Smokie

Smokie formed in Bradford, England in 1965, originally called The Yen. The lineup included Chris Norman on vocals and guitar, Terry Uttley on bass, Alan Silson on guitar and vocals, and Pete Spencer on drums. Their sound leaned toward melodic soft rock with vocal harmonies, and they found their footing in the mid-1970s with songs like "Living Next Door to Alice."

In 1975, the single "If You Think You Know How to Love Me" became a breakthrough hit internationally. That success led to more charting tracks, including "Mexican Girl" and "Angelina." Their style was straightforward pop-rock, built around Norman's lead vocals and clean guitar arrangements.

In 1978, they faced a plagiarism claim over their song "Oh Carol," which was said to resemble Neil Sedaka's earlier hit. The dispute drew some negative attention, though the band kept touring and recording. As musical trends shifted toward punk and disco later in the decade, Smokie's polished, midtempo sound fell out of favor on the charts, but they maintained a following through live shows.

They continued releasing albums into the 1980s and beyond, with Norman departing in the mid-1980s. Songs like "No Matter What" and their cover of "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" remained in their setlists for years.