Richard Wright Nowels Jr. (born March 16, 1960 in Palo Alto, California)^[1] is a Grammy / Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter/producer who has worked with many of the most vibrant artists in contemporary music. He is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, keyboards, bass) who incorporates contemporary sounds and rhythms within classic songwriting.

Beginning with his number one worldwide hit single, “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle in 1987, Rick has since co-written over 60 top 20 singles. His songs have appeared on over 200 million albums. Rick has written with, or had his songs recorded by the following artists: Madonna, Dido, Cee-Lo Green, Nelly Furtado, Lykke Li, Jason Mraz, Lana Del Rey, Marina and the Diamonds, New Radicals, Sia, Chase & Status, Colbie Caillat, Tiesto, Santigold, Jewel, John Legend/Andre 3000, Santana, NSYNC, Sinéad O'Connor, All Saints, Craig David, Texas, Stevie Nicks, Keith Urban, Anita Baker, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), k. d. lang, Tupac Shakur, Cher, Ronan Keating.

Career[link]

He started writing songs when he was 13. He did a lot of performing throughout his teens and into his twenties. Then, Stevie Nicks heard a few of his songs and they ended up writing together.^[2]

Since 1986, Nowels has produced and/or co-written over 50 top ten singles in the U.S and Europe. His biggest hits include:

• "Heaven is a Place on Earth", "Circle in the Sand", "Leave a Light On", "Live Your Life Be Free", "La Luna", "I Get Weak", "Summer Rain", "Vision of You" and "In Too Deep" by Belinda Carlisle
• "Fallin' for You" - Colbie Caillat
• "Green Light" – John Legend featuring Andre 3000
• "Soon We'll Be Found" – Sia
• "In God's Hands" by Nelly Furtado
• "White Flag" and "Sand in My Shoes" by Dido
• "Rooms on Fire" and "I Can't Wait" by Stevie Nicks
• "The Game of Love" by Santana feat. Michelle Branch
• "You Get What You Give" by The New Radicals
• "The Power of Good-Bye" by Madonna
• "Standing Still" by Jewel
• "Inner Smile" by Texas
• "Life is a Rollercoaster" by Ronan Keating
• "One & One" by Robert Miles
• "Sky" by Sonique
• "I Turn to You" by Melanie C
• "Body and Soul" by Anita Baker
• "Love is Holy" by Kim Wilde
• "Everytime It Rains" by Ace of Base

Awards / Nominations[link]

• 2011: ASCAP award for "Fallin' For You" Colbie Caillat
• 2010: ASCAP award for "Fallin' For You" Colbie Caillat
• 2008: Grammy Nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration "Green Light" John Legend/Andre 3000
• 2005: ASCAP award for "White Flag" Dido
• 2004: Ivor Novello International Song of Year Award for "White Flag" Dido
• 2004: ASCAP song of the year for "The Game of Love" Santana ft. Michelle Branch
• 2004: ASCAP award for "The Game of Love" Santana ft. Michelle Branch
• 2003: ASCAP award for "Standing Still" Jewel
• 2000: ASCAP award for "You Get What You Give" New Radicals
• 2000: Ivor Novello nomination for "I Turn to You" Mel C
• 1997: Grammy Album of the Year Award "Falling into You" Celine Dion^[3]
• 1996: ASCAP award for "Body and Soul" Anita Baker
• 1996: Grammy nomination for Best R and B Single "Body and Soul" Anita Baker
• 1990: ASCAP award for "Rooms on Fire" Stevie Nicks
• 1988: ASCAP award for "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" Belinda Carlisle
• 1988: Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" Belinda Carlisle

Album Discography[link]

2012

• Jason Mraz Love Is a Four Letter Word
  • "Living in the Moment" (Mraz/Nowels)
  • "The World as I See it" (Mraz/Nowels)

• Marina and the Diamonds Electra Heart
  • "Bubblegum Bitch" (Diamandis/Nowels)
  • "Homewrecker" (Diamandis/Nowels)
  • "Valley of The Dolls" (Diamandis/Nowels)
  • "Hypocrates (Diamandis/Nowels)

