Geoff Goddard
Encyclopedia
Geoff Goddard was an English
songwriter
. Working for Joe Meek
in the early 1960s, he wrote song
s for Heinz
, Mike Berry, Gerry Temple, The Tornados
, Kenny Hollywood, The Outlaws
, Freddie Starr
, Screaming Lord Sutch
, Gunilla Thorne, The Ramblers, Carter-Lewis and the Southerners
and John Leyton
.
, Berkshire
, England
. He recorded four singles
as solo
artist
, produced
by Joe Meek:
He was originally promoted by Meek as a Russ Conway
/Liberace
styled singer named Anton Hollywood, but eventually he released his solo records under his real name. His best known efforts were penning "Johnny Remember Me
" for John Leyton. It became a #1 hit single
in the UK Singles Chart
. Goddard also played keyboards
on various of Meek's productions, most notably another chart-topper
, The Tornados' hit single
, "Telstar
". Despite his considerable track record as a songwriter, Goddard withdrew from the music industry after falling out with Meek. In addition, in July 1965, it was decided in the High Court
in London
that The Honeycombs
' hit "Have I The Right" was the work of Ken Howard
and Alan Blaikley
, and did not infringe the copyright of Goddard's own "Give Me The Chance".
Subsequently, Goddard worked for many years in the catering department of the University of Reading
. In 1985, the royalties
from the Marc Almond
and Bronski Beat
cover version
of "Johnny Remember Me" came as a complete surprise to him.
Goddard died in May 2000, at the age of 62.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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...
. Working for Joe Meek
Joe Meek
Robert George "Joe" Meek was a pioneering English record producer and songwriter....
in the early 1960s, he wrote song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s for Heinz
Heinz (singer)
Heinz was a bassist and singer.-Life:Heinz was born in Detmold, but from the age of seven was brought up in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, where a road is named after him. His biggest solo hit was "Just Like Eddie", a tribute to Eddie Cochran...
, Mike Berry, Gerry Temple, The Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
, Kenny Hollywood, The Outlaws
The Outlaws (UK band)
The Outlaws were an English instrumental band that recorded in the early 1960s. One time members included Ritchie Blackmore, Chas Hodges, Bobby Graham, Ken Lundgren, Mick Underwood, Reg Hawkins , Billy Kuy and others....
, Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
, Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
, Gunilla Thorne, The Ramblers, Carter-Lewis and the Southerners
Carter-Lewis And The Southerners
Carter-Lewis and the Southerners were an early-1960s rock band formed by the Birmingham-born musicians Ken Lewis and John Carter .Carter and Lewis were initially songwriters...
and John Leyton
John Leyton
John Leyton is an English actor and singer. As a singer he is best known for his hit song, "Johnny Remember Me" , which reached Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1961.-Career:Leyton went to Highgate School and after completing his national service, he...
.
Biography
Goddard was born in ReadingReading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, England
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...
. He recorded four singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
as solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, produced
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...
by Joe Meek:
- "Girl Bride" / "For Eternity" HMVHMVHis Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
POP 938 October 1961 - "My Little Girl's Come Home" / "Try Once More" HMV POP 1068 September 1962
- "Saturday Dance" / "Come Back To Me" HMV POP 1160 May 1963
- "Sky Men" / "Walk With Me My Angel" HMV POP 1213 October 1963
He was originally promoted by Meek as a Russ Conway
Russ Conway
Russ Conway was a British popular music pianist. Conway had 20 piano instrumentals in the UK Singles Chart between 1957 and 1963, including two number one hits.-Career:...
/Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
styled singer named Anton Hollywood, but eventually he released his solo records under his real name. His best known efforts were penning "Johnny Remember Me
Johnny Remember Me
"Johnny Remember Me" is a song which became a 1961 UK #1 hit single for John Leyton, backed by The Outlaws. It was producer Joe Meek's first #1 production. Recounting the haunting - real or imagined - of a young man by his dead lover, the song is one of the most noted of the 'death ditties' that...
" for John Leyton. It became a #1 hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
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 ...
. Goddard also played keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
on various of Meek's productions, most notably another chart-topper
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, The Tornados' hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, "Telstar
Telstar (song)
"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental record performed by The Tornados. It was the first single by a British band to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was also a number one hit in the UK. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in...
". Despite his considerable track record as a songwriter, Goddard withdrew from the music industry after falling out with Meek. In addition, in July 1965, it was decided in the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
that The Honeycombs
The Honeycombs
The Honeycombs were an English beat/pop group, founded in 1963 in North London. The group had one chart-topping hit, the million selling "Have I the Right?", in 1964. After that song the interest in the group ebbed away, and they split up in late 1966...
' hit "Have I The Right" was the work of Ken Howard
Ken Howard (composer)
Ken Howard is an English songwriter, lyricist, author and television director.-International hits in the 1960s and 1970s:...
and Alan Blaikley
Alan Blaikley
-Early life and career:Born in London, where he survived the Blitz, Alan Blaikley was educated at University College School , Hampstead, and Wadham College, Oxford, where he read Classical Moderations and English, and was Reviews Editor of the university newspaper Cherwell.After coming down from...
