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Dodgy

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Dodgy
Lead singer looking relaxed in his dark sunglasses
Nigel Clark playing an acoustic set at Guilfest in 2012.
Background information
OriginHounslow, London, England[1]
GenresAlternative rock, power pop, Britpop
Years active1990–1998, 1999–2002, 2007–present
LabelsA&M, Bostin'
MembersNigel Clark
Mathew Priest
Andy Miller
Stuart Thoy
Past members

Dodgy are an English rock band formed in Hounslow in 1990. The band rose to prominence during the Britpop era of the 1990s. They are best known for their hits "Staying Out for the Summer", "If You're Thinking of Me", and "Good Enough,"[1] which was their biggest hit, reaching No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] The original lineup reunited in 2007 and continue to release albums and tour.[3]

History

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Formation and initial activity (1990–91)

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The band was formed by Nigel Clark, Mathew Priest, and Andy Miller. Relocating from Worcestershire to London in 1988, Clark and Priest played together in the four-piece Purple, with Frederic Colier on bass and David Griffiths on guitar. After Griffiths departed the lineup, they recruited guitarist Ben Lurie, who left the band after one week to join The Jesus and Mary Chain and was replaced by Andy Miller. After Colier's departure, the remaining trio of Clark, Priest, and Miller renamed the group Dodgy.

The band played an eight-month residency at a wine bar in Kingston Upon Thames and created a following. In 1991, they signed a six-album deal with A&M Records and signed publishing with BMG.[4]

The Dodgy Album, Homegrown, Free Peace Sweet (1993-97)

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Dodgy's debut album, titled The Dodgy Album, was released on 24 May 1993 and produced by The Lightning Seeds' Ian Broudie.[4] The album features the singles "Water Under the Bridge" and "Lovebirds."

The band's breakthrough was the sophomore album Homegrown, which was released on 24 October 1994[5] and peaked at No. 28 on the UK Albums Chart.[6] The album featured the tracks "So Let Me Go Far," Grassman[7]," and the band's first hit "Staying Out for the Summer" which originally peaked at #38, though a remixed version of the song would reach #19 the following year.[8]

On 17 June 1996, Dodgy released their double platinum third album Free Peace Sweet. The album reached as high as number seven in the UK, being certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in November 1996.[9] By March 1997, the album had sold 400,000 copies in the UK.[10] The 4 singles from the album reached the Top 20 including "In a Room" at #12, "If You're Thinking of Me" at #11, "Found You" at #19, and the band's most successful single "Good Enough" reaching #4.[11] "Good Enough" was certified silver by the BPI in 2015.[12] According to Clark, who wrote "Good Enough," the song was written towards his son and becoming a father. It was influenced by the positive vibes of Bob Marley, George Harrison, and Karen Carpenter, which was the music he was listening to the week he wrote the track.[13] "Good Enough" was featured on the soundtrack to the film Sliding Doors (1998).

Dodgy concerned themselves with social issues by supporting The Serious Road Trip, War Child, the Liverpool Dockers' Strike, Charter88 and youth democracy campaigns. The band became the second UK act, after China Drum, to play in Sarajevo after the lifting of the siege, giving a concert at the Kuk club in August 1996, politely declining a support slot at Knebworth for Oasis. They did so, feeling enough good bands were already playing that event and by flying out to the recovering country, they would hopefully later influence others to follow in future.

Following the success of Free Peace Sweet, Nigel Clark left the band due to frustrations with the record label, and to raise his 2 children.[14] Meanwhile, Matthew Priest and Andy Miller continued the band as a five-piece with vocalist David Bassey, keyboardist Chris Hallam, and bassist Nick Abnett.[4] This line-up of the group recorded one album, Real Estate, in 2001. The album was produced and mixed with Robin Evans at T-Pot Studios in Perthshire.

