Steve Allen (singer)

Last updated

Steve Allen
Birth nameAlan Stephenson
Also known asStevie Allen
Origin New Zealand
GenresPop, rock
Years active1970s
Labels Viking, Ode

Steve Allen (born Alan Stephenson) is a New Zealand singer and recording artist who found popularity as a singer during the 1970s. He is also known for the hit song "Join Together", and the song for the television commercial, "Use Your Nana".

Contents

Background

Early on in his career he was the lead guitarist and vocalist with a Wellington group called the Lost Souls. He left the group in 1968 to go solo. The following year he had a single "This Old Man" bw "Just You Wait" on the HMV label. He was credited as Stevie Allen. [1]

In 1972 the single "Life On Mars" backed with three David Gates compositions was released. The A side and the medley of "Baby I'm-A Want You", "Everything I Own" and "Diary" on the B side was produced by Don Richardson. [2]

In 1973, he was at his peak. He had received the RATA award for Best Male Vocalist. He also had a no 1 hit with his version of The Carpenters hit "Top Of The World". The song that he wrote, Join Together" was a hit in 1973. [3] In June that year the song was competing against songs sung by Ray Columbus, David Curtis, and Deane Waretini. It became the theme song for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. [4] [5]

His final single release was on the Mandrill label in 1980. The single "Out Of Control" was done in duet with Kim Hart. In 1982, he released an album of children's songs on the Ode label. By the mid-1990s, he was in Napier running a book shop. [6]

In 2011, working as a real estate agent and having been out of the music business for two decades, he was contacted by Mark Tudehope from Christchurch. Tudehope wanted to have the song recorded again for the current times. Allen was more than happy to do it, and the song was recorded at Auckland's Montage Studio in June that year. [7]

Discography

Albums
TitleRelease infoYearNotes
That Go Well Feeling Fontana 1971972
The Greatest Show On Earth Viking SPVP1201973 [8]
The Kids Collection Volume 1 Ode Records (New Zealand) | [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippé Wynne</span> Musical artist

Philippé Wynne was an American singer, best known for his role as a lead vocalist of The Spinners. Wynne scored notable hits such as "How Could I Let You Get Away", "The Rubberband Man", and "One of a Kind ". After leaving The Spinners, Wynne never regained the same success, although he was featured in hits by other artists such as "(Not Just) Knee Deep" by Funkadelic. Wynne died of a heart attack while performing at a nightclub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel</span> British glam rock band

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel were an English rock band who formed in the early 1970s in London. Their music covered a range of styles from pop to progressive rock. Over the years, they have had five albums on the UK Albums Chart and twelve singles on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Orlando and Dawn</span> American pop group

Tony Orlando and Dawn is an American pop music group that was popular in the 1970s, composed of singer Tony Orlando and the backing vocal group Dawn. Their signature hits include "Candida", "Knock Three Times", "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose", and "He Don't Love You ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Merrill</span> American musician (1951–2020)

Alan Merrill was an American vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. In the early 1970s, he was one of the few resident foreigners to achieve pop star status in Japan. He was the writer of, and lead singer on, the first released version of the song "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was recorded by the band the Arrows in 1975. The song became a breakthrough hit for Joan Jett in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montrose (band)</span> American hard rock band

Montrose was an American hard rock band formed in 1973 and named after guitarist and founder Ronnie Montrose. The band's original lineup featured lead vocalist and frontman Sammy Hagar, who later found greater success as a solo artist and as a member of Van Halen. Rounding out the original foursome were bassist Bill Church and drummer Denny Carmassi. The band experienced moderate success before disbanding in early 1977. The 1973 debut album Montrose eventually proved to be an international sleeper hit, selling in excess of one million copies and attaining platinum status in 1986.

Blue Mink were a British six-piece pop group that existed from 1969 to 1977. Over that period they had six Top 20 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart, and released five studio based albums. According to AllMusic: "they have been immortalised on a string of compilation albums, each recounting the string of effervescent hits that established them among Britain's best-loved pop groups of the early 1970s."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muruga Booker</span> American musician

Steven Bookvich known as Muruga Booker is an American drummer, composer, inventor, artist, recording artist, and an autonomous Eastern Orthodox priest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Chalfant</span> American rock singer

Kevin Chalfant is an American singer and a native of Streator, Illinois. He obtained a BMI award for co-writing and singing on one of the most frequently aired rock radio hits of 1992 and 1993, "I've Got a Lot to Learn About Love", by The Storm. In October 1993 he very briefly sat in for Steve Perry in Journey, singing lead at a roast for Journey's manager, Herbie Herbert, and in 2003, he toured as lead vocalist for the Alan Parsons Live Project.

Deane Waretini is a musician from New Zealand. He had a #1 chart hit in 1981 with the song "The Bridge", a Māori language song set to Nini Rosso's tune "Il Silenzio". He is also the son of a historically significant Maori baritone singer and recording artist. In later years, Waretini was featured in a New Zealand television production that was built around him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Big Deal</span> 1974 single by Steve Harley

"Big Big Deal" is a song by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, which was released as his debut, non-album solo single in 1974. The song, which was written and produced by Harley, would be his last release before scoring the UK number one hit "Make Me Smile " in 1975. "Big Big Deal" also preceded the formation of the second line-up of Harley's band Cockney Rebel.

Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters was a New Zealand singer who had a number of New Zealand hits during the 1970s. He is best known for the hits "Brandy" and "Take the Money and Run".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Teen</span> 1974 single by Cockney Rebel

"Judy Teen" is a song by the British rock band Cockney Rebel, fronted by Steve Harley. It was released as a non-album single in 1974, and became the band's first UK hit, after their debut single, "Sebastian", was only a hit in continental Europe. "Judy Teen" was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons.

Tony McCarthy Recordings was a New Zealand record label owned by record producer Tony McCarthy. Some of the artists on the label were Deane Waretini and Mahia Blackmore. The label is also a representation of the only released recordings by singer Abe Phillips who was killed in an accident in 1971.

Nash Chase is a former pop singer from New Zealand who recorded for the Ode and HMV labels. He released a string of singles in the early 1970s. He is remembered for "What Greater Love", "Today I Killed a Man I Didn't Know" and "Anderson and Wise".

Anderson and Wise was a performing duo from New Zealand. They were also composers, whose songs were recorded by Nash Chase, The Rumour, Quincy Conserve, and Kamahl.

"The Boy From Dundee" was a song written by Anderson and Wise. It was originally recorded by them. It later became a hit for Kamahl in 1973.

<i>20 Studio One Hits</i> 1972 compilation album by Various Artists

20 Studio One Hits is a compilation album of New Zealand and New Zealand based artists culled from the Studio One television series on the N.Z.B.C. It was released in 1972. It was followed up by 20 Studio One Hits Volume 2 the following year. The albums are representative of the televised Studio One talent quests. Some of the songs that appeared on the album went on to become hits in Australasia. The records which were released on the Music for Leisure label are a historical account of the Studio One talent quests.

Donald George Evan Richardson was a musical arranger, producer, bandleader and promoter in New Zealand. As a songwriter, his songs became hits for some well, known New Zealand artists, including Saint Paul for Shane.

"Join Together" was a hit for singer Steve Allen in 1974. The song was chosen for the Commonwealth Games that year. It was released on the Viking record label.

The Nearest Thing To Heaven was a sizable hit for Bunny Walters in 1974. It reached #10 in the New Zealand charts. It was also his last hit.

References