Ellen Shipley

Ellen Shipley (born March 24, 1949, in New York City, New York, United States) is an American musician and songwriter.

Career

At sixteen years old, Shipley got a NYC Cabaret license. She performed a duo act in Greenwich Village in the early 70's with Steve Fields. ^[1] Shipley was noticed by a Tommy Mottola associate, in a jazz club in NYC, Pearl’s Place, and signed to Mottola's company as a recording artist. ^[2]

In 1979-1983, she recorded three solo albums of her own songs (see discography below). Shipley has also collaborated with Ralph Schuckett, and appeared on 13 December 1980 on Saturday Night Live. ^{[3] [4]} Paste magazine archived, for playback, a 12-song performance, at the Paradise in Boston, MA, from 1980-10-17. ^[5]

Shipley is best known for her work with Rick Nowels. ^[6] Nowels, who had just gotten his big break writing songs with old friend Stevie Nicks ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]} , approached Shipley in a Woodstock, NY cafe and asked Shipley write with him for Belinda Carlisle's first solo album. ^[11] Together they worked on the Belinda Carlisle ^{[12] [13]} albums Belinda , Heaven on Earth , Runaway Horses , and Live Your Life Be Free .

They have written for other artists such as Kim Wilde.

In 1994, Shipley was nominated for a Grammy Award (Best R&B Song) for “Body and Soul,” written with Rick Nowels for Anita Baker. ^{[14] [15] [16]} Also in 1994, in Great Performances episode September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill, Shipley and David Johansen, Ralph Schuckett, and Bob Dorough sang "Alabama Song" in a beat-up old pickup truck in search of whiskey. ^{[17] [18]}

She, with Nicky Holland, ^{[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]} co-wrote "Will We Ever Learn", and it was recorded for Oleta Adams' Circle of One album.

"My Song Was Played 3.1 Million Times on Pandora. My Check Was $39..." ^{[26] [27] [28] [29] [30]}

In 2008, Shipley directed, for the stage, Desert Sunrise by Misha Shulman ^[31] , in Los Angeles. ^{[32] [33] [34]}

Personal life

Shipley is from Canarsie, Brooklyn, ^[11] and married Ralph Schuckett. ^{[35] [36]} She studied theater at Hunter College. ^[37]

Discography

Studio albums

Ellen Shipley (1979)

• Track list and credits taken from U.S. vinyl pressing. ^[38]
• Produced by Ralph Schuckett and Ed Sprigg.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Surrender"	Ellen Shipley Ralph Schuckett	4:24
2.	"Man of the World"	Shipley Shuckett	3:35
3.	"Catch the Cobra"	Shipley Shuckett	3:45
4.	"Heroes of Yesterday"	Shipley	5:08
5.	"Good Thing Goin'"	Shipley Shuckett	3:31
6.	"I'm Jumping Out of My Skin"	Shipley Shuckett	2:54
7.	"Little Sister"	Shipley Shuckett	3:01
8.	"Last Tears"	Shipley Shuckett	4:22
9.	"Stray Dog"	Shipley Shuckett	4:34
10.	"Over the Edge"	Shipley	3:33

Breaking Through the Ice Age (1980)

• Track list and credits taken from U.S. vinyl pressing. ^[39]
• Produced by David Tickle.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Heart to Heart"	Ellen Shipley Ralph Shuckett	3:39
2.	"Fotogenic"	Shipley Shuckett	3:32
3.	"Jamie"	Shipley Shuckett	3:25
4.	"This Little Girl"	Shipley Shuckett	3:32
5.	"Talk Don't Shout"	Shipley Richie Cerniglia Nicholas Lynn	3:43
6.	"Solo"	Shipley	4:04
7.	"Lost Without Your Love"	Shipley Cerniglia	5:50
8.	"Promise to Keep"	Shipley Shuckett	4:03
9.	"Living for the Tenderness"	Shipley Shuckett	7:00

Reissued on CD in 2018 with five bonus tracks: ^[40]

• "We All Want What We Can't Have" – 4:07
• "Sitting Duck" – 4:53
• "It's All Over Now" – 3:30
• "She Stands Alone" – 4:16
• "Fever" – 4:37

Call of the Wild (1983)

• Track list and credits taken from U.S. vinyl pressing. ^[41]
• Produced by Morrie Brown.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Heart Out of Time"	Ellen Shipley Morrie Brown Lloyd Landesman	4:08
2.	"Love's Out On the Line"	Shipley Brown	4:08
3.	"Stranded"	Shipley	4:25
4.	"I Come Undone"	Shipley Brown	3:58
5.	"Look the Other Way"	Shipley Sid McGinnis	3:12
6.	"Call of the Wild"	Shipley Brown Ralph Schuckett Rick Nowels	4:25
7.	"Let Me Take You Under"	Shipley McGinnis	3:56
8.	"He's Not There" (The Zombies cover)	Rod Argent	3:44
9.	"Fugitive Kind"	Shipley Schuckett	4:13

