John Waite

Last updated

John Waite
John Waite Tulalip Amphitheatre 2021 (cropped).jpg
Waite Performing at the Tulalip Amphitheatre in 2021
Background information
Birth nameJohn Charles Waite
Born (1952-07-04) 4 July 1952 (age 72)
Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Origin London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, bass
Years active1975–present
Labels
Formerly of
Website johnwaiteworldwide.com

John Charles Waite (born 4 July 1952) [1] is a British rock singer and musician. As a solo artist, he has released ten studio albums and is best known for the 1984 hit single "Missing You", which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the UK Singles Chart. He was also the lead vocalist for the successful rock bands The Babys and Bad English.

Contents

Career

Waite at soundcheck before the 2011 Surf and Song Festival John Waite.jpg
Waite at soundcheck before the 2011 Surf and Song Festival

Waite was born and raised in Lancaster, Lancashire [2] and was educated at Greaves Secondary Modern and Lancaster Art College (The Storey Institute). As a performer, Waite first came to attention as the lead singer and bassist of The Babys, a British rock band that had moderate chart success. The band achieved two pop hits that each peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Isn't It Time" (1977) and "Everytime I Think of You" (1979), [3] and a solid following of their concert tours. Over the course of five years, the band produced five albums ending with the final album On the Edge in October 1980, after which the group disbanded. [4] [ better source needed ]

Waite subsequently launched his solo career with his 1982 debut album Ignition , which produced the hit single "Change". [5] The Chrysalis 45 failed to chart on Billboard's Hot 100 during its initial release (May 1982) but was a top track on AOR radio stations, as well as a very popular music video on MTV as the 'new' cable channel celebrated its first full year of operation. The song was originally recorded in 1981 (with slightly different lyrics) by the American rock band Spider (which featured Amanda Blue, Holly Knight, and Anton Fig) and in 1985 was included on the platinum-selling Vision Quest soundtrack. When the single was reissued, it reached the Top 50 on the Hot 100. "Going to the Top" was released as the original follow-up single to "Change".

In 1984, Waite guest-starred on three episodes of the TV series Paper Dolls . The shows featured his songs "Missing You" and "Tears".

His next album, No Brakes , resulted in international success. [5] It was a Top 10 Billboard album in the US due to the smash hit "Missing You" which went to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. [6] It knocked Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It?" out of No. 1. For that very reason, Turner later recorded and released Waite's smash song herself. (Turner's single peaked at No. 84 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1996). "Missing You" also hit No. 1 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks as well as the Top 10 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. No Brakes sold over a million and a half US copies, yet has never been certified above the RIAA Gold standard (a record company must apply to the RIAA for such certification). Two more singles from No Brakes followed, including "Tears" which was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

The next album Mask of Smiles followed in 1985, [5] featuring the hit single "Every Step of the Way". Another single, "If Anybody Had a Heart", was released from the soundtrack of the 1986 film About Last Night... . In 1987, Rover's Return was released with the single "These Times Are Hard for Lovers". Waite would have another soundtrack appearance in 1990 from Days of Thunder with "Deal for Life".

In 1988, Waite joined former Babys bandmates Jonathan Cain and Ricky Phillips, along with Neal Schon and drummer Deen Castronovo from Journey, to form the supergroup Bad English. [5] In 1989, the Bad English ballad "When I See You Smile" (penned by Diane Warren) went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and earned a Gold-certified single. Its parent album reached Billboard's Top Five and sold nearly two million copies in the United States alone. Bad English released two albums before tensions amongst the members led to the band's dissolution by 1992. [5]

Waite then returned to solo work. He released the album Rough and Tumble. He has continued to tour, such as in 2003 with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

In 2006, "Missing You" was released as a duet with Alison Krauss and reached the Top 40 on the Country Charts in the United States. Waite appeared with Krauss on The Tonight Show on 5 February 2007 to perform the song. Waite's songs have reappeared in other media as well: 2013 saw "Missing You" featured heavily in the movie Warm Bodies , and "Change" is on the soundtrack of the US movie Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues .

On 5 February 2019, Waite and Joe Ely filed a class-action lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) claiming the company had violated their right to terminate grants of copyright. On 3 May 2019, UMG filed a motion to dismiss the case. [7] [8] In January, 2023 a federal judge ruled that Waite and hundreds of other artists cannot join forces to sue UMG to regain control of their masters, saying the case raised big questions about “fairness” but that it was ill-suited for class-action litigation. [9]

Waite was the subject of 2022 biographical documentary John Waite: The Hard Way. [10]

Personal life

Previously a longtime resident of New York City, since 2014 Waite has made his home in Santa Monica, California. [11]

