Elkie Brooks
Encyclopedia
Elkie Brooks is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe
, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards
' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice. Elkie Brooks is a patron of International Animal Rescue
.
and raised in Prestwich
. She attended North Salford Secondary Modern School.
According to Brooks, her unofficial debut was a gig at a club called the "Laronde" on Cheetham Hill Road
, Manchester when she was thirteen. A professional singer since she was fifteen, Brooks' debut, a cover of Etta James
's "Something's Got A Hold On Me", was released on Decca
in 1964. She spent most of the 1960s on Britain's cabaret
scene, a period of her life that she did not particularly enjoy. In the early 1960s Brooks supported The Beatles
in their Christmas show in London, then, as an established act, helped the Small Faces in their early career by introducing them at several venues. She went on to tour the United States with several bands including the Animals
.
After she met Pete Gage, whom she would marry, she joined the short-lived fusioneers
Dada before forming Vinegar Joe
with Gage and Robert Palmer. Elkie gained the reputation as the wild woman of "Rock n Roll" due to her wild stage performances. After three albums, they split up in 1974, and Brooks and Palmer both went solo. After a time as backing singer with the American southern boogie band Wet Willie, she returned to England. Her first solo album on A&M records was Rich Man's Woman
(1975).Released to critical acclaim Elkie was given a hard time due to the album's cover, which was considered outrageous for the time.
It came before a run of sixteen UK hit albums in twenty-five years, starting with Two Days Away, produced by the legendary duo Leiber & Stoller, who had also worked with Elvis Presley and many others (1977). Brooks wrote some tracks with Leiber and Stoller. The hits "Pearl's a Singer
", "Sunshine After the Rain" came from this album. "Lilac Wine
", Don't Cry Out Loud, came later. The albums Shooting Star (1978), Live and Learn (1979), Pearls (at the time, the largest selling album by a British female artist) (1981), "Fool (If You Think It's Over)
" was a hit for Brooks taken from this album, written by Chris Rea
. Pearls II (1982), Minutes (1984) and Screen Gems, the first album to be produced on CD in the UK (1984), were all UK chart successes.
In 1986 No More the Fool gave her biggest hit single to date while the parent album reached the top 5. The haunting video featured a young Leah Harounoff founder of the Inside of Out Theatre Group who in 2011 performed Titus Andronicus at the Barons Court Theatre to critical acclaim.
Following chart success ensued with the albums The Very Best of (1986), Bookbinders Kid On Bookbinders Kid, she covered "What's The Matter Baby" previously recorded by Timi Yuro
(1988), Yuro impressed with Elkie's version contacted Brooks to tell her so. The two remained friends. Inspiration (1981), Round Midnight (1993), Nothin' But the Blues (1994), Amazing (1996) and The Very Best of (1997). In 1980 Brooks performed at the Knebworth Festival with The Beach Boys
, Santana
and Mike Oldfield
.
Brooks' success landed her in the Guinness Book of Records as the most charted British female album artist of the last 30 years.
In March 2003 she participated in the ITV
music talent show Reborn in the USA
, alongside musicians such as Peter Cox (Go West
Singer), Tony Hadley
and Leee John
. The Electric Lady album (2005) saw a return to her blues and rock roots, featuring self-penned tracks alongside re-workings of numbers by The Doors
, Bob Dylan
, Paul Rodgers
and Tony Joe White
. The following year saw the release of her first official DVD, titled Elkie Brooks & Friends: Pearls featuring an array of guest musicians.
Brooks has toured almost every year during her solo career. Her 1982 UK concert tour was seen by more than 140,000 people in just three months. She has performed at every major UK theatre including sell out runs at the London Palladium
, Dominion Theatre
, Hammersmith Apollo
, Ronnie Scott's, Royal Albert Hall
and Wembley Arena
. Brooks was offered "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" but turned it down. It was then recorded by Julie Covington, and by others. Brooks also turned down the song " The Flame " it was then recorded by the band " Cheap Trick " it reached no. 1 in the U.S. and no. 1 in Australia.
Brooks' 20th studio album - Powerless was released in 2010, featuring songs such as Prince
's "Purple Rain
" and Dylan's
"Make You Feel My Love".