• Lana Del Rey Born to Die
  • "Summertime Sadness" (Del Rey/Nowels)
  • "Dark Paradise" (Del Rey/Nowels)
  • "The Lucky Ones" (Del Rey/Nowels)

• Nelly Furtado The Spirit Indestructible
  • "Believers" (Furtado/Nowels)
  • "End of the World" (Furtado/Nowels)

2011

• Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes
  • "Youth Knows No Pain" (Lykke Li/Nowels/Yttling)
  • "Sadness is a Blessing" (Lykke Li/Nowels/Yttling)
  • "I Follow Rivers" (Lykke Li/Nowels/Yttling)
  • "Jerome" (Lykke Li/Nowels/Yttling)
  • "Love out of Lust" (Lykke Li/Nowels/Yttling)
• Aura Dione Before the Dinosaurs(album)
  • "In Love with the World" (Dione/Nowels)
  • "Into the Wild" (Dione/Nowels)
  • "Recipe" (Dione/Nowels)
  • "Superhuman" (Dione/Nowels)
  • "Before the Dinosaurs" (Dione/Nowels)

2010

• Katie Melua The House
  • "The Plague of Love" (Melua/Nowels)
  • "Twisted" (Melua/Nowels)
• Jewel Sweet and Wild
  • "I Love You Forever" (Kilcher/Nowels)
• Weezer Hurley
  • "Hang On" (Cuomo/Nowels)
• Cee Lo The Lady Killer
  • "Cry Baby" (Green/Nowels)
  • "Satisfied" (Green/Nowels)
  • "Everybody Loves You" Baby (Green/Nowels)
  • "Never mind" (Green/Nowels)

2009

• Keith Urban Defying Gravity
  • "Standing Right in Front of You" (Urban/Nowels)
  • "Thank You" (Urban/Nowels)
• Tiesto Kaleidoscope
  • "Who Wants to Be Alone" (Feat. Nelly Furtado) (Furtado/Nowels)
• Colbie Caillat Breakthrough
  • "Fallin' for You" (Caillat/Nowels)
  • "Runnin Around" (Caillat/Nowels)
  • "Break Though" (Caillat/Nowels)
  • "Hold Your Head High" (Caillat/Nowels)
  • "Never Let You Go" (Caillat/Nowels)
  • "Don’t Hold Me Down" (Caillat/Nowels)

2008

• John Legend Evolver
  • "Green Light" (Legend/Andre3000/Nowels/Fink)
• Dido Safe Trip Home
  • "Us 2 Little Gods" (Armstrong/Armstrong/Nowels/Gough)

2007

• Santana Ultimate Santana
  • "The Game of Love" feat. Michelle Branch (Nowels/Alexander) --
  • "The Game of Love" feat. Tina Turner (Nowels/Alexander)
• Sia Some People Have Real Problems
  • "Soon We'll Be Found" (Fuller/Nowels)

2006

• Nelly Furtado Loose (Geffen Mosely Music Group)
  • "In God's Hands" (Furtado/Nowels) -- Prod: Rick Nowels Nelly Furtado
• All Saints Studio 1 (London)
  • "Chick Fit" (Lewis/Nowels) -- Prod. Rick Nowels
• Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) An Other Cup
  • "Heaven/True Love" (Islam)
  • "Mid-Day" (Islam)
  • "Maybe There's a World" (Islam)
  • "One Day at a Time" (Islam)
  • "Looking at Life" (Islam)
  • "When Butterflies Leave" (Islam)
  • "In the End" (Islam)
  • "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (Islam)
  • "Whispers From a Spiritual Garden" (Islam)
  • "The Beloved" (Islam)
  • "Greenfields and Golden Sands" (Islam)
  • "There Is Peace" (Islam)
  • All Songs Prod: Yusuf Islam and Rick Nowels

