The Broken RecordExtra
When In Rome
English synth-pop/new wave group
When in Rome were an English synth-pop/new wave group, which originally consisted of vocalists Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann, and keyboardist Michael Floreale. They are best known for their 1988 single "The Promise", which was their only top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
As of July 2012, there were two bands using the When in Rome name, although the original lineup has been disbanded since 1990.
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When In Rome
- what
- a band
- from
- Manchester
- since
- 1987
- on the air here
- 0 songs
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- 1 song
File card: When In Rome
members: Clive Farrington, Michael Floreale, Andrew Mann, Rob Juarez
formed in: Manchester
labels: Virgin Records
genres: electronic dance music
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
new wavealbumandrew mannclive farringtondrewemi
The Broken RecordExtra
Formation
Michael Floreale and Andy O'Connell were recruited by Clive Farrington to replace departed members of his Manchester-based group Beau Leisure. Floreale and Farrington began to write songs together. Later, Farrington and Floreale saw Andrew Mann, a beat poet, and had him join their performances. O'Connell left the group; the remaining trio recorded some demos – sometimes including Mann's friend Corinne Drewery of Swing Out Sister – while seeking a recording deal. Farrington and Floreale came up with the band name after using the famous proverb to note the cultural differences between Manchester and London. The band was signed to Elektra Records for a month before the label closed its London office, forcing the band to leave due to the time...
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Breakup, reformation, and legal issues
In 1990, Floreale was fired by Farrington and Mann over creative differences and When in Rome disbanded shortly after Virgin Records dropped them in 1993. Floreale moved to the United States, and now lives in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, where he composes music for television and film. Tensions arose between the members again in 2003, when "The Promise" was used in the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite and Floreale made sole claim to the song, despite the trio receiving equal royalties.
English new wave group, active in the late 1980's.
They are best known for The Promise and Heaven Knows. "The Promise" was initially released first as a 12" record and reached the top of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1987. The 7" version in 1987 was a flop and didn't achieve much success. After their self-titled album was released, the song was remixed with producers Ben Rogan and Richard James Burgess in which took special interest with "The Promise". The song was an instant success, barely missing the top ten in the United States, peaking at No. 11, although peaked poorly in the UK with No. 86 in January and No. 58 the following month. The following year, they released their second single, "Heaven Knows", failed to achieve success in February 1989 on Billboard's Pop chart, with No. 95. The song only peaked on the US Dance Billboard chart with missing another in the top 10 barely at No. 14. "Everything" failed poorly to chart in both UK and US, and their final (and last) single, "Sight of Your Tears" poorly charted at No. 40 on the US Dance Billboard Chart.
The group disbanded shortly after Virgin Records dropped them in 1993, and two of the three members (Farrington & M
Also known as: Farrington And Mann, ホヘン・イン・ローム, 羅馬合唱團, 羅馬風情樂團
From Discogs (free to use). Their entryLiner notes
When In Rome, the records, oldest first
- wanted
When in Rome II
2006 album
The Promise (Studio 1987 Version)
2009 ep
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
The Elsewhere Gazette1988
The Promise
1987 single by When in Rome
"The Promise" is the debut single by the British synth-pop band When in Rome. It was first released in 1987 on 10 Records, as the lead single from their self-titled debut album.
It was written by all three band members: Clive Farrington, Andrew Mann and Michael Floreale. The song was released in the U.S. in 1988 and reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Background
The members of When in Rome wrote and jammed songs in a small garden shed turned studio in the house of singer Clive Farrington's father. The space was so tight that they had to attach keyboards vertically to the walls. Keyboardist Michael Floreale was experimenting with the music to "The Promise" one night in the shed, and Farrington came in and started singing a harmony. Farrington wrote the first verse and chorus, but asked bandmate Andrew Mann to write the second verse. Floreale believes the lyrics were inspired by a recent breakup Farrington had gone through. The song took two days to finish because Farrington would often have an idea for a melody just before falling asleep and would record it before polishing it the next day....
Critical reception
William Cooper of AllMusic spoke of the song in a review of the When in Rome album, writing, "The 1988 hit "The Promise" was essentially a carbon copy of New Order's radio-friendly dance-rock. Dark yet catchy, boasting a throbbing dance rhythm, a singalong chorus, and a hypnotic melody, 'The Promise' certainly deserved the success." Cooper also highlighted "The Promise" as a standout on the album by labeling it an AMG Pick Track.
Covers
New Found Glory covered the song on their 2007 album From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II