Paul Hardcastle

Paul Hardcastle (born December 10, 1957 in London ) is a British keyboardist , songwriter and producer . The focus of his work is on jazz , but he achieved his greatest fame through electronic music .

biography

Hardcastle celebrated first chart successes between 1981 and 1983 with the group Direct Drive and his duo First Light . In 1984 he founded his own record company . He received critical acclaim for his first releases as a solo artist in late 1983, including the single Rainforest (1984). The EP Rainforest was only released in the USA in early 1985 .

His breakthrough came in mid-1985 with song 19 , written by him, Mike Oldfield , William Coutourie and Jonas McCord. The song became a number one hit in many countries . Oldfield was not mentioned by name until later, after he recognized similarities in the 19 melody to that of his Tubular Bells . He went to court, sued and got it.

At the end of 1985 Hardcastle's manager and friend Simon Fuller founded "19 Management Ltd." and "19 Entertainment Ltd.". A few more hits in Great Britain followed, including Don't Waste My Time (prod. 1985, UK 1986 No. 8), for which he was able to win Carol Kenyon as a singer . In 1986, the new beginning melody of the BBC music show Top of the Pops was created under the title The Wizard (title melody until the end of 1991).

After 1986, Hardcastle concentrated on composing soundtracks for television films. In German-speaking theme song was BBC telecast Holiday entitled The Voyager known.

In 1988 he devoted himself to the exclusive topic of nuclear war with the album No Winners . The album, which featured a photo of his crying daughter Maxine on the cover, an extensive personal statement from Paul Hardcastle on nuclear weapons on the inner sleeve and in which most of the pieces merge without pauses, begins with the creation of the nuclear weapons, the first test and Operations and ends with the disarmament conferences in the late 1980s. The typical Hardcastle synthesizer sound of that time is accompanied by numerous sound samples from news programs and other reports.

In 1990 Hardcastle released the title Swing under the pseudonym The Deff Boyz , which became a hit across Europe and the United States. He chose the pseudonym because he was not allowed to use his own name for contractual reasons.

From 1993, Hardcastle took on several critically acclaimed synth jazz albums ("Smooth Jazz") with the projects Jazzmasters (I-VII), Hardcastle (I-VI) and Kiss the Sky (I-II) . Special mention should be made of the well-known singer Helen Rogers, who can be heard on numerous songs. She started as a singer in the band Direct Drive, which Hardcastle also joined in 1981.

His project album Hardcastle 4 was released on July 12, 2005 . The first release, Serene, took first place in September and October 2005 for 6 weeks in the "R&R Smooth Jazz ® National Airplay © charts" of the USA. His daughter Maxine Hardcastle first wrote three songs as a co-writer . The album The Jazzmasters V was released on July 25, 2006 . With the instrumental title Free as the Wind he came back to the top of the "R&R Smooth Jazz ® National Airplay © charts" in the USA. On February 5, 2008 his new album Hardcastle 5 was released in the USA. The album debuted at number 176 on the Billboard 200 . The second single Marimba placed 26th on June 25th and climbed to 3rd place in the US “R&R Smooth Jazz ® National Airplay © Charts”.

In mid-December 2008 he was honored as "Best Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year 2008" by Billboard Magazine .

Private life

Hardcastle has been married since October 1985. He and his wife have a daughter (Maxine, * April 1986) who is a singer, and two sons (Paul Jr., * August 1990 and Ritchie, * May 1997).

Discography

Studio albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)			Remarks
year	Title music label	UK	US	R&B	Remarks
1985	Rain Forest Profile 1206	-	US63 (25 weeks) US	R&B30 (24 weeks) R&B	First published: March 1985 Producer: Paul Hardcastle
1985	Paul Hardcastle Chrysalis 1517	UK53 silver (5 weeks)UK	-	-	First published: November 18, 1985 Producer: Paul Hardcastle
1994	Hardcastle JVC 2033	-	US182 (6 weeks) US	R&B35 (13 weeks) R&B	First published: March 29, 1994 Producer: Paul Hardcastle
1995	The Jazzmasters II JVC 2049	-	US132 (7 weeks) US	-	First published: August 1995 Producer: Paul Hardcastle
2008	Hardcastle 5 Trippin 'n' Rhythm 24	-	US176 (1 week) US	-	First published: February 5th, 2008 Producer: Paul Hardcastle

