose to include all of the band's albums, single edits, and B-sides as part of this release with the exception of the pre-''Axe Victim'', independently released Smile single "Teenage Archangel" / "Jets At Dawn". Although Nelson did not supervise the release, he gave final approval on the remasters and agreed to provide a disc of rarities to help sell the set, if EMI paid him royalties on the release. The two Smile tracks can be found on the compilation ''Postcards from the Future... Introducing Be-Bop Deluxe'' (2004) and Nelson's 40-year career retrospective, eight CD set, ''The Practice of Everyday Life'' (2011).

Despite Be-Bop Deluxe's commercial success, Bill Nelson stated that he had never received royalties for the earlier CD release of his back catalog on EMI<ref>Nelson, Bill ''diary of a hyperdreamer'' (2004) pp. 486-93 Bill Nelson's collected diaries from between 1999 and 2003, previously published on his official website Pomona {{ISBN|1-904590-06-3}}</ref> until the 2011 CD reissue/remaster of his back catalogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jagshouse.com/music/billnelson.html|title=Bill Nelson and the EMI Ripoff|website=Jgshouse.com|access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>

Between 2018 and 2022, [[Cherry Red Records]]' subsidiary [[Esoteric Recordings]], who had been rolling out re-releases of Nelson's back catalogue for many of his releases between 1981 and 2002 with the 8-CD compilation ''The Practice of Everyday Life'' which covered 40 years of recordings, including the Be-Bop Deluxe period, released expanded, multiple CD versions of the Be-Bop Deluxe albums and the Bill Nelson's Red Noise album, having acquired the rights from EMI.

In the fall of 2024, it was reported in forums on drumforum.com <ref>https://www.drumforum.org/threads/simon-fox-r-i-p-drummer-for-be-bop-deluxe.221301/</ref> and billnelson.com <ref>https://www.billnelson.com/forum/william-s-world/simon-fox</ref> that Simon Fox had died in mid-September of that year at the age of 75.

== Musical style ==

Be-Bop Deluxe were initially a [[glam rock]] band<ref name=Dalton/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/bebopdeluxe-axevictim-2495848878.html |title=BE-BOP DELUXE: AXE VICTIM [REISSUE] |last=Felt |first=Hunter |date=April 24, 2005 |publisher=PopMatters |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://louderthanwar.com/be-bop-deluxe-axe-victim-reissue-album-review/ |title=Be-Bop Deluxe: Axe Victim – reissue album review |last=Clarke |first=Paul |date=July 7, 2020|publisher=Louder Than War |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref><ref name=Ruhlmann>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/be-bop-deluxe-mn0000127337/biography |title=Artist Biography |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> that incorporated elements of [[progressive rock]], [[blues]], and [[folk rock]] into their musical style.<ref name=Dalton>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/be-bop-deluxes-axe-victim-box-set-is-lavish-and-charmingly-overblown |title=Be-Bop Deluxe's Axe Victim box set is lavish and charmingly overblown |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |date=July 17, 2020 |publisher=Louder |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> After the band received unfavourable comparisons to the music of [[David Bowie]], leader [[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]] initiated a shift in the band's style to emphasise a more experimental sound.<ref name=Dalton/> This new sound has been classified as [[art rock]],<ref name=Dalton/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/be-bop-deluxe-sunburst-finish-album-of-the-week-club-review |title=Bop Deluxe: Sunburst Finish - Album Of The Week Club Review |author=Staff |date=November 26, 2018 |publisher=Classic Rock |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref><ref name=Weston>{{cite web |url=https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2021/03/be-bop-deluxe-drastic-plastic-expanded-2-cd-edition-esoteric-recordings-out-now/ |title=Be Bop Deluxe: Drastic Plastic – expanded 2-CD edition (Esoteric Recordings) Out now|last=Weston |first=Christopher |date=14 March 2021|publisher=Music Republic Magazine |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/be-bop-deluxe/bill-nelson-looks-back-at-the-making-of-be-bop-del/ |title=Bill Nelson Looks Back At The Making of Be-Bop Deluxe's Sunburst Finish |last=Ham |first=Robert |date=April 11, 2019 |publisher=Paste Magazine |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]],<ref name=Ruhlmann/> progressive rock,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/bebopdeluxe-postcards2004-2495848972.html|title=BE-BOP DELUXE: FUTURAMA [REISSUE] / POSTCARDS FROM THE FUTURE…INTRODUCING BE-BOP DELUXE [REISSUE] |author=Staff |date=December 6, 2004 |publisher=PopMatters |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/futurama-mw0000139512 |title=Futurama Review by Bruce |last=Eder |first=Bruce |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> [[pop rock]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/be-bop-deluxe-sunburst-finish-review-guitar-driven-pop-rock-with-a-sci-fi-concept-1.3731773 |title=Be Bop Deluxe: Sunburst Finish review – Guitar-driven pop/rock with a sci-fi concept |last=Clayton-Lea |first=Tony |date=December 28, 2018 |publisher=The Irish Times |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> and [[progressive pop]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/bebopdeluxe-sunset-2495848738.html |title=BE-BOP DELUXE: SUNBURST FINISH [REISSUE] |last=Felt |first=Hunter |date=April 28, 2005 |publisher=PopMatters |access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> With their final album, ''Drastic Plastic'', Be-Bop Deluxe again expanded their style to include influences of [[new wave music]].<ref name=Weston/> [[Science fiction]] imagery was common in the lyrics, along with the more traditional themes of love and the human condition.

