Comprised of keyboard player and vocalist Joseph Washbourne, guitarist Dan Hipgrave, bassist Matt Knight, and drummer Rob Green, Toploader was formed after a night in the local pub. A second guitarist Julian Deane was invited to complete the lineup in 1997, following which the group began performing live, playing small venues across the UK with the likes of Coldplay and Muse. In 1998 Toploader signed with Sony Records’ UK division, who secured the band a supporting slot on Paul Weller’s European tour. The successful shows raised Toploader’s international profile considerably and also drew comparisons to the likes of Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and the Rolling Stones.
Toploader subsequently issued their debut single, “Achilles Heal”, in May 1999. Rising to No. 64 on the UK Singles Chart, the single was well-received and resulted in Toploader playing the year’s Glastonbury and Reading Festivals. Towards the tail-end of the year the band released the single “Let the People Know”, before issuing their most successful and fun-loving single to date, “Dancing in the Moonlight”, in early 2000. Produced by George Drakoulias, the single rose to No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, the chart where it remained until 2001. The band’s debut full-length album, “Onka’s Big Moka”, aided by the single, peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Earning positive reviews, the record drew comparisons with funk singer Jamiroquai, and later achieved three-times platinum certification.
The band’s sophomore album, “Magic Hotel”, was released in August 2002, which despite peaking at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, was scorned by critics. The album’s lead single “Time of My Life” was the record’s only charting single, following which Toploader were dropped by S2 Records and embarked on a lengthy hiatus. The band subsequently signed with Underdog Records and released their third full-length “Only Human” in June 2011. Spawning the non-charting singles “Never Stope Wondering”, “A Balance to All Thing”, and “She Said”, the record was supported by performing at small venues around the UK including various university student’s unions and at Lakefest Festival.
Toploader’s cover of ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ - and it is a cover, as is frequently misconstrued, with the original by King Harvest dating back to 1972 - will probably, depending on how old you are, conjure up images of Sainsbury’s, a rather yuppy-ish house party and, most heinously of all, Jamie Oliver; the song rose to prominence when it was featured in an ad for the supermarket chain back in 2000, ending up in the top ten - the highest chart position that that particular song has ever enjoyed - and helping Toploader’s debut album, Onka’s Big Moka, to a number four placing on the albums chart. Despite the fact that the era in question was already fizzling out by that point, Toploader pushed ahead with a Britpop sound, and despite the fact that they enjoyed some chart success and high-profile support slots - they were the last British band to play the old Wembley when they opened for Bon Jovi - they soon ran into difficulty keeping the public interested in a tired sound, and disappeared after album number two, Magic Hotel, met with a scathing critical reception. Their 2011 comeback album failed to chart, but with four original members still present, they continue to tour across the UK, taking in provincial towns and leaning heavily on Only Human, where the temptation to fall back in Onka’s Big Moka must be considerable. They’ve a slew of festival dates lined up across the country this summer, should the mood take you.
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