David Freeman | |
---|---|
Born | Ilford, Essex [1] | 25 September 1957
Genres | New wave, punk rock |
Occupation(s) | Singer, musician, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 1970s–present |
Labels | EMI, Harvest, A&M, Discrete |
David Freeman (born 25 September 1957) is a British singer, musician and songwriter, best known for being a member of the new wave duo the Lover Speaks during the 1980s.
Freeman was born in Ilford, Essex, on 25 September 1957 and moved to Coventry at the age of 14. He was educated at Bishop Ullathorne Roman Catholic School and left with no qualifications. He bought his first guitar from the wages of his job in the butcher's department of a local supermarket. [2] During the mid-1970s, he began his musical career as guitarist in the band Midnight Circus. [3] In 1976, they evolved into the punk group the Flys, with Freeman providing guitar and vocals. The band recorded a number of singles, two EPs (1977's Bunch of Fives and 1980's Four from the Square) and two studio albums (1978's Waikiki Beach Refugees and 1979's (Own). After the band split up in 1980, [4] [5] Freeman returned to education to acquire an A-level and then went to North London Polytechnic to study English. [2] In 1983, he recorded a cover of the Supremes' 1965 hit "Stop in the Name of Love" with ex-the Flys band member Neil O'Connor as producer (and also on keyboards) and Eddie Case on drums. It was released his debut solo single in the Netherlands through VIP Records. [6] In 1984, Freeman published his own local history book, Looking at Muswell Hill. [7]
In 1985, Freeman teamed up with the Flys' former bassist Joseph Hughes to form the new wave duo the Lover Speaks. The pair began writing material and also recruited the assistance of keyboardist Barry Gilbert. With the help of Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, producer Jimmy Iovine received the duo's demo tape and then helped them sign to A&M Records in early 1986. The duo's self-titled debut album, The Lover Speaks , was produced by Iovine and released by A&M in August 1986. The first single "No More 'I Love You's'" reached number 58 in the UK Singles Chart, [8] but the album failed to chart, as did its two following singles, "Tremble Dancing" and "Every Lover's Sign". The latter achieved success in US clubs and reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart. [9] A book of Freeman's poetry, Voices of Passion, was published by T.L.S. Publishing in 1987. [10] [4] In 1987, the Lover Speaks released a cover of Dusty Springfield's "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" as their next single, but it was not a commercial success. They then recorded their second album, The Big Lie, but A&M Records decided not to release it, claiming it was "too uncommercial". [11] [2] Having worked with Alison Moyet in 1986, the Freeman/Hughes-penned "Sleep Like Breathing" was lifted as the fourth and final single from her album Raindancing in September 1987. A duet with Freeman, the song reached number 80 in the UK Singles Chart. [12]
After the Lover Speaks split in 1988, [2] Freeman continued gigging, as well as writing and recording his own songs at Dave Stewart's studio. He recorded around ten albums worth of material with the assistance of various musicians. In 1991, the album Balance was given an independent release under the artist name Free Man Creese. The album saw Freeman team up with former Lotus Eaters drummer Steve Creese, with assistance from Chucho Merchán on bass. [13] Another album, Under a Tall Tree, was given a limited cassette release under the Lover Speaks name, although it did not feature any involvement from Hughes. [14] The same period between 1988 and 1995 also saw Freeman become a father, develop a drug problem and split from the mother of his children. After getting clean, he began gigging again. [2]
In 1995, "No More 'I Love You's'" was covered by Annie Lennox for her album Medusa . It was released as a single in February 1995 and achieved widespread success worldwide. It reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and went on to secure Lennox a Grammy Award. [15] [16] In March 1995, Freeman appeared as the opening act for Joe Jackson's concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London. [17] The success of Lennox's cover saw Freeman and Hughes each receive a BMI award in 1996, [18] as well as three Ivor Novello award nominations for the "PRS Most Performed Work", "International Hit of the Year" and "Best Song Musically and Lyrically". [19] [20]
In the face of the renewed interest in the Lover Speaks, Freeman released a large batch of his solo material across six albums in 1996 via the Discrete label. [14] In chronological order, these releases were: Painting as Autobiography (A Love Story), Balance, Going Out Without Makeup, Under a Tall Tree Looking Up, Apart & Together and Melodrama. The material included on these albums was recorded over the course of a decade from 1985 to 1996. [21] [22] In 1997, Freeman began working in Nashville as a freelance songwriter/musician and collaborated with songwriters such as Gary Baker. [2]
The following years saw Freeman spend time studying the piano and singing in choirs. In 2005, he returned to performing with a gig at Earlsdon Cottage in Coventry. [23] In 2010, Freeman's solo version of "No More I Love You's" was released by Discrete as a download-only single on iTunes. [24] In 2014, Discrete released a digital-only compilation album titled No More I Love You's – The Best of David Freeman. [25] Both Freeman and Hughes contributed to the 2015 re-issue of The Lover Speaks album by Cherry Red with interviews and providing song annotations. [26]
Yazoo were an English synth-pop duo from Basildon, Essex, consisting of former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke (keyboards) and Alison Moyet (vocals). The duo formed in late 1981 after Clarke responded to an advertisement Moyet placed in a British music magazine, although the pair had known each other since their school days.
