Editing Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (section)

==Band history==
The band were formed whilst [[Lloyd Cole|Cole]] (who was born in [[Derbyshire]], England) was studying at the [[University of Glasgow]]. They signed a recording contract with [[Polydor Records]];<ref name="uncut.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/lloyd-cole-and-the-commotions-collected-recordings-1983-1989 |title=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Collected Recordings 1983-1989 - Uncut |website=Uncut|date=14 November 2014 }}</ref> their debut single "[[Perfect Skin (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions song)|Perfect Skin]]" reaching number 26 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in spring 1984, while the second single "[[Forest Fire (song)|Forest Fire]]" reached 41. Their debut studio album, ''[[Rattlesnakes (album)|Rattlesnakes]]'', was released in October 1984. Produced by [[Paul Hardiman]] and featuring string arrangements by [[Anne Dudley]], it peaked at No.&nbsp;13 in the UK and was certified gold for sales over 100,000 copies. ''[[NME]]'' included it in its Top 100 Albums of All Time list, and the [[Rattlesnakes (song)|title track]] was later covered by the [[United States|American]] singer [[Tori Amos]]. The Welsh band [[Manic Street Preachers]] included the album amongst their top ten list.{{cn|date=July 2022}}

The band's follow-up studio album, ''[[Easy Pieces]]'', was produced by [[Clive Langer]] and [[Alan Winstanley]], who had previously produced for [[Madness (band)|Madness]], [[the Teardrop Explodes]], [[Dexys Midnight Runners]] and [[Elvis Costello|Elvis Costello and the Attractions]]. Released in November 1985,<ref name="uncut.co.uk"/> the album was a quicker commercial success than its predecessor (entering the [[UK Albums Chart]] at No.&nbsp;5, and certified gold within a month). The singles "[[Brand New Friend]]" and "[[Lost Weekend (song)|Lost Weekend]]" were the band's first and only UK top 20 hits (reaching No.&nbsp;19 and No.&nbsp;17 respectively).

Two years later, the band released their third and final studio album, ''[[Mainstream (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions album)|Mainstream]]''. Produced by [[Ian Stanley]]<ref name="uncut.co.uk"/> (former songwriter and keyboardist of [[Tears for Fears]]), the album peaked at No.&nbsp;9 in the UK and was also certified gold, but contained only one UK top 40 single, "[[Jennifer She Said]]" (No.&nbsp;31). Its first single "[[My Bag (Lloyd Cole and the Commotions song)|My Bag]]", and a later release, the "[[From the Hip (song)|From the Hip]]" EP, failed to make the top 40.

In 1989, the band decided to break up and released a "best of" compilation, ''1984–1989'', which was their fourth top 20 album (UK No.&nbsp;14) and fourth gold certification. Following this, Cole embarked on a solo career with the release of his [[Lloyd Cole (album)|eponymous debut studio album]] in 1990.

On the first two Commotions albums, Cole was the band's principal songwriter (though he co-wrote several songs with various bandmembers). The third studio album is credited to the band as a whole.

During 2004, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions reunited for a month to celebrate the release of the ''Rattlesnakes'' deluxe edition. Rehearsals were in Glasgow and the band played to packed houses at the [[Barrowland Ballroom|Barrowlands]], and then in Dublin, Manchester and London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lloydcole.com/lloyd/|title=Lloyd - lloydcole.com|date=24 February 2015|website=Lloydcole.com|access-date=9 November 2023}}</ref>