M/A/R/R/S

M/A/R/R/S started in 1987 as a collaboration between the groups A.R. Kane and Colourbox, with additional input from DJs Chris "C.J." Mackintosh, Dave Dorrell. The result was that instead of working together, the two groups ended up recording a track each, then turning it over to the other for additional input. Of the two pieces completed, one, "Anitina", was an A.R. Kane track with drum programming by Colourbox's Steve Young. The other, "Pump Up the Volume", was a propulsive Martyn Young track constructed largely of samples, including one of A.R. Kane's guitars. The record was released under the alias M/A/R/R/S, an acronym derived from the forenames of the five 4AD artists involved in the project: Martyn Young (from Colourbox), Alex Ayuli and Rudy Tambala (from A.R. Kane), Russell Smith (an associate A.R. Kane member and founder of Terminal Cheesecake), and Steve Young (from Colourbox). M/A/R/R/S's sole release was the double A-sided single "Pump Up the Volume" / "Anitina", released on 4AD in the UK. Only "Pump Up the Volume" gained significant attention and airplay and went on to be a #1 hit in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, as well as a top-ten hit in several other countries. It was released on 4th &B’way/Island Records in the US. Because of legal issues, some of the samples used in the original UK release of the song were removed and replaced in the US release. These disputes relate amongst other things, together with the creative participation at this time (speech samples, beats) of M-Sha-L. It was nominated for the 1989 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, but lost out to "Close-Up" by David Sanborn. In September 1987, M/A/R/R/S announced that it would not issue a follow up release. A R Kane gave interviews to the music press in which they explained that while they were proud to have been part of M|A|R|R|S, it was not an experience they were keen to repeat. They were particularly unhappy at having their contribution to "Pump Up the Volume" all but removed from the track. Colourbox attempted to carry on using the name M|A|R|R|S, but were not willing to pay the £100,000 that A R Kane wanted for full rights to the name, and the project remained a one-off.

Links To Peel
Peel discovered the record through 4AD, the indie label that M/A/R/R/S were signed to. It got played on his shows. However the success of the record was largely due to UK dance clubs promoting the track and the remixed version shortened to a 7 inch getting heavy airplay on radio, which ultimately led to thousands of people buying the record and reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in September 1987.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 1987 Festive Fifty: Pump Up The Volume #46

Other Shows Played
(This list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive. Please add more information if known.)

1987
 * August 1987 (Rockradio): Pump Up The Volume (12") 4AD
 * 07 September 1987: Pump Up The Volume (12") 4AD
 * 22 December 1987: Pump Up The Volume (12") 4AD FF #46
 * Staying Single: Pump Up The Volume (12") 4AD