A Flock of Seagulls is an English new wave and synthpop band that gained significant popularity in the early 1980s. The band’s unique style of music, which incorporated elements of post-punk, electronic and pop, set them apart from their contemporaries, and their distinctive hairstyles and flamboyant fashion made them instantly recognizable.
Formed in 1979 in Liverpool, England, A Flock of Seagulls comprised of lead vocalist and keyboardist Mike Score, guitarist Paul Reynolds, bassist Frank Maudsley and drummer Ali Score. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 1982 and contained their breakthrough hit, “I Ran (So Far Away),” which reached the top 10 in the UK and the US. The album also included the singles “Space Age Love Song” and “Telecommunication.”
A Flock of Seagulls’ follow-up album, “Listen,” was released in 1983, and included the hit single “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You),” which reached the top 10 in the UK and the US. The album also contained the singles “Nightmares” and “Transfer Affection.”
The band’s third album, “The Story of a Young Heart,” was released in 1984 and contained the hit single “The More You Live, The More You Love,” which reached the top 30 in the UK and the US. The album also included the singles “Never Again (The Dancer)” and “Remember David.”
After the release of their third album, A Flock of Seagulls experienced some internal tensions and underwent several lineup changes. Mike Score continued to release albums under the A Flock of Seagulls name, although the band never achieved the same level of success as they did in the early 1980s.
In total, A Flock of Seagulls released six studio albums, with their most recent, “Ascension,” released in 2018. Their discography also includes numerous compilation albums, live albums, and remixes.
A Flock of Seagulls’ Discography:
Studio Albums:
- A Flock of Seagulls (1982)
- Listen (1983)
- The Story of a Young Heart (1984)
- Dream Come True (1985)
- The Light at the End of the World (1995)
- Ascension (2018)
Compilation Albums:
- The Best of A Flock of Seagulls (1986)
- Greatest Hits Remixed (1999)
- Platinum & Gold Collection (2003)
- We Are the ’80s (2006)
- The Best of A Flock of Seagulls (2008)
- I Ran: The Best of A Flock of Seagulls (2019)
Live Albums:
- A Flock of Seagulls Live (1985)
- Return to Zero (1995)
Remix Albums:
- Extended: The 12″ Mixes (1994)
- Remixes & Rarities (1995)
A Flock of Seagulls’ influence on the new wave and synthpop genres cannot be understated, and their distinctive sound and style have continued to inspire musicians to this day. While they may be most well-known for their hits from the 1980s, their extensive discography demonstrates the band’s enduring creativity and musical evolution.