Shakin' Stevens

A truly remarkable c areer

The story so far

Born in Cardiff, South W ales, Shakin' Stevens, the Singer/Songwriter also
known as Shaky, started his career as a rock 'n roll singer, covering all genres of
music. He worked with several bands, playing venues around South W ales,
eventually forming a band that he named Shakin' Stevens And The Sunsets.
The truth about how he came by his name, whatever you may read; when he
was in his teens, a mate was messing about in the street. Suddenly he played
air-guitar, announcing Ladies and gentlemen Shakin Stevens And The
Sunsets ! Shaky thought it was a wacky name, and indeed memorable, and so
much later adopted it for his stage name although when he turned solo, the
Sunsets set. His mate never went into the music business, but he loves to tell
the story..
But Stevens was hardly an overnight success. In 69 they turned professional
(they gave up their day jobs which were many and varied) and played the
London circuit and Colleges, Universities and venues throughout the UK and
Europe, on the same bills as such artists as Ian Dury (then performing as Kilburn
And The High Roads), Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup, Deep Purple, Chuck Berry,
Georgie Fame, David Bowie and The Stones, to name but a few.
During the seventies they recorded albums and singles for labels which included
EMI (the album 'A Legend' being produced by Dave Edmunds at Rockfield
Studios) and CBS in the UK, with Dureco and Dynamite in Holland, and
continually gigged in Denmark, Sweden and The Netherlands (where the band
had a loyal following). In 1972, they were voted The Top Live Band in a New
Musical Express poll.
Prior to the band breaking up in late '77, Stevens signed as a solo artist to Track
Records, at the same time as the punk band, Johnny And The Heartbreakers
(Track was also well known for such artists as Jimi Hendrix and The W ho).
Stevens first release on the label was the single titled 'Never' in 1977, followed
by 'Somebody Touched Me', both produced by Mike Hurst. Despite good
reviews, the singles failed to make any significant impact on the UK charts.
(Although many years later Hurst and Stevens learned that Somebody Touched
Me was a Top 40 hit in Australia.)
That same year, while also gigging with the band at The Greyhound, in London,
Stevens was approached by Jack Good to co-star in his W est End musical,
Elvis, alongside PJ Proby and Timothy W hitnall. The musical ran for 19 months
as a multi-award-winning show. Accolades included Evening Standard 'Best
Musical' Award and the SW ET Awards. In 1978, a single 'Justine', and then an

album entitled 'Shakin' Stevens' were released by Track Records, featuring

members of Sounds Incorporated (previously managed by Brian Epstein), which
showed Stevens with a harder-edged vocal performance. The album was
recorded live, straight to tape, in one day, at Island Studios - in the next studio
to Bob Marley. It was like one big party, Shaky said, the studio was full of
people, food and booze. But at that time Track Records was experiencing
difficulties, and within a few months Track went into liquidation.
In mid '78, back-stage in his dressing-room at the Astoria, Stevens was
approached by (the late) Chris Brough and Mike Hurst, who then signed him to
CBS on the Epic label on a long term, world-wide basis. Three singles,
produced by Mike - Chriss production partner at that time - were then released
but without any real success. Continuing in his role in the W est End musical, 8
shows a week, Stevens then featured in Jack Good's live version of the
revamped hit shows 'Oh Boy' at the Astoria, performing 2 shows on his 'day off'
each Sunday; which later led to similar shows being televised in '79 and
throughout the following year.
After many years of touring, making records and paying his dues, the beginning
of the 80's was to become a major turning point in Stevens' career, establishing
him as a unique International artist working with some of the most astute rock
and country blues-aware musicians in Britain. Despite the trend out of the Punk
era and into New W ave, Electronic and the New Romantics, Stevens resulting
sound was glossy enough to appeal to those weaned on Smash Hits, but one
that retained enough of rocks basic energy and excitement to gain the attention
of an adult audience who could relate to his music.
He was to work with producers including Rod Argent (of Argent), Peter Collins,
Stuart Colman, Dave Edmunds, Pete Hammond, Christopher Neil, John David
and Nicky Graham.
His first album released on the Epic label in 1980, was 'Take One', featuring the
renowned lead guitarist, Albert Lee. Lifted from this album, the long awaited hit
single, 'Hot Dog', was released in the same year - reaching #24 in the charts.
Six months later he had a top 20 hit with 'Marie, Marie', which was the spark that
ignited his European success. But it was the cover of a classic song that
provided the real breakthrough in early 81, when Shakys re-working of This Ole
House, topped the UK chart and became a huge International hit. Originally
penned by singer/songwriter, Stuart Hamblen, after finding the dead body of an
old prospector in a tumbledown shack. I hadnt heard it before, Stevens later
explained. I was going through some records and tapes with Stuart Colman,
and there it was. It was the recording by the US band NRBQ which first brought
the song to his attention. As Fred Dellar, of Mojo, later explained, The record
tapped several audiences. Those who remembered it from the first time around,
those who regarded it as a new song, plus the then emerging wave of new
rockabillies who perceived it as their kind of material. As his audiences grew

