Albert Hammond

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Albert Hammond
Background information
Birth nameAlbert Louis Hammond
Also known asAlbert Hammond Sr.
Born (1944-05-18) 18 May 1944 (age 79)
London, England
OriginGibraltar
GenresPop rock, soft rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano, vocals
Years active1960–present
Websitealberthammond.net

Albert Louis Hammond OBE (born 18 May 1944) is a British-Gibraltarian singer, songwriter and record producer. A prolific songwriter, he also collaborated with other songwriters such as Mike Hazlewood, John Bettis, Hal David, Diane Warren, Holly Knight and Carole Bayer Sager. Hammond's son Albert Hammond Jr. is a guitarist in American rock band the Strokes.[1]

Hammond wrote commercially successful singles for artists including Celine Dion, Joe Dolan, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Leo Sayer, Tina Turner, Glen Campbell, Julio Iglesias, Willie Nelson, Lynn Anderson and Bonnie Tyler, and bands Ace of Base, Air Supply, Blue Mink, Chicago, Heart, Living in a Box, the Carpenters, the Hollies, the Pipkins, Starship, and Westlife. Notable songs co-written by Hammond include "Make Me an Island" and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" by Joe Dolan, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship, "One Moment in Time" sung by Whitney Houston, "The Air That I Breathe", a hit for the Hollies, "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", a Julio Iglesias/Willie Nelson duet, and "When I Need You" by Leo Sayer. In 2015, he received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection. [2]

He is also a solo singer in his own right. His biggest (and only top 20) U.S. Billboard hit was "It Never Rains in Southern California", No. 5 in 1972. [3] Other songs of his include "Down by the River", "The Free Electric Band", "I'm a Train", and "When I'm Gone". For a time, he was part of the Family Dogg, a vocal band with whom he had the hit "A Way of Life". He has also produced for a number of other artists.

Early life and success[edit]

Hammond was born in London, after his family had been evacuated from Gibraltar during World War II.[4] Shortly after the war they returned to Gibraltar where he grew up.[4] In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band The Diamond Boys, which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to pop and rock music. The Diamond Boys performed at the first nightclubs in Madrid to stage modern bands, alongside Spanish rock and roll pioneers such as Miguel Ríos. In 1966, Hammond co-founded the British vocal band the Family Dogg, reaching number 6 on the UK Singles Chart with "A Way of Life" in 1969,[4][5] taken from the album of the same name.

Career[edit]

Hammond performing in Germany in 2013

In 1970, at age 26, Hammond moved to the United States, continuing his professional career as a musician.[6] However, he had his greatest commercial success in mainland Europe. He is known for his successful singles of the 1970s, released on Columbia subsidiary Mums Records: "Down by the River", "It Never Rains in Southern California", "The Free Electric Band" (his only single to chart in the UK),[5] "Half a Million Miles from Home", "If You Gotta Break Another Heart", "The Peacemaker", "I Don't Wanna Die in an Air Disaster", "I'm a Train" and "99 Miles from L.A." In 1970, under the name 'Steve & Albert', Hammond joined forces with Steve Rowland for the single "Follow The Bouncing Ball", which they heavily promoted, particularly in the UK, where they appeared on Top Of The Pops and The Basil Brush Show, but the single failed to chart.[7]

Hammond also wrote songs for others with frequent collaborator Mike Hazlewood. These include "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee, "Make Me an Island" (1969) (which Hammond himself recorded in a Spanish disco-style in 1979), and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" (1970) for Joe Dolan, "Gimme Dat Ding" for the Pipkins in 1970 (itself a cover from the Freddie and the Dreamers album Oliver in the Overworld), "Good Morning Freedom" for Blue Mink, "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" for the Fortunes in 1971 and "The Air That I Breathe" which was a hit for the Hollies in 1974.[4] In 1971, Hammond also sang on Michael Chapman's fourth album Wrecked Again, and worked briefly with the Magic Lanterns on recordings of his and Hazlewood's songs, and other material.[8]

Written with Carole Bayer Sager, "When I Need You" was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 album When I Need You. Produced by Richard Perry, Leo Sayer's version made No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1977. Leo Sayer | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company Commercially successful worldwide, it reached No. 1 in Canada (RPM Top Singles, also for two weeks), and on the Billboard Hot 100 for a week in May 1977.[citation needed] Leapy Lee released a version of "When I Need You" on his first recording since 1970.[9]

In 1991, Hammond co-wrote "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" recorded by Diana Ross, which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2005, Ross recorded the song again, this time as a duet with Westlife. Again the song reached No. 2 in the UK.[citation needed]

In 2005, he released Revolution of the Heart (where Todd Sharpville was his music director), and the single "This Side of Midnight".[citation needed]

In 2008, Hammond met Kasaan Steigen of the Los Angeles-based Trigger Management who became his personal manager, during which time Hammond collaborated with British singer Duffy and others. Duffy's resulting album, Endlessly, co-written and co-produced by Hammond, was released in November 2010.[10]

In 2010, Hammond also worked on Legend, a new recording of duets of his most successful singles, featuring artists including Elena Paparizou and Bonnie Tyler. It was released on Sony Spain on 23 November that year.[11][12]

Personal life[edit]

From his first marriage, Hammond has two children. In 1979, he married Argentinian Claudia Fernández, a former model.[6]

Awards and recognition[edit]

In 1987, Hammond's composition with Diane Warren "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (recorded by Starship) was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy Award.[13] In 1988, Hammond won an Emmy Award for the song "One Moment in Time", a song he wrote along with John Bettis.[citation needed]

In 2000, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[4]

On 19 June 2008, Hammond was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[14]

Half Man Half Biscuit paid tribute to Hammond in their 1986 track "Albert Hammond Bootleg" originally on The Trumpton Riots EP and later added to the 2003 re-release of Back in the DHSS.

