Phil Thornalley
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Phil Thornalley
- Genres: Rock
Biography
Phil Thornalley has spent much of his career behind the scenes, writing songs and producing albums for other artists. His biggest commercial triumph, co-writing and producing the single "Torn" for Natalie Imbruglia, wasn't even sung by him. However, Thornalley does have experience underneath the spotlight. In 1983, Thornalley became the bass player for gothic rock pioneers the Cure after Simon Gallup left. Thornalley had previously co-produced the Cure's 1982 LP Pornography. Thornalley toured with the Cure while the band promoted The Top album, but his stay was short-lived, lasting only until the group's performance at the Beacon Theatre in New York on November 17, 1984. Gallup had returned to the Cure, causing Thornalley to leave. In 1987, Thornalley worked as an engineer for Johnny Hates Jazz's debut LP Turn Back the Clock; he also wrote the track "Listen." When vocalist Clark Datchler departed from Johnny Hates Jazz in 1988, Thornalley became the band's new lead singer. Thornalley also recorded a solo effort that year, Swamp. In 1991, Johnny Hates Jazz released Tall Stories with Thornalley on vocals. Despite having no dramatic shifts in style from Turn Back the Clock, the LP failed to sell. In 1995, Thornalley co-wrote the track "Torn" on Ednaswap's self-titled debut. Three years later, Thornalley produced Imbruglia's cover of "Torn," a worldwide smash. ~ Michael Sutton, RoviWikipedia on Answers.com:
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Phil Thornalley
| Phil Thornalley | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Philip Carden Thornalley |
| Born | 5 January 1960 |
| Origin | Worlington, Mildenhall, Suffolk, England |
| Genres | Punk rock, post-punk, gothic rock, alternative rock |
| Occupations | Songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar, vocals, drums |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Associated acts | The Cure Johnny Hates Jazz |
| Website | http://philthornalley.com |
Phil Thornalley (born Philip Carden Thornalley, 5 January 1960, Worlington, near Mildenhall, Suffolk, England) is a songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing (with Scott Cutler and Anne Preven) the song "Torn" which Natalie Imbruglia later covered to great success for her 1997 debut album, Left of the Middle.[1] He was also member of The Cure for a brief stint in the early 1980s, as well as the acting frontman for the band Johnny Hates Jazz in the early 1990s.
Background
Thornalley began working as a recording engineer in 1978, at RAK Studios in St. John's Wood, London for producer Mickie Most. He also worked with producer Steve Lillywhite (the Psychedelic Furs and the Thompson Twins) and Alex Sadkin.[2]
Thornalley became the producer for The Cure on their fourth album, Pornography.[3] After Simon Gallup quit in 1982, he filled in as their bassist during the recording of Japanese Whispers and their first live album, Concert but eventually quit to keep on working as a songwriter and producer.[4]
In 1984, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Into the Gap by the Thompson Twins.
Thornalley has worked as a mixer for Duran Duran, XTC, Sting, Ash and Cyndi Lauper.
In 1988 he released his only solo album (Swamp).[2] He then joined Johnny Hates Jazz, and was the frontman on their 2nd album, 1991's Tall Stories. In 2010, Thornalley referred to his time with the band as “a grand mistake, in the sense that I devoted three years to it, and it was deeply unsuccessful. But you learn from your mistakes."[2]
Since leaving Johnny Hates Jazz, Thornalley has worked primarily as songwriter and record producer for other artists. In 1991, he co-wrote "Torn" (with Scott Cutler and Anne Preven), which later appeared on Ednaswap's 1995 debut album.[2] Subsequently he was asked to produce some songs for Natalie Imbruglia, and "Torn" was rerecorded, as among five songs Thornalley co-wrote on Imbrulgia's 1997 debut album Left of the Middle, and became a worldwide hit single.[2]
Other artists Thornalley has worked with include Bryan Adams, Melanie C,[5] Hepburn,[5] Ronan Keating, BBMak,[5] and Pixie Lott.[2][6]
In 2009, three songs co-written for Pixie Lott reached #1 on the UK charts.[7][8]
References
- ^ Torregrosas, Luisita Lopez (August 22, 1998). "From Soap Star to Hit Singer With a Career Crisis Midway". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/22/arts/from-soap-star-to-hit-singer-with-a-career-crisis-midway.html. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Tingen, Paul (June 2010). "Phil Thornalley: Torn". Sound on Sound. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun10/articles/thornalley.htm. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ Rees, Dafydd & Crampton, Luke (ed.) Rock movers & shakers, Volume 1991, Part 2 (1991)(ISBN 978-0874366617)("...the band going into RAK studios to record with new producer Phil Thornalley")
- ^ "The Cure - Interview". Rockerilla (original in Italian). September 1983. http://www.picturesofyou.us/83/m-83-9-rockerilla-italy-interview.htm. Retrieved July 6, 2010.(noting that Thornalley is a current member of the Cure)
- ^ a b c "Production notes". Music Week. July 17, 1999. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-55300745/production-notes.html. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ Savage, Mark (June 5, 2009). "Pop Pixie has a whole Lotta love". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8078714.stm. Retrieved July 6, 2010.("For the last three years, she has been collaborating with some of the biggest hitmakers in the industry, including Red One (Lady GaGa's Just Dance), Phil Thornalley (Natalie Imbruglia's Torn) and Toby Gad (Beyonce's If I Were A Boy).")
- ^ "QUICKFIRE: Twelve years in waiting: Lott hitmaker reaches top". Music Week. June 27, 2009. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-202395905/quickfire-twelve-years-waiting.html. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ Biography, philthornalley.com, Retrieved July 6, 2010 ("More recently I’ve enjoyed Three UK Number One’s (“Mama Do”,“Boys & Girls” and "Cry Me Out") with the Pixie Lott.")
External links
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