Albert Hammond

Albert Hammond - © www.alberthammond.net

born on 18/5/1944 in London, England, United Kingdom

Albert Hammond

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Albert Louis Hammond OBE (born 18 May 1944) is a Gibraltarian singer, songwriter, and record producer. A prolific songwriter, he collaborated most notably with other renowned songwriters Mike Hazlewood, John Bettis, Diane Warren as well as Holly Knight, Carole Bayer Sager.

He pinned down international hits for artists like Celine Dion, Joe Dolan, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Leo Sayer, Tina Turner, as well as Glen Campbell, Julio Iglesias, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Tyler and bands Ace of Base, Air Supply, Blue Mink, Chicago, Heart, Living in a Box, The Carpenters, The Hollies, The Pipkins, Starship, Westlife and others. Massive hits co-written by Hammond include "Make Me an Island" and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" by Joe Dolan, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship, "One Moment in Time" sung by Whitney Houston, "The Air That I Breathe", a hit for The Hollies, "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" a Julio Iglesias/Willie Nelson duet, "When I Need You" by Leo Sayer, and others.

He was also a solo singer in his own right with hits like "Down by the River", "It Never Rains in Southern California", "The Free Electric Band", "I'm a Train", "When I'm Gone" and others and for a time was part of the formation The Family Dogg with whom he had the hit "A Way of Life". He has also produced for a great number of artists.

Birth and early success

Hammond was born in London, England, which is where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II.[1] Shortly after his birth, they returned to Gibraltar, where he grew up.[1] In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band The Diamond Boys, which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to pop and rock music. The Diamond Boys performed at the first nightclubs in Madrid to stage modern bands, alongside Spanish rock and roll pioneers such as Miguel Ríos. In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group the Family Dogg, reaching number 6 on the UK Singles Chart with "A Way of Life" in 1969[1][2] from the same titled album A Way of Life.

Main career

He also wrote songs for others with frequent collaborator Mike Hazlewood. These include "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee, "Make Me an Island" (1969) (which Hammond himself recorded in a Spanish disco-style in 1979), and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" (1970) for Joe Dolan, "Gimme Dat Ding" for the Pipkins in 1970 (itself a cover from the Freddie and the Dreamers album, Oliver in the Overworld), "Good Morning Freedom" for Blue Mink, "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" for the Fortunes in 1971 and "The Air That I Breathe" which was a hit for the Hollies in 1974.[1] In 1971 Hammond also sang on Michael Chapman's fourth album, Wrecked Again, and worked briefly with the Magic Lanterns on recordings of his and Hazlewood's songs and other material.[3]

He then moved to the United States, where he continued his professional career as a musician. However, he enjoyed his greatest commercial success in mainland Europe. He is known for his hits of the 1970s, released on Columbia subsidiary Mums Records: "Down by the River", "It Never Rains in Southern California", "The Free Electric Band" (his only single to chart in the UK),[2] "Half a Million Miles from Home", "If You Gotta Break Another Heart", "The Peacemaker", "I Don't Wanna Die in an Air Disaster", "I'm a Train" and "99 Miles from L.A.".

Written with Carole Bayer Sager, "When I Need You" was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 album When I Need You. Produced by Richard Perry, Leo Sayer's version made No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1977, after three of his earlier singles had stalled at No. 2. A hit worldwide, it reached No. 1 In Canada (RPM Top Singles) (also for two weeks), and on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week in May 1977. Leapy Lee released a version of "When I Need You" on his first recording since 1970.[4]

Hammond had success as a singer-songwriter with his Spanish recordings. His releases on Epic Records allowed him to tour every region of Latin America. It was during this period that he met Manuel Montoya, a CBS Mexico executive, who became his personal manager in 1985. This led to Hammond's Grammy Award winning production of Lani Hall's, Es Facil Amar, the producer and writer of "Cantaré, Cantarás" (the Latin American equivalent of "We Are The World"), and collaborations with Roberto Livi on recordings by Raphael, Eydie Gormé amongst others.

Hammond also scored two hits in the Philippines during 1981. His songs "When I'm Gone" and "Your World and My World" (from the album of the same title) were popular in the country.

With Hal David Hammond co-wrote "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", a hit in 1984 for Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson. Hammond collaborated with Diane Warren on "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", a transatlantic No. 1 in 1987 for Starship, and "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love", a hit for Chicago that peaked at No. 3 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1988. With lyricist John Bettis, Hammond also co-wrote "One Moment in Time", the theme song to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, as performed by Whitney Houston.