==Members== * [[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]] – lead guitar, lead vocals, keyboards (1972–1978) * Robert Bryan – bass, backing and lead vocals (1972–1974) * Nicholas Chatterton-Dew – drums, backing vocals, percussion (1972–1974) * [[Ian Parkin]] – rhythm and acoustic guitars, organ (1972–1974; died 1995) * Richard Brown – keyboards (1972) * [[Simon Fox]] – drums, percussion (1974–1978; died 2024) * [[Paul Jeffreys]] – bass (1974; died 1988) * Milton Reame-James – keyboards (1974) * [[Charlie Tumahai]] – bass, backing vocals (1974–1978; died 1995) * [[Andy Clark (musician)|Andrew Clark]] – keyboards (1975–1978)

===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:600 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:130 bottom:80 top:10 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/02/1972 till:01/01/1979 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1973 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1973

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LineData = layer:back color:studio at:15/06/1974 at:28/07/1975 at:11/02/1976 at:15/09/1976 at:15/02/1978

BarData =

bar:BN text:"Bill Nelson" bar:IP text:"Ian Parkin †" bar:RB text:"Robert Bryan" bar:PJ text:"Paul Jefferys †" bar:CT text:"Charlie Tumahai †" bar:RB2 text:"Richard Brown" bar:MRJ text:"Milton Reame-James" bar:AC text:"Andy Clark" bar:NCD text:"Nicholas Chatterton-Dew" bar:SF text:"Simon Fox"

PlotData = width:11 bar:BN from:start till:end color:vocals bar:BN from:start till:end color:lguitar width:7 bar:BN from:start till:end color:keys width:3 bar:BN from:01/07/1974 till:end color:rguitar width:5 bar:IP from:start till:01/07/1974 color:rguitar bar:IP from:01/08/1972 till:01/07/1974 color:keys width:3 bar:RB from:start till:01/07/1974 color:bass bar:RB from:start till:01/07/1974 color:vocals width:3 bar:MRJ from:01/07/1974 till:01/11/1974 color:keys bar:AC from:01/09/1975 till:end color:keys bar:RB2 from:start till:01/08/1972 color:keys bar:PJ from:01/07/1974 till:01/11/1974 color:bass bar:CT from:01/11/1974 till:end color:bass bar:CT from:01/11/1974 till:end color:backing width:3 bar:NCD from:start till:01/07/1974 color:drums bar:NCD from:start till:01/07/1974 color:backing width:3 bar:SF from:01/12/1973 till:01/07/1974 color:drums width:7 bar:SF from:01/07/1974 till:end color:drums

}}

;Line-ups {| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99% |- ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1972 ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1972–1974 ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1974 ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1974–1975 |- | valign=top | * '''[[Bill Nelson (musician)|Bill Nelson]]''' – lead guitar, lead and backing vocals, keyboards * '''Richard Brown''' – keyboards * '''Robert Bryan''' – bass, backing and lead vocals * '''Nicholas Chatterton-Dew''' – drums, backing vocals, percussion * '''[[Ian Parkin]]''' – rhythm and acoustic guitars | valign=top | * '''Bill Nelson''' – lead guitar, lead and backing vocals, keyboards * '''Robert Bryan''' – bass, backing and lead vocals * '''Nicholas Chatterton-Dew''' – drums, backing vocals, percussion * '''Ian Parkin''' – rhythm and acoustic guitars, organ | valign=top | * '''Bill Nelson''' – guitars, vocals, keyboards * '''[[Simon Fox]]''' – drums, percussion * '''[[Paul Jeffreys]]''' – bass * '''Milton Reame-James''' – keyboards | valign=top | * '''Bill Nelson''' – guitars, lead vocals, keyboards * '''Simon Fox''' – drums, percussion * '''[[Charlie Tumahai]]''' – bass, backing vocals |- ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1975–1978 |- | valign=top | * '''Bill Nelson''' – guitars, lead vocals, keyboards * '''Simon Fox''' – drums, percussion * '''Charlie Tumahai''' – bass, backing vocals * '''[[Andy Clark (musician)|Andrew Clark]]''' – keyboards |}

