Look at the Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles and you could be forgiven for thinking Smokie's success story was a 1970s phenomenon – after all, 11 out of their 14 British hits came in that eventful musical decade.

However, their massive success story has continued to flourish around the globe including Scandinavia, South Africa, Germany and even China.

Smokie are a band which has sold out tours and gained platinum records in four decades – 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and right up to the present day.

Smokie first got together at school in Yorkshire in the late 1960s and after going through various names and styles, they signed with Mickie Most's then ultrahot RAK label and found themselves chartbound.

Songs like If You Think You Know How To Love Me, Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll To Me, It's Your Life and Oh Carol – which were all Top 10 hits – became radio favourites and gave Smokie their ticket to travel the world.