Vinegar Joe (band)
Vinegar Joe were a British R&B band. They issued three albums on Island Records, but were best known for their live shows and launching the solo careers of Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer.-History:...
, and later a solo artist. Elkie has been nominated twice for Brit Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
' top female singer. She is known for her powerful husky voice. Elkie Brooks is a patron of International Animal Rescue
International Animal Rescue
International Animal Rescue, also known as IAR, is an animal welfare non-profit organization based in the United Kingdom that comes to the aid of wild and domestic animals with hands-on rescue and rehabilitation. International Animal Rescue returns rehabilitated animals to the wild while also...
.
Life and career
Brooks was born in 1945 as Elaine Bookbinder to a Jewish father and Catholic mother in Broughton, SalfordBroughton, Greater Manchester
Broughton is an inner city area of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the east bank of the River Irwell and A56 road, in the northeastern part of the City of Salford, north-northwest of Manchester city centre and south of Prestwich. Broughton consists of Broughton Park, Higher...
and raised in Prestwich
Prestwich
Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury....
. She attended North Salford Secondary Modern School.
According to Brooks, her unofficial debut was a gig at a club called the "Laronde" on Cheetham Hill Road
Cheetham Hill
Cheetham Hill is an inner city area of Manchester, England. As an electoral ward it is known as Cheetham and has a population of 12,846. It lies on the west bank of the River Irk, north-northeast of Manchester city centre and close to the boundary with the City of Salford...
, Manchester when she was thirteen. A professional singer since she was fifteen, Brooks' debut, a cover of Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
's "Something's Got A Hold On Me", was released on Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in 1964. She spent most of the 1960s on Britain's cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
scene, a period of her life that she did not particularly enjoy. In the early 1960s Brooks supported The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
in their Christmas show in London, then, as an established act, helped the Small Faces in their early career by introducing them at several venues. She went on to tour the United States with several bands including the Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
.
After she met Pete Gage, whom she would marry, she joined the short-lived fusioneers
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
Dada before forming Vinegar Joe
Vinegar Joe (band)
Vinegar Joe were a British R&B band. They issued three albums on Island Records, but were best known for their live shows and launching the solo careers of Elkie Brooks and Robert Palmer.-History:...
with Gage and Robert Palmer. Elkie gained the reputation as the wild woman of "Rock n Roll" due to her wild stage performances. After three albums, they split up in 1974, and Brooks and Palmer both went solo. After a time as backing singer with the American southern boogie band Wet Willie, she returned to England. Her first solo album on A&M records was Rich Man's Woman
Rich Man's Woman
-Background:Brooks' solo debut in 1975 was released in a blaze of publicity and a promotional week at London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Recorded as a rock album in the vein of her work with Vinegar Joe, A&M Records were unhappy with the direction and decided to tone the album down, producing...
(1975).Released to critical acclaim Elkie was given a hard time due to the album's cover, which was considered outrageous for the time.
It came before a run of sixteen UK hit albums in twenty-five years, starting with Two Days Away, produced by the legendary duo Leiber & Stoller, who had also worked with Elvis Presley and many others (1977). Brooks wrote some tracks with Leiber and Stoller. The hits "Pearl's a Singer
Pearl's A Singer
"Pearl's a Singer" is a song made famous by the UK singer Elkie Brooks, as taken from her 1977 album, Two Days Away. It was first recorded by its principal writers Ralph Dino and John Sembello in 1974....
", "Sunshine After the Rain" came from this album. "Lilac Wine
Lilac Wine
"Lilac Wine" is a song written by James Shelton in 1950. It was introduced by Hope Foye in the short-lived theater musical revue, "Dance Me a Song." It was covered by Eartha Kitt , by Judy Henske on her first, self-named album , by Nina Simone on her album Wild Is The Wind , was a solo hit by...
", Don't Cry Out Loud, came later. The albums Shooting Star (1978), Live and Learn (1979), Pearls (at the time, the largest selling album by a British female artist) (1981), "Fool (If You Think It's Over)
Fool (If You Think It's Over)
"Fool " is the title of a popular song from 1978 by the British singer-songwriter Chris Rea. Rea also wrote the song, which appears on his 1978 debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?....
" was a hit for Brooks taken from this album, written by Chris Rea
Chris Rea
Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally...
