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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
|image =
| image = Terry Britten circa 1968.png
|name = Terry Britten
| name = Terry Britten
| caption = Britten as a member of [[The Twilights (band)|the Twilights]] circa 1968.
⚫
|caption =
|background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
|birth_name = Terence Ernest Britten
| birth_name = Terence Ernest Britten
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1947|07}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1947|07|17}}
|birth_place = [[Manchester]], England
| birth_place = [[Manchester]], England
|instrument = Vocals, guitar
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
|genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]
|occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer-songwriter|record producer}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer-songwriter|record producer}}
|years_active = 1960s–present
| years_active = 1960s–present
| past_member_of = [[The Twilights (band)|the Twilights]]
|associated_acts=
|website =
| associated_acts =
⚫
| website =
}}
}}
'''Terence Ernest Britten''' (born July 1947)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duedil.com/director/901436403/terence-ernest-britten |title=Mr Terence Ernest Britten, Director Profile at State of The Ark Music Limited |publisher=Duedil.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/director/5412054/TERENCE-ERNEST-BRITTEN |title=Terence Ernest Britten - Petersham - Songwriter & Record Producer |publisher=Checkcompany.co.uk |date=2003-07-29 |access-date=2015-11-02}}</ref> is an English-Australian singer-songwriter and record producer, who has written songs for [[Tina Turner]], [[Cliff Richard]], [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] and [[Michael Jackson]] amongst many others.<ref name="amg"/> Britten (along with co-writer [[Graham Lyle]]) won the [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year]] in 1985 for "[[What's Love Got to Do with It (song)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]".
'''Terence Ernest Britten''' (born 17 July 1947)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duedil.com/director/901436403/terence-ernest-britten |title=Mr Terence Ernest Britten, Director Profile at State of The Ark Music Limited |publisher=Duedil.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.checkcompany.co.uk/director/5412054/TERENCE-ERNEST-BRITTEN |title=Terence Ernest Britten - Petersham - Songwriter & Record Producer |publisher=Checkcompany.co.uk |date=2003-07-29 |access-date=2015-11-02}}</ref> is an English-Australian singer-songwriter and record producer, who has written songs for [[Tina Turner]], [[Cliff Richard]], [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] and [[Michael Jackson]] amongst many others.<ref name="amg"/> Britten (along with co-writer [[Graham Lyle]]) won the [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year]] in 1985 for "[[What's Love Got to Do with It (song)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]".


==Career==
==Career==
Born on the 17 July 1947, a native of [[Manchester]], Britten began writing for the [[Adelaide]], Australia band [[The Twilights (band)|The Twilights]], a popular 1960s band for which he played lead guitar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Twilights%2C+The+%283%29 |title=Twilights, The (3) Discography at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref> At times he co-wrote with [[Glenn Shorrock]] and [[Peter Brideoake]].<ref name="Atkin">[http://www.atkinguitars.com/players/Britten.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214071624/http://www.atkinguitars.com/players/Britten.htm |date=14 December 2007 }}</ref> He also recorded a single under his own name, "2000 Weeks" / "Bargain Day" (1969).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Terry-Britten-2000-Weeks-Bargain-Day/release/3721758 |title=Terry Britten – 2000 Weeks / Bargain Day (Vinyl) at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref>
Born on the 17 July 1947, a native of [[Manchester]], Britten began writing for the [[Adelaide]], Australia band [[The Twilights (band)|The Twilights]], a popular 1960s band for which he played lead guitar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Twilights%2C+The+%283%29 |title=Twilights, The (3) Discography at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref> At times he co-wrote with [[Glenn Shorrock]] and [[Peter Brideoake]].<ref name="Atkin">[http://www.atkinguitars.com/players/Britten.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214071624/http://www.atkinguitars.com/players/Britten.htm|date=14 December 2007}}</ref> He also recorded a single under his own name, "2000 Weeks" / "Bargain Day" (1969).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Terry-Britten-2000-Weeks-Bargain-Day/release/3721758 |title=Terry Britten – 2000 Weeks / Bargain Day (Vinyl) at Discogs |year=1969 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref>


