Jim Irvin
Encyclopedia
Jim Irvin is an English
singer, songwriter and music journalist.
Irvin was born and raised in West London. He was the singer in the British indie-band Furniture
, who released singles
and album
s with Survival, Stiff
and Arista Records
between 1982 and 1990. He co-wrote their 1986 UK hit single
, "Brilliant Mind
", taken from the album, The Wrong People. The song also appeared in the John Hughes movie, Some Kind of Wonderful and was re-recorded for the soundtrack. Furniture made one further album, Food, Sex and Paranoia, for Arista (1989), and disbanded in 1990.
Irvin then began contributing to Melody Maker
magazine, where his work appeared under the name Jim Arundel. He was later made reviews editor. In 1994, reverting to Jim Irvin, he became the founding features editor of Mojo
magazine. He was on the staff for seven years and left as its Senior Editor. One of his most notable pieces for Mojo was 'Angel Of Avalon', a major profile of the late Sandy Denny
, published in 1998. He also edited an acclaimed book, The Mojo Collection. He continues to write a reissues column for Mojo, and also contributes a regular music DVD column to The Word.
In 1995, Irvin produced the first demos by the band Gay Dad
, and co-write some of the songs on their debut album, Leisure Noise
. Their single, "Oh Jim
", was supposedly dedicated to him.
In 1999, he produced Lido
, the debut album by Clearlake
, released in 2000 on his own label, Dusty Company, an offshoot of Domino Records.
Irvin returned to full-time songwriting in 2001, concentrating initially on dance music
. He co-wrote the 2004 hit "The Weekend
" by Michael Gray
, and has had work recorded by Groove Armada
, Miami Ice, Full Intention
and David Guetta
.
More recently, Irvin has been working across all genres with Lissie
, Michelle Branch
, Cady Groves, Halestorm
, Alex Hepburn, Boyzone
, Jack McManus
, Murray James, Simple Plan
, Audra Mae
, Twenty Twenty
, Zucchero
, Various Cruelties and David Cook
; most of these in collaboration with musician and producer Julian Emery
.Their song written with Lissie
, "When I'm Alone", was selected by ITunes UK as the Song of the Year 2010.
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...
singer, songwriter and music journalist.
Irvin was born and raised in West London. He was the singer in the British indie-band Furniture
Furniture (band)
Furniture was a British pop band, active from 1979 to 1991 and best known for their 1986 Top 30 hit "Brilliant Mind". Since its break-up, the band has retained a certain cult appeal, partly due to a continuing high reputation for songwriting and partly due to the nature of the band's career...
, who released 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...
and album
Album
An 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...
s with Survival, Stiff
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
and Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
between 1982 and 1990. He co-wrote their 1986 UK 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...
, "Brilliant Mind
Brilliant Mind
"Brilliant Mind" is a 1986 single by British New Wave band Furniture, from their 1986 album The Wrong People. The song reached #21 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1986....
", taken from the album, The Wrong People. The song also appeared in the John Hughes movie, Some Kind of Wonderful and was re-recorded for the soundtrack. Furniture made one further album, Food, Sex and Paranoia, for Arista (1989), and disbanded in 1990.
Irvin then began contributing to 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...
magazine, where his work appeared under the name Jim Arundel. He was later made reviews editor. In 1994, reverting to Jim Irvin, he became the founding features editor of Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
magazine. He was on the staff for seven years and left as its Senior Editor. One of his most notable pieces for Mojo was 'Angel Of Avalon', a major profile of the late Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny
Sandy Denny , born Alexandra Elene Maclean Denny, was an English singer and songwriter, perhaps best known as the lead singer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention...
, published in 1998. He also edited an acclaimed book, The Mojo Collection. He continues to write a reissues column for Mojo, and also contributes a regular music DVD column to The Word.
In 1995, Irvin produced the first demos by the band Gay Dad
Gay Dad
In 2001 the leading single from Transmission - "Now Always and Forever" - was released. It fell just short of the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart. An extensive UK tour was followed by a limited edition single "Harder, Faster". The third single "Transmission" was released just before the album came...
, and co-write some of the songs on their debut album, Leisure Noise
Leisure Noise
Leisure Noise is an album by Gay Dad released via London Records in June 1999. The album is an art-pop blending of glam rock, psychedelia, krautrock, gospel into indie pop. Lyrically it is often about and constructed of rock history...