bigger and increasingly diverse, the demand for Shakin Stevens records grew.
And Stevens continually rang the changes... In 81 alone, he had two # 1 hit
singles, also You Drive Me Crazy reaching # 2, and his first ballad, 'It's Raining',
which was a top 10 hit.
But Stevens was capable of making more than just hit singles. The diversity of
his music meant that he additionally attracted an album-buying public, and in 81
he notched up three hit albums including 'Shaky', which not only topped the
charts but remained in the best-selling listings for 28 weeks. The following year
marked his first self-penned # 1 - 'Oh Julie', which was nominated for an Ivor
Novello Award. W ith many more hit singles and albums to follow, in the UK and
internationally, Stevens was now firmly established on the trail to become the
most successful UK singles chart performer of the decade.
In mid 85, Maurice Oberstein responsible for signing Stevens to CBS/Epic
moved to Polygram, with resultant staff changes in the label. At the end of the
year Stevens released Merry Christmas Everyone. This track was due for
release the previous year, but it was re-scheduled so as not to clash with the
release of the Band Aid single. Merry Christmas Everyone deservedly became
Stevens fourth #1; a Christmas Classic!
In 87 the news broke that CBS/Epic was to be taken over by Sony. That same
year the album, Lets Boogie was released; taking its concept, and its name in
part, from the single A Little Boogie W oogie (In The Back Of My Mind) but the
idea did not materialise. It was then brought to Stevens attention that there
were several of his hits never before released on an album, together with other
live recordings which hadnt been utiltised. As a result, side 2 contained a live
medley of hits recorded at the London Palladium in December 86, while side
one consisted of a new album track, three hits, and W hat Do You W ant To
Make Those Eyes At Me For: a version which should never have been released.
Stevens was not totally happy with the final outcome of this album. Also that
year he experimented by recording the Supremes former hit, Come See About
Me, which was followed in 88 with a version of the Detroit Emeralds soul hit
Feel The Need In Me. Despite being a brave departure, musically, it still
charted. Meantime Sonys purchase of CBS/Epic was ratified in January 1988.
November 88, the album A W hole Lotta Shaky was released. This album
included the new, hit version of W hat Do You W ant To Make Those Eyes At Me
For and other new recordings for the album, coupled with tracks recorded as far
back as 1981. W ith such a collection of new songs, and tracks recorded over
the decade (not specifically for this album), Stevens felt it did not quite gel as an
album. Nevertheless, Sony/Epic released it.
Despite his forays into other styles of music for his single releases , he ended the
decade as the Biggest Selling Singles Artist! To quote from the Guinness Book
of British Hit Singles And Albums; Shares with The Beatles (60s) and Elton John

(70s) the distinction of being the most successful UK singles chart performer of a
decade.
W ith the start of a new decade in 1990, I Might was released, with many
airplays on radio, some stations rotating the track four times a day. W ith reports
of lack of product in the shops it still made the Top 20, as did The Best
Christmas Of Them All at the end of the year. Changes within the label were
now more noticeably coming into play; Obersteins earlier departure and Sonys
purchase of CBS/Epic, and it was becoming more apparent that the former
commitment was perhaps dwindling. Later news that Muff W inwood was to
leave Epic to set up S2, meant that those who had been instrumental in signing
Stevens to the label had left or were leaving. Singles for 1990 continued to be
released on the Epic label, but later became part of an album released on
Telstar, in conjunction with Epic, that same year.
Stevens last official releases on the Epic label were in 92, and included the
album The Epic Years, a digitally re-mastered collection of 25 of the hits.
Despite the success of the previous Greatest Hits album, which went platinum
in 84, lack of promotion for the Epic Years resulted in a minor hit. The hit single
Radio was taken from the album; a new song, produced by Rod Argent and
Peter Van-Hooke which featured Roger Taylor of Queen, on drums, and Rod
Argent on keyboards.
Throughout the 80's and early 90's alone, Stevens had 39 hit singles, 37 of
which were consecutive, and in the UK alone achieved four # 1s , three # 2s, 12
Top 5 hits, 15 Top 10s, 25 Top 20s, 30 Top 30s and 32 Top 40 hits. This
unprecedented success was mirrored across Europe and in many territories
world-wide. At that time, in the UK he had accumulated 277 weeks in the singles
chart and consolidated all that success with a run of a dozen hit albums. He sold
millions of albums and singles world-wide, earning him a multitude of Gold,
Platinum and Double Platinum Discs, and a plethora of global honours and
prestigious industry awards including Best Musical; thirty Top 30 hits in a decade
(still unsurpassed by any other artist); being named best Singer/Performer at
Midem, the international music convention. In Germany he picked up the unique
Chartmaker award to commemorate four singles in the German chart at the
same time a record which remains unbeaten ! ; in Sweden he became the first
international artist ever to receive a double Platinum Disc.
Many artists covered his recordings; among them worldbeaters such as Barry
Manilow (who had a US hit with 'Oh Julie'), Eddy Raven and Sylvia taking 'A
Letter To You' and 'Cry Just A Little Bit' to # 1 and # 9 in the Nashville charts.
Stevens has also collaborated musically with a number of world renowned
musicians including Roger Taylor, Albert Lee, Hank Marvin, Bonnie Tyler, Rod
Argent and, more recently, Tony Joe W hite, also with some of the most astute
rock and country blues-aware session musicians in both Britain and Nashville
producing hit, after hit, after hit.