Britten was a band member of Quartet with [[Kevin Peek]], [[Alan Tarney]] and [[Trevor Spencer]] who recorded one album with [[Decca Records]] in the UK, which remains unreleased.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} One single was issued in 1969 on [[Decca Records|Decca]] in the UK and Australia and [[London Records|London]] in the US: "Now" / "Will My Lady Come" (Decca UK-F12974,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Quartet-Now/release/4014403 |title=Quartet (3) – Now (Vinyl) at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref> Aust Y-8977) and a second single in the UK only in 1970 "Joseph" / "Mama Where Did You Fail" (Decca F13072, US London LON-1031).
Britten was a band member of Quartet with [[Kevin Peek]], [[Alan Tarney]] and [[Trevor Spencer]] who recorded one album with [[Decca Records]] in the UK, which remains unreleased.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} One single was issued in 1969 on [[Decca Records|Decca]] in the UK and Australia and [[London Records|London]] in the US: "Now" / "Will My Lady Come" (Decca UK-F12974,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Quartet-Now/release/4014403 |title=Quartet (3) – Now (Vinyl) at Discogs |year=1968 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref> Aust Y-8977) and a second single in the UK only in 1970 "Joseph" / "Mama Where Did You Fail" (Decca F13072, US London LON-1031).


After the Twilights broke up, he returned to England and moved to London, where he did session work. Britten's multi-layered guitars featured on [[Alvin Stardust]]'s 1973 hit "[[My Coo Ca Choo]]".{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} In 1973 he was part of [[Cliff Richard]]'s [[Eurovision Song Contest 1973]] entry and, along with [[John Farrar]], [[Alan Tarney]] and Trevor Spencer, submitted six songs; of which "[[Power to All Our Friends]]" was chosen and came third. After a lean charting period for Cliff Richard, Britten gave him "[[Devil Woman (Cliff Richard song)|Devil Woman]]" and, in 1976, it became Richard's first top 10 in the UK for three years (and his first top 10 hit in the US).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=He0S6tFOGPUC&pg=PA274 |title=Cliff Richard: The Biography – Steve Turner – Google Boeken |isbn=9780745952796 |access-date=11 January 2013|last1=Turner |first1=Steve |year=2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cliffchartsite.co.uk/best1.html |title=William's Cliff Chart Site – Cliff Richard World Singles |publisher=Cliffchartsite.co.uk |access-date=11 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602045517/http://www.cliffchartsite.co.uk/best1.html |archive-date=2 June 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book
After the Twilights broke up, he returned to England and moved to London, where he did session work. Britten's multi-layered guitars featured on [[Alvin Stardust]]'s 1973 hit "[[My Coo Ca Choo]]".{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} In 1973 he was part of [[Cliff Richard]]'s [[Eurovision Song Contest 1973]] entry and, along with [[John Farrar]], [[Alan Tarney]] and [[Trevor Spencer]], submitted six songs; of which "[[Power to All Our Friends]]" was chosen and came third. After a lean charting period for Cliff Richard, Britten gave him "[[Devil Woman (Cliff Richard song)|Devil Woman]]" and, in 1976, it became Richard's first top 10 in the UK for three years (and his first top 10 hit in the US).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=He0S6tFOGPUC&pg=PA274 |title=Cliff Richard: The Biography – Steve Turner – Google Boeken |isbn=9780745952796 |access-date=11 January 2013|last1=Turner |first1=Steve |year=2008 |publisher=Lion Books }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cliffchartsite.co.uk/best1.html |title=William's Cliff Chart Site – Cliff Richard World Singles |publisher=Cliffchartsite.co.uk |access-date=11 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602045517/http://www.cliffchartsite.co.uk/best1.html |archive-date=2 June 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book
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| page= 461}}</ref> He was a guitarist in Richard's band for many years and was the co-producer and main songwriter for Richard's 1979 album ''[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile]]'', which reached No. 3 in the [[UK Album Chart]]. He wrote and co-wrote with [[B. A. Robertson]] 10 of the 12 songs, of which "Carrie" reached No. 4 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/cliff%20richard/|title=Cliff Richard's UK positions|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 April 2014}}</ref>
| page= 461}}</ref> He was a guitarist in Richard's band for many years and was the co-producer and main songwriter for Richard's 1979 album ''[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile]]'', which reached No. 3 in the [[UK Album Chart]]. He wrote and co-wrote with [[B. A. Robertson]] 10 of the 12 songs, of which "Carrie" reached No. 4 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/cliff%20richard/|title=Cliff Richard's UK positions|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 April 2014}}</ref>