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
UK
[12]
AUS
[13]
SWE
[14]
US
[2]
1982 Ignition
68
1984 No Brakes
  • Second studio album
  • Release date: 15 June 1984
  • Label: EMI
642710
1985 Mask of Smiles
  • Third studio album
  • Release date: 26 July 1985
  • Label: EMI
36
1987 Rover's Return
  • Fourth studio album
  • Release date: 19 June 1987
  • Label: EMI
993077
1995 Temple Bar
  • Fifth studio album
  • Release date: 14 February 1995
  • Label: Imago Records
1997 When You Were Mine
2001 Figure in a Landscape
  • Seventh studio album
  • Release date: 21 August 2001
  • Label: Gold Circle Records
2004The Hard Way
  • Eighth studio album
  • Release date: 21 September 2004
  • Label: No Brakes
2007Downtown: Journey of a Heart
2011Rough & Tumble
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

YearAlbumLabel
2001Live & Rare TracksOne Way
2010In Real TimeFrontiers Records
2013Live – All AccessNo Brakes Records

Compilation albums

YearAlbumLabel
1992The Essential John WaiteChrysalis
1996CompleteCapitol
2014BestNo Brakes Records
2017Wooden Heart – Acoustic Anthology, Volume 2No Brakes Records

EPs

YearAlbumLabel
2014Wooden Heart – Acoustic, Volume 1 – EPNo Brakes Records

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions [12] CertificationsAlbum
UK AUS
[13]
CAN NZ SWI US
[15]
US Main US AC US Dance US Country
1982"Change"16Ignition
"Going to the Top"
1984"Missing You"951181211727No Brakes
"Tears"45378
"Dark Side of the Sun"
1985"Restless Heart"5928
"Change" (re-release)54 Vision Quest (soundtrack)
"Every Step of the Way"16039254Mask of Smiles
"Welcome to Paradise"85
1986"If Anybody Had a Heart"7624 About Last Night... (soundtrack)
1987"These Times Are Hard for Lovers"7759536Rover's Return
"Don't Lose Any Sleep"81
1990"Deal for Life"80 Days of Thunder
1993"In Dreams"103 True Romance (soundtrack)
"Missing You" (re-entry)56The Essential John Waite
1995"How Did I Get By Without You?"8920Temple Bar
2001"Fly"27Figure in a Landscape
2005"New York City Girl"23The Hard Way
2006"Missing You" (with Alison Krauss)34Downtown: Journey of a Heart
2011"Shadows of Love"Rough & Tumble
"If You Ever Get Lonely"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad English</span> American rock band

Bad English was an American/British hard rock supergroup formed in 1987. It reunited Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain with singer John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips, his former bandmates in the Babys, along with Journey guitarist Neal Schon and drummer Deen Castronovo. The band is known for their hit single "When I See You Smile", which peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Babys</span> British rock band

The Babys are a British rock group best known for their songs "Isn't It Time" and "Every Time I Think of You". Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and each reached No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the Cashbox chart in the late 1970s. "Back on My Feet Again" also reached the U.S. Top 40 in 1980. The original Babys line-up consisted of founding member keyboardist/guitarist Michael Corby, and, in order of joining the group, vocalist/bassist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock and guitarist Wally Stocker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Joe</span> 1962 song written and composed by Billy Roberts

"Hey Joe" is an American song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and has been performed in many musical styles by hundreds of different artists. The lyrics tell of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico after shooting his unfaithful wife. In 1962, Billy Roberts registered "Hey Joe" for copyright in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't You (Forget About Me)</span> 1985 single by Simple Minds

"Don't You (Forget About Me)" is a song by the Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released as a single in 1985. It was written and composed by the producer Keith Forsey and the guitarist Steve Schiff, for the 1985 film The Breakfast Club. Simple Minds initially declined to record it, preferring to record their own material, but accepted after several other acts also declined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Have to Do Is Dream</span> 1958 song by Boudleaux Bryant

"All I Have to Do Is Dream" is a song made famous by the Everly Brothers, written by Boudleaux Bryant of the husband-and-wife songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, and published in 1958. The song is ranked No. 141 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is in AABA form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby It's You</span> 1961 single by the Shirelles

"Baby It's You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music), Luther Dixon, and Mack David (lyrics). It was recorded by the Shirelles and the Beatles and was a hit for both. The highest-charting version of "Baby It's You" was by the band Smith, who took the track to No.5 on the US charts in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul to Squeeze</span> 1993 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Soul to Squeeze" is a song by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers that was originally recorded during the production of their fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). Although it was not featured on the record and was used as a B-side on the singles "Give It Away" and "Under the Bridge", "Soul to Squeeze" was later released as a single in 1993 by Warner Bros. Records. The song was included in the Coneheads film soundtrack. "Soul to Squeeze" was eventually re-released for the 2003 Greatest Hits album. It can also be found on the band's Live Rare Remix Box and The Plasma Shaft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Ballard</span> English musician (born 1945)

Russell Glyn Ballard is an English musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missing You (John Waite song)</span> 1984 single by John Waite

"Missing You" is a song co-written and recorded by English musician John Waite. It was released in June 1984 as the lead single from his second album, No Brakes (1984). It reached number one on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks and on the Hot 100, as well as number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. "Missing You" was the only record in 1984 to spend only a single week at the top of the Hot 100. The song was nominated for the 1985 Best Pop Vocal Performance Male Grammy Award.

