Norman Newell
Norman Dennis Newell ( born January 25, 1919 in Plaistow, London, † December 1, 2004 in Angmering -on-Sea, East Sussex ) was one of the most important music producers of the British music industry and was largely responsible for the career on the light pop music sector by Shirley Bassey. He was also a lyricist of popular songs that were excellent.
Childhood
Newell had grown up with a sister in poor parental relationships and dreamed of one day becoming an actor. To earn his living, he worked at the London Transport at Upton Park Bus Depot. During the Second World War, he became friends with comedian Bill Waddington, who gave him a job after the war by Musikverlag Cinephonic Music Company. During that time, Newell wrote with pianist Lesley Baguley the song Nice to Know You Care (1949 ), published in January 1950 by Tommy Dorsey, gecovert later by the Five Dallas Boys ( March 1961 ).
Music producer
Early in 1949 he was hired by EMI in its sub-label Columbia Records as a music producer. He was the first of the three later major music producers who helped EMI to fame. His first job in June 1949 for Petula Clark the production of Put Your Shoes on, Lucy, at the same time the first plate for just 17 - year-old singer. Overall, the song was covered in 1949 six times. He composed, together with William Harrison Our Love Story, the original of which will be published in March 1949 by Bill Johnson. Together with Mischa Spoliansky he wrote A Song of Capri, which was released by The Queen's Hall Light Orchestra conducted by Sidney Torch in August 1949. His first hit was the production of Les Trois Cloches for the French men's choir Les Compagnons de la Chanson in December 1951.
In early 1950, he discovered the ballad singer Steve Conway, whose first song My Thanks to You was written by Newell and released in April 1950. The girl trio Beverley Sisters received a recording contract with Columbia in 1951 and was considered the highest-paid group in England at that time. Newell, however, it failed to produce more hits for the girls. 1954 emigrated from the trio to the British Decca. When the sales contract between the EMI Columbia label and the independent U.S. label Columbia was completed in January 1953, Newell went to the U.S. Columbia catalog for Phillips label. Here he first worked with orchestra conductor Geoff Love - a connection that was over 20 years long. In 1954, Newell returned back after a 6- month stay in the USA to EMI Columbia. Here he discovered the piano virtuoso Russ Conway, with whom he produced his first hit Roll the Carpet Up in November 1957. He was the basic pattern for a variety pop - oriented piano instrumentals, often released as a single under the title numbered piano Pops ( the first time in October 1957 as a piano Pops No. 1). The highlight of this series was the Single Side Saddle, the producer Newell first time gave the first rank of the British singles chart after publication on 21 February 1959. Newell had nine years needed to produce his first number one.
On 4 October 1957, the title was Zip Zip for British Jazz Band & The John Barry Seven. John Barry was employed by Newell often as arranger of music productions and in the sixties the major film music composer for the James Bond films. Overall Newell produced for John Barry 20 records until 1961. With the only 13 -year-old Laurie London Newell produced on September 29, 1957 for the Parlophone label the Christian-oriented pop song He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. On that day, still came with the orchestra as accompaniment by Geoff Love The Cradle Rock on December 11, 1957 followed Handed Down, I Gotta Robe was recorded on 15 December 1957 for the EP Laurie London. The label decided to be a single release for Christian-oriented pop song, which was based on a gospel song. Following the release on November 8, 1957, he arrived in the UK only up to 12th place, but in the U.S. it peaked at # 2 on the charts and sold a million copies. Also in Germany reached the Gospel piece to No. 5 from Laurie London could be a star, "but the thing went wrong ," remarked Newell.
On January 17, 1958 Newell's production Heartsick Feeling was released by Adam Faith. It was Newell's first rock & roll production, a musical style, of which he admitted, none of it to understand. Adam Faith was for the EMI sub-label HMV for major pop star, while producer Norrie Paramor colleague at the same time enjoyed great success with Cliff Richard as a rock & roll artist. As on September 25, 1959 Faith a recording session for What Do You Want? was scheduled, Newell did not want to pass this, because he disapproved of the piece. Instead, his assistant John Burgess took this job right. The next great rock hits from Adam Faith came under the Studio directed by John Burgess. EMI saw the Rock & Roll as an important factor in sales, but ballads and light pop music continued to form the core business. This strategy did not change until 1963, when the Beatles broke all sales records of the label and the beat music rose to the core business. As on February 16, 1957 in England the pop TV series Six - Five Special started off, Newell had the idea to produce a purpose appropriate album. It was released in December 1957 with Jim Dale. This idea was launched on September 13, 1958 the music show Oh Boy! repeated.
1959 began a long association with the diva Shirley Bassey, who had just changed from Phillips to Columbia. Bassey Phillips had a top hit exit (As I Love You ), and so the pressure was on to maintain this success basis. Your future career was mainly determined by Newell. He brought the powerful-voiced singer with John Barry as an arranger and the orchestra Geoff Love together for the first time at If You Love Me / Count on Me, which came am September 2, 1959 on the market and the charts not reached. He produced their LP Fabulous Shirley Bassey (1959 ) with the orchestra by Geoff Love, which was, however, released only in June 1961, penetrated up to rank 12 of the British LP charts. Disappointing was then the cutting off of With These Hands, which was created on February 8, 1960 and only was able to reach rank 31. For various materials Newell finally selected for Shirley Bassey on the recorded on June 22, 1960 As Long As He Needs Me, and was sure that this would finally be a number -one hit. His assessment came very close to reality, as the ballad written by Lionel Bart came down to rank 2 of the hit parade. Up to Rank 6 came on the resultant April 13, 1961 You'll Never Know, before the recorded on June 25, 1961 Reach for the Stars / Climb Ev'ry Mountain could reach the top position on the charts for the first time. For Shirley Bassey EP Goldfinger ( came in December 1962 on the market ) contributed Newell only What Now My Love (recorded on July 4, 1962) in which eponymous song from the eponymous James Bond film was produced by colleague George Martin. Over the years, developed under the supervision of Newell many classics with Shirley Bassey, including Ave Maria (10 January 1962), You'll Never Walk Alone (24 January 1962) or What Kind of Fool am I (30 May 1962). In July 1963 Shirley Bassey EMI management asked to share their producers Newell because of disputes after 4 years of service and was Walter J. " Wally " Ridley assigned; but in November 1964 she returned to Newell.
