‘Don’t Go’ by Hothouse Flowers was the band’s first issued single on London Records in 1987.
Co-produced by Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley, known for their work with the likes of Dexys Midnight Runners, Morrissey and Bush, the song quickly gained traction, most notably after its video was broadcast during the interval of the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. The video, filmed across 11 European countries, was one of the most expensive Irish music videos at the time.
This Eurovision exposure propelled ‘Don’t Go’ to #11 on the UK Singles Chart and #2 in Ireland (twice!) thanks to its original release and April 1988 reissue. Whilst not a Billboard Hot 100 entry, it did make an appearance on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock chart and peaked in the top 10 in Sweden and New Zealand.
Better yet, the success of ‘Don’t Go’ was followed by the band’s debut record ‘People’ (June 1988 – #1 Ireland and #2 UK) which was supported by widespread touring and prestigious festival appearances such as Reading (1988) and Glastonbury (1989).
Grab a copy of ‘People’ on vinyl, available now via London Records, alongside its expanded digital edition – link in bio.