Tony Macaulay
Encyclopedia
Tony Macaulay is a British
author
, composer
for musical theatre
, and songwriter
, though it was the latter that made him a household name early in his career. He has won the British Academy Award nine times, including two as 'Songwriter of the Year'.
Macaulay's best-known songs include such classics as "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup
" with The Foundations
, "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All," as well as "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
" and "Don't Give Up on Us
".
as a record producer
. It was here that he had his first major success with The Foundations
, when they recorded
, "Baby Now That I've Found You
", a song
he had co-written with John MacLeod, and it topped the UK Singles Chart
in 1967.
Further hits
came with songs such as Marmalade
's "Baby Make it Soon" and "Falling Apart at the Seams"; and The 5th Dimension's "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All", which he wrote on his own; and Donna Summer
's 1977 single
"Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)
"; as well as many with collaborators, among them Long John Baldry
's "Let the Heartaches Begin
"; Paper Dolls' "Something Here In My Heart (Keeps A-Tellin' Me No)" and Pickettywitch
's "That Same Old Feeling", also with John MacLeod; The Foundations
' "Build Me Up Buttercup
", with Mike D'Abo
; Scott Walker
's "The Lights of Cincinnati", The Hollies
' "Sorry Suzanne", The New Seekers
' "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me
", and David Soul
's "Don't Give Up on Us
", Edison Lighthouse
's "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
", with Barry Mason
; Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
's "Blame It On The Pony Express" and Andy Williams
' "Home Lovin' Man", with Roger Cook
and Roger Greenaway
.
Much of his attention in the early 1970s
was diverted by a protracted legal dispute with his publishers. He won his case on appeal in 1974, in a landmark decision which encouraged other artists to challenge the terms of their contracts. By this time he had begun to write for musical theatre. His first collaborations for the stage
were with playwright
Ken Hill on Is Your Doctor Really Necessary? in 1973, and on Gentlemen Prefer Anything the following year.
He was the music coordinator for the movie
Never Too Young To Rock (1975), and wrote the music for Windy City
, a musical in two acts based on The Front Page
by Ben Hecht
and Charles MacArthur
, with book and lyrics
by Dick Vosburgh
, which was premiered on stage in 1982.
Later Macaulay turned to writing thrillers.
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...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
for musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, 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...
, though it was the latter that made him a household name early in his career. He has won the British Academy Award nine times, including two as 'Songwriter of the Year'.
Macaulay's best-known songs include such classics as "Baby, Now That I've Found You" and "Build Me Up Buttercup
Build Me Up Buttercup
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
" with The Foundations
The Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
, "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All," as well as "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
"Love Grows " is a popular song by "one-hit wonder" Edison Lighthouse. The single hit the number one spot on the UK singles chart on the week ending on 31 January 1970, where it remained for a total of five weeks.- Song profile :...
" and "Don't Give Up on Us
Don't Give Up on Us (song)
"Don't Give Up on Us" is a song by David Soul.Riding high on the success of playing in the hit TV show Starsky and Hutch, Soul returned to one of his early career choices as a singer...
".
Career
In the early 1960s he worked as a song plugger for Essex Publishing, then moved to Pye RecordsPye Records
Pye 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...
as a record 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...
. It was here that he had his first major success with The Foundations
The Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
, when they recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, "Baby Now That I've Found You
Baby Now That I've Found You
"Baby, Now That I've Found You" is a song written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod. Part of the song was written in the same bar of a Soho tavern where Karl Marx is supposed to have written Das Kapital. The lyrics are a plea that an unnamed subject not break up with the singer.-Original recording...
", a 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...
he had co-written with John MacLeod, and it topped 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 ...
in 1967.
Further hits
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...
came with songs such as Marmalade
Marmalade (band)
Marmalade were a successful Scottish pop rock group, from the east end of Glasgow, originally formed in 1961 as "The Gaylords", later "Dean Ford and The Gaylords". In 1966, they changed the group name to 'The Marmalade'. The most successful period for the band, in terms of UK chart success, was...
's "Baby Make it Soon" and "Falling Apart at the Seams"; and The 5th Dimension's "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All", which he wrote on his own; and Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
's 1977 single
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...
"Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)
Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)
"Can't We Just Sit Down " is a song by Donna Summer from her album I Remember Yesterday. Though famous for her disco work at the time, this song is a ballad and was released as a single in certain countries in 1977. However, the B-side, "I Feel Love" caused such a stir that it was replaced as the...
"; as well as many with collaborators, among them Long John Baldry
Long John Baldry
John William "Long John" Baldry was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No...
