Paul Hardcastle

Last updated

Paul Louis Hardcastle
Birth namePaul Louis Hardcastle [1]
Also known asDeff Boyz [2]
Born (1957-12-10) 10 December 1957 (age 66) [1]
Origin Kensington, [1] London, England, United Kingdom
Genres Synth-pop, freestyle, electronica, ambient, electro house, breakstep, smooth jazz, new age
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)Synthesizer, keyboards, piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussion, programming
Years active1981–present [3]
Labels Chrysalis, Motown, V2, Profile, Trippin 'N' Rhythm
Website paulhardcastle.com

Paul Louis Hardcastle [1] (born 10 December 1957) [4] is a British composer, musician, producer, songwriter, radio presenter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his song "19", which went to number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1985. [5]

Contents

Early life

Born in Kensington in London on 10 December 1957, [4] he is the son of Joyce (née Everett, 1930–1991) and Louis Hardcastle (1915–2000). [1]

Career

Hardcastle began his career in 1981 when he became the keyboard player for British soul band Direct Drive. [3] [2] In 1982, Hardcastle and lead vocalist Derek Green left the band to form a duo under the name First Light. They achieved some minor success in the UK charts, but the project was abandoned after two years and Hardcastle pursued a solo career. [3]

He achieved some success with his early singles, including the 1984 electro-funk/freestyle/instrumental track, "Rain Forest", which along with the track "Sound Chaser", reached number two on the dance chart. [6] "Rain Forest" also hit number five on the soul chart and number fifty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100. [7] Rain Forest , the album both tracks were released on, was nominated for Best R&B Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist) in the 28th Annual Grammy Awards. Musician by Ernie Watts would win the award that year. [8] [9]

Hardcastle is best known for the 1985 single "19", which went to No. 1 in the UK (for five weeks), [10] as well as several other countries worldwide. It also reached number 15 in the U.S. Pop chart and number 1 in the U.S. Dance charts. The song received the Ivor Novello Award for Best-selling single of 1985. [11] The follow-up single to "19" was "Just for Money", which reached No. 19 in the UK. It also charted in several other European countries. [5]

In 1986, Hardcastle released a remix to "One Wish" by Hiroshima. [12] In the same year, Hardcastle's "The Wizard" was adopted as the theme tune for the BBC's Top of the Pops weekly chart show. The theme tune was used from 3 April 1986 to 26 September 1991.

The song "Don't Waste My Time" became Hardcastle's second UK top ten in March 1986. [5] It featured singer Carol Kenyon, a backing vocalist of Heaven 17. In late 1986, Hardcastle collaborated with the supergroup Disco Aid (later rebranded as Dance Aid in 1987) co-producing the charity single "Give Give Give". [13]

In 1989, Hardcastle resumed working on First Light, collaborating with vocalist Kevin Henry, whom he had worked with on previous recordings. [14]

Using his alias Deff Boyz, [2] he released the single Swing in 1990. It reached number 84 on the UK charts, [15] number 27 in Germany, [16] and number 18 in the US Dance charts. [17]

Since the 1990s, Hardcastle has recorded several synth jazz albums, alternating releases under the pseudonyms Kiss the Sky (with Jaki Graham) and the Jazzmasters, as well as under his real name. [3]

Personal life

Hardcastle married Dolores Baker in 1985, [18] and they have three children including British DJ and singer Maxine as well as musician Paul Hardcastle Jr. who both contributed vocals to Hardcastle's Transcontinental, a 2011 collection of new music recorded with Ryan Farish.

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleLabelPeak chart positions Certifications
UK
[5] 		US
[19] 		US R&B
[20] 		US Jazz
[21]
1985Zero One
(with Universal Funk)		 Bluebird/10 Records, EMI Music [22] ————
Rain Forest Profile Records —6330—
Paul Hardcastle Chrysalis Records 53———
1988No Winners————
1989Sound Syndicate
(also known as Are You Ready...)		 AJK Music, K-Tel International ————
1993Time for LoveFast Forward Records, JVC [24] ————
1994Feel the BreezeJVC————
1996Look to the Future————
1996Star of the Story————
1997First LightConnoisseur Collection————
2009Zer01Hardcastle Music————
2012Perceptions of Pacha VIII
(remixed by Nacho Marco)		Pacha Recordings————
201219 Below ZeroHardcastle Music, Universal Music ————
2014Moovin & GroovinTrippin 'N' Rythmn Records———7
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Smooth jazz albums

