Albert Hammond (born 18 May 1944) is a singer-songwriter, whose family came originally from Gibraltar.
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Birth and success
Hammond was born in London, England, due to a war-time shift in family circumstances. He started in music with Gibraltarian band "The Diamond Boys," of no huge commercial success, but which played a part in Spain's introduction to popular music, which at the time was under a very conservative dictatorship. The Diamond Boys performed at the first nightclubs in Madrid to stage modern bands alongside Spanish rock and roll pioneers, such as Miguel Rios (aka Mike Rios). In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group, Family Dogg scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "A Way of Life" in 1969.
Later life
He later moved to the United States, where he began his professional career as a musician. He is known for his hits of the 1970s released on Columbia Records subsidiary Mums Records, such as:
- "It Never Rains in Southern California"
- "The Free Electric Band" (the only single of his to chart in the UK)
- "I Don't Wanna Die in an Air Disaster"
- "I'm a Train"
- "Down by the River."
He has also written songs for others, including "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee, "Make Me An Island" for Joe Dolan (which Hammond himself re-recorded in 1979, in a Spanish disco-style version), "Gimme Dat Ding" for The Pipkins in 1970 (itself a cover from the Freddie and the Dreamers album, Oliver in the Overworld), and "The Air That I Breathe" which was a hit for The Hollies in 1974. Hammond also collaborated with Diane Warren on "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" a transatlantic No. 1 in 1987 for Starship and "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love," a hit for Chicago, which peaked at No. 3 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1988. Hammond also wrote "One Moment in Time," the theme song to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, as performed by Whitney Houston. With Hal David, Hammond co-wrote "To All The Girls I've Loved Before", a hit in 1984 for Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson. He wrote some hits for Tina Turner, (including "I Don't Wanna Lose You," "Be Tender With Me Baby," "Way of the World" and "Love Thing") and who also recorded the original version of Hammond/Warren's "Don't Turn Around," a UK No. 1 for Aswad in 1988, and a hit for Ace of Base five years later. Along with Carole Bayer Sager, Hammond wrote the song "When I Need You." The song was first recorded by Hammond on his 1976 album When I Need You. Produced by Richard Perry, Leo Sayer's version made #1 on the UK singles chart for two weeks in February 1977 after three of his earlier singles had stalled at #2. A massive hit worldwide, it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a single week in May 1977. Hammond has also released albums in both English and Spanish, and recorded many of his songs in both languages. In 2005 he released his first UK album in many years, Revolution of the Heart, and the single "This Side of Midnight." His son, Albert Hammond, Jr. is a successful solo musician and also a member of The Strokes.
Compilation album
It Never Rains In Southern California (Golden Classics album)
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Session Personnel (partial listing):
- Guitar: Albert Hammond, Larry Carlton, Todd Sharpville, Dean Parks
- Bass Guitar: Joe Osborn, Todd Sharpville
- Drums: Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon
- Piano: Larry Knechtel
