Huey Lewis And The News – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Huey Lewis And The News – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts
Huey Lewis and the News performing at at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, FL. Image source: Carl Lender, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Huey Lewis And The News Biography

Huey Lewis & the News were successful pub bands. San Francisco’s basic rock & roll made them one of America’s most popular pop/rock bands of the mid-1980s. The News’ driving, party-hearty spirit became yuppie anthems like “Workin’ for a Livin’,” “I Want a New Drug,” “The Heart of Rock & Roll,” “Hip to Be Square,” and “The Power of Love.” The band wrote about 9-to-5 occupations and sports to appeal to their audience. The group smoothed up their sound to appeal to the older baby boomers who adopted them, but by the early 1990s, their formula had lost its charm. The quartet remained a concert draw and had adult contemporary radio songs.

Huey Lewis & the News began as Clover, a 1970s San Francisco country-rock band with Lewis (vocals, harmonica) and Sean Hopper (keyboards). Nick Lowe persuaded Clover to move to England in 1976 to join the pub rock scene. The organization quickly gained followers. Lowe produced the group’s first hit, “Chicken Funk,” with lead vocals by Lewis. The next year, the band, without Lewis, supported Elvis Costello on his debut album, My Aim Is True. After John McFee joined the Doobie Brothers, Polygram released two Clover albums that failed to sell, and the band broke up and returned to California. Lewis performed harmonica on Lowe’s Labour of Lust and Dave Edmunds’ Repeat When Necessary, which included Lewis’ song “Bad Is Bad,” before returning to the US.

After returning to America, Lewis and Hopper jammed at Uncle Charlies in Marin County, where they created American Express with Mario Cipollina (bass), Johnny Colla (saxophone, guitar), and Bill Gibson (drums), who had performed in Soundhole, Van Morrison‘s late ’70s backup band. American Express recorded “Exodisco,” a disco version of “Theme From Exodus.” Mercury’s single was overlooked. Chrysalis offered a deal in 1980 after the band added lead guitarist Chris Hayes and changed their name. The band’s self-titled debut was released later that year.

Picture This, the group’s second album, was a hit early in 1982 thanks to former Clover producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange’s Top Ten single “Do You Believe in Love.” “Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do” and “Workin’ for a Livin'” followed, and the band began traveling heavily. Touring and a succession of creative, amusing MTV videos helped Sports, the group’s third album, become multi-platinum. “Heart and Soul” (number eight, 1983), “I Want a New Drug” (number six, 1984), “The Heart of Rock & Roll,” and “If This Is It” all reached the Top Ten, and Sports reached number one in 1984, selling over seven million copies. Lewis sued Ray Parker, Jr. late in 1984 for plagiarizing “I Want a New Drug” in “Ghostbusters.” Out-of-court settlement. “The Power of Love” from Back to the Future was The News’ first number-one hit in 1985.

In 1986, Huey Lewis & the News released Fore! Five Top Ten singles—”Stuck With You,” “Hip to Be Square,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” “I Know What I Like,” and “Doing It All for My Baby”—propelled the album to number one (number six, 1987). With 1988’s Small World, the band experimented with American roots music while topping the charts. After two chart-topping, multi-platinum albums, “Perfect World” was a commercial disappointment, peaking at number 11 and only going platinum.

The News published Hard at Play on their new label, EMI, three years after Small World. Hard at Play only had one hit, “Couple Days Off.” In 1994, the ensemble released Four Chords & Several Years Ago, a covers CD and occasionally toured. The Elektra Records debut produced one adult contemporary radio success, “But It’s Alright,” but failed to go gold.

Huey Lewis And The News Discography

WeatherSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
SoulsvilleSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Plan BSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Four Chords & Several Years Ago
Hard at PlaySpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Small WorldSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Fore!SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
SportsSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Picture ThisSpotifyAppleYouTube
Huey Lewis and the NewsAppleYouTube

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is The Lead Singer Of Huey Lewis And The News?

Hugh Anthony Cregg III (born July 5, 1950), known professionally as Huey Lewis, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. New York City, New York, U.S. Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band, Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band’s songs.

Why Did Chris Hayes Leave Huey Lewis And The News?

Chris left the band in the year 2000, to spend more time with his family; although has occasionally filled in for the News’ current lead guitarist, Stef Burns.

Most Searched For Huey Lewis And The News Songs

The Power Of Love SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Hip To Be Square SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Stuck With You SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Do You Believe In Love SpotifyAppleAmazon
If This Is It SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Heart And Soul SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Back In Time SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
I Want A New Drug SpotifyAppleAmazon
The Heart Of Rock And Roll SpotifyAppleYouTube
Don’t Make Me Do It SpotifyYouTube