In 1991, Hammond co-wrote "When You Tell Me That You Love Me", which was recorded by Diana Ross, which reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2005, Diana Ross recorded the song again, this time as a duet with Westlife. Again the song reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart.

He wrote several hits for Tina Turner, including "I Don't Wanna Lose You", "Be Tender with Me Baby", "Way of the World", and "Love Thing". Bonnie Tyler recorded the original version of Hammond/Warren's "Don't Turn Around", a UK No. 1 for Aswad in 1988 and a hit for Ace of Base five years later.

In 2005, he released Revolution of the Heart (where Todd Sharpville was his music director), and the single "This Side of Midnight".

In 2008, Hammond met Kasaan Steigen of the Los Angeles-based Trigger Management who became his personal manager, during which time Hammond collaborated with British singer Duffy and others. Duffy's resulting album, Endlessly, co-written and co-produced by Hammond, was released in November 2010.[5]

In 2010, Hammond also worked on Legend, a new recording of duets of his greatest hits, featuring such artists as Elena Paparizou and Bonnie Tyler. It was released on Sony Spain on 23 November that year.[6][7]

His son, Albert Hammond Jr., is a successful solo musician and also a member of the Strokes.

Awards and accolades

In 1987, Hammond's composition with Diane Warren "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (recorded by Starship) was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy. In 1988, Hammond won an Emmy Award for the song "One Moment in Time", a song he wrote along with John Bettis.

In 2000, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[1] On 19 June 2008, Hammond was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Half Man Half Biscuit paid tribute to Hammond in their 1986 track "Albert Hammond Bootleg".

In May 2015, Hammond collected the Ivor Novello award for outstanding song collection.[8]

Discography

Albums

Year Album US Billboard Top 200 Canada RPM Top 100 Record Label
1972 It Never Rains in Southern California 77 53 Mums Records
1973 The Free Electric Band 193 Mums Records
1974 Albert Hammond Mums Records
1975 99 Miles from L.A. Epic Records
1976 Canta Sus Grandes Éxitos En Español E Inglés Epic Records
1976 My Spanish Album Epic Records
1977 Mi Album de Recuerdos Epic Records
1977 When I Need You Epic Records
1978 Albert Louis Hammond Epic Records
1979 Al Otro Lado Del Sol Epic Records
1979 Comprenderte Epic Records
1981 Your World and My World Columbia Records
1982 Somewhere in America Columbia Records
1986 Hammond & West (with Albert West) K-Tel
1989 Best of Me CBS
1992 12 Exitos Sony Discos
1996 Coplas and Songs Epic Records
2005 Revolution of the Heart SPV GmbH
2010 Legend Sony Music
2012 Legend II Sony Music
2013 Songbook 2013 (Live in Wilhelmshaven) Hypertension
2016 In Symphony Warner

Singles

in The Family Dogg
Year Title Peak chart
positions
Record Label B-side Album
UK[2]
1969 "A Way of Life" 6 A Way of Life
Solo
Year Title Peak chart positions Record Label B-side Album
US AC Canada RPM UK[2]
1972 "Down by the River" 91 38 Mums Records "The Last One To Know" (non-LP) It Never Rains in Southern California
"It Never Rains in Southern California" 5 2 2 Mums Records "Anyone Here in the Audience"
1973 "If You Gotta Break Another Heart (original version)" 63 Mums Records "From Great Britain To L.A."
"The Free Electric Band" 48 44 19 Mums Records "You Taught Me to Sing the Blues" (non-LP) The Free Electric Band
"The Peacemaker" 80 51 Mums Records "Who's For Lunch Today"
"Half a Million Miles From Home" 87 26 Mums Records "I Think I'll Go That Way" Albert Hammond
1974 "I'm a Train" 31 15 37 Mums Records "Brand New Day"
"I Don't Wanna Die in an Air Disaster" 81 Mums Records "Candle Light, Sweet Candle Light"
"99 Miles from L.A." 91 1 Mums Records (US) "Rivers Are For Boats" (US) 99 Miles from L.A.
1981 "When I'm Gone" Columbia Records "World of Love" Your World and My World
"Memories" Columbia Records "I Want You Back Here With Me"
"Your World and My World" Columbia Records "I'm a Camera"
1982 "Somewhere In America" Columbia Records "Before You Change the World" Somewhere In America

Songwriting credits

(in alphabetical order of song title)