Band reunion and new music (2006-present)

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In 2006, Clark released the solo album 21st Century Man [15] In 2007, he teamed up with the dance music duo SFG to record a remix of Dodgy's "Good Enough".[16] Clark would rejoin Dodgy in 2007, 10 years after his departure before the band's comeback tour.[17]

The band played two sets at Guilfest in July 2008. The first was an acoustic set in the Unison tent, where they appeared in support of the organisation. They later played a set with the full band on the main stage. They headlined the Sunday night at Beached Festival in August 2008, and appeared at the ToneFest in September. In November, the first tracks from new recording sessions appeared online. They played a benefit show in May 2009, as part of the homelessness charity Crisis' 'Hidden Gigs' campaign, alongside The Bluetones.[18]

In 2009, Dodgy played at the famed Glastonbury Festival, with headliners Bruce Springsteen, and Neil Young.[19] On 29 August 2010, Dodgy played at The Galtres Festival in North Yorkshire, playing classic songs such as "In a Room" and "Staying out for the Summer", as well as a version of Nigel Clark's solo track, "21st Century Man".[20]

On 23 April 2011, Dodgy played as the headliners at the Mash Fest Festival in Trowbridge and on 28 May 2011, Dodgy headlined at the LeeStock Music Festival in Sudbury, Suffolk, helping to raise money for the Willow Foundation.[21] Mathew Priest said in an interview with the BBC that they would be playing a mixture of new songs and old favourites and talking of their new material said "If we can just get people to listen to it, they're going to love it".[22] on 25 August 2011, Dodgy also Headlined at the Garlic Festival, in the Isle of Wight. For live shows promoting the album, the band recruited Stuart Thoy of the band Smoke Feathers[23] to play bass.[24] In May 2012 they played at Lakefest festival.[25]

The reunited lineup would release its first album of new music, Stand Upright in a Cool Place, on 20 February 2012. "What Became of You" was the first single to be taken from their fifth album. Rather than following the trend of bands re-forming to play their classic albums in full, Dodgy announced that on their forthcoming UK tour, it was their new album that would be previewed live in its entirety. The album was released 20 February 2012 via the independent Strikeback Records, to favourable reviews from MOJO and The Guardian.[26][27] Thoy would then join the band as a full member and participate in the recording of their sixth album, What Are We Fighting For, which was released on 2 September 2016.[28]

Clark released the solo album Make Believe Love in 2020, and also supported disadvantaged children as a music teacher at the Aspire Academy in Worcester.[29]

On 1 May 2026, Dodgy released their 7th studio album, Hello Beautiful, which The Prog Report claims "easily stands alongside their best work from the mid-90s."[30]

Musical style

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AllMusic biographer Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the band as "clowns of Brit-pop" that played "infectious, goofy punk-pop", which "alternately sounded like the early Who and the Stone Roses."[31]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart
positions 		Sales Certifications
UK
[32]
The Dodgy Album
  • Released: 24 May 1993
  • Label: A&M (540 082)
  • Format: CD, CS, DL, LP
 75
Homegrown
  • Released: 24 October 1994
  • Label: A&M (540 282)
  • Format: CD, CS, DL, LP
 28
Free Peace Sweet
  • Released: 17 June 1996
  • Label: A&M (540 573)
  • Format: CD, CS, DL, LP
 7
Real Estate
  • Released: 23 July 2001
  • Label: Bostin (BTNCD005)
  • Format: CD, DL
 —
Stand Upright in a Cool Place
  • Released: 20 February 2012
  • Label: Strike Back (SBR 200)
  • Format: CD, DL, LP
 76
What Are We Fighting For
  • Released: 2 September 2016
  • Label: Cherry Red (BRED689)
  • Format: CD, DL, LP
 —
Hello Beautiful
  • Released: 1 May 2026
  • Label: Flip Flop Records (HB1 TH77)
  • Format: CD, DL, LP
 —
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

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Year Album UK
[2][32]
1998 Ace A's and Killer B's 55
2004 The Collection —
2014 Good Enough – The Very Best of Dodgy —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

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  • So Far on 3 Wheels – Dodgy on the Radio (2007)
  • Dodgy – Live at Cornbury Festival (2009)
  • Dodgy Live – Back to Back (2013)

