Chris Thompson
Encyclopedia
Chris Thompson, also known as Chris Hamlet Thompson (born Christopher Hamlet Thompson, 9 March 1947) is an English
singer and guitarist
known both for his work with Manfred Mann's Earth Band
and for his solo
accomplishments.
, Kent
but raised in New Zealand
. His early musical experiences were whilst still at school with the band The Paragons that played at weekly church youth club dances. Later, as his talent became clear, the band was reformed as Dynasty with other musicians and achieved much local success on the New Zealand music scene. Chris Thompson's last band in New Zealand was Mandrake, formed with university friends who played the Friday and Saturday night dances in and around Hamilton City. Chris was one of pop music's "nice guys" and was respected as an excellent guitarist and stage performer.
He went to Australia before returning to England in 1973 to pursue a musical career, eventually joining Manfred Mann's Earth Band
in 1976.
In 1978, he was featured in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
, providing lead vocals for the song "Thunder Child".
After several years with Manfred Mann's Earth Band
, Thompson left in 1979 and formed the Los Angeles based outfit Night
, which enjoyed two hits during its lifetime. One of them, "If You Remember Me," the theme song for Franco Zeffirelli
's remake of The Champ
, was initially credited solely to Thompson; later pressings of the single were credited to "Chris Thompson and Night." After the band broke up in 1982, he rejoined the Earth Band.
In 1980, he co-wrote and sang backing vocals on the track "No Stoppin' Us Now" with Patrick Simmons
and Michael McDonald
, on the Doobie Brothers' album One Step Closer. In 1983 he contributed vocals to Simmons' solo album Arcade as well as co-writing several of the tracks.
In 1981, Thompson released his debut album, Out Of The Night. This was followed by five more albums, most recently Won't Lie Down in 2001.
In 1986, Chris was one of the four co-writers of the hit song "You're the Voice" - the others being Andy Qunta of Australian new wave outfit Icehouse
, erstwhile Procol Harum
lyricist Keith Reid
and respected backing vocalist Maggie Ryder
. He hoped to record the song in London but was turned down by record companies there who stated the song was "not commercial". Chris sent a demo to John Farnham
(another Antipodean-raised Englishman) who had recently come off a five-year stint fronting the Little River Band
. Farnham liked the song and agreed to record it for his forthcoming album Whispering Jack
. Farnham's release of "You're the Voice" was a worldwide hit reaching top ten positions in many countries across the world.
Also in 1986 Thompson sang vocals on a solo album by ex-Genesis
guitarist Steve Hackett
. The album featured performances by artists such as Brian May
(Queen
), Pete Trewavas
(Marillion
), Ian Mosley
(also from Marillion
), and Bonnie Tyler
. However, the album, entitled Feedback 86
, was not released until 2002.
In 1990, Thompson recorded the single, "This Is The Moment", as the official theme song for the 1990 Commonwealth Games
in Auckland.
In 1995, Chris performed "You're The Voice" in The Netherlands at the World Liberty Concert
as the grand finale of this event.
In 2006, he joined Jeff Wayne
for a second time to tour as The Voice of Humanity in the live version of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. According to the special features of the DVD Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds - Live on Stage, Chris designed some artwork for the show.
Thompson has been featured on several albums by artists such as Alan Parsons
, Jan Hammer
, Steve Hackett
, Bonnie Tyler
, Mike Oldfield
, and Sarah Brightman
, as well as providing back up vocals for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, and later for Brian May
of Queen
, during his first few solo concerts, in South America
in 1992.
As a songwriter, his greatest success has been co-writing John Farnham
's single "You're the Voice
."
Thompson has also been involved with the SAS band (Spike's All Star Band) where he has performed numerous songs, especially from his repertoire with Manfred Mann's Earth Band, such as "Blinded By the Light
".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
known both for his work with Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
and for his solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
accomplishments.
Biography
Thompson was born on 9 March 1947 in AshfordAshford
Ashford is a relatively common English placename: it goes back to Old English æscet, indicating a ford near a clump of ash trees. It may refer to:-Places:In Australia:*Ashford, New South Wales*Ashford, South Australia...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
but raised in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. His early musical experiences were whilst still at school with the band The Paragons that played at weekly church youth club dances. Later, as his talent became clear, the band was reformed as Dynasty with other musicians and achieved much local success on the New Zealand music scene. Chris Thompson's last band in New Zealand was Mandrake, formed with university friends who played the Friday and Saturday night dances in and around Hamilton City. Chris was one of pop music's "nice guys" and was respected as an excellent guitarist and stage performer.
He went to Australia before returning to England in 1973 to pursue a musical career, eventually joining Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
in 1976.
In 1978, he was featured in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a 1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne, retelling the story of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Its format is progressive rock and string orchestra, using narration and leitmotifs to carry the story via rhyming melodic lyrics that express...
, providing lead vocals for the song "Thunder Child".
