River City People

by Jason AnkenyAtmospheric folk-rock quartet River City People was formed in Liverpool, England in 1986 by vocalist Siobhan Maher, guitarist Tim Speed, his drummer brother Paul, and bassist Dave Snell. After building a loyal local following, the group recorded a demo tape which resulted in an invitation to appear on Channel 4's The Chart Show; soon after River City People signed to EMI, issuing their debut single "(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?" in mid-1989. The album Say Something Good followed a few months later, and in the summer of 1990, the band scored their biggest hit with a cover of the Mamas and the Papas' "California Dreamin'." This Is the World followed in late 1991, but River City People disbanded soon after; Maher then teamed with ex-Bangle Debbi Peterson in the duo Kindred Spirit, releasing a self-titled 1995 LP on Capitol.