its predecessor, the album was not a hit. Breakup and aftermath After this, the band effectively broke up. Birch turned to tour managing, running 'Rock Tours', a sightseeing London Bus venture, producing and writing. In 1990, the original band briefly reformed to contribute a track for the 1991 Brian Wilson tribute album, Smiles, Vibes & Harmony. Birch, Brown and Wicks cut the basic track for "Darlin'" in London; Gower added his parts and mixed it in New York. The same year also saw the US release of Paying for the Summer of Love. Both recordings received great press, but were not enough to outweigh unresolved past issues within the core membership, which effectively killed any possibility of restarting the group. Wicks relocated to the US in 1994 and was writing, recording and performing both solo and with a new incarnation of the band up until 2018. Brown died following an undisclosed degenerative illness, on February 2, 2012. Wicks died following a year-long struggle with cancer on October 7, 2018 in Burbank, California. Discography Beginning with their debut album – Shades in Bed (1979, UK), retitled in the US as simply The Records – releases by The Records have been issued in a variety of editions: Albums 1979: Shades in Bed 1980: Crashes 1982: Music on Both Sides 1988: Smashes, Crashes and Near Misses 1989: A Sunny Afternoon in Waterloo (Germany) 1998: Rock'Ola (Spain) 2001: Paying for the Summer of Love (US) 2009: Play Live: The Records Live in Concert (Japan) Singles 1978: "Starry Eyes" (UK) 1979: "Rock 'n' Roll Love Letter" (UK) 1979: "Starry Eyes" (US) 1979: "Teenarama" 1980: "Hearts in Her Eyes" 1982: "Imitation Jewellery" References External links John Wicks and the Records official site The Records historical website maintained by Will Birch Will Birch official site Entry in Trouser Press 1978 establishments in England 1982 disestablishments in England English power pop groups English new wave musical groups English rock music groups Musical groups established in 1978 Musical groups disestablished in 1982