Russ Ballard

Date de naissance 15.10.1945 à Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, Grande-Bretagne

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Russ Ballard

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Russ Ballard

Russell Glyn "Russ" Ballard (born 31 October 1945, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England[1]) is an English singer, songwriter and musician.

Career

Ballard (formerly of Rick Nicholl and the Rebels) was initially a guitarist (Hofner Club 60), appearing stage left, with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard (Russ's older brother) on piano playing behind him, Bernie Benson on bass to the right, and Bob Henrit on drums. After a stint with The Roulettes, backing Adam Faith, he then went on to join Unit 4 + 2 in the early 1960s, before becoming the lead singer and guitarist of Argent (along with Henrit, who joined as drummer), writing their hit "God Gave Rock and Roll to You",[1] which would later be covered by both Petra and Kiss. Ballard is most well known as the vocalist on Argent's smash "Hold Your Head Up". In 1972, Ballard performed on Colin Blunstone's album Ennismore, which was produced by Chris White. Ballard also wrote the hit single, "I Don't Believe in Miracles", which featured on that album.

He left Argent in 1974 and pursued a solo and songwriting career. He wrote such hits as Three Dog Night's "Liar"[1] (originally recorded by Argent), Hot Chocolate's 1977 UK chart topper "So You Win Again",[2] and Rainbow's 1979 hit "Since You Been Gone." Head East recorded the song first in 1978 for its self-titled album. The song also is featured on Ballard's second solo album Winning. He also wrote Rainbow's 1981 #3 (UK) hit "I Surrender".

Ballard also wrote and performed on Roger Daltrey's first two solo albums, Daltrey (1973) and Ride a Rock Horse (1975). Daltrey recorded some other Russ Ballard originals for his McVicar soundtrack, and his albums Under a Raging Moon and Can't Wait to See the Movie. Ballard did a tour with Roger Daltrey in 1985, playing guitar and even singing one of his own songs.

British pop band Hello recorded Ballard's "New York Groove" in 1975, reaching #7 in Germany and #9 in the UK.[3] "New York Groove" would also be recorded three years later by Ace Frehley, who turned the tune into a stateside hit.

Ballard also wrote the #17, 1981 hit for Santana, called "Winning", which appeared on their album entitled Zebop! and had previously been released by Ballard himself on his second solo album.

Ballard wrote and produced "You Can Do Magic" for the group America on its 1982 album View from the Ground. The single climbed to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1982, and helped resurrect the band's career. The following year, America brought in Ballard to produce their follow-up album, Your Move. One of its tracks, "The Border", which was co-written by Ballard with Dewey Bunnell, reached #33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ballard wrote ABBA singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad's 1982 solo hit: "I Know There's Something Going On" (which was produced by Phil Collins, and also featured Collins on drums). The track reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also penned "Can't Shake Loose" for fellow ABBA former member, Agnetha Fältskog, which peaked at #29 in the same listings.

In 1991 the song he co-wrote with John Waite and Jonathan Cain, "So This Is Eden", appeared on Bad English's album, Backlash.

Ballard has also written and produced for Elkie Brooks, and more recently, acting as a talent scout, he "discovered" Lauren Harris.

Solo recordings

As a solo artist, Ballard charted once on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, when "On the Rebound" reached #58 in 1980.[1] Progressive rock band Uriah Heep covered "On the Rebound" in 1982 on their album, Abominog.

Another notable solo hit, "Voices" - from his second self-titled album (1984) - was featured in the Miami Vice episode "Calderone's Return: Part 2 - Calderone's Demise," which aired on 26 October 1984. The song was a brief hit on rock radio stations, peaking at #15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. However, "Voices" stalled below the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #110. Another song from the same album, "In The Night" was featured in the episode "Calderone's Return: Part 1 - The Hit List." The show also featured "Your Time Is Gonna Come" by Ballard later in its run.

"The Fire Still Burns," the title track of his 1985 album attained #15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[4]

Ballard and Kiss

In addition to Kiss covering "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", retitled as "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II":

  • Kiss drummer, Peter Criss, recorded Ballard's "Let Me Rock You" and "Some Kinda Hurricane" on his 1982 Let Me Rock You album.
  • Kiss guitarist, Ace Frehley, covered "New York Groove" on his self-titled solo album in 1978. Frehley's version reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been a regular staple of Kiss live performances, during tours in which Frehley has taken part.
  • During his non-Kiss years, Frehley also did a cover of the Ballard song "Into The Night", for his 1987 Frehley's Comet album.

