The Foundations

The Foundations

The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of both West Indians and Caucasians, is best-remembered for their two biggest hits, Baby, Now That I've Found You (a No. 1 hit in the UK singles chart, and subsequently Top 10 in the US); and Build Me Up Buttercup (a chart topper in the Billboard Hot 100), co-written by Michael d'Abo, vocalist with Manfred Mann. They are also notable for being one of the few acts not on the Tamla Motown label to use successfully what became known as the Motown Sound. Read more on Last.fm

Appearances

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Performance Statistics

Below is a breakdown of the artist's performance types. Repeat performances are not counted, unless stated otherwise.

Mimed

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Live

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Live Mimed

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Satellite

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Music Video

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Repeats

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YouTube Videos

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Artist Appearances

Episode Performance
06/08/1970 I'm Gonna Be A Rich Man
Mimed Performance
21/08/1969 Born To Live Born To Die
Mimed Performance
03/04/1969 In The Bad Bad Old Days (before You Loved Me)
Mimed Performance
27/03/1969 In The Bad Bad Old Days (before You Loved Me)
Mimed Performance
02/01/1969 Build Me Up Buttercup
Mimed Performance
19/12/1968 Build Me Up Buttercup
Mimed Performance
05/12/1968 Build Me Up Buttercup
Mimed Performance
15/02/1968 Back On My Feet Again
Mimed Performance
Christmas Day 1967 Baby Now That I've Found You
Mimed Performance
16/11/1967 Baby Now That I've Found You
Played Over Charts
16/11/1967 Baby Now That I've Found You
Mimed Performance
09/11/1967 Baby Now That I've Found You
Played Over Charts
09/11/1967 Baby Now That I've Found You
Mimed Performance
26/10/1967 Baby Now That I've Found You
Mimed Performance
19/10/1967 Baby Now That I've Found You
Mimed Performance

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This content was taken from the BBC's original TOTP2 website, which was archived and discontinued in 2007. The original content is no longer available, but the TOTP Archive has preserved it. Please note that the content may not be up-to-date and may not accurately reflect today's views and opinions.

Interview date: Circa 2003

Ever wondered what happened to Clem Curtis, the voice of The Foundations? Clem Curtis is the angel-voiced centre of one of Britain's most successful and short-lived soul outfits. The Foundations's first hit 'Now That I Have Found You' romped to the top of the charts in 1967, making them as the first first multi-racial act to have a UK No.1. Despite a flurry of hits, Clem departed, and they eventually split in 1970. Fresh from his solo efforts, Clem returned to England and formed his own version of the band in '71, and continues to tour the band's formidable catalogue of hits around the globe.

Question

So, looking back...

Answer

I think that over the last 30 odd years I enjoyed being in the Foundations, and stayed with them so long, or re-formed them when I came back. All in all, I've had an amazing time.

Question

So why did you leave?

Answer

I felt that the other members weren't making any real effort. The first hit was 'Baby Now That I Have Found You' and then did 'Back On My Feet Again' then we did an album which they didn't play on at all. It was all session work and I did the vocals. And then after a while, no one wanted to rehearse or do anything. And I had found something that I really wanted to do. Luckily I had met Sammy Davis Jr at the time, and he had arranged to meet some people in America. By the time I had made that transition the Foundations had broke up. I think because they couldn't cut it at the time. So I reformed the Foundations.

Question

Regrets? Have you had a few?

Answer

I think that the greatest thing I did was leave the band. I got to hang out with Wilson Pickett, Lloyd Price, Sam & Dave. It was a great time to be in America. When you watched American acts, you saw the charisma they had and the way they did things. It gave me an insight and made me decided what I wanted to do. I reformed the band in 1971 and have since been all over the world, with some of the best musicians in England. I worked very hard to put the Foundations where it is today, and I'm still hanging in there and doing great shows.

Question

Do you keep in touch with the original members?

Answer

No. Over the years we haven't seen each other for a long time. I travel a lot. I do lots of functions and things so the band works fine as it is.

Question

Where have you been lately?

Answer

Sunday I was down at Minehead doing a '70s festival with Edwin Starr. I go to America regularly. I did a show with the Four Tops the year before last. I go to Dubai quite a lot. I'm off to Holland in April and Germany in May. Next week I'm off to Skegness and Leicester. Before Christmas we tour of universities, and we have a couple coming up.

Question

Not bad going for a man of your years...

Answer

If you want to know I'm 62. I keep going because I love what I do. I have a great bunch of musicians around me that have been with me for years. I love entertaining and sometimes I'm very disappointed that people like me who have had No.1 don't get the recognition that they should do. What excites me is when you go to a show and see mothers and grandmothers.

Question

Do you think your era is a forgotten one?

Answer

Even groups today record songs from our time and they go to No.1, or use them to rap over and I just think that anyone is making that sort of music anymore. If you think that 35 years ago one had a few records that were in the chart, they're legends now. On practically every compilation you'll find The Foundations.

Question

So you can't be doing bad for royalties.

Answer

Ah that's another problem. You have so many different aspects of a label doing things that nothing has changed since the old days in terms of how easy it is to get royalties. A lot of people out there are owed a lot of money, including myself.

Question

So are you ever going to retire?

Answer

How many musicians do you hear saying they'll retire. I heard Eric Clapton saying he'd like to stop but most musicians don't. They always have to come back and play, that's what we do. God willing that if I can make it that far and still sing, I'll be doing this in twenty years time. It's not a job for me, it's a way of life. And I enjoy the way of life that I have.

Question

What do you do when you're not touring?

Answer

I live in a little market town. It's very rural and out of the way. And I like to collect junk. I have stuff in my house from my travels that tell a little story about how I have lived. I like good company. I like living in the country and I have some really nice friends. I like peace and quiet.

Question

So what's next for The Foundations?

Answer

Right now we're doing a new version of 'Build Me Up Buttercup' and we're hoping to get a deal from some label somewhere and put that out?

Question

Why?

Answer

There are two songs that the audience by heart wherever we go, 'Baby Now That I Found You' and 'Build Me Up Buttercup'. On a tour I did recently, all these students were asking me "Why don't you do a dance version like you get in the charts now?" It's a little bit different.

Question

What do you listen to these days?

Answer

I listen to everything. But I do like the '60s music the best. I'm crazy about Marvin Gaye and Lou Rawls and people of that era. You don't hear music like that anymore. I've nothing against today's stuff but it all sounds the same.

Question

You used to be a boxer, did that ever come in handy?

Answer

[Laughs] I've had my moments, that's all I can say.