2005

• Craig David The Story Goes... (WEA International)
  • "One Last Dance" (David/Nowels—Prod Rick Nowels and Craig David
  • "Just Chillin" (David/Nowels) -- Prod Rick Nowels and Craig David
  • "Hypnotic" (David/Nowels) -- Prod Rick Nowels and Craig David
• Charlotte Church Tissues and Issues (Sony BMG)
  • "Even God Can't Change the Past" (Nowels/O’Dowd/Themis) -- Prod: David Fortman
• Texas Red Book (Mercury)
  • "Just Hold On" (Mcelhone/Nowels/Spiteri)

2004

• Shaznay Lewis Open (London Records)
  • "Dance" (Lewis/Nowels/Rodrigues) -- Prod: Nowels/Rodrigues
  • "Never Felt Like This Before" (Lewis/Nowels) -- Prod: Nowels
  • "You" (Lewis/Nowels) -- Prod: Nowels
  • "Now You’re Gone" (Lewis/No|wels) -- Prod: Bacon and Quarmby
• Ronan Keating 10 Years of Hits (Polydor)
  • "Life is a Rollercoaster" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Nowels/Alexander
  • "Lovin' Each Day" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Nowels/Alexander
  • "I Love It When We Do" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Nowels/Alexander
• Lola Ponce Fearless (BMG)
  • "Amor" (Nowels/Steinberg/D’Ubaldo) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Fearless" (Nowels/Steinberg/D’Ubaldo) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Put Your Arms Around Me" (Nowels/O’Conner) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Sleep" (Nowels/Steinberg/D’Ubaldo) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "It Goes Down" (Nowels/Nichols/Rodrigues/Vallance) -- Prod: Rick Nowels and Wayne Rodrigues
• Laura Pausini Escucha (Atlantic)
  • "Me Abandono a Ti" (Madonna/Nowels/Pausini) -- Prod: Rick Nowels and John Themis
• 2pac Loyal to the Game (Interscope)
  • "Don’t You Trust Me" (Shakur/Evans/Mathers/Resto/Armstrong/Nowels/Bates) -- Prod: Eminem

2003

• Fleetwood Mac Say You Will (Reprise)
  • "Everybody Finds Out" (Nicks/Nowels) -- Prod: Lindsey Buckingham
• Melanie C Reason (Virgin)
  • "On the Horizon" (Nowels/Alexander/Chisholm) -- Prod: Nowels/Alexander
• Jewel 0304 (Atlantic)
  • "Sweet Temptation" (Kilcher/Nowels) -- Prod: Lester Mendez/Jewel Kilcher
  • "Yes You Can" (Kilcher/Nowels) -- Prod: Lester Mendez/Jewel Kilcher
• Dido Life for Rent (Arista)
  • "White Flag" (Armstrong/Nowels/Armstrong)
  • "This Land Is Mine" (Armstrong/Nowels/Armstrong)
  • Sand in My Shoes" (Armstrong/Nowels)
  • "Closer" (Armstrong/Nowels/Armstrong)
  • "Do You Have a Little Time For Me" (Armstrong/Nowels/Armstrong)
  • All Songs Pro. By Dido and Rollo Recommendation
• Sinéad O'Connor She Who Dwells... (Vanguard Records)
  • "You Put Your Arms Around Me" (O’Conner/Nowels) -- Prod: O’Conner/Nowels