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Release details<ref name=GreatDiscog>{{Cite book |first=Martin C. |last=Strong |author-link=Martin C. Strong |year=2004 |title=The Great Rock Discography |edition=7th |publisher=[[Canongate Books]] |location=Edinburgh |pages=1069–71 |isbn=1-84195-615-5}}</ref> ! colspan="3" scope="col" style="width:5.2em;" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | [[List of music recording certifications|Certifications]] |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.6em; font-size:90%;" | [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2956/be-bop-deluxe/ | title=Be-Bop Deluxe {{pipe}} Artist {{pipe}} Official Charts | publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] | access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.6em; font-size:90%;" | [[UK Independent Albums Chart|UK Indie]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP /> ! scope="col" style="width:2.6em; font-size:90%;" | [[Scottish Albums Chart|SCOT]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP /> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Axe Victim]]'' | 1974 | * Released: June 1974 * Label: [[Harvest Records|Harvest]] | — | 10 | 37 | |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Futurama (Be-Bop Deluxe album)|Futurama]]'' | 1975 | * Released: July 1975 * Label: Harvest | — | 26 | 100 | |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Sunburst Finish (album)|Sunburst Finish]]'' | rowspan="2" | 1976 | * Released: February 1976 * Label: {{hlist | class=inline | Harvest | [[EMI Records|EMI]] | [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]}} | 17 | 24 | — | [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: Silver<ref name="BPI_Sunburst">{{cite certification | region=United Kingdom |artist=Be-Bop Deluxe | access-date=13 May 2025 | type=album | title=Sunburst Finish | id=6369-1299-2 | date=1 August 1976}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Modern Music (Be-Bop Deluxe album)|Modern Music]]'' | * Released: 3 September 1976 * Label: Harvest | 12 | 33 | — | [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]]: Silver<ref name="BPI_Modern">{{cite certification | region=United Kingdom |artist=Be-Bop Deluxe | access-date=13 May 2025 | type=album | title=Modern Music | id=4331-1299-2 | date=29 June 1977}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Drastic Plastic]]'' | 1978 | * Released: February 1978 * Label: Harvest | 22 | 14 | 31 | |- | colspan="7" |{{Small|"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.}} |}

===Live albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Release details<ref name=GreatDiscog /> ! colspan="3" scope="col" style="width:5.2em;" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Notes |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.6em; font-size:90%;" | [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP /> ! scope="col" style="width:2.6em; font-size:90%;" | [[UK Independent Albums Chart|UK Indie]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP /> ! scope="col" style="width:2.6em; font-size:90%;" | [[Scottish Albums Chart|SCOT]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP /> |- ! scope="row" | ''Live! in the Air Age'' | * Released: July 1977 * Label: [[Harvest Records|Harvest]] | 10 | 7 | 18 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Radioland: BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert'' | * Released: October 1994 * Label: [[Windsong International Records|Windsong International]] | — | — | — |<ref group=lower-alpha>''Radioland''... (1994) was later remastered and re-released as ''Tremulous Antenna'' (2002).</ref> |- | colspan="7" |{{Small|"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.}} |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Year ! style="width:5.2em;" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Album ! rowspan="2" | Notes |- ! scope="col" style="font-size:90%;" |[[UK Singles Chart|UK]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP /> |- ! scope="row" | "Teenage Archangel" | 1973 | — | Non-album single | |- ! scope="row" | "Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus" | 1974 | — | ''Axe Victim'' | |- ! scope="row" | "Between the Worlds" | rowspan="2" | 1975 | — | rowspan="2" | ''Futurama'' | {{refn | group=lower-alpha | The single "Between the Worlds" (1985) was withdrawn shortly after release.<ref name=AM_AsBs>{{cite web | last=McDonald | first=Steven Thomas | title=''Singles A's & B's'' Review | publisher=[[AllMusic]] | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/singles-as-bs-mw0000079965#review | access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref>}} |- ! scope="row" | "Maid in Heaven" | — | |- ! scope="row" | "Ships in the Night" | rowspan="2" | 1976 | 23 | ''Sunburst Finish'' | |- ! scope="row" | "Kiss of Light" | — | ''Modern Music'' | |- ! scope="row" | "Japan" | 1977 | — | Non-album single | |- ! scope="row" | "Panic in the World" | rowspan="2" | 1978 | — | rowspan="2" | ''Drastic Plastic'' | |- ! scope="row" | "Electrical Language" | — | |- | colspan="6" |{{Small|"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.}} |}

