Dean Friedman

Last updated

Dean Friedman
DeanFriedman2007.jpg
Dean Friedman in concert; April 18, 2007 in New York
Background information
Born (1955-05-23) May 23, 1955 (age 68)
Paramus, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres Soft rock, pop, folk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, producer, author, virtual reality designer, video game designer
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano, electronic keyboard, harmonica, vocals
Years active1977–present
Website www.deanfriedman.com

Dean Friedman (born May 23, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter who plays piano, keyboard, guitar, and harmonica.

Contents

Although considered a one-hit wonder in the US, he has had multiple singles chart in other territories and continues to write, record, and tour. [1] [2]

Music

Born and raised in Paramus, New Jersey, United States, Friedman purchased his first guitar from Manny's Music with a bag of quarters he had saved, at age nine in 1964, and started writing songs. When he was a teenager, he played weddings and bar mitzvahs as part of Marsha and the Self-Portraits, [3] sent out demos and majored in music at City College of New York where one of his teachers was guitarist David Bromberg. [4] By the time he was 20, in 1975, he had a manager and a recording contract with Cashman and West's Lifesong label. [5]

In the United States he is described as a one-hit wonder, following his 1977 hit song "Ariel", which reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart [6] and stayed in the chart for five months. American Top 40 ranked it as the 87th biggest hit of 1977. [7] On the Cash Box Top 100, it reached number 17. [8] In Canada, the song reached number 19. [9]

"Ariel" has been described as a "quirkily irresistible and uncategorizable pop song about a free spirited, music loving, vegetarian Jewish girl," from Paramus, New Jersey, where he grew up. [10] It is the only Billboard Top 40 song to contain the word Paramus. It describes the girl Ariel, "standing by the [since dismantled] waterfall at Paramus Park," one of the many shopping malls in Paramus. The quarters she was collecting for "friends of BAI" refers to the New York radio station WBAI, and their listener association; [11] the song also makes reference to "channel 2", the local CBS flagship station WCBS-TV.

Although "Ariel" did not make the UK Singles Chart, "Lucky Stars", a duet with Denise Marsa taken from his second album Well Well Said the Rocking Chair, made No. 3 in the UK in late 1978, and both "Woman of Mine" and "Lydia" were lesser chart hits there. [12]

Friedman also provided vocals for a series of television commercials in the 1970s in the New York City metro area. However, while he did re-record and perform one version for an employee event, Friedman is falsely credited with creating and singing on the jingle for electronics chain Crazy Eddie's "When you think you're ready, come down to Crazy Eddie", which was actually created, performed, produced and recorded in its various versions (doo-wop, disco and other versions) by Larry Weiss (Crazy Eddie's VP Advertising) along with Jeff Gottschalk and John Russo.

Friedman's single "McDonald's Girl" was officially banned by the BBC because the chorus mentioned the name of the fast food restaurant. [13] In 2011, thirty years after the song was banned by the BBC, the McDonald's Corporation licensed "McDonald's Girl" for a national TV/Radio campaign, which aired in the US, featuring a vocal performance of the song by The Blenders.

During 2005, as part of a tie-in to one of his tour sponsors, Friedman's tour of the United Kingdom was almost canceled after it was revealed he intended to distribute cannabis seeds to purchasers of his new album. Although it is not illegal to own or distribute cannabis seeds in this manner "unless they get wet", the suggestion caused friction with a number of venues on the tour, so the intended distribution was not carried out.[ citation needed ]

Influence

The songs of Dean Friedman have been covered by several contemporary bands, including The Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five, Ariel Pink, The Tone Rangers, and The Blenders. The lead singer of Barenaked Ladies, Steve Page, sang background vocals on Friedman's album Songs For Grownups (1998). [13]

TV and films

Friedman has written, performed, and produced the theme music to several TV series including Boon (for which he did all of the music apart from the theme song which was performed by Jim Diamond), starring Michael Elphick. Other TV credits include Nick Arcade (Nickelodeon) and Eerie, Indiana (NBC). He also composed, performed, and produced the soundtrack to the 1990 cult horror film, I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle , in which he performs the track "She Runs on Blood, Not Gasoline". [13]

Other (non-musical) work

In 1985, Friedman produced a seminal work on the newly emerging synthesizer industry called Complete Guide to Synthesizers, Sequencers, and Drum Machines. Whilst dated, this tome published by New York Amsco is still of use in evaluating devices that crop up on the second-hand market. Friedman also set up the New York School of Synthesis and provided a series of videos entitled Intro to Synthesis. Friedman presents the rudiments of this topic in an audio-visual format, whilst incorporating a unique sense of humor.

