Albert Hammond

Last updated

Albert Hammond
OBE
2015 Lieder am See - Albert Hammond- by 2eight - 8SC5266.jpg
Background information
Birth nameAlbert Louis Hammond
Also known asAlbert Hammond Sr.
Born (1944-05-18) 18 May 1944 (age 79)
London, England
Origin Gibraltar
Genres Pop rock, soft rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano, vocals
Years active1960–present
Website alberthammond.net

Albert Louis Hammond OBE (born 18 May 1944) is a British-Gibraltarian singer, songwriter and record producer. A prolific songwriter, he also collaborated with other songwriters such as Mike Hazlewood, John Bettis, Hal David, Diane Warren, Holly Knight and Carole Bayer Sager. Hammond's son Albert Hammond Jr. is a guitarist in American rock band the Strokes. [1]

Contents

Hammond wrote commercially successful singles for artists including Celine Dion, Joe Dolan, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Leo Sayer, Tina Turner, Glen Campbell, Julio Iglesias, Willie Nelson, Lynn Anderson and Bonnie Tyler, and bands Ace of Base, Air Supply, Blue Mink, Chicago, Heart, Living in a Box, the Carpenters, the Hollies, the Pipkins, Starship, and Westlife. Notable songs 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, and "When I Need You" by Leo Sayer. In 2015, he received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection. [2]

He is also a solo singer in his own right. His biggest (and only top 20) U.S. Billboard hit was "It Never Rains in Southern California", No. 5 in 1972. [3] Other songs of his include "Down by the River", "The Free Electric Band", "I'm a Train", and "When I'm Gone". For a time, he was part of the Family Dogg, a vocal band with whom he had the hit "A Way of Life". He has also produced for a number of other artists.

Early life and success

Hammond was born in London, after his family had been evacuated from Gibraltar during World War II. [4] Shortly after the war they returned to Gibraltar where he grew up. [4] 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 band the Family Dogg, reaching number 6 on the UK Singles Chart with "A Way of Life" in 1969, [4] [5] taken from the album of the same name.

Career

Hammond performing in Germany in 2013 Albert Hammond.jpg
Hammond performing in Germany in 2013

In 1970, at age 26, Hammond moved to the United States, continuing his professional career as a musician. [6] However, he had his greatest commercial success in mainland Europe. He is known for his successful singles 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), [5] "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." In 1970, under the name 'Steve & Albert', Hammond joined forces with Steve Rowland for the single "Follow The Bouncing Ball", which they heavily promoted, particularly in the UK, where they appeared on Top Of The Pops and The Basil Brush Show , but the single failed to chart. [7]

Hammond 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. [4] 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. [8]

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. Leo Sayer | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company Commercially successful 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.[ citation needed ] Leapy Lee released a version of "When I Need You" on his first recording since 1970. [9]

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

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

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. [10]

In 2010, Hammond also worked on Legend, a new recording of duets of his most successful singles, featuring artists including Elena Paparizou and Bonnie Tyler. It was released on Sony Spain on 23 November that year. [11] [12]

Personal life

From his first marriage, Hammond has two children. In 1979, he married Argentinian Claudia Fernández, a former model. [6]

Awards and recognition

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 Award. [13] In 1988, Hammond won an Emmy Award for the song "One Moment in Time", a song he wrote along with John Bettis.[ citation needed ]

In 2000, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE). [4]

On 19 June 2008, Hammond was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. [14]

Half Man Half Biscuit paid tribute to Hammond in their 1986 track "Albert Hammond Bootleg" originally on The Trumpton Riots EP and later added to the 2003 re-release of Back in the DHSS.

In May 2015, Hammond collected the Ivor Novello award for outstanding song collection. [15]

In 2023 he received the Ministry of Culture Lifetime Achievement Award.

Discography

Songwriting credits

(in alphabetical order of song title)

