The phenomenal health of British R&B has been the source of endless column inches and podcast recordings, and rightly so. We've got our own sound, our own style, and our influence is growing around the world.

However, less has been said on just how long we've been cranking out world-class R&B for a long time now. Back in the '80s a trio called Loose Ends were one of our best prospects. Much of the group's sound came from vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player and founding member Steve Nichol.

They scored most of their big hits in the mid-1980s before Nichol left the group in '89. Shortly after that, with new members Linda Carriere and Sunay Suleyma, they took to the stage at Top Of The Pops for a performance of "Don't Be A Fool", which proved to be their last hit.

There's an optimistic end to this story because just last year McIntosh reformed the 1990 line-up that includes Linda Carriere and Sunay Suleyman. The newly reformed group released a new single, "Gonna Make You Mine (Forever More)" last year and they're still touring and recording, so chances are there's more to come.