Barry Blue

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For other people with the same name, see Gunshot (band).
Not to be confused with Berry Blue.
Barry Blue
Barry Blue in the Dutch television program Popzien, 8 June 1973
Barry Blue in the Dutch television program Popzien, 8 June 1973
Background information
Birth nameBarry Ian Green
Born (1950-12-04) 4 December 1950 (age 73)
London, England
GenresPop, glam rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsBell Records

Barry Blue (born Barry Ian Green, 4 December 1950)[1][2] is an English singer, producer, and songwriter. As an artist he is best known for his hit songs "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" and "Do You Wanna Dance" (both 1973).[2]

Early career

At the age of 14, Blue signed to record producer Norrie Paramor whose erstwhile assistant was Tim Rice – the producer of Blue's first song "Rainmaker Girl",[3] which became a hit for Gene Pitney in the United States. Later he became a bassist in the line-up of Spice, the precursor to the heavy rock band Uriah Heep.[2] He followed this in 1966 with a two-year period in A&R at the Bee Gees' publishing company Abigail Music. In 1970, Blue signed as a songwriter to ATV-Kirshner. His first major success was "Sugar Me" (1972),[4] which became a hit for Lynsey de Paul,[5] and was the first of a series of songs that they co-wrote. At the time he was still using his real surname of Green.[4]

Career

He signed to Bell Records in 1973 billed as Barry Blue,[2] and had five hit singles, including "School Love" (1974).[6] His final Top 40 hit in the UK Singles Chart occurred in October 1974, when "Hot Shot", another song co-penned with de Paul, climbed to number 23,[7] and number 3 in Zimbabwe.[8]

Further success came with the production of the British funk/soul band Heatwave, who enjoyed hits in the UK and US with "Boogie Nights", "Always and Forever", 'Mind Blowing Decisions", and "The Groove Line".[9][10][11] In 1989, under the banner of Cry Sisco!, Blue had another minor UK hit with a song called "Afro Dizzi Act", which reached number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.[12][13]

Blue continued to work in the music industry as a record producer for other artists, including Bananarama, Toto Coelo and Cheryl Lynn.[2]

Blue has also been a prolific songwriter for other acts. Among his hit compositions are:

He has written / produced albums for many artists and has had over forty world-wide hits including Andrea Bocelli, Diana Ross, Celine Dion, The Saturdays, The Wanted, and Pixie Lott. In film and television, Blue has provided scores and/or themes for productions including The Eyes of Laura Mars, Long Good Friday, and Escape to Athena.[2]

A compilation album, Greatest Hits was released on Repertoire Records in 2002.[20] Blue was the founder of Connect 2 Music, now owned by Universal Music Publishing.[2] He is a supporter of the creator's rights in music of all genres and styles, and is dedicating his time to become more pro-active in this pursuit. From 2010, Blue has served on the board of directors of PRS for Music.[21][22]

Discography

Singles

  • 1973: "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" UK No. 2, Australia No. 2, Austria No. 3, Germany No. 9, Zimbabwe No. 10, Netherlands No. 11, Belgium No. 13
  • 1973: "Do You Wanna Dance" UK No. 7
  • 1974: "School Love" UK No. 11, Danish No. 3, Australia No. 31, Zimbabwe No. 9, No. 5 on the Hessischer Rundfunk Hitparade International[23]
  • 1974: "Miss Hit and Run" UK No. 26
  • 1974: "Hot Shot" UK No. 23, Zimbabwe No. 3, No. 8 on the Hessischer Rundfunk Hitparade International[24]
  • 1975: "You Make Me Happy (When I'm Blue)"
  • 1975: "If I Show You I Can Dance"
  • 1975: "Happy Christmas to You from Me" (with Lynsey de Paul, credited as Lynsey De Paul/Barry Blue[25]), covered by Japanese artist Microstar[26]
  • 1976: "Tough Kids"
  • 1977: "Billy"
  • 1977: "A Lover Lovin' You"
  • 1989: "Dancin' On a Saturday Night '89" UK No. 86[7][27][28]

Albums

  • 1974: Barry Blue
  • 1974: Hot Shots[29]

References

  1. ^ "Barry Blue". IMDb.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Barry Blue (4 December 1950). "Barry Blue – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Gene Pitney – Run Run Roadrunner (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Lynsey De Paul – Sugar Me (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 145. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ "Barry Blue – School Love (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  7. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 65. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. ^ "Barry Blue - School Love / Hi-Cool Woman - Bell - UK - BELL 1345". 45cat.com. 31 May 1975. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Heatwave – Boogie Nights (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Heatwave – Always And Forever / Mind Blowing Decisions (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Heatwave – The Groove Line (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  12. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 129. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  13. ^ "Cry Sisco! – Afro Dizzi Act (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  14. ^ "Brotherhood of Man – Kiss Me, Kiss Your Baby (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Total Coelo* – I Eat Cannibals (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Five Star – All Fall Down (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  17. ^ "Beautiful Life by Lydia Canaan". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Lydia Canaan - Beautiful Life". Discogs.com. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  19. ^ "Dina Carroll – Escaping (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  20. ^ "Greatest Hits [Repertoire] – Barry Blue : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  21. ^ "New Directors, a New Chief Executive and New Challenges". Prsformusic.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  22. ^ "M meets... Barry Blue | M Magazine: PRS for Music online magazine". M-magazine.co.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  23. ^ "Hitparade International". Hessencharts.de. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Hitparade International". Hessencharts.de. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Lynsey De Paul / Barry Blue - Happy Christmas To You From Me / Stick To You - Jet - UK - JET 762". 45cat.com. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  26. ^ "Microstar (2) - Night Flight (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  27. ^ "ChartArchive – Barry Blue". Chartstats.com. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  28. ^ "Barry Blue Discography – UK". 45cat. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  29. ^ "Barry Blue Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 January 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barry Blue.
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