The Foundations

British soul band The Foundations is best known for the hit "Build Me Up Buttercup". Formed in London in 1967, it features singer Clem Curtis, guitarist Alan Warner, a rhythm section and a horn section. Performing at the Butterfly Club, the musicians found a manager and signed with Pye Records, who offered to record "Baby Now That I've Found You". It was an immediate success, reaching No. 1 in the UK and No. 11 in the US. With the songwriting tandem Tony Macaulay/John Macleod and a few covers by Joe Tex and other American artists, The Foundations established themselves as the most authentic of British soul groups with the album From the Foundations (1967), including the hit "Back on My Feet Again" (No. 18). However, the live recording Rocking the Foundations (1968) was fraught with dissension, leading to the departure of Clem Curtis, who was replaced by Colin Young on the group's biggest hit, "Build Me Up Buttercup", No. 2 locally but No. 1 in other countries and No. 3 across the Atlantic. The track, composed by Mike d'Abo, goes double platinum, selling over two million copies as a single. It was followed by "In the Bad, Bad Old Days",#8 in 1969 and the Digging the Foundations album, then "Born to Live, Born to Die". a royalties dispute between composer/producer Macaulay and the label led The Foundations to sign with Uni Records for the recording of a few singles, before splitting up in 1970. A battle to keep the band name ensued between Colin Young and Clem Curtis: the former won the right to perform with The New Foundations, while the latter retained the original name, which he used for the 1977 track "Where Were You When I Needed Your Love?

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