2002

• Kelli Ali Tigermouth (One Little Indian)
  • "Iinferno High Love" (Nowels/Ali) Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Angel in LA" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Kids" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "A Teardrop Hitting the Ground" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Queen of the World" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Sacred" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Lucifer Rising" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Wings in Motion" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Charles Judge
  • "Keep on Dreaming" (Nowels/Ali/Rodrigues) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Wayne Rodrigues
  • "Fellow Man" (Nowels/Ali/Rodrigues) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Wayne Rodrigues
  • "Here Comes the Summer" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Marius Devries
  • "The Infinite Stars" (Nowels/Ali) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Marius Devries
• Darren Hayes Spin (Columbia)
  • "I Can Never Get Enough of You" (Nowels/Hayes)
  • "Like It Or Not" (Nowels/Hayes)
  • "Creepin' Up on You" (Nowels/Hayes)
  • "What You Like" (Nowels/Hayes)
  • All Songs Prod: Walter Afanesief
• Conjure One Conjure One (Nettwerk America)
  • "Tears from the Moon" (Nowels/Steinberg/Baertsoen) -- Prod: Rick Nowels and Rhys Fulber
  • "Sleep" (Nowels/Steinberg/D’Ubaldo) - Prod: Rhys Fulber and Junkie Xl
• Ronan Keating Destination (Polydor UK)
  • "My One Thing That's Real" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "Come Be My Baby" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "Love Won't Work if We Don't Try" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "I Love It When We Do" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "As Much As I Can Give You Girl" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "Lovin' Each Day" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "Blown Away" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "You're Picking Me Up" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • "Time For Love" (Nowels/Alexander)
  • All Songs Prod: Rick Nowels/Gregg Alexander
• Lamya Learning from Falling (J Records)
  • "Never Such a Long Time" (Nowels/Lamya) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
• Carlos Santana Shaman (Arista)
  • "The Game of Love" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Gregg Alexander
• Kylie Minogue Fever (Special Edition) (EMI)
  • "Whenever You Feel Like It" (Kylie Minogue/Rick Nowels/Billy Steinberg)(track originally recorded in 2000)

2001

• Stevie Nicks Trouble in Shangri-La (Reprise/Warner)
  • "I Miss You" (Nowels/Nicks) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
• Geri Halliwell Scream If You Wanna Go Faster (EMI UK)
  • "Scream If You Wanna Go Faster" (Nowels/Halliwell) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Shake Your Bootie Cutie" (Nowels/Alexander/Halliwell) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Gregg Alexander
  • "The Strength of a Woman" (Nowels/Halliwell) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Destiny" B-Side (Nowels/Halliwell) -- Prod: Thunderpuss
• Amber Yes (Tommy Boy)
  • "Yes" Single and Remixes (Nowels/Steinberg/Dubaldo) -- Prod: Wolfram Dettki
• Cher Living Proof (Warner Bros.)
  • "Love One Another" (Nowels/Steinberg/M.C.Cremers) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Wayne Rodrigues/Chris Cox
• Bette Midler Bette
  • "Bless You Child" (Nowels/Steinberg/Cremmers) -- Prod: Don Was/Rick Nowels
• Rod Stewart Human (Atlantic Records)
  • "I Can’t Deny It" (Gregg Alexander/Rick Nowels) -- Prod. Gregg Alexander
• Madonna GHV2 (Maverick/Warner Bros.)
  • "The Power of Good-Bye" (Nowels/Madonna) -- Prod: Madonna/William Orbit
• Jewel This Way (Atlantic)
  • "Standing Still" (Nowels/Kilcher) -- Prod: Dann Huff/Jewel Kilcher
  • "This Way" (Nowels/Jewel Kilcher) -- Prod: Dann Huff/Jewel Kilcher
  • "I Won’t Walk Away" (Nowels/Jewel Kilcher) -- Prod: Dann Huff/Jewel Kilcher

2000

• Sonique Hear My Cry (Serious Records)
  • "Sky" (Nowels/Sonique) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Thunderpuss
• k.d. lang Invincible Summer (Warner Brothers Records)
  • "The Consequences of Falling" (Nowels/Steinberg/Dubaldo) -- Prod: Damien Legasick/Kd Lang
• Ronan Keating Ronan (Polydor UK)
  • "Life is a Rollercoaster" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Gregg Alexander/Rick Nowels
  • "Heal Me" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Gregg Alexander/Rick Nowels
  • "Lovin Each Day" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Gregg Alexander/Rick Nowels
• Texas Greatest Hits (Mercury Records)
  • "Inner Smile" (Nowels/Alexander/Mcelhone/Spiteri) -- Prod: Gregg Alexander/Johnny Mac
• Eros Ramazzotti Stilelibero (BMG Records)
  • "Fuoco Nel Fuoco" (Ramazzotti/Cogliati) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Piu Che Puoi" (Ramozzotti/Cogliati/Sarkisian) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1999