In May 2015, Hammond collected the Ivor Novello award for outstanding song collection.[15]

In 2023 he received the Ministry of Culture Lifetime Achievement Award.

Discography[edit]

Songwriting credits[edit]

(in alphabetical order of song title)

Title Writing
collaboration
with
Artist / band Year
released
"99 Miles from L.A." Hal David Albert Hammond
Art Garfunkel
Johnny Mathis
Julio Iglesias
Nancy Sinatra
Dionne Warwick
Stevie Holland
1975
1975
1975
1990
2002
2012
2015
"Be Tender with Me Baby" Holly Knight Tina Turner 1990
"Blow the House Down" Marcus Vere Living in a Box 1989
"Don't Turn Around" Diane Warren Tina Turner
Aswad
Ace of Base
1986
1988
1993
"Easy to Love" Leo Sayer Leo Sayer 1977
"Gimme Dat Ding" Mike Hazlewood The Pipkins 1970
"Give a Little Love" Diane Warren Hammond and West
Aswad
1986
1988
"Good Morning Freedom" Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway and Mike Hazlewood Blue Mink 1970
"I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" Diane Warren Chicago 1988
"I Don't Wanna Lose You" Graham Lyle Tina Turner 1989
"I'm Not Crying over You" Chris De Burgh Chris De Burgh 1995
"I Need to Be in Love" Richard Carpenter and John Bettis The Carpenters 1976
"It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" Diane Warren Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston 1989
"Just Walk Away" Marti Sharron Celine Dion 1995
"Little Arrows" Mike Hazlewood Leapy Lee 1968
"Lonely Is the Night" Diane Warren Air Supply 1986
"Love Thing" Holly Knight Tina Turner 1991
"Love's Got a Hold on Me" Chris De Burgh Chris De Burgh 1994
"Make Me an Island" Mike Hazlewood Joe Dolan
Tom Northcott
1969
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" Diane Warren Starship 1986
"Once in a Lifetime" Antonina Armato, Dennis Morgan Kansas 1988
"One Moment in Time" John Bettis Whitney Houston 1988
"Rebecca" Mike Hazlewood Flo & Eddie 1975
"Room in Your Heart" Marcus Vere and Richard Darbyshire Living in a Box 1989
"Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger" Holly Knight Heart 1990
"The Air That I Breathe" Mike Hazlewood Albert Hammond
The Hollies
Simply Red
1972
1974
1998
The Snows of New York Chris De Burgh Chris De Burgh 1994
"To All the Girls I've Loved Before" Hal David Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson 1984
"Way of the World" Graham Lyle Tina Turner 1991
"When I Need You" Carole Bayer Sager Albert Hammond
Leo Sayer
Rod Stewart
Celine Dion
Will Mellor

Austin Peters

1976
1976
1996
1997
1998

2019

"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" John Bettis Diana Ross /
Diana Ross and Westlife
1991
2005
"Where Were You" Holly Knight Bonnie Tyler 1992
"You're Such a Good Looking Woman" Mike Hazlewood Joe Dolan 1970

Other languages[edit]

(in alphabetical order of song title)

Title Language Writing
collaboration
with
Artist / band Year
released
"Cantaré, cantarás" Spanish Juan Carlos Calderón and Anahí van Zandweghe Hermanos
(Various Latin artists)
1985
"Entre mis recuerdos" Spanish Holly Knight and Luz Casal Luz Casal 1995
"Sensualité" French Shelly Peiken and Axelle Red Axelle Red 1993
"Y Tú También Llorarás" Spanish Anahi van Zandweghe José Luis Rodríguez 1987

Other songwriting credits[edit]

(in alphabetical order of song title)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Albert Hammond, Jr. – The Vogue". Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  2. ^ "60th Anniversary Ivor Novello Awards winners announced". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Albert Hammond It Never Rains in Southern California | Bogart Boogie Oogie". 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Albert Hammond Official Website". Alberthammond.net. 18 May 1944. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  5. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 242. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ a b "Albert Hammond – Interview". www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. ^ "306. Steve & Albert". Tapatalk.com. 17 February 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  8. ^ Eder, Bruce (18 May 1944). "Albert Hammond – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Little Arrows II: Leapy Lee: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Archive.is. 17 July 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  10. ^ "BBC – Newsbeat – Singer Duffy begins new album sessions in New York". BBC News. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Albert Hammond Returns with "Legend"". Legend-alberthammond.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  12. ^ "Albert Hammond regresa en noviembre con "Legend", álbum en el que repasa su carrera junto a Raphael y Julio Iglesias ("Albert Hammond returns in November with 'Legend', an album in which he reviews his career with Raphael and Julio Iglesias")". Europa Press (in Spanish). 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.(Google translation)
  13. ^ "35 years ago, Diane Warren earned her first Oscar nom for a song 'about a guy f***ing a mannequin'". Yahoo Entertainment. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  14. ^ "2008 Award and Induction Ceremony | Songwriters Hall of Fame". www.songhall.org. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Albert Hammond". The Ivors. 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.

External links[edit]