===Compilations=== ====Albums==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Release details<ref name=GreatDiscog /> |- ! scope="row" | ''The Best of and the Rest of Be Bop Deluxe'' | 1978 | * Released: October 1978 * Label: [[Harvest Records|Harvest]] |- ! scope="row" | ''The Singles As & Bs'' | 1981 | * Released: June 1981 * Label: Harvest |- ! scope="row" | ''Axe Victim'' / ''Futurama'' | 1983 | * Released: 1983 * Label: [[EMI Records|EMI]] |- ! scope="row" | ''Bop to the Red Noise'' | 1986 | * Released: August 1986 * Label: Dojo |- ! scope="row" | ''The Best of Be-Bop Deluxe: Raiding the Divine Archive'' | 1987 | * Released: March 1987 * Label: Harvest |- ! scope="row" | ''Air Age Anthology'' | 1997 | * Released: February 1997 * Label: EMI |- ! scope="row" | ''Tramcar to Tomorrow'' | rowspan="2" | 1998 | * Released: August 1998 * Label: [[Hux Records|Hux]] |- ! scope="row" | ''The Very Best of Be Bop Deluxe'' | * Released: 1998 * Label: {{hlist | class=inline | [[Collectables Records|Collectables]] | [[EMI-Capitol Special Markets]]}} |- ! scope="row" | ''Postcards from the Future... Introducing Be Bop Deluxe'' | 2004 | * Released: 20 September 2004<ref>{{cite web | website=[[BBC]] | title=Be Bop Deluxe: Postcards From The Future...Introducing – Review | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/vnzf/ | last=Jones | first=Chris | year=2004 | access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref> * Label: EMI |- ! scope="row" | ''Futurist Manifesto: The Harvest Years 1974-1978'' | 2012 | * Released: October 2012 * Label: Harvest |- ! scope="row" | ''At the BBC 1974-1978'' | 2013 | * Released: 30 September 2013<ref>{{cite web | website=Super Deluxe Edition | date=2 September 2013 | last=Sinclair | first=Paul | title=Be Bop Deluxe at the BBC 1974 to 1978 / 3CD+DVD set | url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/be-bop-deluxe-at-the-bbc-1974-to-1978-3cddvd-set/ | access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref> * Label: [[Parlophone Records|Parlophone]] |- ! scope="row" | ''Original Album Series'' | 2014 | * Released: June 2014 * Label: Parlophone |}

====Extended plays==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" scope="col" | Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Release details<ref name=GreatDiscog /> ! scope="col" style="width:5.2em;" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.6em; font-size:90%;" | [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] <ref name=uk_charts_BEBOP /> |- ! scope="row" | ''Hot Valves'' | * Released: October 1976 * Label: [[Harvest Records|Harvest]] | 36 |}

===Compilation appearances=== ====Albums==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Release details |- ! scope="row" | ''Electrotype: The Holyground Recordings 1968-1972'' | * Released: February 2001 * Label: Holyground |- ! scope="row" | ''The Practice of Everyday Life: Celebrating 40 Years of Recordings'' | * Released: December 2011 * Label: [[Esoteric Recordings|Esoteric]] |}

====Singles box sets==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Release details<ref name=GreatDiscog /> |- ! scope="row" | ''Permanent Flame (The Beginners Guide to Bill Nelson)'' | * Released: November 1983 * Label: Cocteau |}

===DVDs=== *''Picture House'' (2010) [Bill Nelson] Nelsonica convention DVD includes ''Be-Bop Deluxe in the South of France'',<ref name="Nelson, Bill 2004"/> Nelson's video diary shot during the ''Drastic Plastic'' sessions Visuluxe *''Be-Bop Deluxe at the BBC 1974–78'' (2013) 3-CD + DVD box set of previously unreleased material + material from ''Tramcar to Tomorrow'' (most tracks) and ''Tremulous Antenna'' (all tracks) + televised performances EMI *''Classic Rock Magazine Legends Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers filmed live at Metropolis Studios'' (2011) [Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers] performance of songs from Be-Bop Deluxe/Bill Nelson's back catalogue ITV Studios Home Entertainment

==Notes== {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==Bibliography== *Reeves, Paul Sutton ''Music in Dreamland Bill Nelson & Be-Bop Deluxe'' (2008) Helter Skelter publishing {{ISBN|978-1-900924-04-7}}

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130112003525/http://www.billnelson.com/usarchives/bebopdeluxe/discography.htm Discography at the Bill Nelson Permanent Flame site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20061114224635/http://www.bobbyshred.com/bebopdeluxe.html BobbyShred's Be-Bop Deluxe Page] *{{Discogs artist|artist=Be Bop Deluxe|name=Be-Bop Deluxe}} *{{YouTube|ByWhONF4DiY|Be-Bop Deluxe - Ships in the Night}}

[[Category:English art rock groups]] [[Category:English glam rock groups]] [[Category:Harvest Records artists]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1972]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1978]] [[Category:Musical groups from Wakefield]]