Double Trouble (music producers)
Double Trouble | |
|---|---|
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Hip house, house |
| Years active | 1985–1992, 2025 |
| Labels | Desire Records |
| Members | Leigh Guest |
| Past members | Karl Brown Michael Menson (deceased) |
Double Trouble are an English dance record production and remixing group in the house and hip house scene, active during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2025, they returned after 35 years with a new single, "This Is Ska" in collaboration with Rebel MC.
History
The group consisted of members Karl 'Tuff Enuff' Brown, Leigh Guest and Michael Menson and first rose to prominence through their collaborations with the Rebel MC on the Polydor/Desire releases "Just Keep Rockin'" and "Street Tuff", which reached numbers 5 and 1 respectively on the UK Indie Chart in 1989.[1] "Just Keep Rockin'" then reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, while "Street Tuff" reached number 3, becoming their biggest hit. These two singles were included on Rebel MC's debut album, Rebel Music, as well as going on to feature on Double Trouble's own debut album, As One, which also spawned the singles "Don't Give Up", "Talk Back" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" - a cover of the Rose Royce track.
In 1991, a club/reggae single was released, entitled "Rub-A-Dub".[2]
New interest in "Just Keep Rockin'" in December 2007 saw it re-enter the UK Dance Chart at number 32.[3]
Murder of Michael Menson
Michael Menson, son of a Ghanaian diplomat, died from the results of burns on 13 February 1997, his anorak having been set on fire by three men in Edmonton.[4]
Discography
Albums
- 1990: As One
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS[5] | IRE | NED | BEL (FLA) |
GER | AUT | SWI | SWE | NZ | |||
| 1988 | "Feel the Music (Feel the Bass)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Single only |
| 1989 | "Just Keep Rockin'" (with Rebel MC) | 11 | — | — | 3 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | As One |
| "Street Tuff" (with Rebel MC) | 3 | 85 | — | 3 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 29 | ||
| 1990 | "Talk Back" | 71 | — | — | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" | 21 | 147 | 29 | — | — | 35 | — | — | — | 11 | ||
| "Celebrate" (as Double Trouble's Collective Effort) | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Singles only | |
| 1991 | "Rub-A-Dub" | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| "Give Me Some More" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2025 | "This Is Ska" (with Rebel MC featuring Kaya Fyah and Blackout JA) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Remixes
The trio were responsible for a string of successful remixes including:
- Snap! - "Ooops Up"
- Joey B Ellis - "Go for It (Heart and Fire)"
- Joe Smooth - "Promised Land"
- Dream Warriors - "Ludi"
References
- ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1999. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 167. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Double Trouble - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News - BBC Music". BBC. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ "Trio 'set Menson on fire'". BBC News. 16 November 1999. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under". bubblingdownunder. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.