By 1993, Stevens was out of contract, although continuing to tour. In 95 he

decided to take time out to review his career and business affairs.
Nevertheless, appropriate marketing strategies with a strong commitment in
other parts of Europe proved that his compilation albums would continue to
chart, achieving a # 1 in Denmark, and # 12 in Norway in 99 .
Embarking on another phase of his career, in 99 Stevens completed a
successful tour of the UK, also performing in Europe, and was then invited to
perform at the historic launch of The W elsh Assembly in May 99, delivering a
one-off show at London's prestigious venue, The Shepherds Bush Empire the
following October. Entering the new Millennium, he headlined at an open-air
concert in his home town of Cardiff, performing to a live audience in excess of
100,000 also broadcast nationally on BBC TV. In Spring 2000 Stevens
repeated his success with another UK Tour, performing rock and country blues
as well as new arrangements of his hits. In October 2000, he was paid tribute by
the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, when he was presented
with a prestigious Gold Badge Award to commemorate his contribution to the
music industry.
In 2002 Stevens was honoured by The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles,
when he was awarded a Number One Gold Award to reflect his chart success.
At this time Stevens then signed to East W est in Germany, for a new album that
was part recorded. The commitment for this signing came from W arner Records
President for Europe. However, soon after the President for Europe left
W arners, and as a result the MD of East W est also moved on. These senior
people were replaced with a new head, who wasnt involved in the signing of
Shakin Stevens, and his new policy was to promote German artists, only. As
usual, Stevens dealt with the disappointment by throwing himself into his work.
Other, more positive highlights include a performance in Austria in 2003, when
he headlined to an audience of 200,000, and in 2004 topped the bill at the
prestigious charity event of the Frankfurt Opera ball, then appearing in the tv
celebration to mark 50 Years Of Rock, in Hannover. Stevens was then ranked
as the 16th highest selling artist in the UK, ever, and also acknowledged as
having had more number 1s than any other W elsh artist. In 2004, he followed
all this up with a further Number 1, Platinum selling, tv-advertised hits album in
Denmark, and in 2005 with a further tv-advertised hits compilation album in the
UK (The Collection, charting at #4 in the UK) - which went Gold within nine days
of release, and then platinum. Following his success in the hit tv show, Hit Me
Baby One More Time (which was to promote The Collection album), the single
Trouble was released in June 2005, straight into the Top 20. A stand-alone
DVD of The Collection followed, which charted Top 10.
A sell-out tour in the UK and Denmark in November and December 2005
(repeated in 2006), were followed by the completion of a new studio album
Now Listen. Now Listen marked a distinct progression in Stevens career, a

