{{Short description|British band}} {{Refimprove|date=October 2010}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use British English|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = The Maisonettes | image = | caption = | landscape = | background = group_or_band | origin = Birmingham, England | genre = Synthpop, psychedelic pop | years_active = 1982–1984 | label = | website = | past_members = *Lol Mason *Mark Tibenham *Nick Parry *Andy Kanavan}}
'''The Maisonettes''' were an English pop band formed by Lol Mason (formerly of City Boy)<ref>{{cite book|author=Larkin, Colin|year=1997|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Seventies Music|publisher=Virgin Books|ISBN=978-0753501542|page=92}}</ref> with Mark Tibenham and drummer Nick Parry, best known for their hit single "Heartache Avenue".
==History== The group's debut single, "Heartache Avenue", reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1983,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=344}}</ref> reached number 6 on the Irish Singles Chart, topped the UK Independent Chart,<ref name="Lazell">{{cite book|author=Lazell, Barry|year=1998|title=Indie Hits 1980-1989|publisher=Cherry Red Books|ISBN=0-95172-069-4|page=140}}</ref> and later peaked at number 12 on the Canadian chart and number 97 in Australia. The band's demo was picked up by David Virr, who released "Heartache Avenue" on his own Ready Steady Go! label.<ref name="Unterberger">{{cite web|author=Unterberger, Ritchie|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-maisonettes-mn0000898543/biography|title=The Maisonettes Biography|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=9 February 2018}}</ref> The single had been recorded with session backing singers, but to promote the single, they recruited models Denise Ward and Elaine Williams, although these two were later replaced by Carla Mendonça and Elisa Backer (née Richards).{{cn|date=April 2024}}
The follow-up single, "Where I Stand", peaked at number 28 on the UK Independent Chart.<ref name="Lazell" />
In 1984, their album, ''Maisonettes for Sale'', was released in Canada, including "Heartache Avenue" and ten other songs. With no further hits, the group soon disbanded. "Heartache Avenue" was a song about Filton Avenue in Bristol.
In 2004, ''Heartache Avenue: The Very Best of the Maisonettes'' was released in the UK by Cherry Red records, containing two unreleased tracks, the original "Heartache Avenue" and a remix, and fifteen other songs.<ref>{{cite web|author=Unterberger, Ritchie|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-heartache-avenue-the-very-best-of-the-maisonettes-mw0000511841|title=''The Heartache Avenue: The Very Best of the Maisonettes'': Review|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=9 February 2018}}</ref>
On 31 July 2019, Laurence "Lol" Edward Mason died at the age of 69 in his home in Harborne from a heart attack, after complications following a kidney transplant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/birmingham-singer-lol-mason-dies-16683103|title=Birmingham singer Lol Mason dies at home in Harborne|first=Mike|last=Lockley|date=4 August 2019|accessdate=12 September 2021|work=Birmingham Mail}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== *''Maisonettes for Sale'' (Ready Steady Go!, 1983)
;Compilations: *''Heartache Avenue: The Very Best of the Maisonettes'' (Cherry Red, 2004)
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |- ! style="width:45px;"| <small>UK</small><br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/><ref>{{cite web|title=MAISONETTES - full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19913/maisonettes/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> ! style="width:45px;"| <small>UK Indie</small><br> ! style="width:45px;"| <small>AUS</small><br><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=188}}</ref> |- | rowspan="1"| 1982 | "Heartache Avenue" | align=center | 7 | align=center | ― | align=center | 97 | * BPI: Silver<ref>{{cite web|title=Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/2796-319-1|website=bpi.co.uk|access-date=4 October 2022}}</ref> |- | rowspan="5"| 1983 | "Where I Stand" | align=center | 80 | align=center | 28 | align=center | ― | |- | "Addicted" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | |- | "This Affair" / "Say It Again" <small>(double A-side)</small> | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | |- | "Lifeboat" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | |- | "Hot Club" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | |- | rowspan="1"| 1984 | "Two Can Have a Party" | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | align=center | ― | |- | colspan="6" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{AllMusic|id=mn0000898543}} * {{youtube|q4g5kX12ais|Heartache Avenue}} * {{youtube|o9pGn01Q8Yo|Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue (Official Video)}} * {{Discogs artist}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Maisonettes, The}} Category:English pop music groups Category:English new wave musical groups Category:Musical groups from Birmingham, West Midlands
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