More albums

1984: Daybreak (with 1st Light ; Metronome 820 278)
1985: Zero One (split album with Universal Funk; Bluebird 1003)
1988: No Winners (Chrysalis 1549)
1989: Sound Syndicate ( K-Tel 1431)
1992: The Jazzmasters (Fast Forward 1)
1993: Time for Love ( Victor 5236)
1994: Feel the Breeze (Victor 18001)
1996: Hardcastle 2 (JVC 2060)
1996: Star of the Story (mini album; Victor 18012)
1997: PH - Paul Hardcastle Works (Victor 60058)
1997: First Light (Connoisseur Collection 516)
1999: Jazzmasters III (Hardcastle 90506)
2002: Hardcastle III (Hardcastle 90511)
2003: The Jazzmasters 4 (Hardcastle 90513)
2005: Hardcastle 4 (Hardcastle 90517)
2006: Jazzmasters V (Hardcastle 90522)
2009: Zero One (15 Files; Hardcastle 857295)
2010: Jazzmasters VI (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 41)
2011: Hardcastle VI (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 48)
2012: The Chill Lounge Volume 1 (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 57)
2012: 19 Below Zero (2 CDs; Hardcastle 3716974; release: October 15th)
2013: The Chill Lounge Volume 2 (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 67)
2013: Hardcastle VII (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 69)
2014: Moovin & Groovin (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 02028621692)
2014: The Jazzmasters VII (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 72)
2015: The Chill Lounge Volume 3 (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 79)

Compilations

1991: The Wizard ( Chrysalis 21885)
1993: The Definitive Paul Hardcastle (Connoisseur Collection 186)
1996: The Very Best ( EMI Gold 1040)
1997: Cover to Cover (2 CDs; Hardcastle 90505 / JVC 2068)
2000: Jazzmasters: The Greatest Hits (Hardcastle 90509)
2003: The Very Best of Paul Hardcastle 1983-2003 (2 CDs; Jazz FM 3400722)
2004: Jazzmasters: The Smooth Cuts (Hardcastle 90516)
2009: The Collection (Trippin 'n' Rhythm / Hardcastle 020286133629)
2010: Hardcastle Rare Grooves (5 Files; Hardcastle Music)
2010: Desire: The Ultimate Seductive Album (Trippin 'n' Rhythm 46)
2013: Electrofied 80s Essential (2 CDs; Music Club Deluxe 82; release: January 28th)
2013: Hardcastle Old School 2 (5 files; Hardcastle Music; release: August 19th)
2015: 19: The 30th Anniversary Mixes (Nusic Sounds 19; release: May 15)
2016: The History of Paul Hardcastle (1984–2016) (box with 4 CDs; Trippin 'n' Rhythm 86; release: November 4th)

Other albums

1992: The Wizard (Dance Sampling CD) (collection of various samples; Time + Space 46)

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)							Remarks
year	Title album	DE	AT	CH	UK	US	R&B	Dance	Remarks
1984	You're the One for Me / Daybreak / AM (Medley) Daybreak	-	-	-	UK41 (4 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: March 1984 Singing: Kevin Henry Authors: Hubert Eaves III , James Williams / Paul Hardcastle Original (You're the One for Me) : D-Train, 1982
	Guilty	-	-	-	UK55 (3 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: June 1984 Singing: Kevin Henry Authors: Paul Hardcastle, Derek Green
	Rain Forest / Sound Chaser Paul Hardcastle / Rain Forest	-	-	-	UK41 (6 weeks) UK	US57 (18 weeks) US	R&B5 (19 weeks) R&B	Dance2 (17 weeks) Dance	First published: September 1984 Author: Paul Hardcastle
	Eat your heart out	-	-	-	UK59 (6 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: October 1984 Author: Paul Hardcastle
1985	Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag	-	-	-	UK73 (4 weeks) UK	-	R&B69 (6 weeks) R&B	-	First published: January 1985 as The Silent Underdog Authors: Chip Carpenter, Roger Freeman, Chris Hamlyn Original: Pigbag , 1981
	19 Paul Hardcastle	DE1 gold (18 weeks)DE	AT1 (14 weeks) AT	CH1 (15 weeks) CH	UK1 gold (17 weeks)UK	US15 (14 weeks) US	R&B8 (14 weeks) R&B	Dance1 (10 weeks) Dance	First published: April 1985 Authors: Paul Hardcastle, William Coutourie, Jonas McCord
	King Tut Paul Hardcastle / Rain Forest	-	-	-	-	-	R&B32 (11 weeks) R&B	Dance10 (8 weeks) Dance	First published: April 1985 Author: Paul Hardcastle
	Rain Forest (Remix) Rain Forest	-	-	-	UK53 (4 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: June 1985
	19 (German version)	DE17 (8 weeks) DE	-	-	-	-	-	-	First publication: July 1985 German text: Blau Bart
	Just for Money Paul Hardcastle	DE31 (8 weeks) DE	-	CH27 (2 weeks) CH	UK19 (6 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: October 1985 Vocals: Alan Talbot, Bob Hoskins , Ed O'Ross , Lawrence Olivier Authors: Kim Fuller, Paul Hardcastle
1986	Don't Waste My Time Paul Hardcastle	DE15 (12 weeks) DE	-	CH9 (8 weeks) CH	UK8 (11 weeks) UK	-	R&B65 (7 weeks) R&B	Dance31 (6 weeks) Dance	First published: January 1986 Singing: Carol Kenyon Writer: Paul Hardcastle
	Foolin 'Yourself The Definitive Paul Hardcastle	-	-	-	UK51 (3 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: June 1986 Vocals: Kevin Henry; Saxophone: Phil Todd Author: Paul Hardcastle
	The Wizard The Definitive Paul Hardcastle	DE51 (6 weeks) DE	-	-	UK15 (6 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: September 1986 Top of the Pops theme song. Writer: Paul Hardcastle
1988	Walk in the Night No Winners	-	-	-	UK54 (3 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: March 1988 Authors: Johnny Bristol , Marilyn McLeod Original: Jr. Walker and the All Stars , 1971
1988	40 Years No Winners	-	-	-	UK53 (2 weeks) UK	-	-	-	First published: May 29, 1988 Author: Paul Hardcastle
1989	Are You Ready ... Sound Syndicate	-	-	-	UK90 (1 week) UK	-	-	-	First published: May 1989 as Paul Hardcastle Sound Syndicate