, and did not infringe the copyright of Goddard's own "Give Me The Chance".
Subsequently, Goddard worked for many years in the catering department of the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
. In 1985, the royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
from the Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
and Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat were a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid 1980s, particularly with the 1984 chart hit "Smalltown Boy". All members of the group were openly homosexual and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues...
cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Johnny Remember Me" came as a complete surprise to him.
Goddard died in May 2000, at the age of 62.
Releases as songwriter (RGM productions)
- The Flee-RekkersThe Flee-RekkersThe Flee-Rekkers - also known as The Fabulous Flee-Rakkers - were a British instrumental rock and roll band in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The spelling of the group's name varied between records. They were fronted by tenor saxophonist Peter Fleerakkers , and their records were produced by...
– "Lone Rider" – PyePye RecordsPye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
7N35006 A-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
(June 1961) - John LeytonJohn LeytonJohn Leyton is an English actor and singer. As a singer he is best known for his hit song, "Johnny Remember Me" , which reached Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1961.-Career:Leyton went to Highgate School and after completing his national service, he...
– "Johnny Remember MeJohnny Remember Me"Johnny Remember Me" is a song which became a 1961 UK #1 hit single for John Leyton, backed by The Outlaws. It was producer Joe Meek's first #1 production. Recounting the haunting - real or imagined - of a young man by his dead lover, the song is one of the most noted of the 'death ditties' that...
" – Top Rank JAR577 A (July 1961) - The Outlaws - "Valley of the Sioux" (September 1961)
- Mike Berry & The Outlaws – "Tribute to Buddy Holly" – HMV POP 912 A (September 1961)
- John Leyton – "Wild Wind" – Top Rank JAR585 A (September 1961)
- Gerry Temple – "Seventeen Come Sunday" – HMV POP 939 A (October 1961)
- John Leyton – "Voodoo Woman" – HMV CLP1497 LPAlbumAn album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
(November 1961) - John Leyton – "Oh Lover" – HMV CLP1497 LP (November 1961)
- John Leyton – "Son This Is She" – HMV POP 956 A (December 1961)
- Don CharlesDon CharlesDon Charles was a popular English ballad singer, and record producer, and later in his life, a writer of a self-help book. He is best known for his recordings of "Walk With Me My Angel" and "Bring Your Love to Me". He also produced several of The Tornados' tracks including "Space Walk" and...
– "Walk with Me My Angel" – DeccaDecca RecordsDecca 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....
F 11424 A (January 1962) - Mike Berry & The Outlaws – "Little Boy Blue" – HMV POP 979 B sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
(January 1962) - John Leyton – "Lone Rider" – HMV POP 992 A (March 1962)
- John Leyton – "Lonely City" – HMV POP 1014 A (April 1962)
- The TornadosThe TornadosThe Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
– "Jungle Fever" – Decca F11494 B (August 1962) - John Leyton – "Lonely Johnny" – HMV POP 1076 A (October 1962)
- Kenny Hollywood – "The Wonderful Story Of Love" – Decca F11546 B (December 1962)
- Mike Berry & The Outlaws – "Don't You Think It's Time" – HMV POP 1105 A (December 1962)
- The Outlaws – "Texan Spiritual" – HMV POP 1124 B (February 1963)
- Toby Ventura – "If My Heart Were A Storybook" – Decca F11581 A (February 1963)
- Mike Berry & The Outlaws – "My Little Baby" – HMV POP 1142 A (March 1963)
- Freddie StarrFreddie StarrFreddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
& The Midnighters – "Who Told You" – Decca F11663 A (May 1963) - HeinzHeinzHeinz may refer to:People with the surname Heinz:*Drue Heinz, American arts patron*H. John Heinz III , U.S. senator from Pennsylvania*H. John Heinz IV , eldest son of Senator John Heinz...
– "Just Like EddieJust Like Eddie"Just Like Eddie" was a hit single in the UK in 1963. It was sung by Heinz - his first release after leaving The Tornados to launch his solo career. The record was produced by Joe Meek mentor to both Heinz and the Tornados...
" – Decca F11693 A (July 1963) - John Leyton – "On Lover's Hill" – HMV POP 1204 LP (September 1963)
- Screaming Lord SutchScreaming Lord SutchDavid Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
– "Monster In Black Tights" – Decca F11747 B (September 1963) - Pamela Blue – "My Friend Bobby" – Decca F11761 A (October 1963)
- Heinz – "Country Boy" – Decca F11768 A (November 1963)
- The Ramblers – "Dodge City" – Decca F11775 A (November 1963)
- Gunilla Thorne – "Merry Go Round" – HMV POP 1239 A (November 1963)
- Heinz – "You Were There" – Decca F11831 A (February 1964)
- Heinz – "Hush-A-Bye" – Decca LK4599 LP (March 1964)
External links
- Obituary: The Guardian, Thursday May 25, 2000
- A Tribute on myspace
- http://www.geoff-goddard.com/ extensive fan site