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Alan Price

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For the investigator of scientific or research misconduct, see Alan R. Price.

Alan Price
Birth nameAlan Price
Born (1942-04-19) 19 April 1942 (age 82)
Fatfield, Washington, County Durham, England
GenresRock, blues rock, psychedelic rock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, musical arranger
Instrument(s)Keyboards, vocals
Years active1961–present
LabelsDecca, Parrot, Deram, CBS, Vertigo, Cotillion, Sanctuary, United Artists, Jet, Ariola, Polydor, Warner, Indigo, BGO, AP

Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician, best known as the original keyboardist for the British band the Animals and for his subsequent solo work.[1]

Price was born in Fatfield, Washington, County Durham, and was educated at Jarrow Grammar School, County Durham. He is a self-taught musician and was a founding member of the Tyneside group "The Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo", which was later renamed the Animals. His organ-playing on songs by the Animals, such as "The House of the Rising Sun", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "Bring It On Home to Me" was a key element in the group's success.[1]

After leaving the Animals, Price went on to have success on his own with his own band the Alan Price Set and later with Georgie Fame. He introduced the songs of Randy Newman to a wider audience. Later, he appeared on his own television show as well as achieving success with film scores, including winning critical acclaim for his musical contribution to the 1973 film O Lucky Man! as well as writing the score to the stage musical Andy Capp. Price has also acted in films and television productions.[1][2][3]

Music

Price formed the Animals in 1962 and left the band in 1965 to form the Alan Price Set, with the line-up of Price, Clive Burrows (baritone saxophone), Steve Gregory (tenor saxophone), John Walters (trumpet), Peter Kirtley (guitar), Rod "Boots" Slade (bass) and "Little" Roy Mills (drums). In the same year, he appeared in the film Dont Look Back, which featured Bob Dylan on tour in the UK.[2]

During 1966, he enjoyed singles success with "I Put a Spell on You", which reached No. 9 in the UK singles chart, and "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo", which reached No. 11 in the same chart. In 1967 the Randy Newman song "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear", reached No. 4 in the chart as did his self-penned song, "The House That Jack Built". "Don't Stop the Carnival" followed in 1968 and rose to No. 13 in the UK singles charts.[4]

Price went on to host shows such as the musical Price To Play in the late 1960s, which featured Price performing and introducing the music of guests such as Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix. His second album, A Price on His Head (1967), featured seven songs by Randy Newman, who was virtually unknown at that time. In August 1967, he appeared with the Animals at the hippy love-in that was held in the grounds of Woburn Abbey.

A later association with Georgie Fame resulted in "Rosetta", which became a Top 20 hit (1971), reaching No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] An album followed, Fame and Price, Price and Fame Together. During this period Price and Fame secured a regular slot on The Two Ronnies show produced by BBC Television, and also appeared on the Morecambe and Wise Show.[2] He recorded the autobiographical album Between Today and Yesterday (1974) from which the single "Jarrow Song" was taken, returning Price to the UK singles chart at number 6.[4]

Price participated in three reunions of the Animals between 1968 and 1984. In July 1983, the Animals started their last world tour. Price's solo performance of "O Lucky Man" was included in their set. In 1984, they broke up for the final time and the album Rip It To Shreds – Greatest Hits Live was released, comprising recordings from their concert at Wembley Stadium in London.

Price recorded two albums with the Electric Blues Company featuring guitarist and vocalist Bobby Tench and keyboardist Zoot Money, the first Covers was recorded in 1994. A Gigster's Life for Me followed in 1996 and was recorded as part of Sanctuary's Blues Masters Series, at Olympic Studios in South-West London.[5]

Since 1996 Price has continued to perform regularly, arrange, write songs and create other works. During the 2000s he has continued to tour the UK with his own band and others including the Manfreds, Maggie Bell[6] and Bobby Tench.[7]

Film, stage and TV

Price appears as himself in the acclaimed D.A. Pennebaker documentary Don't Look Back and is in several scenes with Bob Dylan and his entourage, including one where his departure from The Animals is mentioned.

Price has been closely involved with the work of film director Lindsay Anderson. In 1973, he wrote the music for Anderson's film O Lucky Man!, which he performs on screen in the film and appears as himself in one part of the storyline. In 1987, he wrote the score to Anderson's final film, The Whales of August.

He acted in Alfie Darling, a sequel to the film Alfie, during the course of which he became romantically involved with his co-star, Jill Townsend. He also composed and sang the theme tune to the 1982 film adaptation of The Plague Dogs, "Time and Tide".[2]

In 1981, he composed the score for the musical Andy Capp, based on the eponymous comic strip. Price also wrote the lyrics, together with the actor Trevor Peacock. The play transferred from the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester to London's Aldwych Theatre in September 1982.[8] Price later provided the theme to Thames Television's 1988 sitcom adaptation of Andy Capp in the form of a rewritten "Jarrow Song". Other TV theme work includes a re-recorded version of his 1974 single "Papers", which was used as the theme tune to the successful LWT situation comedy Hot Metal.[9]

In 1992, Anderson included a touching episode in his autobiographical BBC film Is That All There Is?, with a boat trip down the River Thames to scatter Rachel Roberts' and Jill Bennett's ashes on the waters while Price accompanied himself and sang the song "Is That All There Is?"