Judy Garland took her under Newell's supervision between the 2nd and 9th 1960 double LP with 20 tracks under the title Judy in London. With Danny Williams Newell recorded the most successful version of Henry Mancini's Moon River composition, which was released in November 1961 and developed into another top hit. From 1962, the cooperation with the ballad singer Ken Dodd, who, however, three years handed in only moderate hits began. Newell was inspired by John Barry the British music sheet New Musical Express According influence, rock singer and songwriter Marty Wilde ( father of Kim Wilde) with EMI to take under contract (24 August 1962), as well as Tommy Steele (14 June 1963).
Full isolated by beat music did not remain Newell. George Martin mentioned that Newell was one of the producers, who had refused after a trial recording the Beatles. In January 1964, Newell discovered in London Pickwick Club, the pop duo Peter & Gordon, who sang in Close harmony style of the Everly Brothers. On 21 January 1964, Newell took care of the production of composed by Lennon / McCartney song A World Without Love by Peter & Gordon and delivered herewith equal a top hit from. Which was published on February 28, 1964 Song evolved into the million-seller, because in the UK 550,000 copies and more than 400,000 were sold in the United States. On March 4, 1965 another hit with True Love Ways, written by Buddy Holly, which is listed on court 2 and sold more than a million records was born. Peter & Gordon were the only interpreters of the beat wave with electric guitars and loud sound for Newell.
Consistently refused Newell, despite the successes of George Martin production of Beat groups, especially since he had to confess to understand hereof too little. That's all he knew of ballads and could thus made further successes. With patience, he was able to produce for Ken Dodd with the ballad Tears a big hit. The carried forward with intensity ballad reached after the publication in September 1965 Rank 1 for 6 weeks in the British charts, became - in spite of the successes of the Beat Music - the best-selling games of the year and surpassed the record sales of Beatles hits Help!. In November 1965, the one million mark was exceeded until August 1966 1.6 million copies had been implemented. With Careless Hands for Des O'Connor Newell was the ballad genre faithful ( November 1967, # 6)
Other compositions
From his early days lyrics ( February 1952 ), Dreams of Yesterday ( October 1952 ), Dreamtime ( Melba Waltz ) and Is This the Beginning of came to I Want to Make my Mother Proud of Me ( November 1951 ), Look Down in Mercy Love? (1952 ), Give All Your Love to Me (May 1953) or The Night Belongs to Me (July 1954). Newell also wrote the lyrics for Portrait of My Love for Matt Monro under the pseudonym David West (2 November 1960), the producer brought in another top position. Under the same pseudonym Newell wrote the English text of the German Million Sellers sailor ( your home is the sea) in Lolita. The English version reached with Petula Clark in the UK the first rank of the charts and sold after the publication in January 1961 over 250,000 copies. The title was the first number -one hit for the singer. Also under the pseudonym David West Newell wrote the words to one composed by Udo Jürgens specifically for Shirley Bassey melody, the number -one hit Reach for the Stars (July 1961). From Newell who also wrote the text for the British Euro Visions contribution Say Wonderful Things for Ronnie Carroll ( March 1963, # 6 ), which was fourth with 28 points. In April 1963, he wrote the English text to Ti nel cuore guarderò ( from the movie Mondo Cane, premiere in Italy on 30 March 1962 Music by Nino Oliviero and Riz Ortalani ). More than it has appeared in at least 207 versions, most famously by Steve Lawrence, Vic Dana and Frank Sinatra (recorded on June 12, 1964). He also wrote for Bassey Goodbye Lover, Hello Friend (LP The Fabulous Shirley Bassey; January 1965 ), and Never, Never, Never ( March 1973, # 8).
The seventies
In January 1971 Newell signed with the Philips label a production contract. 1975 Newell produced the LP Big Bond Movie Themes and 12 of the most famous James Bond soundtracks with the orchestra by Geoff Love, of which John Barry had participated in 8 tracks as a composer. In July and August 1984, he produced for Shirley Bassey at London's Olympic Studios, the LP I Am What I Am with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carl Davies.
Statistics and awards
During his career, he used 35 different names (often John Moran ). He has produced at least 858 songs, most of them at Abbey Road Studios. George Martin characterized his colleagues " as a writer and producer. Its strength, however, was to treat large entertainer in show business right. " Martin played on the recordings of musicals, on the Newell focused again and again. He produced the UK version of the musical Kiss Me, Kate on 3 and 6 August 1987 at Abbey Road Studios. Newell went 1990 into retirement.
He was awarded a Grammy and Emmy each, 3 Ivor Novello Awards, six British Music Industry Awards and a Golden Globe for Forget Domani ( from the movie The Yellow Rolls- Royce, Premiere on December 31, 1964). In 1999 his composition A Portrait of My Love had reached 2 million airplay, his composition More ranks 12 of the BMI Top 100 Songs of the Century. He was awarded the OBE in February 2003 Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the British music industry, the year after he died.