TitleWriting
collaboration
with
Artist / bandYear
released
"99 Miles from L.A." Hal David Albert Hammond
Art Garfunkel
Johnny Mathis
Julio Iglesias
Nancy Sinatra
Dionne Warwick
Stevie Holland
1975
1975
1975
1990
2002
2012
2015
"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
Aswad
Ace of Base
1986
1988
1993
"Easy to Love" Leo Sayer Leo Sayer1977
"Gimme Dat Ding" Mike Hazlewood The Pipkins 1970
"Give a Little Love"Diane WarrenHammond and West
Aswad
1986
1988
"Good Morning Freedom" Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway and Mike Hazlewood Blue Mink 1970
"I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love"Diane Warren Chicago 1988
"I Don't Wanna Lose You" Graham Lyle Tina Turner1989
"I'm Not Crying over You" Chris De Burgh Chris De Burgh1995
"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 KnightTina Turner1991
"Love's Got a Hold on Me"Chris De BurghChris De Burgh1994
"Make Me an Island"Mike Hazlewood Joe Dolan
Tom Northcott
1969
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"Diane Warren Starship 1986
"Once in a Lifetime" Antonina Armato, Dennis Morgan Kansas 1988
"One Moment in Time" John Bettis Whitney Houston1988
"Rebecca"Mike Hazlewood Flo & Eddie 1975
"Room in Your Heart"Marcus Vere and Richard Darbyshire Living in a Box1989
"Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger"Holly Knight Heart 1990
"The Air That I Breathe"Mike HazlewoodAlbert Hammond
The Hollies
Simply Red
1972
1974
1998
The Snows of New YorkChris De BurghChris De Burgh1994
"To All the Girls I've Loved Before"Hal DavidJulio Iglesias and Willie Nelson 1984
"Way of the World"Graham LyleTina Turner1991
"When I Need You" Carole Bayer Sager Albert Hammond
Leo Sayer
Rod Stewart
Celine Dion
Will Mellor

Austin Peters

1976
1976
1996
1997
1998

2019

"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 HazlewoodJoe Dolan1970

Other languages

(in alphabetical order of song title)

TitleLanguageWriting
collaboration
with
Artist / bandYear
released
"Cantaré, cantarás"SpanishJuan Carlos Calderón and Anahí van ZandwegheHermanos
(Various Latin artists)
1985
"Entre mis recuerdos"Spanish Holly Knight and Luz Casal Luz Casal 1995
"Sensualité"French Shelly Peiken and Axelle Red Axelle Red 1993
"Y Tú También Llorarás"SpanishAnahi van Zandweghe José Luis Rodríguez 1987

Other songwriting credits

(in alphabetical order of song title)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enrique Iglesias</span> Spanish singer (born 1975)

Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler is a Spanish singer and songwriter. He started his recording career in the mid-1990s on the Mexican label Fonovisa and became the bestselling Spanish-language act of the decade. By the turn of the millennium, he made a successful crossover into the mainstream English-language market. He signed a multi-album deal with Universal Music Group for US$68 million with Universal Music Latino to release his Spanish albums and Interscope Records to release English albums. Enrique is the third and youngest child of Spanish singer-songwriter Julio Iglesias.

Catherine Roseanne Dennis is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. She was discovered as a teenager by music manager Simon Fuller, which led to her featuring on the hit dance single "C'mon and Get My Love" with D Mob in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Air That I Breathe</span> 1972 song by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood

"The Air That I Breathe" is a ballad written by the British-Gibraltarian singer-songwriter Albert Hammond and the English songwriter Mike Hazlewood. It was initially recorded by Hammond on his debut album, It Never Rains in Southern California (1972). It was a major hit for the Hollies in early 1974, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart. It was the Hollies' last major hit. The English rock band Radiohead reused the chord progression and melody of "The Air That I Breathe" for their 1992 song "Creep".

Francis Anthony "Eg" White is a British musician, songwriter and producer. He started his career in the cowpunk band Yip Yip Coyote in the 1980s and then formed Brother Beyond with his brother, David White, in the late 1980s. In 1990, Eg White recorded the pop album 24 Years of Hunger, and then in 1992 he produced the debut, self-titled album by Kinky Machine. He turned to songwriting in 1997, winning the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2004. In 2008 White worked with Adele on three tracks. In 2009 White was awarded his second Ivor Novello Award for 'Songwriter of the Year' and in 2010 he had a second UK number 1 with the Diana Vickers single "Once", a song he wrote with Cathy Dennis. White started his own record label in 2009.

Lee Graham, better known by his stage name Leapy Lee, is an English singer, best known for his 1968 single "Little Arrows," which reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart, and was a Top 20 country and pop hit in the United States and Canada.

<i>Gimme Dat Ding</i> (album) 1970 compilation album by The Sweet/The Pipkins

Gimme Dat Ding is a split album by The Sweet and The Pipkins, released on EMI's budget record label, MFP in 1970. It is named after the 1970 song "Gimme Dat Ding" by the Pipkins. In the US, The Pipkins released a full album of the same name, consisting of the six songs here and an additional four. It charted at No.132.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Cook (songwriter)</span> English singer, songwriter and record producer

Roger Frederick Cook is an English singer, songwriter and record producer, who has written many hit records for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.

Gary Osborne is an English singer and songwriter. He chaired The Songwriters Executive of the British Academy Of Songwriters Composers and Authors for 12 years during which time he was also chairman of The Ivor Novello Awards.

Michael Edward Hazlewood was a British singer-songwriter and composer. He variously worked with Albert Hammond, T-Bone Burnett, Van Dyke Parks and Harry Nilsson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Scott</span> English singer-songwriter and producer

James Christopher Needle, known professionally as Jamie Scott, is an English singer, songwriter and producer.

