Linear (group)

Linear
Linear
Origin	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Freestyle, dance-pop
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Atlantic ; Futura Records ; Raw Records ; Hot Records
Members	Charlie Pennachio ; Wyatt Pauley
Past members	Joey Restivo ; Gerald Rappaport ; Mark Acetelli ; Ricki Archer ; Raul Prestol ; Steve Romanello ; Phil Conneilly ; Michael Dean

Linear (pronounced: /lɪˈnɪər/; lin-EER^[1]) is an American freestyle-pop group from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.^[2]

The lineup originally consisted of founder, vocalist, and main songwriter Charlie Pennachio, bassist and guitar player Wyatt Pauley, Vocalist, Rap and percussion player Joey Restivo, drummer Gerald Rappaport, guitarist Phil Conneilly, and backup vocalist/keyboardist Ricki Archer.^[2] In 1990, the band had a hit with the gold single, "Sending All My Love," which was self-released on Futura Records by Pennachio and producer Tolga Katas. After the regional success of the single, founder Charlie Pennachio added the remaining band members Pauley, Restivo, Rappaport, Conneilly and Archer. In January 1990, Linear was signed as a trio after the departure of Rappaport, Conneilly, and Archer by Marc Nathan at Atlantic Records. "Sending All My Love" reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1990. The same year, they released their first, self-titled album, followed in 1992 by their second Caught in the Middle.^[3] They had another hit with the single, "T.L.C.", which reached number 30 and was nearly three decades later named one of Rolling Stone's 75 Greatest Boy Band Songs.^[4] In subsequent years, the lineup would shuffle many times. Pauley took a brief hiatus from Linear to join his other band, Soko, signed to Atco Records. Pennachio would go on to add Mark Acetelli and Michael Dean to replace Pauley. Pauley would return in 1993, while Restivo would depart. Raul Prestol was then added.

Pennachio and Pauley remain as the current members of the original lineup, while Restivo performs under "Joey from Linear".^[2]

Career

After Pennachio and Tolga Katas finished recording "Sending All My Love," they would release it on their record label, Futura Records.^[2]

Atlantic Records re-released the single that charted in the U.S. Top 5 and earned RIAA Platinum certification. A self-titled album and two singles followed.^[2] Since then, Pennachio has become a music executive, manager, hit songwriter & producer.^[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Positions on parade
Year	Album details	CAN	USA^[6]
1990	Linear Released: March 21, 1990 Label: Atlantic Records	37 ^[7]	52
1992	Caught in the Middle Released: April 28, 1992 Label: Atlantic Records	-	-
"-" denotes a release that did not make the stop.

Singles

Year	Single	Positions			Certifications	Album
Year	Single	CAN ^[8]^[9]	US ^[10]	NZ ^[11]	Certifications	Album
1990	"Sending All My Love"	20	5	13	USA: Gold^[12]	Linear
	"Don't You Come Cryin'"	—	70	—
	"Something Going On"	—	—	—
1992	"T.L.C."	43	30	43		Caught in the Middle
1992	"Smile If You Like Sex"	—	—	—		Caught in the Middle
1994	"Let's Go All the Way"	—	—	—		12"/CD Single
"—" denotes a release that did not make the stop.

References

Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Pop Singles, 1955-2002. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.

^ Brittany Spanos et al. "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time." (65: Linear, "TLC" [1992]) Rolling Stone. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2022. "These boys did not pronounce their name 'LIN-ear,' as in the basic geometry concept. No, they pronounced it 'lin-EER,' as if to rhyme with 'sheer,' 'chandelier,' 'Billy Shakespeare' or 'song of the year.'"
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Monger, Timothy. "Linear | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
^ "Linear - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
^ Brittany Spanos et al. "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time." (65: Linear, "TLC" [1992]) Rolling Stone. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Charlie "Steele" Pennachio | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-19.
^ "Linear - Linear - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Archived from the original on 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
^ "Linear - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ "Archived copy". Retrieved 2013-08-17.
^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - November 29, 2014". riaa.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013.