Monsoon

Of British extraction but Asian heritage, Monsoon functioned as a dry run for vocalist Sheila Chandra and her husband, producer Steve Coe, for Chandra's solo career of the '80s and '90s. The band's pop songs were no different than most, but the addition of Indian instrumentation and Chandra's wonderful voice evoked images of the Orient seldom seen on the British pop charts since George Harrison's excursions with the Beatles. The single "Ever So Lonely" hit number 12 in the U.K. charts in April 1982, prompting the release of the album Third Eye one year later. Pressured by their record label to continue trawling for hits, Chandra and Coe rebelled and instead signed with tiny Indipop Records. Chandra's solo career began in 1984 with Out on My Own. ~ John Bush