About the Band

Three Colors formed in 1981 at Connecticut College in New London as a “post-punk trio” comprised of guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Harford; bassist, singer and songwriter Hub Moore; and drummer Barry Stringfellow. Hub’s brother Max soon joined on keyboards, and after the group moved up to Boston, Dana Colley joined on saxophone and occasional vocals.

Carving out a unique space on a thriving Boston-based college and club scene with songs that drew equally from the likes of Mission of Burma, XTC, the English Beat and Crowded House, the group rose rapidly through the ranks, securing major opening slots, plaudits from fellow musicians, and a substantial following. In 1985, a six-song 12” eponymous EP, on their own Soul Selects label, produced by Paul Q. Kolderie, became a college radio staple, with lead track “One Big Tree” benefiting additionally from a video directed by Alex Steyermark. After the EP received a rave review in the UK’s NME from writer Tony Fletcher, who would soon become their manager, Three Colors were offered a UK release and a publishing deal with Virgin, and moved temporarily to London where they played extensively across the UK and recorded a second EP, 1987’s This Is Norwood, which yielded the singles “Sitting Pretty” and “Not What I Heard.”

Despite best efforts and continued press acclaim and a cult following, Three Colors struggled to break to the next level and in 1988, decided to go their separate ways. Both Chris Harford (with Elektra) and Hub Moore (with Slash) were able to secure the major label deals as solo artists that they could not as a band; Harford continues to play with his Band of Changes among many other acts, and resurrected the Soul Selects label along the way. Dana Colley joined friends from the band Treat Her Right to form the celebrated trio Morphine, which continues to perform, following founding member Mark Sandman’s death, as Vapors of Morphine.

Learn more and order Three Colors music at the Soul Selects Records’ Bandcamp site.