John Springate

Last updated
John Springate
Occupation(s)Musician, producer, composer
InstrumentBass guitar
Years active1970s–present
LabelsHandbag Music, Terrific, Towerbell Records, Sedition, Epic
Member of Clem Curtis & The Foundations, The Glitter Band, Air Traffic Control, Side Walk

John Springate is an English singer, musician, songwriter and music producer. The hits he has composed include "Don't Make Promises (You Can't Keep)" by the G. Band, "Don't Play that Song Again" for Nicki French which was also a Eurovision Song Contest 2000 song and "Nothing But Promises" for Kelly. He produced the single "A Little Boogie Woogie in the Back of My Mind" and the Let's Boogie album for Shakin' Stevens. He also played backup for Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon and was a member of Clem Curtis & The Foundations and the Glitter Band.

Contents

Background

Springate married Lyn Barnes a 25 year old bank secretary in 1976. [1]

Six songs that Springate has composed or co-composed have charted nationally in the UK. [2]

Career

1970s

Clem Curtis & the Foundations etc.

In the early period of his career, John Springate played with Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon and was a member of Clem Curtis & The Foundations. [3] [4] His brother Bill was also a member of Clem Curtis & The Foundations. [5] [6] [7]

The Glitter Band

With the Clem Curtis & the Foundations period behind him he answered an ad for a bass player. According to Alwyn Turner, the previous bass player had been sacked. Springate auditioned and got the job. [8]

He sang lead on the Glitter Band single "The Tears I Cried" which Gerry Shephard wrote. It was released in March 1975. [9]

An article appeared in the April 24, 1976 issue of Record Mirror . It was about the Glitter Band deciding to change their name to the G. Band. They were no longer using previous name for recording or when performing live. Springate denied that it was to break away from the image of Gary Glitter. He said that so many people were calling them the G. Band and that they decided to shorten it. [10]

With Gerry Shephard he co-wrote "Don't Make Promises (You Can't Keep)" for the G. Band. It was released on Bell 1481 in 1976. It got to no. 51 on the UK Singles Chart that year. [11] [12]

1980s to 1990s

Together with Mike Leander he produced "A Little Boogie Woogie (In the Back of My Mind)" which was recorded by Shakin' Stevens and released in 1987. [13] [14] He and Leander also co-produced Stevens' album Let's Boogie which was released the same year. [15]

He wrote and produced Kelly Wilde's single, "Nothing But Promises" which was released on BOLTS 15/7 in March, 1988. [16] On the week of May 14, 1988, the record debuted in the HI-NRG chart at no. 47. [17]

Springate approached Nicki French about recording a version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart". She turned down his offer as she regarded the Bonnie Tyler version a classic. He managed to get her onside and produced the early version of the song. It was later recorded by Stock and Aitken. [18]

Daniel Amalm recorded his composition "Honey Dip" [19] which became a hit for Amalm in 1997. It got to no. 88 on the UK chart. [20]

He produced "Let It Swing" / "Love in The 1st" for Sushi which was released on Branded BRAND 11 in 1998. [21] [22] The song made its debut at no. 23 on the RM Pop Chart on the week of October 17. [23]

2000s

With Gerry Shephard, he wrote the song "Don't Play That Song Again" which was Nicki French's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. [24]

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References

  1. ↑ Record Mirror & Disc, April 3, 1976 - Page 4 Band of Gold
  2. ↑ MusicVF.com - Songs written by John Springate, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
  3. ↑ Pete Phipps - The Glitter Band, How It Started:
  4. ↑ A Breath of Fresh Air - Transcript: Transcript Glam Rock Pioneer: John Springate And The Unique Sound Of The Glitter Band, 3:23
  5. ↑ Mix Cloud - ROCKIN COUNTRY - WALTER SCOTT JAMES - FEAT - BILL SPRINGATE
  6. ↑ Streetsville Legion - Bill Springate former member of The Foundations and now a One Man Band
  7. ↑ Bandmix - Bill Springate, About
  8. ↑ Alwyn Turner - GLITTER SUITS & PLATFORM BOOTS, JOHN SPRINGATE
  9. ↑ Record & Popswop Mirror, March 15, 1975 - Page 4 Glitter Band on the road, New single due as well
  10. ↑ Record Mirror & Disc, April 24, 1976 - Page 4 G-Band drop Litter
  11. ↑ The Second Disc, February 17, 2017 - NEWS, Makes You Blind: Cherry Red Collects The Glitter Band's Glam Heyday BY JOE MARCHESE
  12. ↑ MusicVF.com - G. Band Top Songs , Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
  13. ↑ Genuis - Who produced “A Little Boogie Woogie (In the Back of My Mind)” by Shakin' Stevens?
  14. ↑ Who Sampled - Cover Version, A Little Boogie Woogie (In the Back of My Mind) Shakin' Stevens
  15. ↑ 45Worlds - CD Album, Artist: Shakin' Stevens, Title: Let's Boogie
  16. ↑ 45Cat - Kelly (Wilde) Nothing But Promises
  17. ↑ James Hamilton's Disco Page, May 14, 1988 - HI-NRG, 47 — NOTHING BUT PROMISES Kelly, Bolts 12in
  18. ↑ Billboard, May 13, 1995 - Page 124 CHART BEAT by Fred Bronson Nicki's Total Eclipse Of The Chart
  19. ↑ Offizielle Deutsche Charts = JOHN SPINGATE TITEL-LISTE
  20. ↑ Official Charts - HONEY DIP by DANIEL AMALM
  21. ↑ Discogs - Sushi (6) – Let It Swing / Love In The First Degree
  22. ↑ Amazon - Let It Swing/Love in The 1st
  23. ↑ RM, October 17, 1998 - the POP CHART, THIS WEEK 23, NEW, LET IT SWING/LOVE IN THE FIRST DEGREE, Sushi
  24. ↑ Six on Stage - Don't Play That Song Again
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