Christopher Neil

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For other people with similar names, see Chris Neal (disambiguation).

Christopher Neil
Birth nameChristopher Neil
Born1948 (age 75–76)
OriginAthy, Ireland
GenresPop rock, soft rock
Occupation(s)Producer, songwriter, actor
Years active1972–present
LabelsRak

Christopher Neil (born 1948) is a British record producer, songwriter, singer, and actor.

Neil has produced records for A-ha, Amazulu, Bonnie Tyler, Celine Dion, Cher, Dollar, Edyta Górniak, Gerry Rafferty, Jennifer Rush, José Carreras, Leo Sayer, Marillion, Mike and the Mechanics, Morten Harket, Paul Carrack, Paul Young, Rod Stewart, Shakin' Stevens, Sheena Easton, the Moody Blues, Ian Thomas, Wax and Toyah Willcox.

In 1973, Neil's song "Help It Along" finished third in the BBC's annual A Song for Europe contest, performed by Cliff Richard. The track was a hit single later in the year for Cliff and the title of his 1974 live album.

Neil started in the mid-sixties as a singer with Manchester group the Chuckles. In 1972 he released a solo album Where I Belong on RAK Records.[1]

Neil worked as an actor during the 1970s, playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Ginger in Leaping Ginger at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, before working full-time as a record producer. In 1976, he performed the role of the Eva Peron Fund Manager on the original studio album of the musical Evita. His song "And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)" was given to the character Che in subsequent stage productions.

Neil's film roles included The Sex Thief (1973), Eskimo Nell (1975), and Three for All (1975), and in 1976 he starred in the British TV series Rock Follies. In 1977 and 1978 he starred in two of the three 'Adventures of...' British sex comedy films: Adventures of a Private Eye and the final film in the trilogy, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate. In addition to taking the lead role, he wrote and sang the theme songs to the two films. From 1976, Neil was the host of the BBC children's programme You and Me.[2]

Discography

Year Album
1972 Where I Belong

Hit singles as producer

Christopher Neil has produced many songs that reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart or the US Billboard Hot 100:

Year Artist Title UK Singles Chart Billboard Hot 100
1976 Paul Nicholas "Dancing with the Captain"[3] 8 —
"Grandma's Party"[3] 9 —
1977 "Heaven on the 7th Floor"[3][4] 40 6
1978 Marshall Hain "Dancing in the City"[5][6] 3 43
1979 Dollar "Love's Gotta Hold on Me"[7] 4 —
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand"[7] 9 —
1980 Sheena Easton "Modern Girl"[8][9] 8 18
"9 to 5" / "Morning Train"[8][9] 3 1
Dennis Waterman "I Could Be So Good for You"[10] 3 —
1981 Sheena Easton "For Your Eyes Only"[8][9] 8 4
1982 Wavelength "Hurry Home"[11][12] 17
1983 Shakin' Stevens "Cry Just a Little Bit"[13][14] 3 67
1984 Shakin' Stevens & Bonnie Tyler "A Rockin' Good Way"[15] 5 —
Shakin' Stevens "Teardrops"[13] 5 —
1985 Amazulu "Don't You Just Know It" 15 —
Mike + The Mechanics "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)"[16][17] 21 6
1986 Amazulu "Too Good to Be Forgotten"[18] 5 —
Mike + The Mechanics "All I Need Is a Miracle"[16][17] 53 5
1987 Paul Carrack "Don't Shed a Tear" 60 9
Wax "Bridge to Your Heart" 12 —
1989 Mike + The Mechanics "The Living Years"[16][17] 2 1
1990 Celine Dion "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" 72 4
1994 "Think Twice"[19][20] 1 95
1995 Mike + The Mechanics "Over My Shoulder" 12 —
Cher "Walking in Memphis" 11 —
2004 Duncan James & Keedie "I Believe My Heart" 2 —

See also

References

  1. ^ "Christopher Neil – Where I Belong (LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  2. ^ "Search Results - BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
  3. ^ a b c "The Official Charts Company – Paul Nicholas". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Allmusic ((( Paul Nicholas > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  5. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Marshall Hain – Dancin' In The City". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Allmusic ((( Marshall-Hain > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  7. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company – Dollar". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "The Official Charts Company – Sheena Easton". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  9. ^ a b c "Allmusic ((( Sheena Easton > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  10. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Dennis Waterman – I Could Be So Good For You". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  11. ^ "WAVELENGTH | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  12. ^ "Wavelength - Hurry Home". Discogs.
  13. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company – Shakin' Stevens". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Allmusic ((( Shakin' Stevens > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  15. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Shaky And Bonnie – A Rockin' Good Way". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  16. ^ a b c "The Official Charts Company – Mike and the Mechanics". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  17. ^ a b c "Allmusic ((( Mike + the Mechanics > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  18. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Amazulu – Too Good To Be Forgotten". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  19. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Celine Dion – Think Twice". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  20. ^ "Allmusic ((( Celine Dion > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
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