Ballard songs covered by other acts

  • "Born on Haloween", recorded by SUZANNE on Ringo'Records
  • "Can't Shake Loose", recorded by Agnetha Fältskog.
  • "Cuckoo", recorded by Bay City Rollers.
  • "Dream On", recorded by King Kobra.
  • "Free Me", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar - 1980).
  • "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You", recorded by Argent, Petra, and Kiss.
  • "I Did It For Love," recorded by Night Ranger
  • "I Don't Believe In Miracles", recorded by Colin Blunstone.
  • "I Know There's Something Going On", recorded by Frida.
  • "I Surrender", recorded by Head East, Rainbow, At Vance, and Stratovarius.
  • "I Will Be There", recorded by Gogmagog.
  • "I'm the One Who Loves You", recorded by A II Z.
  • "Into the Night", recorded by Frehley's Comet.
  • "Is Anybody There", recorded by E. F. Band (Deep Cut - 1982).
  • "Juliet", recorded by Girl (Killing Time - 1997).
  • "Just a Dream Away", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar - 1980).
  • "Let Me Rock You", recorded by Peter Criss.
  • "Liar", recorded by Argent, Three Dog Night and Graham Bonnet
  • "Love Is a Game", recorded by Girl, and E. F. Band.
  • "My Time Is Gonna Come", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar - 1980).
  • "New York Groove", recorded by Hello, Ace Frehley and The Sweet.
  • "No More The Fool", recorded by Elkie Brooks.
  • "Nothing Feels Good", recorded by Sam Roman.
  • "On the Rebound", recorded by Uriah Heep (Abominog - 1982).
  • "Panic Attack", recorded by Bert Heerink (Better Yet - 2009).
  • "Riding With the Angels", recorded by Samson, Heretic, and Bruce Dickinson.
  • "S.O.S.", recorded by Graham Bonnet.
  • "Since You Been Gone", recorded by Clout, Cherie Currie, Head East, Rainbow, Alcatrazz, Impellitteri, and Brian May.
  • "So You Win Again", recorded by Hot Chocolate and South African band, Copperfield.
  • "Some Kinda Hurricane", recorded by Peter Criss.
  • "Voices", recorded by Cydonia (The Dark Flower - 2003).
  • "Winning", recorded by Nona Hendryx and later Santana.
  • "You Can Do Magic", recorded by America.

Solo discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Notes
US
1974 Russ Ballard
  • Released: September 1974
  • Label: Epic
  • Format: LP
1976 Winning
  • Released: 1976
  • Labels: Epic
  • Format: LP
  • Includes "Winning", "Since You Been Gone", and "Just A Dream Away"
1978 At the Third Stroke
  • Released: 1978
  • Label: Epic
  • Format: LP
1980 Barnet Dogs
  • Released: 1980
  • Labels: Epic
  • Format: LP
187
  • Includes "On the Rebound" and "Riding With The Angels"
1981 Into the Fire
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: Epic
  • Format: LP
1984 Russ Ballard
  • Released: 1984
  • Labels: EMI
  • Format: LP
147
  • Includes "Voices" and "In The Night"
1985 The Fire Still Burns
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: EMI
  • Format: LP
166
  • Includes "The Fire Still Burns" and "Dream On"
1993 The Seer
  • Released: 1993
  • Labels: Intercord
  • Format: LP
2006 Book of Love[4]
  • Released: 20 October 2006
  • Labels: Phoenix Music Group
  • Format: LP

Singles

  • "On the Rebound" (#58 on US Hot 100)

See also

  • List of lead singers

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 [Russ Ballard at All Music Guide Allmusic - Biography]
  2. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits, 1st, Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited.
  4. 4.0 4.1 [Russ Ballard at All Music Guide Allmusic - Charts & Awards]

External links

  • [Russ Ballard at All Music Guide Russ Ballard biography and discography] at Allmusic website
Dernière modification de cette page 09.05.2014 03:03:32

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