Lyrics of Guyanese international recording artist Eddy Grant along with those of a number of well-known British singers and writers have been selected to appear on a special edition of mugs issued by Transport for London (TFL).
The iconic ‘Electric Avenue’ by Grant is the song selected to be featured in the collection. This hit reached number two in the British national pop charts and was an international pop hit that became one of the first recordings by an artist of African descent to be played on the American Rock TV station MTV.
According to a press release, a range of mugs and T-shirts featuring lyrics relating to London and stations have been out on sale at shop.tv.gov.uk
The release said that Electric Avenue received the distinction of not only having achieved the number two position in 1993 but also returning to the charts in 2001 at position number five. It was also part of Grant’s Greatest Hits package that reached number three that same year.
The release further said that the extraordinary success of ‘Electric Avenue’ with its futuristic sound landscape, visionary production values and groundbreaking video had more than its share of imitators and had spawned an unbelievable number of businesses carrying that name, as can be seen from a cursory glance on the internet. It continues to be one of the many highlights of Eddy Grant’s current Reparation World Tour which will see the artist close the year 2009 as special guest of UB40 in a number of concerts in the UK and Europe.
A number of major Hollywood films and ad campaigns have also featured ‘Electric Avenue,’ the latest of which is the blockbuster Pineapple Express from Judd Apatow, the Director and screenwriter of Knocked Up.
Other songs featured on the TFL merchandise include ‘Camden Town’ by Madness’ singer Suggs; the Small Fcaes ‘Itchycoo Park’; two songs from Peter Doherty, ‘Babyshambles’ and ‘Albion’; and the Liberties’ ‘The Boy Looked at Johnny.’
TFL is the body that runs most of the public transport system in London, including buses, tubes and trains.
