The Allisons

This article is about English pop duo. For American girl-group, see The Allisons (American group). For others, see Allison (disambiguation).

The Allisons

Origin| England
Genres| Pop
Years active| 1961–1963
Labels| Fontana Records
Past members| Bob Day
John Alford

The Allisons were an English pop duo consisting of Bob Day (born Bernard Colin Day; 2 February 1941 – 25 November 2013)[1] and John Alford (born Brian Henry John Alford, 31 December 1939).[2] They were marketed as being brothers, using the surname of Allison.

## Career[edit]

The Allisons represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 with the song "Are You Sure?". They came second with 24 points. The song was released as a single on the Fontana label, and climbed to number 1 on the UK NME pop chart, while in the chart compiled by the Official Charts Company the song spent six weeks at number 2 and a further three weeks in the top 4.[3] "Are You Sure" sold over one million records, earning a gold disc.[2] In Germany the single reached number 11.[4] Despite a couple of minor follow-up hits, the duo disbanded in 1963.

Alford initially tried songwriting, but he and Day teamed up for short tours to keep the 'Allisons' name alive. Additionally, in the 1970s and 1980s Alford was joined by other "brothers" — Mike "Allison" and Tony "Allison". By the 1990s, Day and Alford regularly reunited to perform on the oldies circuit.

The Allisons' final public performance was at the "Tales from the Woods" British R'n'Roll Heritage Show #8 at The Borderline Club in London, 2012. A clip from that show can be found on the 'Tales From The Woods' YouTube channel

Bob Day died on 25 November 2013, aged 72, after a long illness.[5]

## Discography[edit]

### Albums[edit]

Year  | Title  | UK | Record label

|
|
|

1961  | Are You Sure[6] | —  | Fontana Records

### Singles[edit]

Year  | Title  | US | UK | Record label | B-side

|
|
|
|
|

1961  | "Are You Sure?"[7] | 102  | 2  | Fontana Records  | "There's One Thing More"
"Words"[8] | —  | 34  | Fontana Records  | "Blue Tears"
"What a Mess"[9] | —  | —  | Fontana Records  | "Lorraine"
1962  | "Lessons in Love"[10] | —  | 30  | Fontana Records  | "Oh, My Love"
"I'll Cross My Fingers"[11] | —  | —  | Fontana Records  | "You Should Be Sorry"

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Bob Allison | The Allisons Star Dies At 72". Contactmusic.com. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
2. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 131. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 20\. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
4. ^ Ehnert, Günter (ed.): Hit Bilanz. Deutsche Chart Singles 1956-1980. Hamburg: Taurus Press, 1990, S. 15
5. ^ Leigh, Spencer (1 January 2014). "Bob Allison: Eurovision contestant who was fielded as one half of the British answer to the hitmaking Everly Brothers". The Independent.
6. ^ "Allisons, The - Are You Sure (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 5 December 1961. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
7. ^ "Allisons, The - Are You Sure (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. February 1961. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
8. ^ "Allisons, The - Words (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 5 December 1961. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
9. ^ "Allisons, The - What A Mess (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 5 December 1961. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
10. ^ "Allisons, The - Lessons In Love (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. February 1962. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
11. ^ "Allisons, The - I'll Cross My Fingers (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 5 December 1962. Retrieved 27 November 2013.

## External links[edit]

* 45-RPM website
* 45cat.com
* The Allisons discography at Discogs

Awards and achievements

Preceded by

Bryan Johnson
with "Looking High, High, High"

|  United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
1961 | Succeeded by

Ronnie Carroll
with "Ring-A-Ding Girl"

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest 1961

Countries|

* Austria
* Belgium
* Denmark
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Italy
* Luxembourg
* Monaco
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* United Kingdom
* Yugoslavia

Artists|

* The Allisons
* Lale Andersen
* Conchita Bautista
* Bob Benny
* Nora Brockstedt
* Dario Campeotto
* Betty Curtis
* Colette Deréal
* Franca di Rienzo
* Greetje Kauffeld
* Laila Kinnunen
* Lill-Babs
* Jimmy Makulis
* Jean-Paul Mauric
* Jean-Claude Pascal
* Ljiljana Petrović

