Alan Charles Klein (born 29 June 1940)[1] is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He wrote the soundtrack for the stage play and film, What a Crazy World (1963).[1][2] In 1964, he released his only solo album, Well at Least It's British, that was re-released in 2008 by RPM Records.[3]
Alan Klein | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alan Charles Klein |
| Born | 29 June 1940 Clerkenwell, London, England |
| Genres | Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | Decca, Parlophone, Oriole |
Klein was born in Clerkenwell, London. Some of his recordings were made with the record producer, Joe Meek.[1]
In 1966, he went on tour as lead vocalist of The New Vaudeville Band, billed as 'Tristam, Seventh Earl of Cricklewood'.[1] A year earlier, Klein wrote and performed a parody of "Eve of Destruction", with an attack on folk-singers such as Donovan and Bob Dylan, entitled "Age of Corruption". It used the same melody as P. F. Sloan's song, and was released as a track on Klein's album Well at Least It's British, and as a single.[4]
Writing credits
edit- 1962 "What a Crazy World We're Living In" – Recorded by Joe Brown and the Bruvvers. Piccadilly 7N35024
- 1962 "My Very First Love" – Recorded by Ronnie Hall on Piccadilly 7N35040
- 1962 "A Lay-Abouts Lament" – Recorded by Joe Brown and the Bruvvers on Piccadilly 7N35047
- 1962 "At Times Like These" – Recorded by Ricky Valance on Columbia DB4787
- 1963 "Sally Ann" – Recorded by Freddie and the Dreamers on Columbia SEG8287 EP
- 1963 "Our Streets Annual Outing" – Recorded by The Bachelors on Decca LK4519 LP
- 1963 "Save Your Love for Me" – Recorded by Marty Wilde on Columbia DB7145
- 1963 "Sally Ann" – Recorded by Joe Brown and the Bruvvers on Piccadilly 7N35138
- 1963 "Come Back When You're Ready" – Co-written with J. Duncan, and recorded by Freddie and the Dreamers on Columbia DB7214
- 1964 "I'm a Dreamer" – Recorded by Donald Peers on Columbia DB7226
- 1964 "As Long As You Love Me a Little" – Recorded by Donald Peers on Columbia DB7299
- 1964 "Big Talk From a Little Man" – Recorded by Don Charles on HMV POP1332
- 1965 "I Would Give All" – Co-written with John McLeod, and recorded by The Harbour Lites on HMV POP1465
- 1965 "I'll See You Around" – Recorded by John Mantell on CBS201783
- 1965 "Big City" - Co-written with Jimmy Duncan, and recorded by Pretty Things on The Pretty Things on Fontana
- 1966 "I Just Can't Fool My Heart" – Recorded by Danny Storm on Piccadilly 7N35091
- 1966 "It Ain't Worth the Lonely Road Back" – Recorded by Pozo Seco Singers on Columbia (US) 4-43636
- 1966 "Little Ray of Sunshine" – Recorded by Joe Brown on Pye 7N17135
Discography
editSingles
edit- 1962 "Striped Purple Shirt" – Written and recorded by Klein on Oriole 45 CB1719 (A Side)
- 1962 "Three Coins in the Sewer" – Written and recorded by Klein on Oriole 45 CB1737 (A Side)
- 1962 "Danger Ahead" – Written by J. Francis and recorded by Klein on Oriole 45 CB1737 (B Side)
- 1965 "It Ain't Worth the Lonely Road Back" – Written and recorded by Klein on Parlophone R5292 (A Side)
- 1965 "I've Cried So Many Tears" – Written and recorded by Klein on Parlophone R5292 (B Side)
- 1965 "Age of Corruption" – Written and recorded by Klein on Parlophone R5370 (A Side)
- 1965 "I'm Counting On You" – Written and recorded by Klein on Parlophone R5370 (B Side)
- 1969 "Honey Pie" – Written by Lennon and McCartney, recorded by Klein on Page One POF119 (A Side)
- 1969 "You Turned a Nightmare into a Dream" – Written and recorded by Klein on Page One POPF119 (B Side)
- 1970 "Dinner's in the Ice Box" – Written and recorded by Klein on Decca F13033 (A Side)
- 1970 "Here I Am, There You Are" – Written and recorded by Klein on Decca F13033 (B Side)
- 1970 "Nothing Like a Long Gone Man" – Written and recorded by Klein on Decca F13091 (A Side)
- 1970 "Dreams of Youth" – Written and recorded by Klein on Decca F13091 (B Side)[5]
"Honey Pie" / "You Turned a Nightmare into a Dream" was also released in the U.S., under the pseudonym "Earl of Cricklewood" (Page One 21,021; March 1969).[6]
Albums
edit- 1964 Well at Least It's British – Written and recorded by Klein on Decca[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Alan Klein | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
- ^ What a Crazy World at IMDb
- ^ "Well At Least It's British at RPM Records". Archived from the original on 17 April 2008.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen. "Alan Klein - Well at Least It's British". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ^ "Alan Klein Discography - UK". 45cat.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Earl Of Cricklewood – Honey Pie". 45cat.com. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
- ^ "Well at Least It's British – Alan Klein | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 August 2019.