"Love Hurts" is a song written and composed by the American songwriter Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by the Everly Brothers in July 1960, the song is most well known in two hit versions by UK artists; by Scottish hard rock band Nazareth in 1974 and by English singer-songwriter Jim Capaldi in 1975.

"Sweet Dreams" or "Sweet Dreams (of You)" is a country ballad, which was written by Don Gibson. Gibson originally recorded the song in 1955; his version hit the top ten of Billboard's country chart, but was eclipsed by the success of a competing recording by Faron Young. In 1960, after Gibson had established himself as a country music superstar, he released a new take as a single. This version also charted in the top ten on the country chart and also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No.93. The song has become a country standard, with other notable versions by Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Time I Think of You</span> 1978 song by the Babys

"Every Time I Think of You" is a song written by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy and released in December 1978 as the lead single from The Babys' third studio album Head First; John Waite provided lead vocals, featuring female vocals by Myrna Matthews. The track was a worldwide hit, and became their last top 20 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Born to Be My Baby</span> 1988 single by Bon Jovi

"Born to Be My Baby" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It was released on November 24, 1988 as the second single from their fourth studio album New Jersey. It peaked the following year at number 2 on the Cash BoxTop 100, 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 7 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, number 22 in the UK, and number 30 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love to Love You Baby (song)</span> 1975 single by Donna Summer

"Love to Love You Baby" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her second studio album (1975). Produced by Pete Bellotte, and written by Italian musician Giorgio Moroder, Summer, and Bellotte, the song was first released as a single in the Netherlands in June 1975 as "Love to Love You" and then released worldwide in November 1975 as "Love to Love You Baby". It became one of the first disco hits to be released in an extended form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Your Baby</span> 1974 song by George McCrae

"Rock Your Baby" is the debut single by American singer George McCrae. Written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band, "Rock Your Baby" became an early landmark recording of disco. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1974, and three weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart that same month. The song also topped the Billboard R&B chart. The single has sold over 11 million copies, making it one of fewer than forty singles to have sold 10 million physical copies worldwide.

"Wild One" or "Real Wild Child" is an Australian rock and roll song written by Johnny Greenan, Johnny O'Keefe, and Dave Owens. While most sources state that O'Keefe was directly involved in composing the song, this has been questioned by others. Sydney disc jockey Tony Withers was credited with helping to get radio airplay for the song but writer credits on subsequent versions often omit Withers, who later worked in the United Kingdom on pirate stations Radio Atlanta and, as Tony Windsor, on Radio London.

<i>No Brakes</i> 1984 studio album by John Waite

No Brakes is the second solo album by British musician John Waite, released in 1984. It features Waite's biggest hit single "Missing You" which hit number 1 on the US Billboard's Album Rock Tracks and the Billboard Hot 100. No Brakes was certified Gold in September 1984 – three weeks prior to breaking into the Top 10 of Billboard's album chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisztomania (song)</span> 2009 single by Phoenix

"Lisztomania" is a song by the French band Phoenix from their fourth album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It is their second single from the album, although a music video of the song was released before "1901". The music video shows them walking around Bayreuth, Germany, inside and outside the Franz Liszt Museum, Wahnfried, the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, sitting inside the Festspiel Theatre, performing live and going outside to find a blimp like the one shown on the album cover. The song helped the album to be their most successful following their previous hit, "1901".

<i>Two of a Kind</i> (soundtrack)

Two of a Kind: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album of the film of the same name released in 1983 by MCA Records and features songs by the film's star Olivia Newton-John, as well as songs from various other artists.

"Price of Love" is a song by American/British band Bad English, released as the third single from their 1989 self-titled debut album of the same name. The power ballad reached number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in March 1990. It also charted in the top 40 of the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Rock charts. In Australia, the song reached No. 44.

References

  1. George-Warren, Holly; Romanowski, Patricia; Pareles, Jon, eds. (2001). The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. University of Michigan. p. 36.
  2. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (4 July 1955). "John Waite | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  3. Huey, Steve. "The Babys | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  4. "Life Story: The Babys (continued)". JohnWaite.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2007.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 474/5. ISBN   0-7535-0257-7.
  6. Bronson, Fred, ed. (1997). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. University of Virginia. p. 594.
  7. French, Leonard (18 May 2018). "Music Industry Opposes Copyright Termination; What is it?". Lawful Masses with Leonard French. YouTube . Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. Sanchez, Daniel (7 May 2018). "Universal Music Is Battling to Nullify the 35-Year Copyright Termination Right". Digitalmusicnews.com. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. Donahue, Bill (27 January 2023). "Hundreds of UMG Artists Can't Sue Label as Class Action Over Termination Rights, Judge Says". Billboard Legal News. Billboard Pro. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  10. "John Waite: The Hard Way". avclub.com. The A.V. Club. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. Bolton, R. Scott (12 March 2014). "Interview with John Waite". Roughedge.com. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  12. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 589. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  13. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 331. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. Hung, Steffen (29 July 1987). "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  15. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 949. ISBN   978-0-89820-188-8.
  16. "British certifications – John Waite". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 20 July 2022.Type John Waite in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.