Reissued on CD in 2018 with eight bonus tracks: ^[42]

• "Heart to Heart" (Live) – 3:44
• "Fotogenic" (Live) – 3:45
• "This Little Girl" (Live) – 4:15
• "Solo" (Live) – 4:17
• "I Surrender" (Live) – 4:40
• "Promise to Keep" (Live) – 5:14
• "Some Kind of Wonderful" (Live) – 11:15
• "Catch the Cobra" (Live) – 4:30

Singles

• "I Surrender"/"Little Sister" (1979) ^[43]
• "Man of the World"/"Heroes of Yesterday" (1979) ^[44]
• "Catch the Cobra"/"Little Sister" (1979) ^[45]
• "This Little Girl"/"Promise to Keep" (1980) ^[46]
• "Love's On the Line"/"Let Me Take You Under" (1983) ^[47]
• "Heart Out of Time"/"I Come Undone" (1983) ^[48]

Songwriting

• “Spirit Of Love”, Laura Branigan, Touch (1987)
• “I Come Undone”, Jennifer Rush, Heart Over Mind (1987)
• Belinda Carlisle, Heaven On Earth (1987)
  • “Heaven Is A Place On Earth”
  • “Circle In The Sand”
• “The Real Feel”, Maria Vidal, Maria Vidal (1987)
• “Confess”, Eric Martin, I'm Only Fooling Myself (1987)
• The Graces, Perfect View (1989)
  • “Lay Down Your Arms”
  • “When The Sun Goes Down”
  • “Perfect View”
  • “Fear No Love”
  • “50,000 Candles Burning”
• Belinda Carlisle, Runaway Horses (1989)
  • “Leave A Light On”
  • “Runaway Horses”
  • Vision of You"
  • “La Luna”
  • (We Want) The Same Thing
  • "Whatever It Takes"
• “Will We Ever Learn”, Oleta Adams, Circle Of One (1990)
• Belinda Carlisle, Live Your Life Be Free (1991)
  • “Live Your Life Be Free”
  • “Do You Feel Like I Feel?”
  • “Half The World”
  • “Emotional Highway”
• “Love Is Holy”, Kim Wilde, Love Is (1992)
• “Tongue-Tied And Twisted”, Nicky Holland, Nicky Holland (1992)
• Jennifer Rush, Jennifer Rush (1992)
  • “Vision Of You”
  • “Unwanted Child”
• “Sail Away”, Dionne Warwick, ‘Til Their Eyes Shine…The Lullaby Album (1992)
• “C’est Mieux Que D’aimer”, Mario Pelchat, Pelchat (1993)
• Belinda Carlisle, Real (1993)
  • Lay Down Your Arms"
  • "One With You"
• “Vision Of You”, Lea Salonga, Lea Salonga (1993)
• "Look At Me", Keely Hawkes, Just A Page (1993)
• “Body And Soul”, Anita Baker, Rhythm Of Love (1994)
• “These Lovin’ Eyes”, David Hasselhoff, Du (1994), David Hasselhoff (1995)
• “Remember September”, Belinda Carlisle, A Woman & A Man (1996)
• "Since I Laid Eyes On You", Faith Hill, Piece Of My Heart (1996)

“Live Forever”, Midge Ure, Breathe (1996)

• “Look At Me”, Trine Rein, Beneath My Skin (1996)
• “Sex Will Keep Us Together”, Divinyls, Underworld (1996)
• “Yearbook”, Hanson, Middle Of Nowhere (1997)
• "Just In Case", Erikah Karst, Grown Woman (1997)
• “Thinking Of You (I Drive Myself Crazy)”, ‘Nsync, ‘Nsync (1998)
• Beyond Pink, Beyond Pink (1999)
  • "Boys Will Be Boys"
  • "Girl Of Today"
  • "Wonderland"
  • "One Love, True Love"
  • "Rainbow"
• "Does She Think About Me", Damon Johnson, Dust (2000)
• “You Don’t Have To Be Alone”, Jacob Young, Jacob Young (2001)
• "I Believe", Wendy Wright, As I Am (2007)
• “Goodbye Just Go”, Belinda Carlisle, The Anthology (2014)
• “A Million Miles Away”, Tiffany, A Million Miles (2016)

