David Essex

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David Essex

David Essex OBE (* 23 July 1947 in London as David Albert Cook ) is a British rock singer , musical performer and actor . In the mid-1970s he was a crush on teenagers in Great Britain. He became known with hits like Rock On , Gonna Make You a Star and Hold Me Close as well as through musical and film successes in Great Britain.

Life

Beginnings and breakthrough

David Cook grew up as a working class child in Canning Town . He got his musical background from his mother, who came from the Irish traveling people and had learned to play the piano. In his youth he played soccer on the West Ham United youth team . In the school holidays he worked at fun fairs. He later found work in a factory and also played drums in a band called Everons . Eventually he split from the band and tried his hand at a solo singing career under the stage name David Essex. He also got a recording deal with Decca Records . Between 1963 and 1970 he published ten singles - from December 1964 under the name David Essex, as there was already another well-known David Cook. Can't Nobody Love You made it into the top 20 of Radio London at the turn of the year 1965/1966, Thigh High made it to number 26 in the capital city charts in September 1966. But he did not make the big breakthrough.

He then tried himself as an actor and got roles in smaller productions. In order to provide for the livelihood of his newly founded family, he also had to work in various part-time jobs. Only the collaboration with playwright Derek Bowman, who became his manager, brought him forward. He arranged for him singing and acting lessons and especially dance lessons and so he managed to get the role of Jesus of Nazareth in the West End production of the musical Godspell in 1971 . His debut was very successful and he was recognized as the most promising newcomer to the stage.

After further stage successes, he got the lead role in the rock 'n' roll film Don't trust anyone over 18 (original title: That'll Be the Day ). Ringo Starr , Keith Moon and Billy Fury also starred in other roles. The film became a box office hit in the UK and Essex was nominated for a BAFTA Newcomer Award . In addition, the film soundtrack was number 1 on the charts for 7 weeks . It also included Rock On , a song Essex wrote and sung for the film. With the single he came to number 3 on the UK charts and although the film received less attention abroad, Rock On was a top 5 hit in the US charts and a US million seller ( gold record ). He even got a Grammy nomination for best new artist for his success. The song also made it into the top 50 in Germany . An album of the same name and the song Lamplight as a second single came out that same year and both entered the charts in both England and the USA.

Pop star in the 1970s

In the following year there was a film sequel under the title Stardust (with Adam Faith and Dave Edmunds, among others ) and another album. It was called David Essex and stayed at number 2 on the UK charts for 4 weeks. The decoupled Gonna Make You a Star became his first number one hit in the UK and the second top 50 hit in Germany. In the USA, however, they had already lost interest and then lost it in Germany, so that Essex was only successful in its home country from then on. That was already the case for Stardust , a second top 10 single from the album. In England, however, he became a swarm of teenagers, thanks to his earring, distinctive blue eyes and long, curly brown hair.

Part of the success was producer Jeff Wayne , who created a special sound with a mixture of live and multi-track recordings. That was also the case for the third album All the Fun at the Fair , which reached number 3 in the UK and contained Essex's second number one hit, Hold Me Close . But already the album Out on the Street , the fourth studio album in four years, could not continue the success and only reached number 31, although it was finally awarded gold as his third album. Even with the album Gold and Ivory , which he produced himself this time, he could not keep up with the musical development and remained outside the top 20 with album and singles placements.

Nevertheless, in 1978 he worked on Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds , a musical adaptation of HG Wells ' novel War of the Worlds , again with the previous producer and was thus involved in one of the most successful albums of its kind. It stayed in the charts for 240 weeks, i.e. around four and a half years. It was purely a concept album with no musical performance, but Essex returned to the musical stage afterwards. In Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber , he starred and sang the piece Oh What a Circus . The single release brought him another top hit and his third gold single in Great Britain. The next album Imperial Wizard , on which it was also included, gave a boost, even if it again missed the top 10. In 1980 he returned to the screen in the racing driver film Silver Dream Racer and he had another top 5 hit with the self-written soundtrack song Silver Dream Machine . On the song A Winter's Tale , he worked with Mike Batt in 1982 and barely missed his third number one placement. He was involved as an author in the musical Mutiny based on the novel Mutiny on the Bounty and played the leading role of Fletcher Christian . In it he sang the title Tahiti and had another single hit. It was his 10th and last top 10 success. The album The Whisper , produced by Mike Batt, was his last studio album in the charts for a long time in 1983, whereas until the late 1980s he was able to place continuously with singles in the top 100.