Hardcastle series

YearTitleLabelPeak chart positions
US
[19] 		US R&B
[20] 		US Jazz
[21]
1994HardcastleHardcastle Records, JVC, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records182352
1996Hardcastle II——7
2002Hardcastle IIIHardcastle Records, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records——9
2005Hardcastle 4——2
2008 Hardcastle 5 Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records176—5
2011Hardcastle VI——4
2013Hardcastle VII——3
2018Hardcastle VIII——6
2020Hardcastle IX——17
2022Hardcastle X——14
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Jazzmasters series

YearTitleLabel US Jazz
[21]
1993The JazzmastersFast Forward Records, Hardcastle Records, JVC, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records16
1995The Jazzmasters IIHardcastle Records, JVC, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records—
1999The Jazzmasters IIIHardcastle Records, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records5
2004The Jazzmasters 4—
2006Jazzmasters V—
2010Jazzmasters VI [25] Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records—
2014Jazzmasters VII1
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Chill Lounge series

YearTitleLabel US Jazz
[21]
2012The Chill Lounge, Volume 1Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records12
2013The Chill Lounge, Volume 210
2015The Chill Lounge, Volume 311

Kiss the Sky with Jaki Graham

YearAlbumLabel
1991Kiss the SkyJVC, Motown Records [3]
1994Millennium Skyway
(also known as Kiss the Sky II)		Hardcastle Records, JVC [3]

Transcontinental with Ryan Farish

YearAlbumLabel
2011Transcontinental (6-song EP)Rytone Entertainment [26]

Compilations

YearTitleLabel US Jazz
[21]
1993The Definitive Paul HardcastleConnoisseur Collection—
1996The Very Best (The Gold Collection)EMI Music—
1997P.H. (Paul Hardcastle Works)JVC—
1997Cover to Cover: A Musical AutobiographyHardcastle Records, JVC, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records [27] 12
2000Jazzmasters: The Greatest HitsHardcastle Records, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records5
2003The Very Best of Paul Hardcastle 1983–2003Jazz FM Records—
2004Jazzmasters: The Smooth CutsHardcastle Records, Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records [28] 17
2009Paul Hardcastle: The CollectionTrippin 'N' Rhythm Records [29] 8
2011Desire: The Ultimate Seductive AlbumTrippin 'N' Rhythm Records [30] 6
2013Electrofied 80s: Essential Paul HardcastleMusic Club Deluxe (division of Demon Records)—
201519: The 30th Anniversary MixesNusic Sounds, Caroline International —
2016The History of Paul Hardcastle 1984–2016Trippin 'N' Rhythm Records—
2023Nineteen and Beyond: 1984–1988Chrysalis Records [31] —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
[5] [32] 		US
[33] 		US Dance
[33] 		US Jazz
[34] 		US R&B
[33] 		IRE
SWI
NOR
GER
NLD
SWE
ATR
ITL
FR
AUS
[35] 		NZ
"You're the One for Me / Daybreak / A.M."198441———————————————The Definitive Paul Hardcastle
"Guilty"53———————————————
"Eat Your Heart Out"59———————————————Rain Forest
"King Tut"——10—32———————————
"Rain Forest"198541572—5———————————
"19"1151—81111111115101Paul Hardcastle
"19 (German Version)"————————17———————
"Just for Money"19————1527—31———————
"Don't Waste My Time"19868—31—65159—1512————6620
"Foolin' Yourself"51———————————————The Definitive Paul Hardcastle
"The Wizard"15————10——51———————
"Walk in the Night"198854———————————————No Winners
"40 Years"53———————————————
"Are You Ready"198990———————————————Sound Syndicate
"Galaxy of Love"————————————————
"Serene"2005———1————————————Hardcastle IV
"Marimba"2008———3————————————Hardcastle V
"Lucky Star"———1————————————
"The Circle"2009———8————————————Hardcastle VI
"Rain Forest" / "What's Going On"2011———16————————————
"Easy Come, Easy Go"———1————————————
"No Stress (At All)"2013———1————————————Hardcastle VII
"Easy Street"———2————————————
"Unlimited Love, Pt. 1"2014———7————————————Moovin & Groovin
"Rhythm of Life"2015———3————————————Jazzmasters VII
"Echoes Rising"2016———1————————————The History of Paul Hardcastle
"Cut Loose"2018———3————————————Hardcastle VIII
"Amber Skies"———5————————————
"Happy Go Lucky"2019———1————————————
"Dancing Galaxies"2020———1————————————
"Latitude"———1————————————Hardcastle IX
"Welcome to the Beach"2021———1————————————
"Tropicool"———1————————————
"Wavelength"2022———1————————————Hardcastle X
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Unreleased promotional tracks