In 1986, Friedman saw a demo of a powerful virtual reality program that put the user right inside a video game using a video camera (similar to the technology used by the EyeToy). Friedman was impressed by the technology and wrote an article for Electronic Musician magazine. In 1989, he designed a game called Eat-A-Bug which was licensed to Nickelodeon, used on the series Total Panic and served as a prototype for the series Nick Arcade, for which Friedman produced a dozen games. He is now the President and Creative Director of InVideo games. [13]

Revival

Friedman's album The Treehouse Journals was financed entirely by his fans via his website. Friedman invited people to finance the cost of the as-yet unrecorded album by making an advance purchase and by making limited edition signed copies available. This tactic has been adopted by other bands, including Marillion. He continued to tour, playing small venues. [2]

He copied this tactic again in 2005 with the album Squirrels in the Attic and once more, in 2017, with 12 Songs.

Family

His sister, Racelle Rosett Schaefer, is a noted television writer who was executive producer of the show Blossom , starring Mayim Bialik.

He has lived in New York since 2007 with his wife, Alison, and two children: Hannah Friedman (born 1986), and Sam Friedman (born 1990), [10] [13] both of whom have appeared as a backing singer or musician on his later works.

Dean Friedman and Half Man Half Biscuit

The British band Half Man Half Biscuit recorded (in 1987, on the album Back Again in the DHSS ) a song entitled "The Bastard Son of Dean Friedman", a claim Friedman considered improbable, as he was only seven years old when lyricist Nigel Blackwell was conceived. [14] At the Edinburgh Festival in 2003, The Scotsman newspaper arranged a get together between Friedman and the band, in which he acknowledged that Blackwell had at least surmised right the underlying story in the song "Lucky Stars": [15] "That guy Nigel was hip to the fact [song character] Lisa and I didn't just do lunch. You can't interpret a song that way unless you understand what it's about." It also transpired that Blackwell had a copy of a rare vinyl version of Well Well Said the Rocking Chair. [16]

In 2009, Friedman wrote a "reply" called "A Baker's Tale", in which he firmly placed Blackwell's parentage as being that of the local baker, posting it on Half Man Half Biscuit's MySpace site. The band mentioned it on their own website [17] as "Dean Friedman's Revenge/Dean Friedman strikes back". On September 15, 2010, Dean Friedman appeared at a Half Man Half Biscuit gig at the Robin 2 venue in Bilston, West Midlands (UK) and performed "A Baker's Tale". Half Man Half Biscuit's riposte was "The Bastard Son of Dean Friedman". [18] [19] Friedman's song is included on his 2010 album Submarine Races. [20]

Discography

Albums

Chart singles

YearTitle US Billboard US Cash Box WLS Chicago AUS [21] CAN UK NL New Zealand
1977"Ariel"26174911954 [upper-alpha 1] —19
"Woman of Mine"—————52——
1978"Lucky Stars"———6—3—8
"Lydia"—————3129—
1982"McDonalds Girl"———99————

DVDs

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bee Gees</span> Music group (1958–2012)

The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in the disco music era in the mid-to-late 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynsey de Paul</span> English singer-songwriter

Lynsey de Paul was an English singer-songwriter and producer. After initially writing hits for others, she had her own chart hits in the UK and Europe in the 1970s, starting with UK top 10 single "Sugar Me", and became the first British female artist to achieve a number one with a self-written song. She represented the UK in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest, coming second and scoring another chart-topping hit in Switzerland, and had a successful career as a two-time Ivor Novello Award-winning composer, record producer, actress and television celebrity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half Man Half Biscuit</span> English rock band

Half Man Half Biscuit are an English rock band, formed in 1984 in Birkenhead, Merseyside. Known for their satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs, the band comprises lead singer and guitarist Nigel Blackwell, bassist and singer Neil Crossley, drummer Carl Henry, and guitarist Karl Benson.

An answer song, response song or answer record is a song made in answer to a previous song, normally by another artist. The concept became widespread in blues and R&B recorded music in the 1930s to the 1950s. Answer songs were also popular in country music in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, sometimes as female responses to an original hit by a male artist or male responses to a hit by a female artist.

The Waitresses were an American new wave band from Akron, Ohio, best known for their singles "I Know What Boys Like" and "Christmas Wrapping." They released two albums, Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful? and Bruiseology, and one EP, I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts.

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

Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco that was formed in 1993. Since 2024, the band consists of Pat Monahan, Taylor Locke, Hector Maldonado, Jerry Becker, and Matt Musty (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Dando</span> American rock musician

Evan Griffith Dando is an American musician and the frontman of the rock band the Lemonheads. He has also embarked on a solo career and collaborated on songs with various artists. In December 2015, Dando was inducted into the Boston Music Awards Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Week (song)</span> 1998 single by Barenaked Ladies

"One Week" is a song by Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies released as the first single from their 1998 album, Stunt. It was written by Ed Robertson, who is featured on the lead vocal of the rapped verses. Steven Page sings lead on the song's chorus, while the two co-lead the prechoruses in harmony. The song is notable for its significant number of pop culture references and remains the band's best-known song in the United States, where it topped the Billboard Hot 100. Coincidentally, when the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it remained in the top spot for one week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazell Dean</span> English pop singer

Hazell Dean is an English dance-pop singer, who achieved her biggest success in the 1980s as a leading hi-NRG artist. She is best known for the top-ten hits in the United Kingdom "Searchin' ", "Whatever I Do " and "Who's Leaving Who". She has also worked as a songwriter and producer.