Late career

He maintained his popularity in the late 80s and early 90s mainly with musical performances. He starred in Boogie Nights 2 , the Webber musical Aspects of Love and in the 1993 staging of She Stoops to Conquer by Sir Peter Hall before retiring from the stage. Musically he had another great success in the same year with the album Cover Shot with recordings of successful hits from the 1970s. It was his third top 3 album and achieved gold status. By the end of the 1990s, he was also successful with other studio albums and two greatest hits albums in the charts. In the mid-1990s he had a last Top 40 hit with the buddy Holly song True Love Ways in a duet with Catherine Zeta-Jones . In addition, he mainly took care of various charity projects. He was involved in organizations such as Voluntary Service Overseas and the World Music Fund and was himself a lot in Africa, including Zimbabwe and Uganda. But he also supported the English Gypsy Council, for example . For his charity work, he was also named Officer of the British Empire in 1999 .

In 2002 David Essex published his first autobiography, A Charmed Life . Four years later his most successful greatest hits album was released. It reached number 7 and earned him his 9th gold record in the United Kingdom, and 9 silver records. There was also a gold in the USA for Rock On . In 2008, at the age of 61, he returned to the musical stage when he took on the role of Reverend Moore in the musical version of Footloose . At the same time he worked with Jon Conway on his own musical All the Fun of the Fair , in which he integrated his greatest hits. In the same year he brought it on stage and went on tour with it for almost a year. In 2013 he hit the charts again with the album Reflections , including new recordings of Rock On and Gonna Make You a Star .

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE UK UK US US
1973 Rock on - UK7th
silver
silver

(22 weeks)UK 		US32 (21 weeks)
US
Producer: Jeff Wayne
First published: November 2, 1973
1974 David Essex - UK2
gold
gold

(24 weeks)UK 		-
Producer: Jeff Wayne
First published: September 20, 1974
1975 All the fun of the fair - UK3
gold
gold

(20 weeks)UK 		-
Producer: Jeff Wayne
First published: September 12, 1975
1976 On tour - UK51
silver
silver

(1 week)UK 		-
Double Live Album
Producer: Jeff Wayne
First published: May 7, 1976
Out on the street - UK31
gold
gold

(9 weeks)UK 		-
Producer: Jeff Wayne
First published: October 8, 1976
1977 Gold and Ivory - UK29
silver
silver

(4 weeks)UK 		-
Producer: David Essex
First published: September 16, 1977
1979 Imperial Wizard - UK12 (9 weeks)
UK 		-
Producers: David Essex, Christopher Neil, Mike Batt
First published: March 1979
1980 Hot love - UK75 (1 week)
UK 		-
Producer: David Essex
First published: June 1980
1982 Stage struck - UK31 (15 weeks)
UK 		-
First published: June 1982
1983 Mutiny! - UK39 (4 weeks)
UK 		-
Musical album: studio recording with the cast (David Essex, Frank Finlay , Victor Spinetti , Nicky Henson, Charles Mindenhall, Doreen Chanter and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra )
Producer: David Essex
First published: October 1983
The Whisper - UK67 (6 weeks)
UK 		-
Producers: David Essex, Mike Batt
First published: December 1983
1993 Cover shot - UK3
gold
gold

(8 weeks)UK 		-
Album with cover versions
First published: March 29, 1993
1994 Back to back - UK33 (5 weeks)
UK 		-
Producer: Jeff Wayne
First published: October 1994
1995 Missing You - UK26th
silver
silver

(10 weeks)UK 		-
First published: November 27, 1995
1997 A Night at the Movies - UK14 (5 weeks)
UK 		-
First published: May 1997
1998 Here We Are All Together - UK88 (1 week)
UK 		-
First published: October 1998
2013 Reflections - UK89 (1 week)
UK 		-
First published: October 2013