. Pearls II (1982), Minutes (1984) and Screen Gems, the first album to be produced on CD in the UK (1984), were all UK chart successes.
In 1986 No More the Fool gave her biggest hit single to date while the parent album reached the top 5. The haunting video featured a young Leah Harounoff founder of the Inside of Out Theatre Group who in 2011 performed Titus Andronicus at the Barons Court Theatre to critical acclaim.
Following chart success ensued with the albums The Very Best of (1986), Bookbinders Kid On Bookbinders Kid, she covered "What's The Matter Baby" previously recorded by Timi Yuro
Timi Yuro
Timi Yuro was an American soul and R&B singer. She is considered to be one of the first blue-eyed soul stylists of the rock era.-Early years:...
(1988), Yuro impressed with Elkie's version contacted Brooks to tell her so. The two remained friends. Inspiration (1981), Round Midnight (1993), Nothin' But the Blues (1994), Amazing (1996) and The Very Best of (1997). In 1980 Brooks performed at the Knebworth Festival with The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
and 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...
.
Brooks' success landed her in the Guinness Book of Records as the most charted British female album artist of the last 30 years.
In March 2003 she participated in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
music talent show Reborn in the USA
Reborn in the USA
Reborn in the USA was a 2003 ITV reality TV show, in which ten former British pop acts were transported to the USA, where they were supposedly not known , in the...
, alongside musicians such as Peter Cox (Go West
Go West (band)
Go West is an English pop duo, formed in 1982 by lead vocalist and drummer Peter Cox ; and guitarist and vocalist Richard Drummie...
Singer), Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley is an English pop singer-songwriter, occasional stage actor and radio presenter who gained celebrity as the lead vocalist for the 1980s band Spandau Ballet.-Early life:...
and Leee John
Leee John
Leee John of St Lucian descent, is a British musician and actor. He was educated in New York, later studying drama at the Anna Scher Theatre School.-Career:...
. The Electric Lady album (2005) saw a return to her blues and rock roots, featuring self-penned tracks alongside re-workings of numbers by The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Paul Rodgers
Paul Rodgers
Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English rock singer-songwriter, best known for his success in the 1970s as a member of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has recently toured and recorded with...
and Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989...
. The following year saw the release of her first official DVD, titled Elkie Brooks & Friends: Pearls featuring an array of guest musicians.
Brooks has toured almost every year during her solo career. Her 1982 UK concert tour was seen by more than 140,000 people in just three months. She has performed at every major UK theatre including sell out runs at the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
, Dominion Theatre
Dominion Theatre
The Dominion Theatre is a West End theatre on Tottenham Court Road close to St Giles Circus and Centre Point Tower, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:...
, Hammersmith Apollo
Hammersmith Apollo
Hammersmith Apollo is a major entertainment venue located in Hammersmith, London. Designed by Robert Cromie in Art Deco style, it opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, being re-named the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962...
, Ronnie Scott's, Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
and Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
. Brooks was offered "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" but turned it down. It was then recorded by Julie Covington, and by others. Brooks also turned down the song " The Flame " it was then recorded by the band " Cheap Trick " it reached no. 1 in the U.S. and no. 1 in Australia.
Brooks' 20th studio album - Powerless was released in 2010, featuring songs such as Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's "Purple Rain
Purple Rain (song)
"Purple Rain" is a power ballad by Prince and The Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name, and was released as the third single from that album. The song is a combination of rock, pop, gospel,...
" and Dylan's
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
"Make You Feel My Love".
