1981 Ph.D. – Ph.D.

Ph.D. is the 1981 début album by the band of the same name. It was later reissued with a different cover when “I Won’t Let You down” became a hit in several countries in early 1982. The original cover was designed by Mike Payne and was the first release of his “Electrograph” artwork.

Ph.D. were a British group best known for their UK Top 10 hit “I Won’t Let You Down” in April 1982, although the song had been a hit the previous year throughout Europe. The band took its name from the initial letters of its three founding members’ surnames; Phillips, Hymas and Diamond. The name was written so as to be a visual pun on the letters denoting a degree of the same name. Singer Jim Diamond formed the group with former Jeff Beck Group members Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips in the early 1980s. Their self-titled début album, originally released in 1981, spawned a hit with their ballad “I Won’t Let You Down” which peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in 1982, and number five in Australia. Following the single’s success the album was re-issued and finally entered the UK Albums Chart.