's "Let the Heartaches Begin
Let the Heartaches Begin
"Let the Heartaches Begin" is a song performed by British singer Long John Baldry. The single was a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart on 22 November 1967 where it stayed for two weeks. It was the second of two consecutive UK number one hits for the writing partnership of Tony Macaulay and...
"; Paper Dolls' "Something Here In My Heart (Keeps A-Tellin' Me No)" and Pickettywitch
Pickettywitch
Pickettywitch was a British pop group. Fronted by singer Polly Brown , the group became best known for its hit single, "That Same Old Feeling", which was written by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod...
's "That Same Old Feeling", also with John MacLeod; The Foundations
The Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
' "Build Me Up Buttercup
Build Me Up Buttercup
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
", with Mike D'Abo
Mike d'Abo
Michael David "Mike" d'Abo is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the former lead vocalist of Manfred Mann.-Biography:...
; Scott Walker
Scott Walker (singer)
Scott Walker, born Noel Scott Engel on January 9, 1943 is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and the former lead singer of The Walker Brothers. Despite being American born, Walker's chart success has largely come in the United Kingdom, where his first four solo albums...
's "The Lights of Cincinnati", The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
' "Sorry Suzanne", The New Seekers
The New Seekers
The New Seekers are a British-based pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music had rock as well as folk influences...
' "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me
You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me
"You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me is a 1973 single by The New Seekers. Written by Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens, arranged by Gerry Shury and produced by Tommy Oliver....
", and David Soul
David Soul
David Soul is an American-British actor and singer, best known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television programme Starsky and Hutch . He gained British citizenship in 2004.-Early life:...
's "Don't Give Up on Us
Don't Give Up on Us (song)
"Don't Give Up on Us" is a song by David Soul.Riding high on the success of playing in the hit TV show Starsky and Hutch, Soul returned to one of his early career choices as a singer...
", Edison Lighthouse
Edison Lighthouse
Edison Lighthouse was a UK pop group, initially a studio-only assemblage that served as a vehicle for session vocalist Tony Burrows and songwriter/record producers Tony Macaulay and Barry Mason, are best known for their 1970 UK chart-topper and million-selling record, "Love Grows ".-Career:The...
's "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
"Love Grows " is a popular song by "one-hit wonder" Edison Lighthouse. The single hit the number one spot on the UK singles chart on the week ending on 31 January 1970, where it remained for a total of five weeks.- Song profile :...
", with Barry Mason
Barry Mason
John Barry Mason is an English songwriter, originally from the village of Coppull, near Chorley in Lancashire....
; Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon were a U.S. vocal soul group, prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Originally known simply as The Bandwagon, they were formed in 1967 and featured Artie Fullilove, Billy Bradley, Terry Lewis and lead singer Johnny Johnson Johnny Johnson and the...
's "Blame It On The Pony Express" and Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
' "Home Lovin' Man", with Roger Cook
Roger Cook (songwriter)
Roger Cook is an English songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.-Early life:Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England...
and Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway , is a popular English songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook.-Career:...
.
Much of his attention in the early 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
was diverted by a protracted legal dispute with his publishers. He won his case on appeal in 1974, in a landmark decision which encouraged other artists to challenge the terms of their contracts. By this time he had begun to write for musical theatre. His first collaborations for the stage
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
were with playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Ken Hill on Is Your Doctor Really Necessary? in 1973, and on Gentlemen Prefer Anything the following year.
He was the music coordinator for the movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Never Too Young To Rock (1975), and wrote the music for Windy City
Windy City (musical)
Windy City is a musical with a book and lyrics by Dick Vosburgh and music by Tony Macaulay. It is based on the play The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.-Plot:...
, a musical in two acts based on The Front Page
The Front Page
The Front Page is a hit Broadway comedy about tabloid newspaper reporters on the police beat, written by one-time Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur which was first produced in 1928.-Synopsis:...
by Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht
Ben Hecht was an American screenwriter, director, producer, playwright, and novelist. Called "the Shakespeare of Hollywood", he received screen credits, alone or in collaboration, for the stories or screenplays of some 70 films and as a prolific storyteller, authored 35 books and created some of...
and Charles MacArthur
Charles MacArthur
Charles Gordon MacArthur was an American playwright and screenwriter.-Biography:Charles MacArthur was the second youngest of seven children born to stern evangelist William Telfer MacArthur and Georgiana Welsted MacArthur. He early developed a passion for reading...
, with book and lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
by Dick Vosburgh
Dick Vosburgh
Richard Kennedy "Dick" Vosburgh was an American-born comedy writer and lyricist working chiefly in Britain....
, which was premiered on stage in 1982.
Later Macaulay turned to writing thrillers.
External links
- Official Site
- [ Tony Macaulay songwriting credits] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...