• Amber Amber (Tommy Boy)
  • "Sexual (Li Da Di)" (Nowels/Steinberg/M.C.Cremmers) -- Prod: The Berman Brothers—Remixed by Thunderpuss 2000
  • "Above the Clouds" (Nowels/Steinberg/Dubaldo) -- Prod: The Berman Brothers
• Melanie C Northern Star (Virgin)
  • "Northern Star" (Nowels/Chisholm) -- Prod: Marius Devries
  • "I Turn to You" (Nowels/Steinberg/Chisholm) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Rob Playford—Remixed: Hex Hector
  • "If That Were Me" (Nowels/Chisholm) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Closer" (Nowels/Steinberg/Chisholm) -- Prod: Marius Devries
  • "Feel the Sun" (Nowels/Chisholm) -- Prod: Damien Legasick/Craig Armstrong
• k. d. lang Anywhere But Here (Atlantic)
  • "Anywhere But Here" (Nowels/Lang) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Kd Lang
• Dido No Angel (Arista (U.S.) Cheeky BMG (World)
  • "Here with Me" (Armstrong/Gabriel/Statham) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Dido Armstrong
  • "Hunter" (Armstrong/Armstrong) Prod: Rick Nowels/Dido Armstrong
  • All You Want" (Armstrong/Herbert/Armstrong) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Dido Armstrong

1998

• No Mercy More (Arista)
  • "I Have Always Loved You" (Nowels/Steinberg/Dubaldo)
• Ace of Base Cruel Summer (Arista)
  • "Everytime It Rains" (Nowels/Steinberg/Vidal)
• Madonna Ray of Light (Warner Bros.)
  • "The Power of Good-Bye" (Madonna/Nowels) -- Prod: Madonna/William Orbit
  • "Little Star" (Madonna/Nowels) -- Prod: Madonna/Marius Devries
  • "To Have and Not to Hold" (Madonna/Nowels) Prod: Madonna/William Orbit/Patrick Leonard
• 'N Sync *NSYNC (RCA/BMG)
  • "I Drive Myself Crazy" (Nowels/Shipley/Rich)
• New Radicals Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too (MCA/Universal)
  • "You Get What You Give" (Nowels/Alexander) -- Prod: Gregg Alexander

1997

• Des'ree Supernatural (Sony)
  • "Time" (Nowels/Weeks)
  • "Get a Life" (Nowels/Weeks) B-Side—Prod: Rick Nowels/Des’Ree
  • "Open Mind" (Nowels/Munday/Weeks) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/David Munday/Des’Ree
• Roachford The Roachford Files (Sony)
  • "Naked Without You" (Nowels/Steinberg/Roachford)
• The Corrs Talk on Corners (143/Lava/Atlantic)
  • "Intimacy" (Nowels/Steinberg/Giraldo) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Billy Steinberg
• Crystal Waters Crystal Waters (Mercury)
  • "Female Intuition" (Nowels/Steinberg/Waters/Black) -- Prod: Basement Boys/Rick Nowels/George Black
• Real McCoy One More Time (Arista)
  • "Love Save Me" (Nowels/Steinberg/Giraldo) -- Prod: The Berman Brothers

1996

• Belinda Carlisle A Woman and a Man (Chrysalis)
  • "In Too Deep" (Nowels)
  • "California" (Nowels/Steinberg/Vidal)
  • "Remember September" (Nowels/Shipley)
  • "Love in the Key of C" (Nowels)
  • "My Heart Goes Out to You" (Nowels) -- Prod: David Tickle
• Robert Miles Dreamland (Arista)
  • "One & One" (Nowels/Steinberg/D'ubaldo) -- Prod: Robert Miles
• Celine Dion Falling into You (Sony 550)
  • "Falling into You" (Nowels/Steinberg/D'ubaldo) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Billy Steinberg