Terry Cashman is an American record producer and singer-songwriter, best known for his 1981 hit, "Talkin' Baseball". While the song is well recognized today and allowed Cashman the chance to meet the featured players, it was all but ignored by typical Top 40 radio during its chart life, making only the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elton John</span> British singer, composer and pianist (born 1947)

Sir Elton Hercules John is a British singer, pianist and composer. Acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his work during the 1970s and for his lasting impact on the music industry, his music and showmanship have had a significant impact on popular music. His songwriting partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin is one of the most successful in history.

"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" is a traditional African-American spiritual, first published in 1927. It became an international pop hit in 1957–58 in a recording by English singer Laurie London, which is one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time. The song has also been recorded by many other singers and choirs, including Mahalia Jackson, Marian Anderson, Judy Garland and Nina Simone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fink (singer)</span> English musician (born 1972)

Fin Greenall, known professionally as Fink, is an English singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and disc jockey born in Cornwall and currently based in Berlin and London. From 1997 to 2003, he focused on electronic music and DJ'd internationally, releasing in 2000 his debut album Fresh Produce on Ninja Tune. Since the 2006 release of his album Biscuits for Breakfast, the name Fink has also referred to the recording and touring trio fronted by Greenall himself, completed by Guy Whittaker (bass) and Tim Thornton (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin DeGraw</span> American singer

Gavin Shane DeGraw is an American singer-songwriter. DeGraw rose to fame with his song "I Don't Want to Be" from his debut album Chariot (2003); the song became the main theme song for The WB/CW drama series One Tree Hill. Other notable singles from his debut album were the title track and "Follow Through".

<i>Achtung Bono</i> 2005 studio album by Half Man Half Biscuit

Achtung Bono is the tenth album by UK indie rock band Half Man Half Biscuit, released in 2005.

<i>Back in the DHSS</i> 1985 studio album by Half Man Half Biscuit

Back in the DHSS is the first album released by the UK rock band Half Man Half Biscuit (HMHB), in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ariel (song)</span> 1977 single by Dean Friedman

"Ariel" is a hit single written and performed by Dean Friedman, released in April 1977. It was the first of two hits from Friedman's eponymous debut LP. "Ariel," however, was his only hit in North America. It reached number 26 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 on the Cashbox Top 100, and number 19 in Canada. The song spent 22 weeks on the Billboard chart and 24 weeks on Cashbox.

<i>Back Again in the DHSS</i> 1987 studio album by Half Man Half Biscuit

Back Again in the DHSS is the second album by UK rock band Half Man Half Biscuit, released in 1987.

<i>Urge for Offal</i> 2014 studio album by Half Man Half Biscuit

Urge for Offal is the thirteenth album by UK Wirral-based rock band Half Man Half Biscuit, released 20 October 2014 on Probe Plus Records. The album reached #68 on the UK album chart.

"Lucky Stars" is a song by American singer-songwriter Dean Friedman, released in 1978 by Lifesong Records as a single from his album "Well, Well," Said the Rocking Chair. Despite not being credited on the single, the song is a duet with Denise Marsa. The song is about a jealous wife whose husband has bumped into a former girlfriend called Lisa. It was a hit in the UK, where it peaked at number 3 on the Singles Chart.

References

  1. ↑ Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
  1. ↑ "Why Dean is no one hit wonder". Manchester Evening News. July 12, 2007. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  2. 1 2 "Dean Friedman". New York Times. July 9, 2004.
  3. ↑ "Dean Friedman: Information from". Answers.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Dean Friedman". MSN Music. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Biography by Bruce Eder". Allmusic.com. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  6. ↑ Bruce Eder. "Dean Friedman | Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Chart" (PDF). Charismusicgroup.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 8/06/77". cashboxmagazine.com. August 6, 1977. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved 2015-05-22.
  9. ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "The View From/Peekskill; Rock-and-Roll Dreams Die Hard on Internet". New York Times. June 20, 1999.
  11. ↑ "Newsletter – August, 1995". Deanfriedman.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bio". Deanfriedman.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Bio". Deanfriedman.com. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Lucky Stars" lyrics, Genius.com. Retrieved 15 January 2018
  16. ↑ "Edinburgh Festivals – Surreal, or what?". Cobweb.businesscollaborator.com. August 12, 2003. Archived from the original on March 8, 2004. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Half Man Half Biscuit". Hmhb.co.uk. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  18. ↑ Video of the performance on YouTube
  19. ↑ Wright, Jade (September 29, 2011). "Dean Friedman tells Jade Wright why he's planning revenge on Half Man Half Biscuit". Liverpool Echo . Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  20. ↑ Dean Friedman –Submarine Races at AllMusic . Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  21. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 119. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.