More albums

Compilations

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE UK UK US US
1978 The David Essex album - UK29
silver
silver

(6 weeks)UK 		-
First published: October 13, 1978
1982 The Very Best of David Essex - UK37 (11 weeks)
UK 		-
First published: November 1982
1986 Center Stage - UK82 (4 weeks)
UK 		-
First published: November 1986
1991 His greatest hits - UK13
gold
gold

(12 weeks)UK 		-
First published: October 7, 1991
1998 Greatest Hits (1998) - UK31 (4 weeks)
UK 		-
First published: June 1998
2006 Greatest Hits (2006) - UK7th
gold
gold

(6 weeks)UK 		-
First published: March 6, 2006
2008 All the Fun of the Fair - Greatest Hits - UK23 (2 weeks)
UK 		-
Compilation for the musical of the same name
First published: September 2008

More compilations

  • 1979: Hold Me Close
  • 1980: The David Essex Collection
  • 1982: The Very Best of David Essex
  • 1990: The Collection
  • 1992: Best Of
  • 1996: The Best of David Essex (UK:silversilver)
  • 1998: The Very Best of David Essex (2 CDs)

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE UK UK US US
1973 Rock On
Rock On 		DE44 (2 weeks)
DE 		UK3
silver
silver

(11 weeks)UK 		US5
gold
gold

(25 weeks)US
Author: David Essex
First published: Aug 6, 1973
Lamplight
Rock On 		- UK7 (15 weeks)
UK 		US71 (5 weeks)
US
Author: David Essex
First published: October 29, 1973
1974 America
David Essex 		- UK32 (5 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: May 29, 1974
Gonna Make You a Star
David Essex 		DE43 (6 weeks)
DE 		UK1
gold
gold

(17 weeks)UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: September 30, 1974
Stardust
David Essex 		- UK7 (10 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: December 2nd, 1974
1975 Rollin 'Stone
All the Fun of the Fair 		- UK5 (7 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: June 23, 1975
Hold Me Close
All the Fun of the Fair 		- UK1
gold
gold

(10 weeks)UK 		-
Authors: David Essex, Jeff Wayne
First published September 1, 1975
If I Could
All the Fun of the Fair 		- UK13 (8 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: Nov 24, 1975
1976 City Lights
Out on the Street 		- UK24 (4 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: March 8, 1976
Coming Home
Out on the Street 		- UK24 (6 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: Oct 4th 1976
1977 Cool Out Tonight
Gold and Ivory 		- UK23 (6 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: September 5, 1977
1978 Stay with Me Baby
 - UK45 (5 weeks)
UK 		-
among others a hit for the Walker Brothers (1967)
Authors: Jerry Ragovoy , George David Weiss
First published: February 27, 1978
Oh What a Circus
Imperial Wizard 		- UK3
gold
gold

(11 weeks)UK 		-
from Evita ; Authors: Andrew Lloyd Webber , Tim Rice
First published August 7, 1978
Brave New World
The David Essex Album 		- UK55 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
from Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds ; Authors: Gary Anthony Osborne, Jeff Wayne
First published: October 9, 1978
1979 Imperial Wizard
Imperial Wizard 		- UK32 (8 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: February 21, 1979
1980 Silver Dream Machine
Silver Dream Racer 		- UK4th
silver
silver

(11 weeks)UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: March 24, 1980
Hot Love
Hot Love 		- UK57 (4 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: June 2nd, 1980
1982 Me and My Girl (Night-Clubbing)
Stage-Struck 		- UK13 (10 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: June 14, 1982
A Winter's Tale
The Whisper 		- UK2
silver
silver

