Joy의 추억속의 Pop

 

 

(touch by touch)

The band JOY was formed in Bad Aussee, an Austrian town of 5.000 citizens. Andy Schweitzer (born 26 February 1960), Freddy Jaklitsch (born 22 January 1960) and Manfred Temmel (born 25 February 1959) were school friends – and already as teenagers played in different amateur bands together; but after graduation they have chosen different careers. Andy became a policeman, Freddy started teaching German language and history at school, and Manfred was a popular DJ in Orion disco-club, in the German city, Traunreut.

Three friends met again in 1984, and decided to focus their joint efforts on a professional musical career. Quickly enough three young talents got a record deal – with an Austrian label OK Musica.^[1] The record company owners appointed Michael Scheickl (23.03.57; represented Austria as part of the Mess duo at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1982,^[2] where their track "Sonntag"^[3] reached #10) to guide three young talents through all the curves and dangers of show-business.JOY first single, "Lost In Hong Kong"^[4] (composed by Michael Scheickl – using a pseudonym M. Mell), was released in February 1985. It did not become a big hit, but the new band was mentioned in press.

The next single "Touch By Touch",^[5] released in September 1985 and composed by Schweitzer and Jaklitsch, immediately reached European Top 20 Dance Charts - and was Nr.1 in Austrian national chart.^[6] In Austria, Portugal and Spain more than 50,000 copies of Touch by touch have been sold - and the single reached golden status in these three countries.

Third single, "Hello",^[7] also composed by Michael Scheickl, again became a hit - and reached 26th position in Austrian national chart.^[6] The first album - also entitled Hello^[8] - immediately entered Austrian national chart, and charted in many European countries as well. That brought worldwide popularity to the band with their albums sold in more than 30 countries. Even a track that has not been released as a single, "Valerie" became a hit it Eastern Europe: in USSR due to a flexi-single, released by Krugozor magazine# #3 - 1987. In Hungary a few years later a local group Inflagranty recorded a cover version entitled "Te meg en".Due to their positive melodies and non-political lyrics JOY became one of the few bands who played behind the Iron Curtain – in 1986 and 1987 they performed in the GDR, at the TV-show de:Ein Kessel Buntes

In 1986, JOY returned to their studio to record a second album, which was entitled Joy And Tears.^[9] The album release was anticipated by a single release "Japanese Girls". In Austrian charts the single reached Nr. 14,^[6] but this song made JOY popular in Asia. In 1986 JOY have been voted the most popular international act in South Korea.

Their Asian tour, which took JOY in January and February 1987 to Bangkok, Hongkong, Singapore, Taiwan and Seoul, was attended by more than 60,000 spectators. In Seoul, South Korea, JOY twice played for 12,000 people at the sold out Jamsil Olympic Stadium, and performed a version of their hit "Japanese Girls", re-titled as "Korean Girls".^[10]

Immediately upon the end of their Asian tour, JOY played a few concerts in USA, in California at the Shrine Auditorium, and in San-Jose - mainly for Chinese and Vietnamese audience. A picture taken in San-Jose was later used on a sleeve for the "It Happens Tonight" single.

In 1987, JOY played many gigs in different European countries – including Portugal (twice), Spain and Italy. In between the shows JOY recorded a track called "Destination Heartbeat",^[11] that became a soundtrack for the Flucht in der Tod film. Also in 1987, OK-Musica released a compilation album, Best of JOY,^[12] on compact disc.

In 1988, keyboarder and co-writer, Andy Schweitzer, parted ways with Fred Jaklitsch and Manfred Temmel. After obtaining a permission to use the original band name, he invited a vocalist Anzo (Hans Morawitz)^[13] – and recorded an album entitled Joy,^[14] which was released by Polydor Records. Neither the album itself, nor the singles ("Kissin' Like Friends",^[15] "She's Dancing Alone",^[16] "Born To Sing a Love Song"^[17]) made it to the charts.

In 1994, two members of the original line-up, Freddy Jaklitsch and Manfred Temmel, signed a record deal with BMG and released a new single - "Hello, Mrs. Johnson".^[18] Shortly after they invited a new keyboardist, Johannes Groebl (born 30 January 1960), and released one more single – "Felicidad"^[19] – in 1995. In 1996 the album Full of Joy was recorded and ready for release at BMG. The track-list, containing 12 tracks, had been finalized – and the promo-materials have been printed; however BMG made a decision not to release the album.

In 1997, Freddy Jaklitsch and Manfred Temmel have created a band called Seer,^[20] which later became one of the more successful projects on the Austrian national music scene. In 2008, Temmel left Seer.

In June 1997, JOY performed in Gorky Park (Moscow), at the 'Dancing City' open air festival.

On 29 November 2002, JOY took part in the first 'Disco 80' festival,^[21] organized by one of the popular radio stations in Russia - Avtoradio.^[22] The festival took place in Luzhniki Palace of Sports.

In 2010, all the three members of original line-up decided to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first success by holding a reunion. on 10 October that year, JOY performed at 'Legends of Retro FM'^[23] festival in Moscow; in November 2010 a maxi-CD with four new versions of JOY major hit, "Touch By Touch".^[24]

In July 2011, JOY released an album entitled Enjoy.^[25] It contained 10 new tracks, as well as the new versions of such hits as "Touch By Touch" and "Valerie". All the backing vocals were recorded by Michael Scheickl. The album was released in Austria by the label Major Babies, and reached 21st position in Austrian national chart. In September 2011 the album was released in Russia on the CD-Land label,^[26] and in Hungary – distributed by Hargent Media.^[27]

On 15 July 2011, JOY performed in Estonia, at the Viljandi Retro Fest^[28] for more than seven thousand viewers from Estonia and Latvia. In November 2011, JOY performed in Moscow once more – at the Disco 80 festival.^[29] This time the festival took place in the Olympic Stadium^[30] in Moscow.

Since May 2012, Alfred Jaklitsch, due to his responsibilities as a leader of the popular band Die Seer, has performed with JOY less often. Michael Scheickl has become JOY's lead vocalist for live shows.