Introduction
Oldies music fans — especially classic rock enthusiasts in particular — may instantly remember Bram Tchaikovsky and his eponymous band. Bram Tchaikovsky is an English singer and musician, born Peter Bramall in 1950. Along with his self-titled band, he scored an American hit single with “Girl of My Dreams” in the late 70s music era.
Around that same year, their tune “Sarah Smiles” became a hit in the Netherlands but Tchiakovsky and his band eventually broke up in 1982. Before his eponymous band, Tchaikovsky was a former member of The Motors in 1977, a punk/pub rock band in the UK. More on Bram Tchaikovsky in this article!
Early life and career
Bram Tchaikovsky is a British singer and guitarist born Peter Bramall on November 10, 1950 in Lincolnshire, England. During the late 1960s he started joining several pub rock bands in his hometown. In 1977 he became a member of the Motors, replacing guitarist/vocalist Rob Hendry.
After Tchaikovsky left the group in the late 1970s, the Motors carried on, even scoring a minor US hit with “Love and Loneliness” in 1980. But in 1982, the Motors ultimately dissolved.
Tchaikovsky and his minor hit “Girl of My Dreams”
In 1979, Tchaikovsky shortly left The Motors to form his eponymous power pop band, comprising of bass and keyboard player Mickey Broadbent and drummer Keith Boyce. The band started to get attention with “Girl of My Dreams” which was issued on Radar Records. It peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. They also scored a minor hit in Netherlands with “Sarah Smiles,” climbing at #32 that same year. New members Nick Garvey and Denis Forbes were added to the lineup. But after seeing disappointing sales numbers, Tchaikovsky decided to dissolve his own band.
Tchaikovsky left the music business as well. From 1979 to 1981, Bram Tchaikovsky had released 4 albums: Strange Man, Changed Man (1979), The Russians Are Coming (1980), Pressure (1980), and Funland (1981).
Two of the group’s records, Strange Man, Changed Man and The Russians are Coming were reissued by WEA Japan as part of “British Rock” reissue series.
In 2012 a live recording was released in entitled Live at the Lochem Festival, 1979.
Despite the short existence, over the years Bram Tchaikovsky is seen as a classic rock band especially in England.
Bram Tchaikovsky’s discography (may be partial)
Criminal Records
(Oct 1978)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Sarah Smiles
- B: Turn On The Light
Criminal Records
(Sep 1979)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Lullaby Of Broadway
- B: (Who Wants To Be A) Criminal
Radar Records
(Feb 1979)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Girl Of My Dreams
- B: Come Back
- C: Robber
- D: Whiskey And Wine
(Feb 1979)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Girl Of My Dreams
- B: Come Back
(Jun 1979)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: I´m The One That´s Leaving
- B: Amelia
(1980)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Let’s Dance (Short Version)
- B: Let’s Dance (Album Version)
(May 1980)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Let’s Dance
- B: Rock And Roll Cabaret
Arista Records
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Shall We Dance
- B: Miracle Cure
(May 1981)
Bram Tchaikovsky
- A: Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache
- B: Egyptian Mummies