Barry Blue

For the rapper, see Gunshot (band).
Not to be confused with Berry Blue.

Barry Blue
Barry Blue on the Dutch television programme 'Popzien', 8 June 1973
Barry Blue on the Dutch television programme 'Popzien', 8 June 1973
Background information
Birth nameBarry Ian Green
Born (1950-12-04) 4 December 1950 (age 74)
London, England
GenresPop, glam rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, record producer
InstrumentVocalist
LabelsBell Records, Decca, Private Stock, Jet, Bruton Music
Websitehttps://BarryBlue.co.uk

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]

Blue has also been a prolific songwriter and producer for many artists and has had over forty worldwide hits, including those by Andrea Bocelli, Diana Ross, Celine Dion, The Saturdays, The Wanted, and Pixie Lott. In film and television, Blue has provided soundtracks and/or themes for productions including Eyes of Laura Mars, The Long Good Friday, and Escape to Athena.[2]

Early days

At the age of 13, Blue (born Barry Ian Green) made his first television appearance with his school band, the Dark Knights, performing on Stubby Kaye's Silver Star Show, a weekly children's talent show hosted by Kaye via Granada TV. By the age of 14, Blue had signed with record producer Norrie Paramor, whose 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 band featured Mick Box and David Byron, and was 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, under the direction of their manager Robert Stigwood.[citation needed]

In 1970, Blue signed as a songwriter to ATV-Kirshner located in Bruton Street, London, where he joined a group of professional songwriters that included Lynsey de Paul and Ron Roker. One of their earliest songs was "Sugarloaf Hill",[4] recorded by the reggae artist Del Davis. Other early career notable songs co-written by Blue and de Paul include "Tip of My Tongue" for the British group Brotherly Love,[5] as well as female vocal trio Ellie, and "House of Cards" recorded by a number of artists including John Christie, Australian artist Rob Guest, and the D.J. Tony Blackburn. Another from this period included "Crossword Puzzle", also co-written with de Paul, and which led to an appearance on Top of the Pops for Irish singer Dana. At the time, he was still using his real surname of Green.[6]

Blue wrote his first UK Singles Chart hit back in 1972 with de Paul, titled "Sugar Me". The song was originally written for Peter Noone, but de Paul's boyfriend at the time, Dudley Moore, suggested that she should take a demo version to manager Gordon Mills, who told her she should record it herself. The song also charted in the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium. "Sugar Me" was also covered in the US by Nancy Sinatra[7] and Claudine Longet.[8]

Career

He released his first record in June 1971, under his real name of Barry Green, on the Ember label titled "Together", written by Jean-Pierre Mirouze,[9] taken from the French film Le mariage collectif.[10] He signed to Decca Records and released four singles between 1971 and 1974, including "Papa Do".[11] In a 2020 interview, he revealed that he decided to adopt Blue as a stage name after speaking with a record company employee who told him that green is considered an unlucky colour by circus performers, and because all the three singles released as Barry Green had been "quite unsuccessful", he eventually decided to be known as Barry Blue instead.[12]

His first UK chart success as a performer came with the change of name, and a record deal with Bell Records in 1973.[2] He had five hit singles, "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" (no. 2, 1973; co-written with de Paul), "Do You Wanna Dance?" (no. 7, 1973), "School Love" (no. 11, 1974), and "Miss Hit and Run" (no. 26, 1974),[13] followed by his final Top 40 hit in the UK Singles Chart in October 1974, "Hot Shot" (co-written with de Paul), which climbed to no. 23 in the UK[14] and reached no. 3 in Zimbabwe.[15] Blue returned to the UK charts in 1989 with a remixed version of "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)".[16] Throughout 1973–74, Blue appeared on many major TV shows and tours alongside artists such as Queen, ABBA, and Status Quo.

Blue achieved a million seller in 1975 with "Kiss Me Kiss Your Baby", recorded by Brotherhood of Man. Two years later, in 1977, he co-wrote "Devil's Gun", a song by C. J. & Company from the album of the same name. The song was no. 1 on the Billboard disco/dance chart for five weeks. The single also peaked at no. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, and no. 2 on the R&B chart.[2] Written by Blue, Ron Roker, and Gerry Shury, and produced by Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey, the song is notable for being the first record played at the opening of Studio 54 on 26 April 1977 by DJ Richie Kaczor.[3] The instrumental portions of "Devil's Gun" were featured prominently in the international version of the film Crocodile. It also featured in the film The Real Bruce Lee. In 2016, the song was included in The Get Down soundtrack, and the following year it was featured in the film Borg vs McEnroe.

