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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCHINN and CHAPMAN(Michael Chapman b 15 April '47, Queensland, Australia; Nicky Chinn b 16 May '45, London) Songwriting duo successful in bubblegum. Met in London '70 as struggling individuals; first collaborative hit 'Funny, Funny' for the Sweet (UK no. 13 '71). Working with Mickie Most they became the most successful team in pre-punk '70s UK pop. No. 1 hit 'Blockbuster' for Sweet, three no. 2 hits and many top tens. Perhaps biggest success was with Mud; capitalizing on singer Les Gray's penchant for imitating Elvis they had no. ones with 'Tiger Feet', 'Lonely This Christmas' and an a cappella version of Buddy Holly's 'Oh Boy' '74--5; other hits were 'Dyna-Mite', 'The Cat Crept In'. At the same time scored with Suzi Quatro, no. ones with 'Can The Can', 'Devil Gate Drive', top tens 'Daytona Demon', '48 Crash', 'The Wild One' '73--5. Last fling with Smokie for five top tens '75--8 incl. 'Living Right Next Door To Alice', 'If You Think You Know How To Love Me'. Teenypop audience waned as punk closed in; they formed own Dreamland label, but it failed. Chapman moved to USA, prod. hit LPs for Blondie '77--80, also Pat Benatar, Tanya Tucker, the Knack ('My Sharona' '79); debut solo LP for Abba's Agnetha Faltskog '83; Patti Smith, Divinyls etc. |