Family
In 1978 she married sound engineer Trevor Jordan; they have two sons. Trevor Jordan has been Brooks's sound engineer since 1977.Studio albums
| Year | Album | UK # 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 ... |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Rich Man's Woman Rich Man's Woman -Background:Brooks' solo debut in 1975 was released in a blaze of publicity and a promotional week at London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Recorded as a rock album in the vein of her work with Vinegar Joe, A&M Records were unhappy with the direction and decided to tone the album down, producing... |
- | A&M |
| 1977 | Two Days Away Two Days Away -Background:Brooks' breakthrough second album, released in 1977, propelled her into solo stardom in the UK and Europe. Featuring the top ten hits "Pearl's a Singer" and "Sunshine After the Rain", it had a distinct American sound largely due to the work of legendary writers and producers Jerry... |
16 | A&M |
| 1978 | Shooting Star Shooting Star (Elkie Brooks album) -Background:Brooks' third album was a departure from her previous work and enjoyed relative success in the UK charts. Taking the place of Leiber & Stoller was renowned producer David Kershenbaum who was to guide Brooks along a more funk orientated sound than on her previous work... |
20 | A&M |
| 1979 | Live and Learn | 34 | A&M |
| 1981 | Pearls | 2 | A&M |
| 1982 | Pearls II Pearls II - Background :The sequel to the hugely popular Pearls album, A&M decided to play it safe by keeping Gus Dudgeon at the helm. Another set of songs, old and new, helped to maintain Brooks' popularity. The album remained in the charts for a respectable 25 weeks, where it joined its predecessor which... |
5 | A&M |
| 1984 | Minutes Minutes (album) - Background :Minutes was Elkie's first contemporary album since 1979's Live and Learn. A&M wanted her to stick to the winning formula of the Pearls albums but Brooks had other ideas and recruited her own choice of producer and band to create what would become an experimental album for the time... |
35 | A&M |
| 1984 | Screen Gems Screen Gems (album) Screen Gems is a 1984 album by Elkie Brooks comprising Brooks' interpretations of pop standards; the album's title references all of the selections being introduced or prominently featured in mid-20th century movie releases.-Background:... |
35 | A&M |
| 1986 | No More the Fool | 5 | Legend |
| 1988 | Bookbinder's Kid Bookbinder's Kid Bookbinder's Kid is an album by Elkie Brooks.It was issued on CD, vinyl and cassette in 1988 through Legend Records, and re-released in 1998 on CD and cassette by Castle Records. The CD version of the album contained one bonus track, "I Can Dream, Can't I?" as well as a cover of the U.S... |
57 | Legend |
| 1989 | Inspiration Inspiration (Elkie Brooks album) Inspiration is a 1989 album by Elkie Brooks. It features a mix of cover versions and original tracks and featured the single "Shame".- Track listing :#"Hard Habit to Break"... |
58 | Telstar |
| 1991 | Pearls III (Close to the Edge) Pearls III (Close to the Edge) Pearls III is an album by Elkie Brooks.Issued on CD, vinyl and cassette in 1991 through Freestyle Records, the album failed to enter the UK charts after a difficult distribution deal stalled.- Track listing :... |
- | Freestyle |
| 1993 | Round Midnight | 27 | Castle |
| 1994 | Nothin' But the Blues Nothin' But the Blues Nothin' But the Blues is an album by Elkie Brooks.Mastered by Steve Rooke at Abbey Road Studios and issued on CD and cassette in 1994 through Castle Records, the album reached number 58 and stayed in the UK charts for 2 weeks.- Track listing :... |
58 | Castle |
| 1995 | Circles Circles (Elkie Brooks album) Circles is an album by Elkie Brooks.Recorded in 1995 in Brooks's home studio Woody Bay, the album was designed to reflect her love of stripped-down acoustic music and demo format songs.... |
- | Permanent |
| 1996 | Amazing | 49 | Carlton Classics |
| 2003 | Shangri-La Shangri-La (Elkie Brooks album) Shangri-La is an album by Elkie Brooks. Recorded between 2001 and 2002 at Woody Bay Studios, it was released on CD in 2003 by Classic Pictures.- Track listing :#"Morello"#"Naked in September"#"Eliyahu"#"Don't Be Stupid"#"Set Me Free"#"Avinu Malkenu"... |
- | Classic Pictures |