References

1. "Fields and Shipley". badcatrecords.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
2. "Ellen Shipley". GetSongBPM.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
3. Rich Cerniglia. "Music Writer's Corner - Photo Gallery". RichCerniglia.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
4. "SNL Season 06 Episode 04 - Jamie Lee Curtis, James Brown, Ellen Shipley - NBC.com". NBC. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
5. "Ellen Shipley - This Little Girl". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
6. "Behind the Music Exclusive: Rick Nowels on the Birth of "Heaven Is A Place On Earth"". flavorwire.com. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
7. "Belinda Carlisle". Gay Times Magazine. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 1 November 2018– via pressreader.com.
8. "Rick Nowels". ascap.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
9. "The Ultimate Belindography pt.2, 1986-1988: The Years in Heaven". oocities.org. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
10. "Rick Nowels". Sony/ATV. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
11. Jason Miles (30 August 2016). "Jason Miles Interviews Songwriter.artist Ellen Shipley on the State of Songwriting". headphone guru. Archived from [headphone.guru/jason-miles-interviews-songwriter-artist-ellen-shipley-on-the-state-of-songwriting-reviews-steve-addabbos-debut-album-out-of-nothingand-a-comment/ the original] on 2018-11-01. Retrieved 1 November 2018.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
12. Stephens, Stephanie (21 May 2018). "Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go's Returns to Touring This Summer". parade.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
13. Carlisle, Belinda (1 June 2010). Lips Unsealed: A Memoir. Crown/Archetype. ISBN   9780307463517 . Retrieved 1 November 2018– via Google Books.
14. "Ellen Shipley". grammy.com. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
15. "The 37th Grammy Nominations". 6 January 1995. Retrieved 1 November 2018– via LA Times.
16. "37th Annual Grammy Nominations". spokesman.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
17. Harvey, Dennis (7 August 1995). "September Songs; The Music of Kurt Weill". variety.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
18. "September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill (TV)". The Paley Center for Media. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
19. "An In-Depth Interview with Singer Extraordinaire NICKY HOLLAND! - All Access Music". music.allaccess.com. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
20. "Interview: Nicky Holland". Songwriting Magazine. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
21. "THE PRO FILE - Nicky Holland". keyboardmag.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
22. "Musician Nicky Holland Looks Back at Her 'Greatest Hits'". realclearlife.com. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
23. "Going hire and higher: Nicky Holland is available for string". independent.co.uk. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
24. "Key Player". charlestonmag.com. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
25. "NickyHollandVEVO". YouTube. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
26. "My Song Was Played 3.1 Million Times on Pandora. My Check Was $39". 20 November 2012.
27. "My Song 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth' Was Played More Than 3 Million Times On Pandora And I Was Paid Less Than $40". businessinsider.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
28. Mulligan, Mark (16 April 2015). "Awakening: The Music Industry In The Digital Age". MIDiA Research. Retrieved 1 November 2018– via Google Books.
29. Lindvall, Helienne (10 October 2012). "Music streaming: what do songwriters really get from YouTube or Pandora?". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
30. "Pandora speaks out against "falsehood" accusations regarding royalties". slashgear.com. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
31. Arfa, Orit (2008-07-09). "Israeli and Palestinian shed their armor in 'Desert Sunrise'". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
32. "Desert Sunrise: Cast & Crew". plays411.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
33. Weekly, LA (14 July 2008). "Theater Reviews: Assassins, The Comedy of Errors". laweekly.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
34. "Desert Sunrise". backstage.com. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
35. "Ellen Shipley Vs Ralph Schuckett". UniCourt. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
36. "Ellen Shipley, songwriter, unloads on crooks in music biz". NJN Network. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
37. JOAN QUINN PROFILES (2020-05-22). Joan Quinn Profiles: Ellen Shipley and Judy Chaikin . Retrieved 2025-06-15– via YouTube.
38. Ellen Shipley (type liners). Ellen Shipley. New York International Records. 1979. BXL1-3428.
39. Breaking Through the Ice Age (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. RCA. 1980. AFL1-3626.
40. Breaking Through the Ice Age (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. Renaissance Records. 2018. RMED-1354.
41. Call of the Wild (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. Capitol Records. 1983. ST-12289.
42. Call of the Wild (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. Renaissance Records. 2018. RMED-1355.
43. I Surrender (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. New York International Records. 1979. YB-11686.
44. Man of the World (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. New York International Records. 1979. YB-11775.
45. Catch the Cobra (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. New York International Records. 1979. FB-9449.
46. This Little Girl (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. RCA. 1980. PB-12124.
47. Love's On the Line (liner notes). Ellen Shipley. Capital Records. 1983. 1C 006-18 6836 7.
48. Heart Out of Time/I Come Undone (liner notes). Capital Records. 1983. SPRO-9028/SPRO-9029.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/233864-Ellen-Shipley https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ellen-shipley-mn0000183359/credits

External links

• ellenshipleymusic.com
• imdb
• ibdb