Nicky Chinn
Encyclopedia
Nicky Chinn born Nicholas Barry Chinn, 16 May 1945, London
, UK) is a British songwriter
and record producer
. Together with Mike Chapman he had a long string of hit single
s in the UK and US in the 1970s and early 1980s, including several number-one records
. The duo wrote hits for such notable UK-based artists
as Suzi Quatro
, Mud
, Sweet
, Arrows ("Touch Too Much"), Racey
, Smokie
, Tina Turner and Huey Lewis and the News.
.
It was at this point that Chinn joined the Australian-born Chapman, who was a waiter at a night club Chinn frequented, and they decided to team up. Chapman was already a professional musician with the band Tangerine Peel and the two quickly joined up with Mickie Most
's RAK
label
and began writing songs for a new glam rock
band Sweet and their catchy compositions accounted for all the singles the band released in their early years.
Chinn's and Chapman's songwriting style was so successful with British and worldwide audiences that Sweet had an uninterrupted string of million-selling hits in the next few years. These included "Co-Co", Little Willy", "Wig-Wam Bam", "Blockbuster!" (their first UK number one), "Ballroom Blitz", "Hell Raiser" and "Teenage Rampage". Sweet were so popular in Britain that "Ballroom Blitz" entered the UK Singles Chart at number two - an unusual feat in those days. Also "Little Willy" and "Ballroom Blitz" both went on to be top five hits in the United States.
Because Sweet wanted to move towards a harder, stripped-down style, they turned to writing their own songs , but Chinn and Chapman achieved equal success worldwide with Suzi Quatro
, for whom they wrote many hits including "Can the Can
", "48 Crash
" and "Devil Gate Drive
". Chinn and Chapman (now known as "Chinnichap") found their next big success with Mud
who had hits with a number of their compositions between 1973 and 1975, including two number ones in "Tiger Feet
" and "Lonely This Christmas
". Smokie
became Chinn and Chapman's next project and they had a number of hit singles with them between 1975 and 1978 including the worldwide hit "Living Next Door To Alice".
In 1978 the two scored their first number one in the United States with Exile's
"Kiss You All Over
" and Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman (Smokie's lead singer) reached number four in the same year with their duet "Stumblin' In
". In 1982 "Mickey
" by Toni Basil
gave the two their second American number one and in the mid-eighties they had top ten hits with Tina Turner
's "Better Be Good To Me
" and Huey Lewis
's "Heart And Soul
".
Chinn and Chapman gradually separated during the early 1980s finally splitting up in 1983. All in all however Chinn's twelve year stint with Chapman had made him cowriter of over fifty top 40 hits. In 1983 he cowrote "Dancing in the Dark
", a UK hit for Kim Wilde
.
During their careers Chinn and Chapman were recipients of three of the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards
for songwriting including the Jimmy Kennedy award for outstanding career achievement in 1997.
During the late 1980s and throughout the 90's Chinn suffered from ill health which kept him away from writing. He returned in 2004 and started working with various hit writers including the Swedish writer Jorgen Elofsson
and they wrote "You Must Have Had A Broken Heart" for Westlife
's 2006 album Back Home
which went to number one in the UK and many other countries.
Chinn now spends a lot of his time in Nashville working with many of the top writers there. While there he cowrote "Live Like There's No Tomorrow" recorded by Selena Gomez
for her 2010 album A Year Without Rain
which debuted at number 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and has since gone gold. The song is also featured in her top ten box office Disney movie Ramona and Beezus
. Also while in Nashville he cowrote 'Beautiful Life' which was recorded by Donny and Marie Osmond for their 2010 country album which debuted on the Billboard country chart at No.7 and the main Billboard top 200 chart at No.11.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK) is a British songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. Together with Mike Chapman he had a long string of hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
s in the UK and US in the 1970s and early 1980s, including several number-one records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. The duo wrote hits for such notable UK-based artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
as Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
, Mud
Mud (band)
Mud were an English glam rock band, formed in February 1968, best remembered for their single "Tiger Feet", which was the UK's best-selling single of 1974...
, Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
, Arrows ("Touch Too Much"), Racey
Racey
Racey was a British pop group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, by singer Phil Fursdon and Clive Wilson. The group was formerly known as Alive 'n' Rockin.-Career:...