One of his major production successes was the multi-racial, Anglo-US 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".[17][18][19] Other funk songs produced by Blue include "Funk Theory"[20] by Rokotto,[21] which reached no. 49 in 1978, "Somebody Help Me Out"[22] by Beggar and Co, which reached no. 15 in the UK in 1981, and "Say Yeah"[23] by The Limit, which peaked at no. 17 on the UK Singles Chart and no. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Dance/Club Play chart in 1985. In 1989, under the artist name Cry Sisco!,[24] Blue had another minor hit with a song called "Afro Dizzi Act", which reached no. 42 on the UK Singles Chart.[25][26]

Selected songs for other artists

song title artist year songwriter producer album (a) / single (s)
"I Hope and I Pray" Alvin Stardust & Sheila Walsh 1986 Brenner, Lippell, Moss Barry Blue (s) see title
"E Sara' A Settembre (Someone like You)" Andrea Bocelli 2001 B. Blue, A. Salerno, R. Smith (a) Cieli di Toscana
"Old Flame Burnin'" Andy Gillin 1989 B. Blue, J. Cavanagh Uno Hoo (s) see title
"We All Work Out" Beggar and Co 1982 Jonathan Perkins Barry Blue (s) see title
"Trop jeune à dix-sept ans" Celine Dion 1984 Barry Blue, P. Greedus Eddy Marnay Rudi Pascal (a) Les oiseaux du bonheur
"Who" Diana Ross 1982 Barry Blue, Rod Bowkett Diana Ross, Michael Jackson (a) Silk Electric
"Escaping" Dina Carroll 1996 Barry Blue, Robyn Smith Nigel Lowis (a) Only Human
"What a Bitch Is Love" Marcia Hines 1982 Paul Greedus, Barry Blue Dave MacKay (s) see title
"Love the Way You Love Me" Marti Caine 1981 Blue, Greedus Blueytunes Productions (a) Point of View
"The Little Things" Matt Monro 1976 Blue, Worth John Burgess (s) see title
"Tremblin'" Mel Smith 1986 Barry Blue, Paul Greedus Pete Wingfield (s) see title
"No Time to Be Hurt" Pixie Lott 2009 Barry Blue, Pixie Lott Barry Blue (a) Turn It Up (unreleased)
"Just a Disillusion" Sandie Shaw 1976 W. & M. J. P. Vermuelem Barry Blue (s) see title
"Flashback" The Saturdays 2010 The Saturdays Barry Blue (s) Ego
"Radiator Rock" The Sting-rays 1982 Paul Greedus, Barry Blue Paul Greedus (s) see title
"Replace Your Heart" The Wanted 2010 Cathy Dennis, Kasia Livingston Barry Blue, Greg Kurstin (a) The Wanted
"Don't You Remember When" Vera Lynn 1976 De Paul, Blue De Paul (s) see title
"Travelin' On" Acker Bilk & Paramount Jazz Band 1972 Blik, Green, Mazi Terry Brown (a) Acker Pie
"Je compte jusqu'à toi" Patricia Kaas 1997 Barry Blue, Robyn Smith, Zazie Jefferey (C.J.) Vanston (a) Dans ma chair
"Love in Me" Danni Minogue 2009 Blue, Mallozzi, Sabiu Rapino Bros (a) The 1995 Sessions
"New York Moon" Louise 1997 Barry Blue, Robyn Smith Steve Levine (a) Woman in Me
"Love Bomb" Cheryl Lynn 1980 De Paul, B. Blue Barry Blue (s) see title

Chart hits as a songwriter

Chart hits as a producer

  • "Fairytale" for Dana (1976)[48]
  • "Boogie Nights" for Heatwave (1977)[49]
  • "Have I the Right" for Dead End Kids (1977)[50]
  • "Too Hot to Handle" / "Slip Your Disc to This" for Heatwave (1977)[51]
  • "The Groove Line" for Heatwave (1977)[52]
  • "Mind Blowing Decisions" for Heatwave (1978)[53]
  • "Always and Forever" for Heatwave (1978)[54]
  • "Something's Cooking in the Kitchen" for Dana (1979)[55]
  • "I've Got Faith in You" for Cheryl Lynn (USA R&B hit) (1980)[56]
  • "(Somebody) Help Me Out" for Beggar and Co (1981)[57]
  • "Cheers Then" for Bananarama (1982)[58]
  • "Say Yeah" for Limit (ft. Gwen Guthrie) (1985)[59]
  • "Mony Mony" for Amazulu (1987)[60]
  • "Afro Dizzi Act" for Cry Sisco! (1989)[61]

Film, television and advertising

Blue has provided soundtracks and/or themes for various productions:

