Biography
Towards the end of 1980, musicians assembled the Bureau as a formidable eight-piece ensemble from Britain, several of whom had previously abandoned Dexys Midnight Runners. The roster featured Archie Brown on vocals, Pete Williams on bass and vocals, Geoff ‘JB’ Blythe on tenor saxophone, Steve Spooner on alto saxophone, Paul Taylor on trombone, Robert Jones on guitar, trumpet and vocals, Mick Talbot (b. 11 September 1958, London, England) on keyboards and vocals, and Andy Growcott on percussion. Warner Brothers Records soon placed the octet under contract, briefly casting them as likely contenders to match Dexys Midnight Runners in live draw. Brown’s singing, propelled by an outstandingly dynamic brass section, appeared on the debut single ‘Only For Sheep’. Brown also wrote the incisive ‘Let Him Have It’, which addressed the notorious Bentley/Craig murder case yet failed to chart. Despite a string of strongly praised concerts the group dissolved, leaving an album slated for UK release that instead surfaced only fleetingly overseas before receiving an expanded reissue in 2005.
Albums