. Their single, "Oh Jim
Oh Jim
"Oh Jim" was the third single by the band Gay Dad released in 1999. The single version released for airplay is a different and earlier recording of the track that appears on the album.-A-Side:The song is essentially a Lamenting rock ballad...
", was supposedly dedicated to him.
In 1999, he produced Lido
Lido (album)
Lido is the debut album by Clearlake. Released in March 2001, it features the singles "Winterlight", "Don't Let The Cold In", and "Let Go".-Track listing:#"Clearlake Lido" – 1:06#"Sunday Evening" – 3:38#"Don't Let the Cold In" – 4:32...
, the debut album by Clearlake
Clearlake
Clearlake may refer to:* Clearlake , English rock band* Clearlake, California, city in Lake County, California* Angels Camp, California, formerly ClearlakeSee also Clear Lake ....
, released in 2000 on his own label, Dusty Company, an offshoot of Domino Records.
Irvin returned to full-time songwriting in 2001, concentrating initially on dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
. He co-wrote the 2004 hit "The Weekend
The Weekend (Michael Gray song)
"The Weekend" is a single released by Michael Gray in 2004. It was released in the UK in November 2004. It debuted and peaked at Number 7 in the UK charts, was number 1 in Poland and Top 10 in Australia...
" by Michael Gray
Michael Gray (DJ)
Michael Gray is a British DJ and house music producer. He is also half of the dance music production/remixing duo Full Intention.-Career:Gray began his career as a British house DJ in the 1990s, and became in demand as a remixer, often with Jon Pearn under the name Full Intention, providing house...
, and has had work recorded by Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
, Miami Ice, Full Intention
Full Intention
Full Intention is a house music duo from England who are best known as prolific remixers, reworking songs for varied artists such as the Sugababes and Whitney Houston. Group members are Michael Gray and Jon Pearn....
and David Guetta
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
.
More recently, Irvin has been working across all genres with Lissie
Lissie
Elisabeth Maurus , known by her stage name Lissie, is an American folk rock artist and Paste Magazine's #1 best new solo artist of 2010. She released her debut EP, "Why You Runnin'", in November 2009. Her debut album, Catching a Tiger, was released in June 2010.-Early life and career:Lissie was...
, Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
, Cady Groves, Halestorm
Halestorm
Halestorm is an American rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania. The group's self-titled debut album was released on April 28, 2009 through Atlantic Records.-History:...
, Alex Hepburn, Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
, Jack McManus
Jack McManus (singer)
Jack McManus is a BRIT School educated singer-songwriter from West Wickham, Kent in England.-Music career:A singer who has been compared to Elton John and Billy Joel, McManus' debut album Either Side Of Midnight was released on Polydor Records/UMRL on 5 May 2008, preceded by his first single "Bang...
, Murray James, Simple Plan
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian pop punk band from Montréal, Québec. The band has had no line up changes since its inception in 1999. Members are Pierre Bouvier , Jeff Stinco , Sébastien Lefebvre , David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau...
, Audra Mae
Audra Mae
Audra Mae is an American singer-songwriter from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Audra Mae is the great-great-niece of Judy Garland, who was her great-grandmother's sister....
, Twenty Twenty
Twenty Twenty
Twenty Twenty is a British independent television production company which joined the Shed Media Group in September 2007. The company produces documentaries, current affairs, drama, living history, and children's television.-Current productions:...
, Zucchero
Zucchero
Adelmo Fornaciari, Commander , more commonly known by his stage name Zucchero Fornaciari or simply Zucchero /ˈtsukkero/, is an Italian rock singer. His music is largely inspired by gospel, blues and rock music, and alternates between ballads and more rhythmic boogie-like pieces.Zucchero is the...
, Various Cruelties and David Cook
David Cook (singer)
David Roland Cook is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol...
; most of these in collaboration with musician and producer Julian Emery
Julian Emery
Julian Emery is a British musician, producer and songwriter, best known for his work with McFly and Lissie.-Early life:Emery was raised and educated in Buckinghamshire, the son of classical musician Terry Emery, and brother of actor Tania Emery...
.Their song written with Lissie
Lissie
Elisabeth Maurus , known by her stage name Lissie, is an American folk rock artist and Paste Magazine's #1 best new solo artist of 2010. She released her debut EP, "Why You Runnin'", in November 2009. Her debut album, Catching a Tiger, was released in June 2010.-Early life and career:Lissie was...
, "When I'm Alone", was selected by ITunes UK as the Song of the Year 2010.