Medusa is the second solo studio album by Scottish singer Annie Lennox, released on 6 March 1995 by RCA Records. It consists entirely of cover songs. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and peaked in the United States at number 11, spending 60 weeks on the Billboard 200. It has since achieved double platinum status in both the United Kingdom and the United States. As of 2018, Medusa had sold over six million copies worldwide.
"Only You" is a song by English synth-pop duo Yazoo. It was written by member Vince Clarke, while he was still with Depeche Mode, but recorded in 1982 after he formed Yazoo with Alison Moyet. It was released as Yazoo's first single on 15 March 1982 in the United Kingdom, taken from their first album, Upstairs at Eric's (1982), and became an instant success on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two on 16 May 1982. It would also reach the top 10 in neighbouring Ireland as well as Australia. In the US, "Only You" was released as the band's second single in November 1982 and charted at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also made the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
"Love Letters" is a 1945 popular song with lyrics by Edward Heyman and music by Victor Young. The song appeared, without lyrics, in the film of the same name released in October 1945. A vocal version by Dick Haymes, arranged and conducted by Young, was recorded in March 1945 and peaked in popularity in September. "Love Letters" was subsequently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1945, but lost to "It Might as Well Be Spring" from State Fair.
The Lover Speaks were an English new wave duo consisting of David Freeman (vocals) and Joseph Hughes. They wrote and performed the original version of the song "No More "I Love You's"", covered by Annie Lennox in 1995 for her Medusa album, and which she took to number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.
Alf is the debut solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 5 November 1984 by CBS Records. The album launched Moyet's solo career following the disbanding of synth-pop duo Yazoo. The album reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Love Resurrection", "All Cried Out", "Invisible" and "For You Only".
Raindancing is the second solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 6 April 1987 by CBS Records. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Is This Love?", "Weak in the Presence of Beauty", "Ordinary Girl" and "Sleep Like Breathing". In the United States, Raindancing was released by Columbia Records with a different cover art and a reordered track listing.
"No More 'I Love You's'" is a song written by British musicians David Freeman and Joseph Hughes and recorded by them as the Lover Speaks. It was released in June 1986 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album. The song was covered by the Scottish singer Annie Lennox and became a commercial success for her in 1995, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart.
"Love Resurrection" is a pop song written by English singer-songwriter Alison Moyet and producers Jolley & Swain for Moyet's debut studio album Alf (1984). Released as the album's first single in June 1984, it reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart. It was released in the US in summer 1985 following "Invisible" and reached number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 that August.
"Your Love" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released on June 1, 2010 by Young Money, Cash Money, and Universal Motown as the lead single from her debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010). It replaced the previously-released "Massive Attack" featuring Sean Garrett as the lead single of the album, after its underwhelming commercial performance a month earlier.
"Weak in the Presence of Beauty" is a song written by Michael Ward and Rob Clarke, and originally recorded by their band, Floy Joy. It was released in 1986 as the lead single from their album of the same name. In 1987, English singer Alison Moyet released a version of the song which was a hit across Europe and Australasia.
"Sleep Like Breathing" is a song by English singer Alison Moyet with David Freeman, released in 1987 as the fourth and final single from her second studio album Raindancing. The song was written by Freeman and Joseph Hughes, both of whom made up The Lover Speaks, and was produced by Jimmy Iovine, Freeman and Hughes.
"Whispering Your Name" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jules Shear. It was originally performed by Ignatius Jones in 1983, however Shear also recorded the song, which was issued as a single within months of Jones' recording and included on his 1983 album Watch Dog. It has been covered numerous times, including a charting version by Alison Moyet in 1994.
"Getting into Something" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released in May 1994 as the third single from her fourth studio album Essex. It was written by Moyet and Pete Glenister and produced by Ian Broudie.
Pia Mia Perez is an American singer, songwriter, and model. She began her career by posting videos of herself singing on the video sharing site YouTube, and went on to star in commercials and music videos. Pia Mia signed a recording contract with Interscope Records in 2013, subsequently releasing her debut extended play, The Gift, and a series of singles, including "Do It Again" and "Touch". In 2016, she was featured on will.i.am's single "Boys & Girls" which reached the top 40 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2017, Pia Mia independently released an EP entitled The Gift 2. Pia would later leave Interscope Records and become an independent artist in late 2017, creating her own label Cherry Pie Records. Pia briefly signed a record deal with Republic Records and Electric Feel Entertainment in 2020, before separating the following year.
"That Ole Devil Called Love" is a song written in 1944 by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher. It was first recorded by Billie Holiday, who released it as the B-side of her hit "Lover Man" in 1945.
The Lover Speaks is the self-titled debut studio album from British duo The Lover Speaks, released by A&M in 1986.
"Every Lover's Sign" is a song by the British duo The Lover Speaks, released in 1986 as the third single from their self-titled debut album. It was written by David Freeman and Joseph Hughes, and produced by Jimmy Iovine and The Lover Speaks.
Speak Your Mind is the debut studio album by English singer Anne-Marie, released on 27 April 2018 by Major Tom's and Asylum Records. Anne-Marie announced the album on 21 February 2018 and it was made available for pre-order two days later. The album was preceded by the release of seven singles and features collaborations with Marshmello, Clean Bandit, David Guetta and Sean Paul.
Joseph Hughes is a British bassist and songwriter, best known for being a member of the punk band the Flys and the new wave duo the Lover Speaks.