Hazell Dean

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Hazell Dean
Origin United Kingdom
Genre(s) Pop, Hi-NRG, MOR, Soul
Years active 1975–present
Label(s) EMI, Proto, and others
Website http://hazelldean.net/ HazellDean.net

Hazell Dean (born Hazel Dean Poole, 27 October 1956 [1], Great Baddow, Essex) is an UK dance-pop singer-songwriter, and producer well known for her husky alto voice timbre, and her hit songs, "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)", "Who's Leaving Who?", "Turn It Into Love" and "Searchin' (I Got To Find a Man)".

Contents

[edit] Career

She started her career in the late 1970s, but achieved a chart success in the early 1980s working with the famous Stock Aitken Waterman team. Dean was elected three times as the "Best Live Performer" by the "Federation of American Dance Clubs" (U.S.), and twice as a "Best British Performer" by "Club Mirror Awards" (UK).

Dean had two bursts of success in the 1980s. Firstly, in 1984 when she scored her first top 10 hit with "Searchin' (I Gotta Find A Man)", which reached No.6 and then "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" in August which hit No.4. Then after a quiet three years, she returned in 1988 with another No.4 hit "Who's Leaving Who" as well as "Maybe (We Should Call It A Day)" which made the top 20.[1]

"Whatever I Do" was originally recorded by Michael Prince as "Dance Your Love Away", but the song was re-written by Stock Aitken Waterman because Dean disliked the chorus. "Who's Leaving Who" peaked at #9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. She also recorded and had a moderate hit with "Turn It Into Love"; which was originally recorded by Kylie Minogue and included on her debut album, Kylie. A fan poll on Dean's Yahoo messageboard for their favourite track, was topped by "Always (Doesn't Mean Forever)" - the "My Ami Mix", which failed to chart. Dean had a #1 single in South Africa with the Stock Aitken Waterman produced, "They Say It's Gonna Rain".

Dean produced and wrote songs for Bad Boys Inc, Bona Riah (produced "House of Rising Sun"), Miquel Brown (produced "It's a Sin"), MEN 2 B (co-wrote "Love Satisfaction"), Upside Down and Sandra Feva.

During 1992-93, Dean recorded several new songs with Ian Levine who had previously remixed several singles for her. The songs came out on the album The Best of Hazell Dean in 1995, entitled so because it was part of a 'Best of' series on Miami-based Hot Productions, although it was effectively a new album. It received, however, only a lukewarm reception among Dean's fans.[citation needed][2]

Her record label, Carlton Records, had Dean record an album of ABBA covers. As well as a few big ABBA hits, the album included some choices from the ABBA back catalogue. Dean's redition of "The Winner Takes It All" scraped into the UK Singles Chart in the mid 1990s.

She participated twice in the BBC Television's A Song for Europe contest. In 1976 she took eighth place (out of twelve) with the cabaret ballad, "I Couldn't Live Without You For A Day", written by contest veteran Paul Curtis.[3] 1984 saw Dean finish in seventh place of eight, with another dramatic ballad, "Stay In My Life", that she wrote herself.[4] She also provided backing vocals for Samantha Janus in 1991's Eurovision Song Contest. Dean released a rendition of Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" in 1999.

Dean was referenced in series one of popular BBC TV comedy show, Little Britain.

Hazell Dean is also the answer to one of the questions posed by the Ann Droid, in the 2005 episode of Doctor Who - Bad Wolf.

In 2007, Hazell returned to record with Ian Levine, completing the track "Trade Him for a Newer Model" for the album Disco 2008. The music video for "Trade Him for a Newer Model" was released on You Tube by Levine in mid autumn 2007.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • 1981 The Sound of Bacharach and David
  • 1984 Heart First
  • 1988 Always (#38 UK Albums Chart)
  • 1995 The Best Of Hazel Dean (contained new songs)
  • 1996 The Winner Takes It All / Hazell Dean Sings Abba

[edit] Singles

  • 1975 "Our Day Will Come"
  • 1976 "I Couldn't Live Without You For A Day"
  • 1976 "Got You Where I Want You"
  • 1976 "Look What I've Found At The End Of A Rainbow"
  • 1977 "No One's Ever Gonna Love You"
  • 1977 "Who Was That Lady"
  • 1981 "You Got Me Wrong"
  • 1983 "Stay In My Life"
  • 1983 "Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)" (#76 UK July 1983). (#8 U.S. Club Play Singles)
  • 1984 "Jealous Love" / "Evergreen" (#63 UK February 1984)
  • 1984 "Searchin' (I Gotta Find A Man) (reissue)" (#6 UK April 1984)
  • 1984 "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" (#4 UK July 1984)
  • 1984 "Devil In You"
  • 1984 "Back In My Arms (Once Again)" (#41 UK November 1984)
  • 1985 "No Fool (For Love)" (#41 UK March 1985)
  • 1985 "Harmony"
  • 1985 "They Say It's Gonna Rain" (#58 UK October 1985)
  • 1986 "Walk In My Shoes"
  • 1986 "Extra Sensual Persuasion" (#98 UK May 1986)
  • 1986 "Stand Up" (#79 UK September 1986)
  • 1987 "Always Doesn't Mean Forever" (#92 UK June 1987)
  • 1988 "Who's Leaving Who" (#4 UK April 1988) (#9 U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play)
  • 1988 "Maybe" (#15 UK June 1988)
  • 1988 "Turn It Into Love" (#21 UK September 1988)
  • 1989 "Love Pains" (#48 UK August 1989)
  • 1991 "Better Off Without You" (#72 UK March 1991)
  • 1993 "My Idea Of Heaven"
  • 1994 "Power & Passion"
  • 1996 "The Winner Takes It All" (#89 UK)
  • 1997 "Searchin' 97" (#116 UK)
  • 1998 "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves"
  • 1999 "Living On A Prayer"
  • 2001 "Who's Leavin' Who 2001"
  • 2004 "Searchin' 2004"
  • 2007 "Trade Him for a Newer Model"

[edit] Compilations

  • 1996: The Greatest Hits Collection
  • 2002: The Greatest Hits


[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=3859
  2. ^ http://www.stockaitkenwaterman.com/artists/dean05.htm
  3. ^ http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/eurovision/eurosong70s.htm
  4. ^ http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/eurovision/eurosong80s.htm

[edit] External links

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