1995

• Rozalla Look No Further" (Epic)
  • "You Never Love the Same Way Twice" (Nowels/Mundy/Dozier) -- Prod; Rick Nowels/Pete Lorimer
• Real McCoy Another Night (Arista)
  • "Sleeping With An Angel" (Nowels/Steinberg) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Billy Steinberg
• Chynna Phillips Naked and Sacred (EMI)
  • "Naked and Sacred" (Nowels/Steinberg/Philips) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/Billy Steinberg
  • "Remember Me" (Nowels/Philips) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
• The Devlins Batman Forever (soundtrack) (Atlantic)
  • "Crossing the River" (Nowels/Steinberg/Devlin) -- Prod: Hughes/Devlin

1994

• Anita Baker Rhythm of Love (Elektra)
  • "Body and Soul" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Anita Baker
• Stevie Nicks Street Angel (Modern/Atlantic)
  • "Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind" (Nowels/Stewart) -- Prod: Roy Bittan/Thom Panunzio

1993

• Kim Wilde The Singles Collection 1981–1993 (MCA)
  • "Love Is Holy" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1992

• Kim Wilde Love Is (MCA)
  • "Love Is Holy" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "I Won't Change the Way I Feel" (Nowels/Wilde) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "A Miracle's Coming" (Nowels/Wilde/Wilde) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
• Belinda Carlisle The Best of Belinda, Volume 1 (Virgin)
  • "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "(We Want) The Same Thing" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Circle in the Sand" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Leave a Light On" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Summer Rain" (Seidman/Vidal) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Vision of You" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Live Your Life Be Free" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "I Get Weak" (Warren) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "La Luna" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "I Plead Insanity" (Nowels/Munday/Prasad) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "World Without You" (Warren) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Do You Feel Like I Feel?" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Runaway Horses" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1991

• Belinda Carlisle Live Your Life Be Free (MCA)
  • "Live Your Life Be Free" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Do You Feel Like I Feel?" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "You Came Out of Nowhere" (Nowels/Munday) -- Prod: Rick Nowels/David Munday
  • "You're Nothing Without Me" (Rick Nowels) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "I Plead Insanity" (Nowels/Munday/Prasad) --Prod: Rick Nowels/David Munday
  • "Emotional Highway" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Love Revolution" (Rick Nowels) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1990

• Jimmy Barnes Two Fires (Atlantic)
  • "Lay Down Your Guns" (Nowels/Barnes) -- Prod: Don Gehman
• Ric Ocasek Fireball Zone
  • "Touchdown Easy" (Nowels/Ocasek) -- Prod: Nile Rogers

1989

• Belinda Carlisle Runaway Horses (MCA (U.S.) / Virgin (World))
  • "Leave a Light On" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Runaway Horses" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Summer Rain" (Seidman/Vidal) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Deep Deep Ocean" (Steinberg/Kelly/Sky) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Vision of You" (Nowels/Shipley) - Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "La Luna" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "(We Want) The Same Thing" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Whatever It Takes" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Valentine" (Stewart/Munday) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Shades of Michaelangelo" (Carlisle/Caffey) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1988

• Stevie Nicks The Other Side of the Mirror (Modern /Atlantic)
  • "Rooms on Fire" (Nowels/Nicks) -- Prod: Rupert Hine
  • "Two Kinds of Love" (Nowels/Nicks/Hine) -- Prod: Rupert Hine
  • "Long Way to Go" (Nowels/Nicks/Judge) -- Prod: Rupert Hine
  • "Ooh My Love" (Nowels/Nicks) -- Prod: Rupert Hine
• Then Jerico Big Area (London Records)
  • "What Does It Take" (Nowels/Stewart/Mundy) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Reeling" (Then Jerico) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Where You Lie" (Then Jerico) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Sugar Box" (Then Jerico) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1987

• Belinda Carlisle Heaven on Earth (MCA (U.S.) / Virgin (World))
  • "Heaven is a Place on Earth" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Circle in the Sand" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "I Feel Free" -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Should I Let You In?" -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "World Without You" -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "I Get Weak" -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "We Can Change" (Nowels/Caffey) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Fool for Love" -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Nobody Owns Me" -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Love Never Dies" (Nowels/C. Caffey/T. Caffey) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1986