In the early 1980s, Britten's [[psychedelic rock]] song, "9.50", originally a hit for The Twilights, was revived by Australia's [[Divinyls]] as a [[A-side and B-side|b-side]] to their 1984 single, "Good Die Young".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Divinyls-Good-Die-Young/release/1394536 |title=Divinyls – Good Die Young (Vinyl) at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref>
In the early 1980s, Britten's [[psychedelic rock]] song, "9.50", originally a hit for The Twilights, was revived by Australia's [[Divinyls]] as a [[A-side and B-side|b-side]] to their 1984 single, "Good Die Young".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Divinyls-Good-Die-Young/release/1394536 |title=Divinyls – Good Die Young (Vinyl) at Discogs |year=1984 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref>


With [[Graham Lyle]], Britten also wrote "[[What's Love Got to Do with It (song)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]",which became Tina Turner's million-selling hit. "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1984), reached No. 3 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
With [[Graham Lyle]], Britten also wrote "[[What's Love Got to Do with It (song)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]", which became Tina Turner's million-selling hit. "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1984), reached No. 3 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
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In 2002, the song "Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable)", co-written by Britten and [[Charlie Dore]], appeared on [[Celine Dion]]'s album ''[[A New Day Has Come]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/rain-tax-its-inevitable-mt0006043468 |title=Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable) – Celine Dion : Listen, Appearances, Song Review |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref>
In 2002, the song "Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable)", co-written by Britten and [[Charlie Dore]], appeared on [[Celine Dion]]'s album ''[[A New Day Has Come]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/rain-tax-its-inevitable-mt0006043468 |title=Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable) – Celine Dion : Listen, Appearances, Song Review |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=11 January 2013}}</ref>


Britten currently has a home in [[Richmond, London]], and a home recording studio called "State of the Ark".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stateofthearkstudios.com |title=State of the Ark Studios |publisher=State of the Ark Studios |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref>
Britten currently has a home in [[Richmond, Surrey|Richmond]], [[Greater London]], and a home recording studio called "State of the Ark".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stateofthearkstudios.com |title=State of the Ark Studios |publisher=State of the Ark Studios |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref>