Songs|

* "Al di là"
* "Allons, allons les enfants"
* "Angelique"
* "April, april"
* "Are You Sure?"
* "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder"
* "Estando contigo"
* "Neke davne zvezde"
* "Nous aurons demain"
* "Nous les amoureux"
* "Printemps, avril carillonne"
* "Sehnsucht"
* "September, gouden roos"
* "Sommer i Palma"
* "Valoa ikkunassa"
* "Wat een dag"

* v
* t
* e

United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

* Discography
* National selection (Contestants)

Participation|

* 1957
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Artists|

* Andy Abraham
* Olly Alexander
* The Allisons
* Michael Ball
* Bardo
* Belle and the Devotions
* Black Lace
* Blue
* Patricia Bredin
* Brotherhood of Man
* Bucks Fizz
* Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
* Ronnie Carroll
* Co-Co
* Josh Dubovie
* Electro Velvet
* Emma
* Jade Ewen
* Scott Fitzgerald
* James Fox
* Nicki French
* Jessica Garlick
* Gina G
* Mary Hopkin
* Engelbert Humperdinck
* Imaani
* Samantha Janus
* Javine
* Jemini
* Joe and Jake
* Bryan Johnson
* Lucie Jones
* Katrina and the Waves
* Kathy Kirby
* Lindsay
* Live Report
* Love City Groove
* Lulu
* Kenneth McKellar
* Molly
* Matt Monro
* Mike Moran
* Mae Muller
* The New Seekers
* James Newman
* Olivia Newton-John
* Lynsey de Paul
* Precious
* Prima Donna
* Michael Rice
* Cliff Richard
* Rikki
* Clodagh Rodgers
* Frances Ruffelle
* Ryder
* Sam Ryder
* Daz Sampson
* Scooch
* The Shadows
* Sandie Shaw
* Sonia
* SuRie
* Sweet Dreams
* Bonnie Tyler
* Vikki

Songs|

* "All"
* "Are You Sure?"
* "The Bad Old Days"
* "Beg, Steal or Borrow"
* "Believe in Me"
* "Better the Devil You Know"
* "Bigger than Us"
* "Boom Bang-a-Bang"
* "Children of the Universe"
* "Come Back"
* "Congratulations"
* "Cry Baby"
* "Don't Play That Song Again"
* "Embers"
* "Even If"
* "Flying the Flag (For You)"
* "Give a Little Love Back to the World"
* "Go"
* "Hold On to Our Love"
* "I Belong"
* "I Can"
* "I Love the Little Things"
* "I Wrote a Song"
* "I'm Never Giving Up"
* "It's My Time"
* "Jack in the Box"
* "Knock, Knock Who's There?"
* "Let Me Be the One"
* "Long Live Love"
* "Looking High, High, High"
* "Love City Groove"
* "Love Enough for Two"
* "Love Games"
* "Love Is..."
* "Love Shine a Light"
* "Love Will Set You Free"
* "Making Your Mind Up"
* "A Man Without Love"
* "Mary Ann"
* "A Message to Your Heart"
* ~~"My Last Breath"~~
* "Never Give Up on You"
* "No Dream Impossible"
* "One Step Further"
* "One Step Out of Time"
* "Only the Light"
* "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"
* "Power to All Our Friends"
* "Puppet on a String"
* "Ring-A-Ding Girl"
* "Rock Bottom"
* "Runner in the Night"
* "Save Your Kisses for Me"
* "Say It Again"
* "Say Wonderful Things"
* "Sing, Little Birdie"
* "Space Man"
* "Still in Love with You"
* "Storm"
* "Teenage Life"
* "That Sounds Good to Me"
* "Touch My Fire"
* "We Will Be Free (Lonely Symphony)"
* "Where Are You?"
* "Why Do I Always Get It Wrong"
* "You're Not Alone"

* Note: Entries scored out signify where the United Kingdom did not compete

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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