Personal life

Price is believed to have two children and has been married twice. His married Maureen Elizabeth Donneky at Fulham towards the end of 1971.[10] The couple divorced. Price and Donneky had one daughter, Elizabeth.[11][12]

In 1990 Price married his current wife Alison Thomas and they also had a daughter.[13]

In 1992 Price was living in London with his wife and two daughters.[14] In 2010 Price dedicated his November Bulls Head show to his first wife Maureen Price, following her funeral.[citation needed]

In media

Film appearances

TV appearances

  • Ready, Steady, Go! – as the Alan Price Set (9 December 1966)
  • Beat-Club – 1967–68
  • Top of the Pops – 15 February 1968, performing "Don't Stop The Carnival" with the Alan Price Set[15]
  • Disco – Episode No. 1.5 as Price and Fame (1971)
  • The Two Ronnies – as himself (1972) eight episodes
  • Saturday Night Live – as himself (April 1977)
  • Heartbeat – Frankie Rio (a "shifty" musician) "In the Bleak Midwinter" (2004)

Discography

[16][17]

Studio albums

  • The Price to Play The Alan Price Set (Decca) 1966
  • A Price on His Head (Decca) 1967
  • O Lucky Man! (Warner Bros.) 1973 – US no. 117[18]
  • Savaloy Dip (Reprise) 1974 (on 8-track tape only, recalled and never released until 2016) – (Omnivore Recordings) 2016[19]
  • Between Today and Yesterday (Warner Bros.) 1974 – UK no. 9[4]
  • Metropolitan Man (Polydor) 1975
  • Shouts Across the Street (Polydor) 1976
  • Alan Price (Polydor) 1977 – US no. 187[18]
  • England My England (Jet) 1978, released in the US as Lucky Day
  • Rising Sun (Jet) 1980
  • Geordie Roots & Branches (MWM Productions) 1983
  • Travellin' Man (Trojan Records) 1986
  • Liberty (Ariola) 1989
  • Based on a True Story (Apaloosa) 2002

Live albums

  • Performing Price (Polydor) 1975
  • A Rock'n'Roll Night At The Royal Court Theatre (Ket Records) 1980

Collaborative albums

Compilations

  • This Price is Right (Parrot) 1968
  • The World of Alan Price (Decca) 1970
  • Geordie Boy: The Anthology (Castle Music) 2002

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions
US AUS UK[20]
1965 "Any Day Now"
1966 "I Put a Spell on You" 80 35 9
"Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" 73 11
"Willow Weep for Me"
1967 "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" 49 4
"The House That Jack Built" 45 4
"Shame" 45
1968 "Don't Stop the Carnival" 13
"When I Was a Cowboy"
"Love Story"
1969 "The Trimdon Grange Explosion"
"Falling in Love Again"
1970 "Sunshine and Rain (The Name of the Game)"
1971 "Rosetta" (with Georgie Fame) 91 11
"Follow Me" (with Georgie Fame)
1973 "Don't Hit Me When I'm Down" (with Georgie Fame)
"Lucky Man!"
"Poor People"
1974 "Jarrow Song" 6
"In Times Like These"
1975 "Mama Divine"
"Papers"
1976 "Goodnight Irene"
"Kissed Away the Night"
1977 "Rainbow's End"
"I Wanna Dance"
"I've Been Hurt"
"This Is Your Lucky Day"
"Meet the People"
"I Almost Lost My Mind" (with Rob Hoeke)
1978 "Just for You" 43
"England My England"
"I Love You Too"
1979 "Baby of Mine" 32
1980 "The House of the Rising Sun"
"Love You True"
"When My Little Girl Is Smiling"
"Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum"
1981 "Love Is a Miracle"
"Down at World's End"
1982 "Time and Tide"
1986 "Jarrow Song '86"
"Guess Who"
"Papers"
1989 "Changes" 54
"Liberty"
"Fool's in Love"
2001 "Love Is a Miracle"

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "Alan Price autobiography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Alan Price film and TV appearances". imdb.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Alan Price TV appearances". tv.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (w19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 438. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ^ "A Gigster's Life. Alan Price and the Electric Blues Company". discogs.com. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Flying Music tours". flyingmusic.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  7. ^ Fran, Leslie (October 2009). Bobby Tench to play tour with alan Price. Blues in Britain. pp. 18 Vol 1 issue 94.
  8. ^ "Alan Price Andy Capp credits". guidetomusicaltheatre.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Alan Price". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Alan Price Online | Alan and daughter Elizabeth". Apphotos.absoluteelsewhere.net. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Alan Price".
  14. ^ Carinthia West (9 August 1992). "How We Met: 46. Georgie Fame and Alan Price - Arts and Entertainment". The Independent. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ "Alan Price discography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  17. ^ "The Alan Price Discography". absoluteelsewhere.net. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Alan Price, Billboard 200 charts". allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  19. ^ "Savaloy Dip". Omnivore Recordings. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Alan Price Online - Discography: Page 1".
  21. ^ "Film | Anthony Asquith Memorial Award in 1974". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 21 November 2016.

References

  • Burdon, Eric. I Used to Be an Animal, but I'm All Right Now. Faber and Faber, 1986. ISBN 9780571129522
  • Burdon, Eric (with J. Marshall Craig). Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: A Memoir. Thunder's Mouth Press, 2001. ISBN 1-56025-330-4
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