The Orchids is the name of more than one artist: 1. One of the most prolific bands on Bristol, England's legendary indie pop label Sarah Records, the Orchids were also one of the label's most press-shy outfits. Formed in 1986 in Penilee, Scotland, a suburb of Glasgow, the Orchids took their initial inspiration from some of the city's better-known acts of the time, particularly Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (singer James Hackett sounded more than a little like Cole and was often unfairly derided in the U.K. press for that resemblance) and Primal Scream during that band's original '60s pop phase. Hackett, rhythm guitarist Matthew Drummond, lead guitarist John Scally, bassist James Moody, and drummer Chris Quinn fit neatly into the bowl haircut and anorak look of the British indie scene, and their songs, the sort of archetypal late-'80s U.K. guitar pop for which terms like "winsome," "jangly," and "twee" were invented, made them both new pop heroes for a certain audience and an easily dismissible target for others. Press reaction tended to be either laudatory or scathing, with very little in between. The Orchids first hooked up with Sarah's Matt Haynes and Clare Wadd just as the label was getting underway in 1987, and so the Orchids' debut single, 1988's "I've Got a Habit," was only the second Sarah release. A second single, "Underneath the Window, Underneath the Sink," followed later in the year. The Orchids' early singles were successful enough that, simultaneous to the release of their third 7", "What Will We Do Next" in September 1989, Sarah released the label's first-ever album, the 10" Lyceum, a lengthy eight-track EP that, consistent with Sarah's value-for-money ethic, contained no songs that had previously appeared on singles. The Orchids' next single, 1990's "Something for the Longing," is possibly the group's all-time high point, a gently yearning lost love song with a gorgeous chorus. Later that year, the Orchids released a one-off single on the short-lived Caff Corporation imprint, the moody "An Ill Wind That Blows." Around this time, Drummond and Moody started a sideline career playing guitar and bass for their Sarah labelmates and fellow Glaswegians the Wake, a situation that would remain in place until the Wake split in 1994. For the first three years of their career, the Orchids concentrated almost exclusively on 7" singles, in keeping with the British indie scene's preference for immediacy and disposability. However, beginning with the Penetration EP in February 1991, the Orchids released only EPs and LPs for the remainder of their career. Unlike the Chills and some other bands who finally began releasing full-length records after a long string of singles, the Orchids seemed to have amassed quite a stockpile of good songs during the time when they only released four to six tunes per year, because there's no drop-off in quality evident on 1991's Unholy Soul. Even more importantly, the Orchids' sound remained neither boringly static nor succumbed to the sort of trend-hopping jumps into acid house or other fads that felled some of their Sarah labelmates. A more reflective, mature quality started creeping into the group's later records, and the guitar jangle became supplanted, though never entirely replaced, by '60s-style Farfisa organ textures, while various female friends of the band began adding harmonies to Hackett's previously unadorned vocals. The 1992 EP Thaumaturgy introduced this shimmering new sound, but its January 1994 follow-up, Striving for the Lazy Perfection, outshines all of the Orchids' other albums. Whether the group decided not to follow up a career highlight or to bow out as Sarah was winding up its operations, the Orchids quietly disbanded after a final performance at the Sarah Records farewell party in 1995. The breakup wasn't destined to last, however. About a decade later, the Orchids reunited, wrote some new songs, and released their fourth full-length album, 2007's Good to Be a Stranger. The reunion went so well that the group decided to stay together, releasing their next album, The Lost Star, in the autumn of 2010. The album was mixed by Ian Carmichael, who had produced most of their earlier work. Working at roughly the same rate of speed, and in the same manner, the band released their third post-reunion album in 2014. Beatitude #9 was issued by Spain's Acuarela label. Over the next few years, the band played the occasional show or festival and began working on a career-spanning compilation. Who Needs Tomorrow featured one disc of songs from singles and albums, while the other side was all demos and unreleased tracks. The band also recorded a new version of their early song "Underneath the Window, Underneath the Sink" for inclusion. The set was issued by Cherry Red Records in September of 2017. Biography by Stewart Mason 2. The Orchids, from Coventry, United Kingdom, are sometimes referred to as "the only true girl group of the 1960s", as the group's member (Pamela Jarman, Valerie Jones and the bespectacled Georgina Oliver) were 15-year old schoolgirls when they appeared on the scene. Singles include 'Oo Chang-A-Lang' and 'Love Hit Me' and 'I've Got That Feeling'. The Orchids were launched in the United States as The Blue Orchids, due to the existence of a set of American Orchids on the Roulette label, and (in 1965) re-launched in America as The Exceptions. 3. The Orchids were a five member all-female rock band from Los Angeles, California. They are most notable for being one of Kim Fowley’s next projects following the breakup of The Runaways. Before officially forming, future Orchids members were billed as “The Runaways Class of ‘79” for the track “On Suburban Lawns” from Fowley’s 1980 compilation album Hollywood Confidential. The group primarily consisted of musicians Fowley managed to poach from other groups, including Laurie Bell (drums, vocals), Ché Zuro (lead guitar, piano, vocals), Sunbie Sinn (guitar, piano, vocals), Sindy Collins (lead vocals), Jan King (lead vocals, piano, guitar) and Laurie McAllister (bass, vocals) who had also played bass in The Runaways during one of the group’s final incarnations. In 1979, The Orchids released a four-track EP titled Teenage Babylon, which led to them being signed by major label MCA Records to record a full-length album. Around this time, Jan King replaced lead vocalist Sindy Collins, who was too young to sign the contract. In 1980, the group would record their debut album The Orchids, which spawned the singles "The Boy Can't Dance," "Girls" and "When Does Love Turn Out Right" The track "Blame It All On The Night" also received a music video which aired on the short-lived program Hollywood Heartbeat. Following the release of their debut album, Laurie McAllister left the group and was replaced by bassist Meri Peril (also known as Marley Davidson/Marley Harrill). Although the band reportedly began work on a second album, it was never completed due to creative differences. 4. The Orchids are also an as yet unsigned Manchester 6-piece indie group. They combine the songwriting and vocal talents of Jonny Holland and Pete Swift to create epic pop songs. Featuring the idiosyncratic guitar work of Stu Winnington, the melodic keyboard of Dave Renfrew and a powerful rhythm section of drummer Jordan Hunstone and bassist Matthew Herod, the group write music that stirs the soul. 5. The Orchids are also a female hip-hop duo on Japan's Major Force label. 6. The Orchids is a power duo from Nova Scotia, Canada, formed by Rhys Poirier (guitar and vocals) and Alexis Grant (drums), known for their loud, full sound driven by hard-hitting drumming and fuzzed-out guitar. Embodying a "Volume Equals Better" experience that leans heavily into punk and desert rock.