Smokie

Smokie is a rock and pop group from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, originally formed in 1964 under the name Kindness before being renamed Smokey, then Smokie, in 1974. The group rose to commercial prominence in the mid-1970s following a partnership with producers Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, who shaped the polished, hook-driven sound that defined their chart period. Their biggest single, "Living Next Door to Alice," reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1977. Further hits included "If You Think You Know How to Love Me," "Oh Carol," "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone," and "I'll Meet You at Midnight." Lead vocals during this peak period were handled by Chris Norman, who remained with the group from 1964 until 1986.

The band continued through several lineup changes across subsequent decades. Alan Barton took over lead vocal duties in 1986 and remained until his death on 23 March 1995. Mike Craft then fronted the group from 1995 until 2021, with Pete Lincoln taking over the lead vocalist role from 2021 onward. Other members of the later lineup included Terry Uttley, who died on 16 December 2021, alongside Mick McConnell, Martin Bullard, and Steve Pinnell. The group remained active as a touring act through at least 2018.

Collectors seek out Smokie's mid-1970s pressings, particularly from markets across Eastern Europe and the former Eastern Bloc, where the band built a substantial following. Licensed releases and regional pressings from countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany are among the items most actively pursued, as these editions were produced in limited quantities and circulated within state-controlled distribution systems.