twelve-track album featuring new songs, many of which were co-written by

Stevens.
The album displayed Shakys distinctive and gutsy vocals, together with strong
country rock and blues influences, thus appealing to his fans while also attracting
a new audience. Now Listen, written by Stevens with Tim W oodcock and Cliff
Masterson, is an infectious song with a very catchy chorus. Stevens has also
teamed up with fellow W elsh writer John David, for the memorable Lonely Too
Long, and Johns haunting composition Somewhere In The Night. Stevens
powerful vocals and new arrangements provide a brand new take on classic
songs, including Rudi Clarks Got My Mind Set On You, Burt Bacharachs soul
classic, Baby Its You and Dave Bartholomews I Hear You Knockin.
How Could It Be Like That - a hypnotic swamp-rock track, featuring the
legendary Tony Joe W hite on lead guitar, and written by Stevens and Ronnie
Harwood. Its A Shame, co-written with John David and Jason Lee,
demonstrates Shakys strong vocals with meaningful lyrics. Combine all this with
the pure energy and excitement of the tracks Fire Down Below - with its gospel
feel together with his rousing versions of Pump It Up and Trouble, and finish it
all off with Stevens anthemic, original festival song, Get Together, and you have
Now Listen.
This very special album was a long time coming, but well worth the wait!
Stevens had been re-signed to SonyBMG by Rob Stringer but before the
release of Now Listen, Rob was promoted to Sony in the US, and with him went
the UK and therefore Europes commitment. Nevertheless, a strong belief from
Steve Tallamy, then with SonyBMG in Denmark, meant that the only release of
this long-awaited album was to be on SonyBMG, Denmark, on 29th May 2007,
which went straight in at # 8 ! Steve was right ! (but then, we knew that .
Thank you to all the team.)
Shaky then went on to tour Denmark, also performing in 4 shows at the NEC on
RW L, followed by a tour of Romania, with live TV concert, and then BBC TV
Northern Ireland, swiftly followed by a charity gig to raise money for a childrens
hospice in Romania. For New Years Eve 2007/8 Shaky then headlined on
Polish National TV, performing in Cracow Square, and to a record live audience
of 200,000 ! Shaky was then asked to make a guest appearance at the Gvle
Konserthus, in Sweden, alongside Billy Bremner and Geraint W atkins. Billy and
Geraint had worked with Stevens on his early recordings.
2008 also brought an invitation to perform at the legendary Glastonbury Festival,
to open the Main stage on Saturday 28th June. The festival organisers
announced that Shakys hugely successful appearance drew the biggest crowd
and best reaction for an opening artist on the Pyramid / Main stage EVER !
Then followed festivals in the UK and Germany, with more appearances and

concerts lined up in Poland, the UK and a tour of Ireland, finishing the year at
Londons Indigo2 on 13th December 08.
As well as festivals in Europe, and a tour in Scandinavia, during 2009 Stevens
finalised working on a 10CD box-set for Sony Music - The Epic Masters containing original albums with bonus tracks, many of which had never before
been on CD. All 147 tracks were digitally re-mastered (personally overseen by
Stevens), and the set also included a 20 page booklet with a wealth of
information about the making of the tracks.
The Epic Masters Box Set was released at the end of 2009, in readiness to
celebrate the coming year of 2010 - the 30th Anniversary of Stevens first UK hit and this occasion was also marked with a special, one-off gig at the 02
Academy Islington, on 8th December 2009. Both the limited edition release, and
the gig sold out immediately
As part of the ongoing 2010 celebrations, and to meet demand in the UK and
Internationally, Sony pressed further copies of the Epic Masters box set, and a
UK tour was put in place. Originally planned for October 2010, following illness
the UK Tour was re-scheduled to 2011. Meantime, 2010 also heralded another
return to the album charts in Denmark and Sweden, where his album The
Collection once again topped the charts.
Commencing on 4th February 2011, the UK Tour was followed by a tour of
Denmark and many one-off appearances at concerts and festival performances
throughout Europe. But between all this, Shaky was invited to join Ben W aters,
Charlie W atts, Ronnie W ood, Bill W yman, Mick Taylor and Jools Holland (among
others) to perform at the launch of Boogie 4 Stu at the Ambassadors Theatre,
and then to appear as Very Special Guest with Bill W yman and The Rhythm
Kings at Abbeyfest. To meet demand in the UK, Stevens was then asked to go
back out on tour, for a further 26 dates as the second phase, during November
and December. Coincidentally, 2011 also marked the 30th Anniversary of
Stevens amazing International success!
Accompanied by a 10 strong band, performing new arrangements of his hits and
songs he had performed across the decades, from all the musical genres he has
recorded with - rock, country and blues plus a few surprises! All this, alongside
new songs, set to appear on his next album, exciting new and existing fans alike.
In 2011, Stevens was approached, yet again, for a documentary based on his
career but this time he felt he could work with the production company. Filming
of the first documentary on Shakin Stevens commenced at the beginning of
2012. By the end of April work was finished, and in May the documentary
Shakin Stevens The Remarkable Career of Michael Barratt was broadcast on
BBC 1 W ales, in its initial form, then repeated in July. Further filming is now

being scheduled to take place, to extend the documentary for overseas

broadcast.
Stevens remains in the top 25 Highest Selling Artists in the history of the charts!
To date he has spent a massive 467 weeks in the UK charts, alone 9 years!
To add to this great track record, he has now gone back into the studio to work
on his many projects, including finalising his up-coming album.
Shakin Stevens is certain to be around for many years to come