Toto Coelo
Toto Coelo (renamed Total Coelo in the US) was a 1980s British one-hit wonder new wave group, masterminded by producer Barry Blue. The original members were singers Anita Mahadevan, Lacey Bond, Lindsey Danvers, Ros Holness (daughter of television presenter Bob Holness) and Sheen Doran.
Career
The group is best known for its 1982 hit single "I Eat Cannibals", which reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart,[1] and was also a top 10 hit in Australia,[2] South Africa,[3] and Sweden.[4] "I Eat Cannibals" also charted in the US, where it peaked at #66 in April 1983.[5] The follow-up single, "Dracula's Tango (Sucker For Your Love)", was less-successful, but reached the top 20 in Australia and Sweden.[2][4] The group's only studio album, 1983's Man o' War, was not a commercial success, charting highest in Sweden at #46.[4] A third single, "Milk from the Coconut", was released from the album, and peaked #4 in South Africa.[3] Following the album, Anita Mahadevan and Sheen Doran left the group.
The band was briefly featured in the unreleased horror film Grizzly II: The Predator, performing "Milk from the Coconut" in a few scenes of the rock concert.
In 1985, the remaining three members (now signed to Debut Records) released two further singles, "Girls Night Out" and "Gimme Some Lovin'"; neither of which charted.
Lacey, Lindsey and Ros also performed as the backing singers for the Bruce Foxton Band in 1985. They feature prominently on the 'Live in London' performance filmed at the Camden Palace, which has been released on video (Dubious, 1986) and DVD (SFM, 2012).
The group's name is Latin and means "by the whole extent of the heavens" or "heaven-wide", but is commonly translated as "completely", "entirely" or "utterly".[6] Of the name, Sheen Doran said, "It has a number of meanings, such as 'heart and soul', 'root and branch' and 'totally different'. It seemed to describe what we were. Plus, it's strange-sounding and hard to pronounce, so it sticks in your mind." The group was renamed Total Coelo in the United States to avoid confusion with the American rock group Toto.[6]
Mahadevan later changed her name to Anita Chellamah, and formed Cherry Bombz with several former members of Hanoi Rocks, including Andy McCoy.[6] She is now known as Anita Chellamah-Nurse and works as a television actress and presenter.
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [1] |
AUS [2] |
IRE [7] |
NZ [8] |
SA [3] |
SWE [4] |
US [5] | ||||||||||
| 1982 | "I Eat Cannibals" | 8 | 4 | 11 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 66 | Man o' War | |||||||
| "Dracula's Tango (Sucker For Your Love)" | 54 | 19 | 29 | — | — | 8 | — | |||||||||
| 1983 | "Milk From the Coconut" | — | 100 | — | — | 4 | — | — | ||||||||
| 1985 | "Girls Night Out" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | non-album singles | |||||||
| "Gimme Some Lovin'" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. | ||||||||||||||||
Studio Albums
Compilation Albums
- I Eat Cannibals & Other Tasty Trax (1996) (issued on CD in the U.S. on the Razor & Tie record label, containing all of the Man o' War tracks, plus the bonus track "Weird", and 12" vinyl versions of "I Eat Cannibals" and "Milk From the Coconut")[6]
References
- 1 2 "Official Charts > Toto Coelo". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
- 1 2 3 4 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 311. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- 1 2 3 Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (T)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2014-03-18.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "swedishcharts.com > Toto Coelo in Swedish Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
- 1 2 "The Hot 100 > The Week of April 30, 1983". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
- 1 2 3 4 Huey, Steve (1997-11-10). "Toto Coelo - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for Toto Coelo". Fireball Media. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
- ↑ "charts.org.nz > Toto Coelo in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
- I Eat Cannibals & Other Tasty Trax liner notes - 1996
External links
- Anita Chellamah-Nurse CV (2008)
- Toto Coelo discography at Discogs