Singles

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Year Title UK
[2][32] 		Certifications
1991 "Summer Fayre" 195
"Easy Way" —
1992 "The Black and White Single" 127
1993 "Water Under the Bridge" 76
"Lovebirds" 65
I Need Another (EP) 67
1994 The Melod-EP 53
"Staying Out for the Summer" 38
1995 "So Let Me Go Far" 30
"Making the Most Of"
(with the Kick Horns) 		22
"Staying Out for the Summer" (remix) 19
1996 "In a Room" 12
"Good Enough" 4
"If You're Thinking of Me" 11
1997 "Found You" 19
1998 "Every Single Day" 32
2000 "Feathercuts and Monkeyboots" 88
2001 "(We All Need a Little) Liftin" —
2008 Down in the Flood/Forgive Me (Club Tour Mix) (EP) —
2012 "What Became of You" —
"Only a Heartbeat" —
"This Love Is Bigger Than Both of Us" —
2016 "California Gold" —
"What Are We Fighting For" —
2026 "Hello Beautiful" —
"Summer Forever" —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Downloads

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  • "Forgive Me – Demo" (2008)
  • "Down in the Flood" (2008)
  • "Find a Place" – The Bootleg Series and Crisis Charity Download (2009)
  • "Christmas at the Foodbank" (2013 charity release for The Trussell Trust)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 279. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  2. ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 163. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Fernihough, Anya (2 November 2025). "Dodgy: Still 'Good Enough' After 30 Years". The Gryphon. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 130. ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
  5. ^ "Dodgy Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "Dodgy". Official Charts. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Switched on/unplugged: A five track introduction to Dodgy". Band on the Wall. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  8. ^ Ethridge, Loz (24 February 2022). "Dodgy – The A&M Years (Edsel)". God Is In The TVzine. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  9. ^ Archer, Sue (27 August 2018). "Dodgy still Good Enough for Knebworth's Cool Britannia Festival". The Comet. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  10. ^ "Dodgy still worth staying out for with Northampton gig". Northampton Chronicle. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  11. ^ "Dodgy – Good Enough". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  12. ^ "British certifications – Dodgy – Good Enough". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 February 2022. Type Good Enough Dodgy in the "Search:" field.
  13. ^ Haskell, Duncan (26 April 2018). "How I wrote 'Good Enough' by Dodgy's Nigel Clark". Songwriting. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  14. ^ Writer, Donny (7 September 2007). "Dodgy – interview with Nigel Clark". Is This Music. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  15. ^ "1769 – Vote for the Albums". Albumvote.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Nigel Clark Looks to Repackage Past Hit for a Comeback – antiMUSIC News". Antimusic.com. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  17. ^ Writer, Donny (7 September 2007). "Dodgy – interview with Nigel Clark". Is This Music?. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  18. ^ "Crisis.org". Archived from the original on 15 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Glastonbury 2009 Full Lineup Revealed". Uncut. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  20. ^ "Bands play on at Galtres music festival near Crayke". The York Press. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  21. ^ "Information | LeeStock Music Festival 3 June 2012". Leestock.org. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  22. ^ Dobbie, Anna (20 May 2011). "BBC News – Dodgy and Bluetones singer Mark Morriss at LeeStock". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  23. ^ Green Gab PR (2011). "Smoke Feathers". Green Gab PR. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  24. ^ Smoke Feathers (2 October 2011). "Stu plays bass for Dodgy on UK tour". Smoke Feathers. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Lakefest 2012: Line-up 2012". Lakefest.co.uk. 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  26. ^ Harris, John (9 February 2012). "Dodgy's fifth album is a musical reunion worth celebrating". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  27. ^ Simpson, Dave (16 February 2012). "Dodgy: Stand Upright in a Cool Place – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  28. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (23 May 2016). "Dodgy confirm new album 'What Are We Fighting For' – watch 'You Give Drugs A Bad Name' video". NME. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  29. ^ "Meet the school staff… – the Aspire Academy". Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  30. ^ Avin, Roie (4 May 2026). "Dodgy – Hello Beautiful (Album Review)". The Prog Report. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  31. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dodgy | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  32. ^ a b c "DODGY - full Official Chart History". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  33. ^ "Dodgy - Homegrown". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  34. ^ Newman, Melinda (29 March 1997). "Mercury Dodges Releasing Dodgy Album; Compilation Lands on 'Mars'". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 13. p. 16. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  35. ^ "Dodgy - Free Peace Sweet". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Dodgy - Good Enough". BPI. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
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