Title Writing
Collaboration
with
Artist / Band Year
released
"Be Tender with Me Baby" Holly Knight Tina Turner 1990
"Blow the House Down" Marcus Vere Living in a Box 1989
"Don't Turn Around" Diane Warren Tina Turner
Covered by
Aswad and Ace Of Base
1986
"Easy to Love" Leo Sayer Leo Sayer 1977
"Gimme Dat Ding" Mike Hazlewood The Pipkins 1970
"Good Morning Freedom" Blue Mink 1970
"I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" Diane Warren Chicago 1988
"I Don't Wanna Lose You" Graham Lyle Tina Turner 1989
"I Need to Be in Love" Richard Carpenter and John Bettis The Carpenters 1976
"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" Diane Warren Aretha Franklin and
Whitney Houston
1989
"Just Walk Away" Marti Sharron Celine Dion 1995
"Little Arrows" Mike Hazlewood Leapy Lee 1968
"Lonely Is the Night" Diane Warren Air Supply 1986
"Love Thing" Holly Knight Tina Turner 1968
"Make Me an Island" Mike Hazlewood Joe Dolan /
Tom Northcott
1969
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" Diane Warren Starship 1986
"One Moment in Time" John Bettis Whitney Houston 1988
"Room in Your Heart" Marcus Vere and Richard Darbyshire Living in a Box 1989
"Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger" Holly Knight Heart 1990
"The Air That I Breathe" Mike Hazlewood Albert Hammond /
Covered by The Hollies and Simply Red
1972 /
1974
"To All the Girls I've Loved Before" Hal David Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson 1984
"Way of the World" Graham Lyle Tina Turner 1991
"When I Need You" Carole Bayer Sager Albert Hammond
Covered by Leo Sayer, Rod Stewart and Celine Dion
1977
1977
"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" John Bettis Diana Ross /
Diana Ross and Westlife
1991
2005
"Where Were You" Holly Knight Bonnie Tyler 1992
"You're Such a Good Looking Woman" Mike Hazelwood Joe Dolan 1970

Other languages

(in alphabetical order of song title)

Title Language Writing
Collaboration
with
Artist / Band Year
released
"Cantaré, cantarás" Spanish Juan Carlos Calderón and Anahí van Zandweghe Hermanos
(Various Latin artists)
1985
"Sensualité" French Shelly Peiken and Axelle Red Axelle Red 1993
"Y Tú También Llorarás" Spanish Anahi van Zandweghe José Luis Rodríguez 1987

Other songwriting credits

(in alphabetical order of song title)

  • "Careless Heart" – written with Roy Orbison and Diane Warren
  • He co-wrote almost all songs on Welsh singer Duffy's album Endlessly, including Duffy songs "My Boy", "Lovestruck" and "Well, Well, Well".
  • "Have Mercy" written with Shelly Peiken for Yazz. It was also recorded by Viktor Lazlo in her album Back To Front
  • "I Give It All To You" / "I Imagine", written with Steve Duberry and Lord 'n Elliot and sung by Mary Kiani in 1995
  • "Loving You (Is a Way of Life)" co-written with Tom Snow and Franne Golde and recorded by Australian singer Jon Stevens
  • "Moonlight Lady" - written by Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager and originally sung by Hammond with a large adaptation from "It Never Rains in Southern California". It was later recorded by Julio Iglesias in his 1984 album 1100 Bel Air Place
  • "Oklahoma Sunday Morning" co-written with Tony Macaulay and Lee Hazlewood, a hit for Glen Campbell
  • "Once in a Lifetime" – written with Antonina Armato and Dennis Morgan
  • "Smokey Factory Blues" – written by Hammond and Hazlewood, and recorded by Johnny Cash on his John R. Cash album. Also recorded by Steppenwolf on the Slow Flux album
  • "Through the Storm" – a duet with Aretha Franklin and Elton John

See also

  • Music of Gibraltar

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Albert Hammond Official Website". Alberthammond.net. 18 May 1944. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  2. ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 242. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  3. ^ Eder, Bruce (18 May 1944). "Albert Hammond – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ "BBC – Newsbeat – Singer Duffy begins new album sessions in New York". BBC News. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2013. 
  6. ^ "Albert Hammond Returns with "Legend"". Legend-alberthammond.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010. 
  7. ^ "Albert Hammond regresa en noviembre con "Legend", álbum en el que repasa su carrera junto a Raphael y Julio Iglesias ("Albert Hammond returns in November with 'Legend', an album in which he reviews his career with Raphael and Julio Iglesias")". Europa Press (in Spanish). 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010. (Google translation)
  8. ^ [2]

External links

This page was last modified 04.12.2017 23:23:20

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