David McAlmont
Encyclopedia
David McAlmont is a British
vocalist and songwriter
.
, who attracted early attention with the 1992 single "Through The Door". Despite the release of a third single, "Either", Thieves split acrimoniously in 1994 shortly before the release of their first album. Following legal wrangling, the album was eventually released as the debut David McAlmont album (under the project name and album title of McAlmont). Despite some positive press attention, much of it still focussing on McAlmont's startling voice (Melody Maker
journalist Taylor Parkes commented "One day he will open his mouth and a cathedral will fall out"), the album was not a commercial success.
Saul Freeman went on to form the band Mandalay
with Nicola Hitchcock
. He and McAlmont were reconciled in 2000, but have not worked together again.
career - including a stint providing support for Morrissey
on tour - until he was approached by ex-Suede
guitarist Bernard Butler
. The collaboration produced The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
, an album of songs, including "Yes" (1995) which reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart
.
McAlmont and Butler
did not tour and made only two public performances; one small show at the Hanover Grand and one appearance on BBC Television
's Top of the Pops
. They also performed "Yes" on the BBC TV show
Later with Jools Holland
. Another single, "You Do", was released later that year, and peaked at number 17. Shortly after McAlmont and Butler went their separate ways.
The producer
David Arnold
then worked with McAlmont on a version of "Diamonds Are Forever
". They went on to work together in 1998 on McAlmont's second album A Little Communication.
In the years that followed McAlmont worked occasionally with Ultramarine
and Craig Armstrong, and prepared his third album Be. Although hailed by The Guardian
as "Britain's first Zen Pop album" it was shelved by his record label
, Hut Records
, which also chose to drop McAlmont from its artist roster.
In 2001 Butler wrote some songs and reunited with McAlmont, and they were signed by EMI
and created the album Bring It Back
(2002) which spawned two single releases, "Falling" and "Bring it Back". This time they were more conventional in their approach to the music industry, and took part in interviews, and completed a series of public performances
throughout 2002.
In 2007 McAlmont provided backing vocals
for Gabrielle
's album Always
, with Paul Weller
on a song called "Why" which sampled Weller's "Wild Wood
". Butler approached McAlmont to provide backing vocals for Duffy
on Rockferry
and for Sharleen Spiteri
. A Little Communication, his follow-up to the first McAlmont And Butler album was digitally reissued on the 23 June 2008 on ITunes
. A performance of the complete album was hosted by the London Jazz Festival
on the 16 November at The Jazz Cafe in Camden
.
In 2009, McAlmont released The Glare
, a collaboration with leading classical composer Michael Nyman
. Each of the songs is based upon a different news story from the year. The album received critical acclaim from several newspapers.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
vocalist and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Early years and Thieves
McAlmont first came to attention in the London band ThievesThieves (band)
Thieves was a British pop duo active during the early 1990s. It was most notable for being the band on which both members – singer David McAlmont and multi-instrumentalist/producer Saul Freeman – based their subsequent musical careers.Critically feted by the British weekly music press during their...
, who attracted early attention with the 1992 single "Through The Door". Despite the release of a third single, "Either", Thieves split acrimoniously in 1994 shortly before the release of their first album. Following legal wrangling, the album was eventually released as the debut David McAlmont album (under the project name and album title of McAlmont). Despite some positive press attention, much of it still focussing on McAlmont's startling voice (Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
journalist Taylor Parkes commented "One day he will open his mouth and a cathedral will fall out"), the album was not a commercial success.
Saul Freeman went on to form the band Mandalay
Mandalay (band)
Mandalay was a trip hop duo from the United Kingdom, composed of multi-instrumentalist Saul Freeman and singer Nicola Hitchcock...
with Nicola Hitchcock
Nicola Hitchcock
Nicola Hitchcock is a British singer and songwriter. She is best known for having been the singer of the band Mandalay...
. He and McAlmont were reconciled in 2000, but have not worked together again.
Success
McAlmont continued his soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career - including a stint providing support for Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
on tour - until he was approached by ex-Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
guitarist Bernard Butler
Bernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
. The collaboration produced The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
The Sound of McAlmont and Butler is the debut album from rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, recorded in 1994/95 and released in 1995, after the duo had split up...