(10 weeks)UK 		-
Authors: Mike Batt , Tim Rice
First published: November 29, 1982
1983 The smile
 - UK52 (6 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: Mike Batt
First published: May 9, 1983
Tahiti
Mutiny 		- UK8 (12 weeks)
UK 		-
from the musical Mutiny ; Authors: Richard Crane, David Essex
First published August 15, 1983
You're in My Heart
The Whisper 		- UK59 (7 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: Nov 14, 1983
1984 Fishing for the Moon
The Whisper 		- UK76 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: Mike Batt
First published: March 19, 1984
Welcome
This One's for You 		- UK80 (2 weeks)
UK 		-
Authors: Richard Crane, David Essex
First published October 8, 1984
1985 Falling Angels Riding
This One's for You 		- UK29 (9 weeks)
UK 		-
from the musical Mutiny ; Author: David Essex
First published: Feb 4th 1985
Friends
This One's for You 		- UK91 (2 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: June 3rd, 1985
1987 Myfanwy
 - UK41 (9 weeks)
UK 		-
from an album with poems set to
music by the late lyricist Betjeman Music: Mike Read, Text: John Betjeman
First published: March 30, 1987
1988 The River
Touching the Ghost 		- UK97 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: Oct 17, 1988
1989 Rock On (A Shep Pettibone Remix)
His Greatest Hits 		- UK93 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: February 13, 1989
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore
Touching the Ghost 		- UK90 (1 week)
UK 		-
1966 a number one hit for the Walker Brothers
Authors: Bob Crewe , Bob Gaudio
First published: August 7, 1989
1994 True Love Ways
Back to Back 		- UK38 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
Duet with Catherine Zeta Jones
Original: Buddy Holly (1960); Authors: Buddy Holly, Norman Petty
First published: November 14, 1994
1995 Bella Bella
 - UK87 (1 week)
UK 		-
Author: David Essex
First published: November 20, 1995

More singles

  • 1965: Can't Nobody Love You
  • 1966: This Little Girl of Mine
  • 1966: Thigh High
  • 1968: Love Story
  • 1968: Just for Tonight
  • 1969: The Day the Earth Stood Still
  • 1970: A Dog's Life
  • 1975: Good Ol 'Rock & Roll
  • 1975: I know
  • 1976: Ooh, Love
  • 1976: Out on the Street
  • 1978: Goodbye First Love
  • 1979: 20 Flights Up
  • 1979: World (Alpha Omega: A Musical Revelation)
  • 1980: On My Bike
  • 1980: Heart on My Sleeve
  • 1981: Be Bop a Lula
  • 1981: The Magician
  • 1981: Sunshine Girl
  • 1982: No Substitutes
  • 1982: Sweathearts
  • 1985: Freedom (with Frank Finlay and The Cast of Mutiny)
  • 1986: Back in England for Christmas
  • 1988: Look at the Sun Shining
  • 1989: Missing You (Magic)
  • 1990: A Shoulder to Cry On
  • 1991: Africa - You Shine (with Shikisa feat.Adbul Tee-Jay)
  • 1991: The Christmas EP
  • 1993: Everlasting Love
  • 1996: The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
  • 2001: Dance with Me

Filmography / theater

literature

swell

  1. ↑ a b David Essex (biography, around fall 2013) from musical theater news, accessed on May 25, 2019
  2. ↑ a b David Essex at Official London Theater, April 22, 2008
  3. ^ The Early Radio London Fab Forties, January 9, 1966 at RadioLondon.co.uk
  4. ↑ Field's Fab Forty, September 4, 1966 at RadioLondon.co.uk
  5. ↑ That'll Be the Day (album) in the UK charts (chart search)
  6. ↑ That'll Be the Day (Compilation) at Discogs
  7. ↑ David Essex: More, so much more, than a pretty face , profile / interview with Andrew Johnson, The Independent, April 25, 2010
  8. ^ New Year Honors List , Supplement to the London Gazette, p.10, December 31, 1998
  9. ↑ David Essex Pens & Stars in Greatest Hits Musical (Theater News), Theo Bosanquet, Whats On Stage, April 1, 2008
  10. ↑ a b c Chart sources: Singles Albums UK US
  11. ↑ a b US singles: Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2006. Billboard Books, New York 2007, ISBN 0-89820-172-1 / US albums: The Billboard Albums by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7
  12. ↑ a b c gold / platinum databases: UK US

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Essex, David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cook, David Albert (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British singer and actor
DATE OF BIRTH July 23, 1947
PLACE OF BIRTH London