, Smokie
Smokie (band)
Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s.-Early years:Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw...
, Tina Turner and Huey Lewis and the News.
Career
Chinn was born to an affluent London Jewish family that owned a string of service stations and car sales distributorships. However as a young man his talent for writing successful pop songs proved so obvious that within a month or two of his first efforts as a songwriter Chinn co-wrote with Mike d'Abo (the ex Manfred Mann lead singer) the two main songs for the hit film, There's a Girl in My SoupThere's a Girl in My Soup
There's a Girl in My Soup is a 1970 British comedy film, directed by Roy Boulting and starring Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn. Sellers appears as Robert Danvers, a vain, womanizing and wealthy host of a high-profile cooking show...
.
It was at this point that Chinn joined the Australian-born Chapman, who was a waiter at a night club Chinn frequented, and they decided to team up. Chapman was already a professional musician with the band Tangerine Peel and the two quickly joined up with Mickie Most
Mickie Most
Mickie Most was an English record producer, with a string of hit singles with acts such as The Animals, Arrows, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and the Jeff Beck Group often issued on his own RAK Records label....
's RAK
RAK Records
Rak Records was a British record label, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. Rak was home of artists like Herman's Hermits, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Kenny, Hot Chocolate, Smokie, Arrows, Span, Racey and Kim Wilde. Rak Records were distributed via a licensing deal with EMI, which bought the...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
and began writing songs for a new glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band Sweet and their catchy compositions accounted for all the singles the band released in their early years.
Chinn's and Chapman's songwriting style was so successful with British and worldwide audiences that Sweet had an uninterrupted string of million-selling hits in the next few years. These included "Co-Co", Little Willy", "Wig-Wam Bam", "Blockbuster!" (their first UK number one), "Ballroom Blitz", "Hell Raiser" and "Teenage Rampage". Sweet were so popular in Britain that "Ballroom Blitz" entered the UK Singles Chart at number two - an unusual feat in those days. Also "Little Willy" and "Ballroom Blitz" both went on to be top five hits in the United States.
Because Sweet wanted to move towards a harder, stripped-down style, they turned to writing their own songs , but Chinn and Chapman achieved equal success worldwide with Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
, for whom they wrote many hits including "Can the Can
Can the Can
"Can the Can" was a popular single by Suzi Quatro and the name of her debut album in Australia ....
", "48 Crash
48 Crash
"48 Crash" is Suzi Quatro's second single after "Can the Can". It was included on her debut album Suzi Quatro . The single peaked at number three in the U.K. in July 1973, and number one in Australia for one week...
" and "Devil Gate Drive
Devil Gate Drive
"Devil Gate Drive" is a popular song by Suzi Quatro. Written and produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, "Devil Gate Drive" was Quatro's second number one single in the UK, spending two weeks at the top of the chart in February 1974...
". Chinn and Chapman (now known as "Chinnichap") found their next big success with Mud
Mud (band)
Mud were an English glam rock band, formed in February 1968, best remembered for their single "Tiger Feet", which was the UK's best-selling single of 1974...
who had hits with a number of their compositions between 1973 and 1975, including two number ones in "Tiger Feet
Tiger Feet
"Tiger Feet" is a popular song by Mud. Written and produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, Tiger Feet was the first of Mud's three number one singles in the UK, spending four weeks at the top of the chart from 22 January 1974...
" and "Lonely This Christmas
Lonely This Christmas
"Lonely This Christmas" was a popular single by the English glam rock band Mud, that topped the UK singles chart in 1974 and reached Christmas number one.-The song:...
". Smokie
Smokie (band)
Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s.-Early years:Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw...
became Chinn and Chapman's next project and they had a number of hit singles with them between 1975 and 1978 including the worldwide hit "Living Next Door To Alice".
In 1978 the two scored their first number one in the United States with Exile's
Exile (American band)
Exile, originally known as The Exiles, is an American band founded in Richmond, Kentucky by J.P. Pennington. They started by playing local clubs which led to touring with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars opening shows and providing backup for major rock artists of the period.Their name was shortened...