, an album of songs, including "Yes" (1995) which reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
McAlmont and Butler
McAlmont and Butler
McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his...
did not tour and made only two public performances; one small show at the Hanover Grand and one appearance on BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. They also performed "Yes" on the BBC TV show
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Later with Jools Holland
Later with Jools Holland
Later... with Jools Holland is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 1992 and is a part of BBC Two's late-night line-up, usually at around 11pm to 12 midnight...
. Another single, "You Do", was released later that year, and peaked at number 17. Shortly after McAlmont and Butler went their separate ways.
The producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
David Arnold
David Arnold
David Arnold is an English film composer best known for scoring five James Bond films, the 1994 film Stargate, the 1996 film Independence Day, and the television series Little Britain.-Film and television career:...
then worked with McAlmont on a version of "Diamonds Are Forever
Diamonds Are Forever (soundtrack)
Diamonds Are Forever is the soundtrack for the 7th James Bond film of the same name."Diamonds Are Forever", the title song, was the second Bond theme to be performed by Shirley Bassey, after Goldfinger in 1964...
". They went on to work together in 1998 on McAlmont's second album A Little Communication.
In the years that followed McAlmont worked occasionally with Ultramarine
Ultramarine (band)
Ultramarine are a UK-based ambient / ambient house band, formed in the early 1990s by Paul Hammond and Ian Cooper.-Biography:Hammond and Cooper first worked together in the band A Primary Industry during the mid-1980s. Following the split of this band, they formed Ultramarine and released...
and Craig Armstrong, and prepared his third album Be. Although hailed by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
as "Britain's first Zen Pop album" it was shelved by his record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Hut Records
Hut Records
VC Recordings trading as Hut Records was a British record label brand which was started in 1990 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Records...
, which also chose to drop McAlmont from its artist roster.
In 2001 Butler wrote some songs and reunited with McAlmont, and they were signed by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and created the album Bring It Back
Bring it Back (McAlmont and Butler album)
Bring It Back is the second album by rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, released in 2002 following the reunion of the duo who had split up in 1995.- Track listing :# "Theme from 'McAlmont and Butler'" – 5:14# "Falling" – 4:13...
(2002) which spawned two single releases, "Falling" and "Bring it Back". This time they were more conventional in their approach to the music industry, and took part in interviews, and completed a series of public performances
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
throughout 2002.
Recent times
In 2005 McAlmont released "Set One You Go To My Head" on Ether Records. The label folded at the end of that year. McAlmont performed material from that album at various jazz venues including Ronnie Scott's.In 2007 McAlmont provided backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for Gabrielle
Gabrielle (singer)
Louisa Gabrielle Bobb is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning English singer, who records under the name Gabrielle. Gabrielle began her career temping during the day and singing for free in London clubs at night...
's album Always
Always (Gabrielle album)
Always is the fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Gabrielle her first release in over three years.- Overview :The album received positive reviews from music critics and was released on 1 October 2007 in the UK, being preceded by the single "Why" on 24 September 2007. Always entered the...
, with Paul Weller
Paul Weller
Paul Weller is an English singer-songwriter. Starting with the band The Jam , Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council...
on a song called "Why" which sampled Weller's "Wild Wood
Wild Wood
Wild Wood was Paul Weller's second solo record, released in September 1993. It made it to number 2 in the UK charts, and contained three UK hits: "Wild Wood", which reached #14 in the UK charts, "Sunflower", which reached #16 and "Hung Up", which reached #11.The original 1993 UK and European CD...
". Butler approached McAlmont to provide backing vocals for Duffy
Duffy (singer)
Aimée Ann Duffy , known as Duffy, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Rockferry entered the UK Album Chart at number one. It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold...
on Rockferry
Rockferry
Rockferry is the debut studio album by Welsh blue-eyed soul singer Duffy, released on 3 March 2008 in the United Kingdom by A&M Records. It was released in the United States by Mercury Records. Duffy worked with several producers and writers on the album, including Bernard Butler, Steve Booker,...
and for Sharleen Spiteri
Sharleen Spiteri
Sharleen Spiteri is a Scottish recording artist and songwriter, best known as being the lead singer of Scottish rock/blues band Texas. Texas began their career in 1986, and shot to fame in 1989 with their UK Top Ten single, "I Don't Want a Lover" released from Southside...