| 2003 | Trouble in Mind (with Humphrey Lyttelton Humphrey Lyttelton Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue... ) |
- | Classic Pictures |
| 2005 | Electric Lady Electric Lady Electric Lady is an album by Elkie Brooks.Recorded between 2004 and 2005 at Slave to the Rhythm Studios, it was released on CD in 2005 by Swing Cafe... |
- | Swing Cafe |
| 2010 | Powerless | - | Eventful Music Productions |
Live albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Pearls Concert The Pearls Concert __notoc__The Pearls Concert is an album by Elkie Brooks, recorded in 1997 and released on CD and cassette in 1997 by Artful Records.The album failed to enter the UK charts.-Disc one:#"Butterfly Blue" #"Love Potion No... |
Artful |
| 2000 | Live at the Palladium Live at the Palladium (Elkie Brooks album) Live at the Palladium is a live album by Elkie Brooks, recorded in 1978 at the London Palladium. It was released on cassette in 1999 and on CD in 2000 by JAM Records.The album was a fan club-only release and therefore not chart eligible.- Personnel :... |
JAM Records |
| 2000 | Live 2000 Live 2000 Live 2000 is an album by Elkie Brooks. Recorded live on tour in 1999 and 2000, it was released on CD in 2000 through JAM Records.Since the album was only available on tour, it was not chart eligible.- Track listing :#"Nights in White Satin"#"Sail On"... |
JAM Records |
| 2005 | Don't Cry Out Loud | Recall |
| 2007 | Live With Friends Live with Friends Live With Friends is a live album by Elkie Brooks, recorded live in 2005 at Classic T-Stage Studios and released on CD in 2007 through EMP Records.Since it was only available on tour, the album was not chart eligible.-Disc one:#"Electric Lady"... |
EMP |
Compilations
| Year | Album | UK # 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... |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Very Best of Elkie Brooks (Telstar) The Very Best of Elkie Brooks (Telstar) The Very Best of Elkie Brooks is a compilation album by Elkie Brooks.Issued on CD, vinyl and cassette in 1986 through Telstar Records, it reached number 10 and stayed in the UK charts for 18 weeks.- Track listing :#"Pearl's a Singer"#"Sunshine"... |
10 | Telstar |
| 1993 | The last teardrop | Pilz Pilz Pilz may refer to:Pilz is also the name of the following companies:* Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, a company working in the field of safe automation technology, named after Hermann Pilz* Pilz , a German record labelPilz can also refer to:... |
|
| 1997 | The Very Best of Elkie Brooks (Polygram) The Very Best of Elkie Brooks (Polygram) The Very Best of Elkie Brooks is a compilation album by Elkie Brooks. Compiled in 1997, it was released on CD and cassette by PolyGram TV.The album reached number 23 and remained in the UK charts for 7 weeks... |
23 | Polygram |
Singles
| Year | Song | UK # 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 | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | "Something's Got a Hold on Me" | - | - | Decca |
| 1964 | "Nothing Left to Do but Cry" | - | - | Decca |
| 1965 | "The Way You Do the Things You Do The Way You Do the Things You Do "The Way You Do the Things You Do" was covered in 1989 by the band UB40. It was the sixth single from their 1989 album Labour of Love II. The song was released in 1989 in the major of the European countries .-Track listings:7"-Single... " |
- | - | Decca |
| 1965 | "He's Gotta Love Me" | - | - | HMV |
| 1965 | "All of My Life" | - | - | HMV |
| 1966 | "Baby Let Me Love You" | - | - | HMV |
| 1969 | "Come September" | - | - | NEMS |
| 1974 | "Rescue Me Rescue Me (Fontella Bass song) "Rescue Me" is a song written by Fontella Bass, Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith. In 1965, it was released as a single by Fontella Bass. It would prove the biggest hit of Bass' career, reaching #1 on the R&B charts for four weeks and placing at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100... " |
- | - | Island |
| 1975 | "Where Do We Go From Here" | - | Rich Man's Woman | A&M |
| 1975 | "He's a Rebel" | - | Rich Man's Woman | A&M |
| 1977 | "Pearl's a Singer Pearl's A Singer "Pearl's a Singer" is a song made famous by the UK singer Elkie Brooks, as taken from her 1977 album, Two Days Away. It was first recorded by its principal writers Ralph Dino and John Sembello in 1974.... " |
