Christopher Neil

For the Canadian suspect of the same name arrested in an Interpol sexual abuse investigation, see Christopher Paul Neil.

Christopher Neil (born 1948) is a British record producer, songwriter, singer and actor.

He has worked with Celine Dion, A-HA, Cher, Rod Stewart, Paul Young, Gerry Rafferty, Mike + the Mechanics, Marillion, The Moody Blues, Shakin' Stevens, Sheena Easton, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Carrack, Amazulu, Morton Harket, Leo Sayer, Dollar, Toyah Willcox,...and many others in a long career.

Neil started in the mid-sixties as a singer with Manchester group The Chuckles. In 1972 he released a solo album Where I Belong on RAK Records.[1]

He worked as an actor during the 1970s playing Jesus in the west end production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Ginger in "Leaping Ginger" at the prestigious Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester before going full-time as a record producer. His film roles included The Sex Thief (1973), Eskimo Nell (1975) and Three for All (1975) , and in 1976 he starred in the British TV series Rock Follies. In 1977 and 1978 he starred in two of the three 'Adventures of...' British sex comedy films: Adventures of a Private Eye and the final film in the trilogy, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate. In addition to taking the lead role, Neil wrote and sang the theme songs to the two films.

Hit singles

Christopher Neil has produced many songs that reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart or the US Billboard Hot 100:

Year Artist Title UK Singles Chart Billboard Hot 100
1976 Paul Nicholas "Dancing With the Captain"[2] 8 —
"Grandma's Party"[2] 9 —
1977 "Heaven on the 7th Floor"[2][3] 40 6
1978 Marshall Hain "Dancing in the City"[4][5] 3 43
1979 Dollar "Love's Gotta Hold on Me"[6] 4 —
"I Wanna Hold Your Hand"[6] 9 —
1980 Sheena Easton "Modern Girl"[7][8] 8 18
"9 to 5" / "Morning Train"[7][8] 3 1
Dennis Waterman "I Could Be So Good for You"[9] 3 —
1981 Sheena Easton "For Your Eyes Only"[7][8] 8 4
1983 Shakin' Stevens "Cry Just a Little Bit"[10][11] 3 67
1984 Shakin' Stevens & Bonnie Tyler "A Rockin' Good Way"[12] 5 —
Shakin' Stevens "Teardrops"[10] 5 —
1985 Mike + The Mechanics "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)"[13][14] 21 6
1986 Amazulu "Too Good to Be Forgotten"[15] 5 —
Mike + The Mechanics "All I Need Is a Miracle"[13][14] 53 5
1987 Paul Carrack "Don't Shed a Tear" 60 9
1989 Mike + The Mechanics "The Living Years"[13][14] 2 1
1990 Celine Dion "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" 72 4
1994 "Think Twice"[16][17] 1 95

Cher.....Walking in Memphis.......1995

Christopher Neil also released some solo tracks: If I Was Close To You Working Girl – 1979 Here We Go

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Christopher Neil – Where I Belong (LP, Album) at Discogs". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Chart Stats – Paul Nicholas". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "Allmusic ((( Paul Nicholas > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "Chart Stats – Marshall Hain – Dancin' In The City". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Allmusic ((( Marshall-Hain > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Chart Stats – Dollar". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Chart Stats – Sheena Easton". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Allmusic ((( Sheena Easton > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "Chart Stats – Dennis Waterman – I Could Be So Good For You". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Chart Stats – Shakin' Stevens". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  11. ↑ "Allmusic ((( Shakin' Stevens > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  12. ↑ "Chart Stats – Shaky And Bonnie – A Rockin' Good Way". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Chart Stats – Mike and the Mechanics". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Allmusic ((( Mike + the Mechanics > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  15. ↑ "Chart Stats – Amazulu – Too Good To Be Forgotten". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  16. ↑ "Chart Stats – Celine Dion – Think Twice". Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  17. ↑ "Allmusic ((( Celine Dion > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 12 May 2010.

External links