. A Little Communication, his follow-up to the first McAlmont And Butler album was digitally reissued on the 23 June 2008 on ITunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. A performance of the complete album was hosted by the London Jazz Festival
London Jazz Festival
The London Jazz Festival is a London-wide music festival held every November. It takes place in a variety of London venues, including larger concert halls—such as the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall—and smaller jazz clubs, such as Ronnie Scott's and Vortex...
on the 16 November at The Jazz Cafe in Camden
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
.
In 2009, McAlmont released The Glare
The Glare
The Glare is a 2009 album pairing Michael Nyman with David McAlmont. McAlmont placed new melodies and lyrics on pre-existing Nyman pieces, including some unreleased music from Practical Magic, newly recorded for the new album. Each of the songs is based upon a different news story from the year...
, a collaboration with leading classical composer Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
. Each of the songs is based upon a different news story from the year. The album received critical acclaim from several newspapers.
Albums
| Year | Album | UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Unworthy | — |
| 1995 | The Sound of McAlmont and Butler The Sound of McAlmont and Butler The Sound of McAlmont and Butler is the debut album from rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, recorded in 1994/95 and released in 1995, after the duo had split up... McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his... |
33 |
| 1998 | A Little Communication | — |
| 2000 | Be Unreleased |
— |
| 2002 | Bring It Back Bring it Back (McAlmont and Butler album) Bring It Back is the second album by rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, released in 2002 following the reunion of the duo who had split up in 1995.- Track listing :# "Theme from 'McAlmont and Butler'" – 5:14# "Falling" – 4:13... McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his... |
18 |
| 2005 | Set One: You Go To My Head | — |
| 2009 | The Glare The Glare The Glare is a 2009 album pairing Michael Nyman with David McAlmont. McAlmont placed new melodies and lyrics on pre-existing Nyman pieces, including some unreleased music from Practical Magic, newly recorded for the new album. Each of the songs is based upon a different news story from the year... David McAlmont and Michael Nyman Michael Nyman Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano... |
— |
Singles
| Year | Single | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Unworthy" Thieves Thieves (band) Thieves was a British pop duo active during the early 1990s. It was most notable for being the band on which both members – singer David McAlmont and multi-instrumentalist/producer Saul Freeman – based their subsequent musical careers.Critically feted by the British weekly music press during their... |
— | Unworthy |
| 1994 | "Either" | — | |
| "Hymn" Ultramarine Ultramarine Ultramarine is a blue pigment consisting primarily of a double silicate of aluminium and sodium with some sulfides or sulfates, and occurring in nature as a proximate component of lapis lazuli... featuring David McAlmont |
65 | Non-album single | |
| 1995 | "Yes" McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his... |
8 | The Sound of McAlmont and Butler |
| "Saturday" | — | Non-album single | |
| "You Do" McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his... |
17 | The Sound of McAlmont and Butler | |
| 1997 | "Look At Yourself" | 40 | Non-album single |
| "Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever may refer to:In literature;* Diamonds Are Forever , the fourth novel in Ian Fleming's James Bond series* Diamonds Are Forever, a 2004 short novel by Ryk E... " David McAlmont/David Arnold David Arnold David Arnold is an English film composer best known for scoring five James Bond films, the 1994 film Stargate, the 1996 film Independence Day, and the television series Little Britain.-Film and television career:... |
39 | Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project |
|
| 1998 | "Honey" | — | A Little Communication |
| 1999 | "A Little Communication" | — | |
| "Lose My Faith" | — | ||
| 2000 | "Easy" | — | Be |
| "Working" | — | ||
| 2002 | "Falling" McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his... |
23 | Bring It Back |
| "Bring It Back" McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his... |
36 | ||
| 2006 | "Speed" McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler McAlmont and Butler are an English rock/soul music duo, comprising singer David McAlmont and guitarist Bernard Butler.- History :The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitarist in the indie band Suede, until his... |
— | Non-album single |
| 2010 | "The Coldest Place On Earth" David McAlmont and Michael Nyman Michael Nyman Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano... |
— |