<i>Hollies</i> (1974 album) 1974 studio album by The Hollies

Hollies is the 14th UK studio album by the English pop rock group the Hollies, released in 1974, marking the return of Allan Clarke after he had left for a solo career. It features the band's cover of Albert Hammond's ballad "The Air That I Breathe," a major worldwide hit that year. The album has the same title as the band's third album from 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When You Tell Me That You Love Me</span> 1991 single by Diana Ross

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is a song by American singer Diana Ross, released on August 20, 1991 as the lead single from her nineteenth studio album, The Force Behind the Power (1991). The song was released on the Motown label in the United States and by EMI Records in the United Kingdom. It was written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and produced by Peter Asher. A sentimental ballad, it became the album's biggest hit, peaking at number 37 on the US Billboard R&B singles chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Ross considers it one of her signature songs and it was subsequently covered by various artists. The UK release of "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" included her 1985 hit "Chain Reaction".

<i>1100 Bel Air Place</i> 1984 studio album by Julio Iglesias

1100 Bel Air Place is a concept album of love songs largely composed by Albert Hammond, and performed by Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, released on 10 August 1984 by CBS Records internationally and by Columbia Records in the United States. It was the first of Iglesias' albums to be performed largely in English, and it is generally considered his breakthrough album in English-speaking markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben's Brother</span> English band

Ben's Brother are a five-piece English band, headed by founder Jamie Hartman. The band was named after Jamie's big brother Ben, whose shadow he lived in as a teenager. Their album Beta Male Fairytales reached number 14 on the UK album charts and their single Let Me Out was nominated for an Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2007 - the other nominee was Love Is Losing Game, by Amy Winehouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Never Rains in Southern California</span> 1972 single by Albert Hammond

"It Never Rains in Southern California" is a 1972 song jointly written and composed by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood and sung by Hammond, a British-born singer-songwriter.

<i>The Mavericks</i> (2003 album) 2003 studio album by The Mavericks

The Mavericks is the sixth studio album by the American country music band The Mavericks. It was their only release for Sanctuary Records, and their first studio album since Trampoline in 1998. The album produced three singles in "I Want to Know", "Would You Believe" and a cover version of "The Air That I Breathe", which was made famous by The Hollies. The latter was the only single to enter the charts, peaking at number 59 on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks. The Mavericks was the band's final studio album before they disbanded in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All of You (Julio Iglesias and Diana Ross song)</span> 1984 single by Julio Iglesias and Diana Ross

"All of You" is a 1984 vocal duet between Spanish singer and songwriter Julio Iglesias and American singer Diana Ross, which was released on June 12 as the lead single from both Iglesias's album 1100 Bel Air Place, released on the Columbia Records label, and Ross's fifteenth album, Swept Away (1984), released on the RCA Records label. It was written by Cynthia Weil, Iglesias and Tony Renis, and produced by Richard Perry.

Paul Michael Barry is a British songwriter and musician. He has written or co-written a number of well known songs, including "Believe" by Cher, "Hero" and "Bailamos" by Enrique Iglesias and the five-times platinum U.S. single "Let It Go" by James Bay. He has won three Ivor Novello Awards and ASCAP PRS writer of the year 2000. He has also achieved three US number-one singles, as well as other number-ones around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Arrows</span> 1968 single by Leapy Lee

"Little Arrows" is a single by English artist Leapy Lee. Released in 1968, it was the first single from his album Little Arrows. Written by Albert Hammond & Mike Hazlewood.

<i>It Never Rains in Southern California</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Albert Hammond

It Never Rains in Southern California is the debut album by Albert Hammond released by Mums Records. The album landed on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching No. 77.

References

  1. "Albert Hammond, Jr. – The Vogue" . Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  2. "60th Anniversary Ivor Novello Awards winners announced". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  3. "Albert Hammond It Never Rains in Southern California | Bogart Boogie Oogie". 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Albert Hammond Official Website". Alberthammond.net. 18 May 1944. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  5. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 242. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  6. 1 2 "Albert Hammond – Interview". www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. "306. Steve & Albert". Tapatalk.com. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  8. Eder, Bruce (18 May 1944). "Albert Hammond – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  9. "Little Arrows II: Leapy Lee: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Archive.is. 17 July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  10. "BBC – Newsbeat – Singer Duffy begins new album sessions in New York". BBC News. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  11. "Albert Hammond Returns with "Legend"". Legend-alberthammond.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  12. "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)
  13. "35 years ago, Diane Warren earned her first Oscar nom for a song 'about a guy f***ing a mannequin'". Yahoo Entertainment. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. "2008 Award and Induction Ceremony | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. "Albert Hammond". The Ivors. 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.