Troy Tate

Troy Tate is an English musician and record producer who was a member of several bands including the Teardrop Explodes and Fashion as well as working as a solo artist, for which he is best known for the single "Love Is ..."

Biography Born in Liverpool, England, Tate's first band was the Cheltenham-based punk rock band Index, who released one single, "Jet Lag" c/w "Total Bland" in 1978. He moved on to join former members of the Rezillos in the band Shake, recording two singles with this band. In 1981, he first recorded as a solo artist, releasing the "Thomas" single on the RCA label Why-Fi. A second album, Liberty, followed in 1985, which proved to be Tate's swansong.

The Smiths – The Troy Tate Sessions When the Smiths (also on Rough Trade) were looking for a producer for their debut album, Tate was chosen; although after the album was recorded, the band decided to reject these recordings and re-record the album with producer John Porter. The original version of the album is widely known as The Troy Tate Sessions and has only been released on bootlegs. "Jeane" from these sessions was released as the B-side of the "This Charming Man" single, and the version of "Pretty Girls Make Graves" was the B-side to "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish". Tate's version of "Reel Around the Fountain" had been scheduled for release as a single in 1983, a disc of which was included in a collectors edition of Complete in 2011.

Solo discography Albums Ticket to the Dark (1984) Sire Liberty (1985) Sire

Singles "Thomas" (1981) Why-Fi "Lifeline" (1982) Why-Fi "Love Is ..." (1983) Rough Trade "Thomas" (1984) Sire "Sorrow" (1985) Sire