==Songwriting credits==
==Songwriting credits==
{{Div col}}
{{Div col}}
*"9.50" – The Twilights, Divinyls
*"9.50" – [[The Twilights]], [[Divinyls]]
*"Absolutely Nothing's Changed" – Tina Turner
*"Absolutely Nothing's Changed" – [[Tina Turner]]
*"[[Afterglow (Tina Turner song)|Afterglow]]" – Tina Turner
*"[[Afterglow (Tina Turner song)|Afterglow]]" – Tina Turner
*"Age of Consent" – Ronnie Burns
*"Age of Consent" – Ronnie Burns
*"Always" – [[Cliff Richard]]
*"[[Sincerely (Cliff Richard album)|Always]]" – [[Cliff Richard]]
*"Am I Fooling Myself" – [[Dan Hill]]
*"Am I Fooling Myself" – [[Dan Hill]]
*"Appeal" – [[Marty Rhone]]
*"Appeal" – [[Marty Rhone]]
*"[[Bang Bang (BA Robertson song)|Bang Bang]]" – [[BA Robertson]]
*"[[Bang Bang (BA Robertson song)|Bang Bang]]" – [[BA Robertson]]
*"Baptized" - [[Lenny Kravitz]]
*"Baptized" - [[Lenny Kravitz]]
*"Carolina" – James Royal, Creation (NZ)
*"Carolina" – [[James Royal]], Creation (New Zealand band)
*"[[Carrie (Cliff Richard song)|Carrie]]" – Cliff Richard
*"[[Carrie (Cliff Richard song)|Carrie]]" – Cliff Richard
*"Cathy Come Home" – The Twilights
*"Cathy Come Home" – The Twilights
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*"Don't Push Me to My Limit" – Vivienne McKone
*"Don't Push Me to My Limit" – Vivienne McKone
*"Don't Put Out The Flame" – Christie Allen
*"Don't Put Out The Flame" – Christie Allen
*"Don't Talk" – [[Hank Marvin]], Normie Rowe
*"Don't Talk" – [[Hank Marvin]], [[Normie Rowe]]
*"Everybody Move" – [[Cathy Dennis]]
*"Everybody Move" – [[Cathy Dennis]]
*"[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile|Fallin' in Luv]]" – Cliff Richard, Christie Allen (as "Falling in Love With Only You")
*"[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile|Fallin' in Luv]]" – Cliff Richard, Christie Allen (as "Falling in Love With Only You")
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*"Give It Up (Old Habits)" – [[Hall & Oates]]
*"Give It Up (Old Habits)" – [[Hall & Oates]]
*"[[Golden Days (song)|Golden Days]]" – [[Bucks Fizz (band)|Bucks Fizz]]
*"[[Golden Days (song)|Golden Days]]" – [[Bucks Fizz (band)|Bucks Fizz]]
*"Goose Bumps" – Christie Allen
*"Goose Bumps" – [[Christie Allen]]
*"Happy Ending" – The Peter Cupples Band (from ''The Pirate Movie'')
*"Happy Ending" – The Peter Cupples Band (from ''The Pirate Movie'')
*"Heart User" – [[Paul Di'Anno]], Cliff Richard
*"[[The Rock Connection|Heart User]]" – [[Paul Di'Anno]], Cliff Richard
*"[[Heaven Help]]" – Lenny Kravitz
*"[[Heaven Help]]" – Lenny Kravitz
*"He's My Number One" – Christie Allen
*"He's My Number One" – Christie Allen
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*"[[Small Corners|Joseph]]" – Quartet, Cliff Richard
*"[[Small Corners|Joseph]]" – Quartet, Cliff Richard
*"[[Just Good Friends (song)|Just Good Friends]]" – [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Stevie Wonder]]
*"[[Just Good Friends (song)|Just Good Friends]]" – [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Stevie Wonder]]
*"Knocked It Off" – BA Robertson
*"[[Knocked It Off]]" – [[BA Robertson]]
*"[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile|Language of Love]]" – Cliff Richard
*"[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile|Language of Love]]" – Cliff Richard
*"Love Make Me Strong" – [[Olivia Newton-John]]
*"Love Make Me Strong" – [[Olivia Newton-John]]
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*"Old Habits Die Hard" – [[Dusty Springfield]]
*"Old Habits Die Hard" – [[Dusty Springfield]]
*"Once in a Lifetime Love" – [[Carl Anderson (singer)|Carl Anderson]]
*"Once in a Lifetime Love" – [[Carl Anderson (singer)|Carl Anderson]]
*"One Times, Two Times, Three Times, Four" – Zoot<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Zoot-Sha-La-La/release/4018257 |title=Zoot (2) – 4 Shades of Pink (Vinyl) at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref>
*"One Times, Two Times, Three Times, Four" – Zoot<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Zoot-Sha-La-La/release/4018257 |title=Zoot (2) – 4 Shades of Pink (Vinyl) at Discogs |year=1970 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=5 January 2013}}</ref>
*"Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable)" – [[Celine Dion]]
*"Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable)" – [[Celine Dion]]
*"[[Rise Up (Cliff Richard album)|Rise Up]]" - Cliff Richard
*"[[Rise Up (Cliff Richard album)|Rise Up]]" - Cliff Richard
Line 117: Line 118:
*"[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile|Sci-fi]]" – Cliff Richard
*"[[Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile|Sci-fi]]" – Cliff Richard
*"See How The Love Goes" – [[The Pointer Sisters]]
*"See How The Love Goes" – [[The Pointer Sisters]]
*"[[She's Trouble]]" – [[Musical Youth]]
*"[[She's Trouble]]" – Michael Jackson and [[Musical Youth]]
*"[[Show Some Respect]]" – Tina Turner
*"[[Show Some Respect]]" – Tina Turner
*"[[Something Beautiful Remains]]" – Tina Turner
*"[[Something Beautiful Remains]]" – Tina Turner
*"[[Soul Inspiration]]" – [[Anita Baker]]
*"[[Soul Inspiration]]" – [[Anita Baker]]
*"[[Every Face Tells a Story|Spider Man]]" – Cliff Richard
*"[[Every Face Tells a Story|Spider Man]]" – Cliff Richard
*"[[Green Light (Cliff Richard album)|Start All Over Again]]
*"[[Green Light (Cliff Richard album)|Start All Over Again]] – Cliff Richard
*"Stay Awhile" – Tina Turner
*"Stay Awhile" – Tina Turner
*"Storm Warning" – [[Bonnie Raitt]], [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]]
*"Storm Warning" – [[Bonnie Raitt]], [[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]]
Line 160: Line 161:
*''[[The Pirate Movie]]'' – 1982
*''[[The Pirate Movie]]'' – 1982
*''[[The Jewel of the Nile]]'' – 1985
*''[[The Jewel of the Nile]]'' – 1985
*''[[Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome]]'' - 1985
*''[[9½ Weeks]]'' – 1986
*''[[9½ Weeks]]'' – 1986
*''[[The Taking of Beverly Hills]]'' – 1991
*''[[The Taking of Beverly Hills]]'' – 1991
*''[[What's Love Got to Do with It (film)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]'' – 1993
*''[[What's Love Got to Do with It (1993 film)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]'' – 1993