More singles

1985: Forest Fire / AM
1990: Rainforest 90
1993: Time for Love EP
1993: Sound of Summer
1993: Don't Be Shy
1994: Can't Stop Now
1994: Do It Again
1995: 19 (95)
1995: Walkin 'to Freedom
1995: You May Be Gone
1996: Never Give Up on You
1996: Bird Island
1996: Jokers Wild
1997: Shelbi
2000: Shine
2002: First Light
2009: Coming Home 4 Christmas
2010: 19 - The Story Continues ...
2011: Rainforest / What's Going On (feat. Marvin Gaye ; Mashup )
2011: Transcontinental (with Ryan Farish; EP)
2011: Into the Blue (DJ Max Remix) (Release: August 21)
2012: 19 (The Pacha All Star Remixes) (Release: March 12th)
2012: 19 Below Zero (release: November 9th)
2013: The Wizard (Rerecorded Version) (Release: August 28)
2014: Unlimited Love (The Nightime Mixes) (July 12th)

Remixes

1985: Direct Drive - Anything (Paul Hardcastle Remix)
1985: D-Train - You Are the One for Me (Labor of Love Mix)
1985: D-Train - Music (Paul Hardcastle Remix)
1985: Pigbag - Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag (as The Silent Underdog)
1985: Delayline - We Can Make It (Paul Hardcastle Mix)
1985: LW5 - Ripe for the Picking (Extended Paul Hardcastle Mix)
1985: Change - Oh What a Feeling (The Paul Hardcastle Remix)
1985: Change - Let's Go Together (Paul Hardcastle Remix)
1985: Third World - Now Thats We've Found Love (Paul Hardcastle Remix)
1985: Hiroshima - One Wish (Special Mix)
1985: Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Hit Me with Your Rhythmstick EP (Paul Hardcastle Remixes)
1986: Julian Jonah - Hot to Touch (The Paul Hardcastle Mix)
1986: George McCrae - Rock Me Baby (Paul Hardcastle Mix)
1987: Barry White - Never, Never Gonna Give You Up (Mammoth Mix)

Soundtracks

1986: The Shuffle from the soundtrack of the cartoon When the Wind blows (film adaptation of the anti-nuclear comic by Raymond Briggs )

literature

Frank Laufenberg: Frank Laufenberg's Rock and Pop Lexicon Vol. 1 , ISBN 3-612-26206-8 .

Web links

Paul Hardcastle at Allmusic (English)
Paul Hardcastle at Discogs (English)
Official website
Hardcastle Music
Paul Hardcastle in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Works by and about Paul Hardcastle in the catalog of the German National Library
Official MySpace homepage
Biography at Taurus Press

swell

↑ ^a ^b Chart sources: DE AT CH UK UK2 US
↑ ^a ^b gold / platinum databases: DE UK
^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
^ Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 .
^ Joel Whitburn : Hot Dance / Disco 1974-2003, ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7 .

personal data
SURNAME	Hardcastle, Paul
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Silent Underdog #The (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	British musician and producer
DATE OF BIRTH	December 10, 1957
PLACE OF BIRTH	London , UK

[charts-1] Chart sources: DE AT CH UK UK2 US

[gold-2] / platinum databases: DE UK

[3] Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .

[4] Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 .

[5] Joel Whitburn : Hot Dance / Disco 1974-2003, ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7 .