After several years with Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
, Thompson left in 1979 and formed the Los Angeles based outfit Night
Night (band)
Night was a rock band formed in 1978 in Los Angeles whose personnel were veteran British-based session musicians.-History:Night's vocalists Stevie Vann and Chris Thompson had met when Vann had provided backing vocals for the 1978 album Watch by Manfred Mann's Earth Band then fronted by Thompson...
, which enjoyed two hits during its lifetime. One of them, "If You Remember Me," the theme song for Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
's remake of The Champ
The Champ (1979 film)
The Champ is a 1979 remake, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, of the 1931 Academy Award-winning film of the same name which was directed by King Vidor. It stars Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway, and Ricky Schroder. It is also the final film for actress Joan Blondell....
, was initially credited solely to Thompson; later pressings of the single were credited to "Chris Thompson and Night." After the band broke up in 1982, he rejoined the Earth Band.
In 1980, he co-wrote and sang backing vocals on the track "No Stoppin' Us Now" with Patrick Simmons
Patrick Simmons
Patrick Simmons is an American musician best known as a guitarist and vocalist for the rock band The Doobie Brothers. His fingerstyle guitar playing complements the strumming style of Tom Johnston. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, he has been the band's only consistent member throughout their tenure...
and Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
, on the Doobie Brothers' album One Step Closer. In 1983 he contributed vocals to Simmons' solo album Arcade as well as co-writing several of the tracks.
In 1981, Thompson released his debut album, Out Of The Night. This was followed by five more albums, most recently Won't Lie Down in 2001.
In 1986, Chris was one of the four co-writers of the hit song "You're the Voice" - the others being Andy Qunta of Australian new wave outfit Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
, erstwhile Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
lyricist Keith Reid
Keith Reid
Keith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
and respected backing vocalist Maggie Ryder
Maggie Ryder
Maggie Ryder is an English singer, principally known as a backing singer for bands such as Eurythmics and Queen.Ryder had a solo record deal with Polydor Records in the 1970s and released a self-titled album in 1978. She worked as a backing singer and songwriter through the Eighties...
. He hoped to record the song in London but was turned down by record companies there who stated the song was "not commercial". Chris sent a demo to John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
(another Antipodean-raised Englishman) who had recently come off a five-year stint fronting the Little River Band
Little River Band
Little River Band is an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in early 1975.The group chose the name after passing a road sign leading to the Victorian township of Little River, near Geelong, on the way to a performance. Little River Band enjoyed sustained commercial success in not only...
. Farnham liked the song and agreed to record it for his forthcoming album Whispering Jack
Whispering Jack
Whispering Jack is the twelfth studio album by Australian adult contemporary pop singer John Farnham. It was produced by Ross Fraser, and released on 20 October 1986, which peaked at #1 on the Australian Kent Music Report Album Charts...
. Farnham's release of "You're the Voice" was a worldwide hit reaching top ten positions in many countries across the world.
Also in 1986 Thompson sang vocals on a solo album by ex-Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
guitarist Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
. The album featured performances by artists such as Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
(Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
), Pete Trewavas
Pete Trewavas
Pete Trewavas is an English musician. He joined Marillion in 1982, taking over the role of bassist, from Diz Minnett, while acting occasionally as a backing vocalist and acoustic guitarist.Although he was born in Middlesbrough, Trewavas spent much of his childhood in the Buckinghamshire town of...
(Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
), Ian Mosley
Ian Mosley
Ian F. Mosley is a drummer in the progressive rock band, Marillion.Mosley joined the band in 1984 after a long search for a replacement of Mick Pointer, who had been left the band in 1983. Mosley had previously, among others, played with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, both on two of his...
(also from Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
), and Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
. However, the album, entitled Feedback 86
Feedback 86
Feedback 86 is a solo album by guitarist Steve Hackett. The album is a collection of songs written in 1986 but put on the shelf. Some of the songs were supposed to be on the aborted second GTR album.-Track listing:...
, was not released until 2002.
In 1990, Thompson recorded the single, "This Is The Moment", as the official theme song for the 1990 Commonwealth Games
1990 Commonwealth Games
The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
in Auckland.
In 1995, Chris performed "You're The Voice" in The Netherlands at the World Liberty Concert
World Liberty Concert
The World Liberty Concert was a concert that took place on May 8, 1995 next to the John Frost Bridge in Arnhem in the Netherlands. The concert was held in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Europe and is the largest memorial concert ever held in the Netherlands.Performances were...
as the grand finale of this event.
In 2006, he joined Jeff Wayne
Jeff Wayne
Jeffry "Jeff" Wayne, born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, is a musician best known for Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, his musical version of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds...
for a second time to tour as The Voice of Humanity in the live version of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. According to the special features of the DVD Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds - Live on Stage, Chris designed some artwork for the show.
Thompson has been featured on several albums by artists such as Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons is a British audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant albums, including The Beatles' Abbey Road and Let It Be, as well as Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon for which Pink Floyd credit him as an important contributor...
, Jan Hammer
Jan Hammer
Jan Hammer is a composer, pianist and keyboardist. He first gained his most visible audience while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970s, as well as his film scores for television and film including "Miami Vice Theme" and "Crockett's Theme", from the popular 1980s...
, Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
, Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
, and Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
, as well as providing back up vocals for the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, and later for Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, during his first few solo concerts, in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in 1992.
As a songwriter, his greatest success has been co-writing John Farnham
John Farnham
John Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as...
's single "You're the Voice
You're the Voice
As a lead promotion for their first live album Rock the House Live! in 1991, US rock band Heart released their live version of "You're the Voice" as a single. It was captured during the US leg of their Brigade world tour in November 1990...
."
Thompson has also been involved with the SAS band (Spike's All Star Band) where he has performed numerous songs, especially from his repertoire with Manfred Mann's Earth Band, such as "Blinded By the Light
Blinded by the Light
"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen, although it is mostly known by its 1977 #1 hit version recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. It was released in the United Kingdom in August 1976, where it reached No...
".
With Manfred Mann's Earth Band
- The Roaring SilenceThe Roaring SilenceThe Roaring Silence is an album released in 1976 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Like other Earth Band albums, this includes material by other composers...
(1976) - Watch (1978)
- Angel StationAngel StationAngel Station is an album released in 1979 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Angel Station features a six-note descending theme in most of the songs on the album, woven into the context of each song in a different way. "Hollywood Town" and "You Are, I Am" share a common tune and basic arrangement....
(1979) - ChanceChance (album)Chance is an album released in 1980 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.- Track listing :Side one#"Lies " – 4:37#"On the Run" – 3:53#"For You" – 5:41...
(1980) - I (Who Have Nothing) (1981) single only
- Somewhere in AfrikaSomewhere in AfrikaSomewhere in Afrika is an album released in 1983 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.- Track listing :Side one#"Tribal Statistics" – 4:16#"Eyes of Nostradamus" – 3:28#"Third World Service" – 5:18#"Demolition Man" – 3:45...
(1982) - Budapest LiveBudapest LiveBudapest Live is an album released in 1984 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The album consists of covers performed live, except for "Mighty Quinn" which Bob Dylan wrote for Manfred Mann in 1968.- Track listing :Side one...
(1983) - Criminal TangoCriminal TangoCriminal Tango is an album released in 1986 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.- Track listing :Side one#"Going Underground" – 5:18#"Who Are The Mystery Kids?" – 3:44#"Banquet" – 5:17...
(1986) - Soft VengeanceSoft VengeanceSoft Vengeance is an album released in 1996 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.- Track listing :#"Pleasure and Pain" – 5:39#"Play with Fire" – 3:58#"Nothing Ever Happens" – 4:10...
(1996) - Mann AliveMann AliveMann Alive is a live double album released in 1998 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.- Track listing :łCD1 The Gig#"Martha's Madman" – 10:07#"The Times They Are a-Changin" – 6:35#"You Angel You" – 4:11...
(1998)
Solo
- If You Remember Me (1979)
- Out Of The Night (1983)
- Radio Voices (1985)
- High Cost Of Living (1986)
- Beat Of Love (1989)
- Backtrack 1980-1994 (1999)
- Won't Lie Down (2001)
- Rediscovery (2004)
- Timeline (2005)
- Chris Thompson & Band - One Hot Night in the Cold (Live at the Private Music Club) (2006)
With The Doobie Brothers
- One Step Closer (1980)
With Alan Parsons
- Try Anything OnceTry Anything OnceTry Anything Once is the first solo album created by Alan Parsons following the split of The Alan Parsons Project.This album features vocals by Ambrosia's David Pack, Duran Duran backing singer Jacqui Copland, Former Mindbender and 10cc guitarist Eric Stewart, and Manfred Mann's Earth Band frontman...
(1993) - Live (1994)
- Excalibur featuring Michael Ernst (2003)
With Leslie Mándoki
- Soulmates (2002)
- Jazz Cuts (2003)
- Allstars, "Legends of Rock" (2004)
With Siggi Schwarz & The Rock Legends
- Live (2005)
- Woodstock (2005)
- Soul Classics (2007)
With Sarah Brightman
- "How Can Heaven Love Me" (1995)
- "I Will Be with You (Where the Lost Ones Go)Where the Lost Ones Go"Where the Lost Ones Go" is a single from Norwegian singer Sissel's All Good Things album, released in 2001 . It is a duet with Espen Lind, written by Espen Lind and Magnus Rostadmo. It also appeared on Espen Lind's This Is Pop Music album...
" (Pokémon 10: The Rise of Darkrai) (2007) - "The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera (song)"The Phantom of the Opera" is a song from the stage musical of the same name, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, sung by Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, lyrics written by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and additional lyrics by Mike Batt...
" (Symphony: Live in ViennaSymphony: Live in ViennaSymphony: Live in Vienna is a live concert by Sarah Brightman, inspired by her Symphony album. It was originally only available as a premium for a donation to the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States...
) (2008)
External links
- Chris Thompson's official site
- [ Chris Thompson page at the AMG website]
- August 2006 Chris Thompson interview at Classic Rock Revisited
- http://www.thebridgehousee16.com/albums/bhlp1.html