Londonbeat Mixes Soul With Dance

Band: Londonbeat.

Personnel: Jimmy Helms, lead vocals, trumpet; George Chandler, vocals; Jimmy Chambers, vocals; Willy M, guitar, keyboards, programming.

History: Americans Chandler and Helms and Trinidad native Chambers have been singing together and separately in England since the mid-’70s, with session credits including work with Fine Young Cannibals, Paul Young and Tina Turner. In the mid-’80s the three teamed with English instrumentalist Willy M, and Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart signed the group to his new Anxious Records label. Their English debut album, “Speak,” spawned the hit “9 AM.” A second album, “In the Blood,” came out last October, with the single “I’ve Been Thinking About You” reaching No. 1 in 12 European countries. The album has just been released by MCA in the United States.

Sound: As a vocal ensemble, Londonbeat fits in the new British soul wave along with the likes of the Pasadenas and the Christians. But Willy M’s studio prowess leans more toward the dance orientation of Fine Young Cannibals--Helms often sounds remarkably like Roland Gift--and Was (Not Was). The latter influence is most evident in the twisted, wry funk of “You Broke My Heart (In 36 Places).” The cross between the two styles yields such hook-filled pop-soul as “I’ve Been Thinking About You,” as well as a sturdy reworking of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry.”Tour Plans: A world tour starts Wednesday in Spain. Plans for U.S. dates this summer are pending.