8 | Two Days Away | A&M |
| 1977 | "Saved" | - | Two Days Away | A&M |
| 1977 | "Sunshine After the Rain" | 10 | Two Days Away | A&M |
| 1977 | "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" | - | Two Days Away | A&M |
| 1978 | "Lilac Wine Lilac Wine "Lilac Wine" is a song written by James Shelton in 1950. It was introduced by Hope Foye in the short-lived theater musical revue, "Dance Me a Song." It was covered by Eartha Kitt , by Judy Henske on her first, self-named album , by Nina Simone on her album Wild Is The Wind , was a solo hit by... " |
16 | Pearls | A&M |
| 1978 | "Only Love Can Break Your Heart Only Love Can Break Your Heart "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is a song written by Neil Young.-Genesis and recording:The song is the third track on Neil Young's album After the Gold Rush. The song was supposedly written for Graham Nash after Nash's split from Joni Mitchell, though Young in interviews has been somewhat... " |
43 | Shooting Star | A&M |
| 1978 | "Since You Went Away" | - | Shooting Star | A&M |
| 1978 | "Stay with Me" (Netherlands only) | - | Shooting Star | A&M |
| 1979 | "Don't Cry Out Loud" | 12 | Pearls | A&M |
| 1979 | "The Runaway" | 50 | - | A&M |
| 1979 | "He Could Have Been an Army" | - | Live and Learn | A&M |
| 1979 | "Falling Star" | - | Live and Learn | A&M |
| 1980 | "Why Don't You Say It" | - | - | A&M |
| 1980 | "Paint Your Pretty Picture" | - | Pearls | A&M |
| 1980 | "Dance Away" | - | Pearls | A&M |
| 1981 | "Warm and Tender Love" | - | Pearls | A&M |
| 1981 | "Fool (If You Think It's Over) Fool (If You Think It's Over) "Fool " is the title of a popular song from 1978 by the British singer-songwriter Chris Rea. Rea also wrote the song, which appears on his 1978 debut album, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?.... " (Chris Rea Chris Rea Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally... cover) |
17 | Pearls | A&M |
| 1982 | "Our Love" | 43 | Pearls II | A&M |
| 1982 | "Nights in White Satin Nights in White Satin "Nights in White Satin" is a 1967 single by The Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward and first featured on the album Days of Future Passed.It is in the key of E minor Aeolian.-Single releases:... " |
33 | Pearls II | A&M |
| 1982 | "Will You Write Me a Song" | - | Pearls II | A&M |
| 1983 | "Gasoline Alley" | 52 | Pearls II | A&M |
| 1983 | "I Just Can't Go On" | - | Pearls II | A&M |
| 1984 | "Minutes" | - | Minutes | A&M |
| 1984 | "Driftin'" | - | Minutes | A&M |
| 1984 | "Once in a While Once in a While "Once in a While" is a popular song, written by Michael Edwards with lyrics by Bud Green. The song was published in 1937.The song is a much-recorded standard. Tommy Dorsey's recording in 1937 went to number one in the United States... " |
- | Screen Gems | A&M/EMI |
| 1986 | "No More the Fool" | 5 | No More the Fool | Legend |
| 1987 | "Break the Chain" | 55 | No More the Fool | Legend |
| 1987 | "We've Got Tonight" | 69 | No More the Fool | Legend |
| 1988 | "Sail On" | - | Bookbinders Kid | Legend |
| 1989 | "Shame" | - | Inspiration | Telstar |
| 1989 | "You're the Inspiration You're the Inspiration -Charts:-Cover versions:*"You're the Inspiration" was covered by UK singer Elkie Brooks on her 1989 album, Inspiration, and by David Foster as an instrumental-piano version on his 1991 album, Rechordings... " (Belgium only) |
- | Inspiration | Telstar/Disky |
| 1990 | "I'll Never Love This Way Again I'll Never Love This Way Again "I'll Never Love This Way Again" is a 1979 hit recorded by American soul singer Dionne Warwick. The song was composed by Richard Kerr and Will Jennings and produced by Arista labelmate Barry Manilow.... " |
- | Inspiration | Telstar |
| 1990 | "For the World" (withdrawn before release) | - | - | European Artists |
| 1991 | "The Last Teardrop" | - | Pearls III (Close to the Edge) | Freestyle |
| 1991 | "One of a Kind (Belgium only)" | - | Pearls III (Close to the Edge) | Freestyle/Dureco |
| 1999 | "Too Much To Lose" | 127 | Unfinished Business (Unreleased) | BMG |
| 2005 | "Out of the Rain" | - | Electric Lady | Swing Cafe |
| 2010 | "Powerless" | - | Powerless | Eventful Music Productions |
External links
- Official website of Elkie Brooks
- "Elkie Brooks, Cabot Hall, London", The Guardian, September 9, 2005, by Robin Denselow