"Kiss You All Over
Kiss You All Over
"Kiss You All Over" is a number one single in the United States during 1978 by the group Exile. It was included on the band's album Mixed Emotions, and it featured primarily the late Jimmy Stokley on lead vocals...
" and Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman (Smokie's lead singer) reached number four in the same year with their duet "Stumblin' In
Stumblin' In
"Stumblin' In" is a song written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, performed by Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman from the album If You Knew Suzi....
". In 1982 "Mickey
Mickey
Mickey is a common name, derived from Michael. The word may refer to one of the following:-Fictional characters:* Mickey Mouse, a Disney cartoon character* Mickey Goldmill, a character from the Rocky franchise...
" by Toni Basil
Toni Basil
Antonia Christina Basilotta , better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker, film director, choreographer, and dancer, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.-Early life:Basil was born Antonia Christina...
gave the two their second American number one and in the mid-eighties they had top ten hits with Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
's "Better Be Good To Me
Better Be Good to Me
"Better Be Good to Me" is a hit single from Tina Turner's solo album, Private Dancer. The song had originally been released in 1981 by Spider, a band from New York City with co-writer Holly Knight as a member. The Turner version was successful in the United States on the Hot 100 and the US...
" and Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
's "Heart And Soul
Heart and Soul (Huey Lewis and the News song)
"Heart and Soul" is a song written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn and made famous by Huey Lewis and the News. The song was first recorded by Exile in 1981 as the title track of their album Heart & Soul. Exile's single was unsuccessful, bubbling under the Billboard Hot 100 at number 102...
".
Chinn and Chapman gradually separated during the early 1980s finally splitting up in 1983. All in all however Chinn's twelve year stint with Chapman had made him cowriter of over fifty top 40 hits. In 1983 he cowrote "Dancing in the Dark
Dancing in the Dark (Kim Wilde song)
"Dancing in the Dark" is a 1983 single by British singer Kim Wilde. It is the second single from the album Catch as Catch Can.- Overview :...
", a UK hit for Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
.
During their careers Chinn and Chapman were recipients of three of the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
for songwriting including the Jimmy Kennedy award for outstanding career achievement in 1997.
During the late 1980s and throughout the 90's Chinn suffered from ill health which kept him away from writing. He returned in 2004 and started working with various hit writers including the Swedish writer Jorgen Elofsson
Jörgen Elofsson
Jörgen Kjell Elofsson is a Swedish songwriter who has written or co-written hits for stars such as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Guy Sebastian, Ana Johnsson, Marie Serneholt, Shayne Ward and Super Junior. He has also written hit singles for groups such as Il Divo and Westlife...
and they wrote "You Must Have Had A Broken Heart" for Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
's 2006 album Back Home
Back Home (Westlife album)
Back Home is the eighth studio album and ninth album overall by Irish boy band Westlife and it was released on 5 November 2007. The album debuted at #1 on the Official UK Album Charts, selling 132,000 copies in its first week of release and remained in the top three spots for eight consecutive weeks...
which went to number one in the UK and many other countries.
Chinn now spends a lot of his time in Nashville working with many of the top writers there. While there he cowrote "Live Like There's No Tomorrow" recorded by Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez
Selena Marie Gomez is an American actress and singer best known for portraying Alex Russo in the Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel television series Wizards of Waverly Place...
for her 2010 album A Year Without Rain
A Year Without Rain
A Year Without Rain is the second studio album by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene. The album was released on September 17, 2010 via Hollywood Records. The band once again worked with writers and producers from their debut, Kiss & Tell such as Rock Mafia duo Tim James, and Antonina Armato, as...
which debuted at number 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and has since gone gold. The song is also featured in her top ten box office Disney movie Ramona and Beezus
Ramona and Beezus
Ramona and Beezus is a 2010 Fox-Walden film adaptation of the Ramona series of novels by Beverly Cleary. The film's title derives from Beezus and Ramona, the first of Cleary's Ramona books, though the plot is mostly based on the sequels, particularly Ramona Forever and Ramona's World.-Plot:The film...
. Also while in Nashville he cowrote 'Beautiful Life' which was recorded by Donny and Marie Osmond for their 2010 country album which debuted on the Billboard country chart at No.7 and the main Billboard top 200 chart at No.11.
External links
- [ Nicky Chinn biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...