TV themes / songs film themes / songs
The Golden Shot

Alexander the Greatest

Shirley's World

Lift Off

Billy Liar

Come Midnight Monday

Praying Mantis

Puhd Aineet

Dia Spot Autogrip

Oppenheimer

Faszinationen

Sharp Intake of Breath

Sex in the City

Breaking Bad

The Getdown

Path to 911

Only Fools and Horses

Coronation Street

The Benny Hill Show

Eastenders

Escape to Athena

Eyes of Laura Mars

The Long Good Friday

The Boy Who Won the Pools

Chico and the Man

Felicity

Ishikawa Hiduni

Kids World

The Sweeney

Girls, Girls, Girls

Mackenzie Appointed

Mompti

Side by Side

The Get Down

The Real Bruce Lee

Crocodile

Borg vs. McEnroe

Anita & Me

Top Boy

Money Heist

British Airways

Walls

Honda

Ford

Fabreze

B & Q

Airbus Industries

Camelot

McDonald's

Paramount Pictures

Wella

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details
Barry Blue
  • Released: 1974
  • Label: Bell
  • Formats: LP, MC
Hot Shots
  • Released: October 1974
  • Label: Bell
  • Formats: LP, MC, 8-track
Rock 'n' Roll (with Miki Antony and Dave Rowberry)
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: Regency
  • Formats: LP
Disco Happening (with Miki Antony and Tom Parker)
Songs from the Heart Book

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Dancin' on a Saturday Night
Dancin' on a Saturday Night – The Best of Barry Blue
  • Released: July 1977
  • Label: Pickwick
  • Formats: LP, MC, 8-track
The Best of & The Rest Of
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Action Replay
  • Formats: CD
Dancin' on a Saturday Night – The Very Best of Barry Blue
  • Released: May 1993
  • Label: Music Club
  • Formats: CD, MC
Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Hallmark
  • Formats: CD
Greatest Hits
  • Released: February 1999
  • Label: Repertoire
  • Formats: CD
The Singles Collection
  • Released: December 2002
  • Label: 7T's
  • Formats: CD
Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)... Best Of
The Very Best of Barry Blue
Out of the Blue – 50 Years of Discovery
  • Released: 28 May 2021
  • Label: Edsel
  • Formats: 4xCD, digital download

EPs

Title Album details
Boy in the Moon
  • Released: 24 May 2019
  • Label: Favoured Nations
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions
UK
[62] 		AUS
[63] 		AUT
[64] 		BE (FL)
[65] 		BE (WA)
[66] 		GER
[67] 		IRE
[68] 		NL
[69] 		SPA
[70] 		ZIM
[71]
"Together" (as Barry Green; from the film Collective Marriage) 1971 — — — — — — — — — —
"I Wanna Join the Cavalry" (as Barry Green) — — — — — — — — — —
"Alexander the Greatest" (as Barry Green) — — — — — — — — — —
"Papa Do" (as Barry Green) 1972 — — — — — — — — — —
"Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" 1973 2 2 3 13 15 9 4 11 19 10
"Shake-a-Tail" (as Big Wheel) — — — — — — — — — —
"Do You Wanna Dance?" 7 38 — 9 32 11 14 11 — —
"School Love" 1974 11 31 — — — — — — — 9
"Miss Hit and Run" 26 — — — — — — — — —
"Hot Shot" 23 — — — — — — — — 3
"You Make Me Happy (When I'm Blue)" 1975 — — — — — — — — — —
"If I Show You I Can Dance" — — — — — — — — — —
"Devil's Gun" (Germany-only release) — — — — — — — — — —
"Happy Christmas to You from Me" (with Lynsey de Paul) — — — — — — — — — —
"Tough Kids" 1976 — — — — — — — — — —
"Billy" 1977 — — — — — — — — — —
"A Lover Lovin' You" — — — — — — — — — —
"Dancin' (on a Saturday Night) '89" 1989 86 — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Honours, awards, and achievements

  • 1965: Silver Star (Stubby Kaye’s talent show)
  • 1973: Carl Allan Award – Record of The Year (Dancing’ On A Saturday Night)
  • 1977: 6 BMI / ASCAP Awards (Heatwave USA)
  • 1977: Councillor – BASCA
  • 1977: Music Week – Market Survey Top Record Producer
  • 1986: Founded Aosis Studios in London[72]
  • 1989: Founded The Escape Artist Company[73]
  • 1995: Founded Connect 2 Music[74]
  • 2007: Founded Plan 8 Music[75]
  • 2010: Director, PRS for Music Ltd (2010–2019)
  • 2014: Director, Karma Songs[76]

References

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  76. ^ [1] [permanent dead link‍]
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