This is a list of several unreleased tracks that were made by Paul Hardcastle that were originally intended to have been used to promote the Lego Bionicle toyline in 2001.

These tracks were originally meant to have been included with the Bionicle Power Pack CD package that was later released in the same year.

TitleYearAlbumLabel
Bionic Age (also referred to as the Bionicle Age)2001Extreme Global Hardcore Warner Chappell Music (division of Warner Music Group)
Killing Machines (also known as the original full version of The Bionicle Music track that was cut following the final release of the CD & later uses in commercials for the toyline)2001Extreme Global HardcoreWarner Chappell Music (division of Warner Music Group)

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Birth of Paul Louis Hardcastle", England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2005.
  2. 1 2 3 "Top of the Pops 2: Where Are They Now? - Paul Hardcastle". BBC Online . 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Collar, Matt. "Paul Hardcastle - Artist Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 Sexton, Paul (1993). The Definitive Paul Hardcastle (Liner notes). Connoisseur Collection.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Paul Hardcastle - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 117.
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 244.
  8. ↑ "Paul Hardcastle". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ernie Watts". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  10. ↑ McAleer, Dave; Gregory, Andy; White, Matthew (15 November 2010). The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles, Volume 2. Random House. p. 210. ISBN   9780753522455.
  11. ↑ "NUA - Paul Hardcastle Biography" . Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  12. ↑ Chin, Brian (10 May 1986). "Dance Trax" (PDF). pp. 39–40. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  13. ↑ "Disco Aid is Back". Blues & Soul (538–551). Napfield Limited: 6–10. 1987. Retrieved 24 April 2022– via Google Books.
  14. ↑ Blues & Soul, Issues 552-563. Napfield Limited. 1990. p. 14. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. ↑ "DEFF BOYZ AND TONY MAC songs and albums - full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company.
  16. ↑ "Deff Boyz - Songs".
  17. ↑ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard . Archived from the original on 27 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "Marriage of Paul Louis Hardcastle and Dolores Baker", England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916–2005.
  19. 1 2 "Chart History - Paul Hardcastle: Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  20. 1 2 "Chart History - Paul Hardcastle: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chart History - Paul Hardcastle: Jazz Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "Zero One – Paul Hardcastle – Releases – AllMusic". AllMusic .
  23. ↑ "Paul Hardcastle - Paul Hardcastle (album)". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "Time for Love". Amazon.co.uk.
  25. ↑ "The holidays are coming and so is Jazzmasters 6 – Paul Hardcastle". Chatterboxworldwide's Blog. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  26. ↑ "Transcontinental - EP by Paul Hardcastle & Ryan Farish". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  27. ↑ "Cover to Cover – Paul Hardcastle – Releases – AllMusic". AllMusic .
  28. ↑ "Jazzmasters: the Smooth Cuts – Paul Hardcastle – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic .
  29. ↑ "The Collection - Paul Hardcastle | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic .
  30. ↑ "Desire – Paul Hardcastle – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic .
  31. ↑ "Nineteen And Beyond: Paul Hardcastle 1984–1988". Chrysalis Records . Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  32. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 243. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  33. 1 2 3 "Paul Hardcastle Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  34. ↑ "Chart History: Paul Hardcastle - SMOOTH JAZZ SONGS". Billboard. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  35. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 133. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  36. ↑ "Paul Hardcastle - 19". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
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