==Award and nominations==
==Award and nominations==
===TV Week / Countdown Awards===
===TV Week / Countdown Awards===
''[[Countdown (Australian TV series)|Countdown]]'' was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC-TV]] from 1974–1987, it presented music awards from 1979–1987, initially in conjunction with magazine ''[[TV Week]]''. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.<ref name="CountdownMarch1987">{{Cite web | url = http://www.countdownmemories.com/magazines/pdfs/1987_03.pdf | title = Countdown to the Awards | work = Countdown Magazine |date=March 1987 | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) | format = [[Portable document format]] (PDF) | access-date = 16 December 2010 }}</ref>
''[[Countdown (Australian TV series)|Countdown]]'' was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC-TV]] from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine ''[[TV Week]]''. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.<ref name="CountdownMarch1987">{{Cite web | url = http://www.countdownmemories.com/magazines/pdfs/1987_03.pdf | title = Countdown to the Awards | work = Countdown Magazine |date=March 1987 | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) | format = [[Portable document format]] (PDF) | access-date = 16 December 2010 }}</ref>


{{awards table}}
{{awards table}}
Line 203: Line 205:
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:English record producers]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Musicians from Manchester]]
[[Category:Musicians from Manchester]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]

Latest revision as of 15:34, 26 October 2023

Terry Britten
Britten as a member of the Twilights circa 1968.
Britten as a member of the Twilights circa 1968.
Background information
Birth nameTerence Ernest Britten
Born (1947-07-17) 17 July 1947 (age 77)
Manchester, England
GenresPop
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1960s–present
Formerly ofthe Twilights

Terence Ernest Britten (born 17 July 1947)[1][2] is an English-Australian singer-songwriter and record producer, who has written songs for Tina Turner, Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Status Quo and Michael Jackson amongst many others.[3] Britten (along with co-writer Graham Lyle) won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1985 for "What's Love Got to Do with It".

Career

[edit]

Born on the 17 July 1947, a native of Manchester, Britten began writing for the Adelaide, Australia band The Twilights, a popular 1960s band for which he played lead guitar.[4] At times he co-wrote with Glenn Shorrock and Peter Brideoake.[5] He also recorded a single under his own name, "2000 Weeks" / "Bargain Day" (1969).[6]

Britten was a band member of Quartet with Kevin Peek, Alan Tarney and Trevor Spencer who recorded one album with Decca Records in the UK, which remains unreleased.[citation needed] One single was issued in 1969 on Decca in the UK and Australia and London in the US: "Now" / "Will My Lady Come" (Decca UK-F12974,[7] Aust Y-8977) and a second single in the UK only in 1970 "Joseph" / "Mama Where Did You Fail" (Decca F13072, US London LON-1031).

After the Twilights broke up, he returned to England and moved to London, where he did session work. Britten's multi-layered guitars featured on Alvin Stardust's 1973 hit "My Coo Ca Choo".[citation needed] In 1973 he was part of Cliff Richard's Eurovision Song Contest 1973 entry and, along with John Farrar, Alan Tarney and Trevor Spencer, submitted six songs; of which "Power to All Our Friends" was chosen and came third. After a lean charting period for Cliff Richard, Britten gave him "Devil Woman" and, in 1976, it became Richard's first top 10 in the UK for three years (and his first top 10 hit in the US).[8][9][10] He was a guitarist in Richard's band for many years and was the co-producer and main songwriter for Richard's 1979 album Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile, which reached No. 3 in the UK Album Chart. He wrote and co-wrote with B. A. Robertson 10 of the 12 songs, of which "Carrie" reached No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[11]

In the early 1980s, Britten's psychedelic rock song, "9.50", originally a hit for The Twilights, was revived by Australia's Divinyls as a b-side to their 1984 single, "Good Die Young".[12]

With Graham Lyle, Britten also wrote "What's Love Got to Do with It", which became Tina Turner's million-selling hit. "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1984), reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart[13] and No. 1 in the US Billboard Hot 100, and won Britten and Lyle the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1985. It also won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year which went to Tina Turner.[14] Later that year, they co-wrote "We Don't Need Another Hero" for the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Also sung by Tina Turner, the song reached No. 2 in the US and No. 3 in the UK.[13] Britten and Lyle received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Song in 1986. It also earned Turner a 1986 Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance.[15] He also acted as a record producer for Turner.[16]

Britten co-wrote "Just Good Friends" for Michael Jackson's Bad album.[17] Britten has also penned songs for Olivia Newton-John, including "Love Make Me Strong" (1981)[18] and "Toughen Up" with Graham Lyle (1985).[19] He has also written for Meat Loaf, Melissa Manchester, Bonnie Raitt, and Hank Marvin.[20] Britten continues to compose from his home base in rural England, but has returned to Australia on occasion, including the Twilights' reunion for the Long Way to the Top concert tour.[5]

In 2002, the song "Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable)", co-written by Britten and Charlie Dore, appeared on Celine Dion's album A New Day Has Come.[21]

Britten currently has a home in Richmond, Greater London, and a home recording studio called "State of the Ark".[22]

Songwriting credits

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[3]

Filmography

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Britten's work has appeared in the soundtracks to the following films:[24]

Award and nominations

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TV Week / Countdown Awards

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Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974 to 1987, it presented music awards from 1979 to 1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.[25]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1979 Terry Britten for "He's My Number One" by Christie Allen Best Recorded Songwriter Won

References

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  1. ^ "Mr Terence Ernest Britten, Director Profile at State of The Ark Music Limited". Duedil.com. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Terence Ernest Britten - Petersham - Songwriter & Record Producer". Checkcompany.co.uk. 29 July 2003. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Terry Britten – Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Twilights, The (3) Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  5. ^ a b [1] Archived 14 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Terry Britten – 2000 Weeks / Bargain Day (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1969. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Quartet (3) – Now (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1968. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  8. ^ Turner, Steve (2008). Cliff Richard: The Biography – Steve Turner – Google Boeken. Lion Books. ISBN 9780745952796. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  9. ^ "William's Cliff Chart Site – Cliff Richard World Singles". Cliffchartsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  10. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 461. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. ^ "Cliff Richard's UK positions". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  12. ^ "Divinyls – Good Die Young (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1984. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  13. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 569. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  14. ^ "Terry Britten – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Solo Performance". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Simply the Best – Tina Turner : Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  17. ^ Thomas, Stephen. "Bad – Michael Jackson : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  18. ^ "Love Make Me Strong – Olivia Newton-John : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  19. ^ "Toughen Up – Olivia Newton-John : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  20. ^ "Terry Britten – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  21. ^ "Rain, Tax (It's Inevitable) – Celine Dion : Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  22. ^ "State of the Ark Studios". State of the Ark Studios. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  23. ^ "Zoot (2) – 4 Shades of Pink (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1970. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  24. ^ "Terry Britten - Filmography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  25. ^ "Countdown to the Awards" (Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
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