• Maria Vidal Maria Vidal (A&M)
  • "The Real Feel" (Nowels/Shipley) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

1985

• Stevie Nicks Rock a Little (Modern Records/EMI)
  • "I Can't Wait" (Nowels/ Nicks/Pressly) -- Prod: Rick Nowels /Jimmy Iovine
  • "Sister Honey" (Nicks/Dudek) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "The Nightmare" --Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "If I Were You" (Nowels/Nicks) -- Prod: Rick Nowels
  • "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You" (Nicks/Olsen) -- Prod: Rick Nowels

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rick Nowels' Official website
• Rick Nowels MySpace
• Rick Nowels at the Internet Movie Database
• Record Producers at Stephen Budd Management
• Record Producers at McDaniel Entertainment
• British Hit Songwriters site: Rick Nowels

Gregg Alexander (born Gregory Aiuto, 4 May 1972) is an American singer/songwriter and producer, best known as the frontman of the New Radicals, who scored the international hit "You Get What You Give" in late 1998. Earlier in life he recorded two solo albums, Michigan Rain and Intoxifornication. He dissolved the New Radicals in 1999 to focus on production and songwriting work, winning a Grammy for the song "The Game of Love" in 2003.

Biography[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (December 2006)

Early life and career[link]

Gregg Alexander was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and was raised in a conservative Jehovah's Witness household. He quickly developed into a multi-talented musician after receiving his first guitar at the age of 12 and teaching himself to play several instruments.^[1] At the age of fourteen Gregg joined the band The Circus, with fellow classmates George Snow, John Mabarak, along with Gregg's older brother Stephen Aiuto. They played the 1984 highschool Battle of the Bands, competing against John Lowery (John 5). By the age of 16, he signed his first recording contract with A&M after playing his demo tapes to producer Rick Nowels. He released his debut album Michigan Rain in 1989 at the age of 17, to little notice. In 1992 he signed to Epic and released Intoxifornication, which consisted largely of re-released songs from Michigan Rain and was again ignored.

In the mid-1990s, Alexander would often busk in Tompkins Square Park and Central Park.

New Radicals[link]

In 1997, Alexander formed the New Radicals, a revolving-door band with no permanent members other than Alexander and long-term collaborator Danielle Brisebois. They released the album Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too in October 1998, which went on to sell over a million copies. The single "You Get What You Give" was released that fall and was a smash hit internationally. The song's unique sunny production sound became a template for much of Alexander's future production work.

It was not long after the New Radicals' success that Alexander became tired of the constant media attention and exhaustive touring schedule. In July 1999, "Someday We'll Know" was announced as the band's second single. However, several days later Alexander announced he was disbanding the New Radicals to focus on production work. He said that "the fatigue of traveling and getting three hours sleep in a different hotel every night to do boring 'hanging and schmoozing' with radio and retail people is definitely not for me." Despite disagreements with MCA, Alexander finally agreed to shoot a video for "Someday We'll Know"; but with the band now defunct, the song got little attention and the New Radicals became known as a one-hit wonder.

Post New Radicals[link]

Since disbanding the group in summer 1999, Alexander has written and produced songs for artists including Ronan Keating, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Enrique Iglesias, Texas, Hanson, Geri Halliwell, Melanie C, Mónica Naranjo and fellow ex-New Radical Danielle Brisebois. Most noteworthy was the song "The Game of Love" by Santana and Michelle Branch, which earned Alexander a Grammy in 2003.

Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described him as "the catchiest, smartest professional mainstream pop songwriter of the early 2000s."^[2]

In 2003 a new Alexander track, "A Love Like That", was released uncredited on the Internet. It was suspected to be a New Radicals outtake^{[citation needed]}, as parts of the lyrics were found in the booklet for Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too.

A new song entitled "Why Can't We Make Things Work" written by Alexander (and Rick Nowels) was released by Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead in November 2007, on his self-titled album.

In 2010, Boyzone released the single "Love Is a Hurricane",^[3] written by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois.

Aliases[link]

• Gregg Alexander co-wrote and produced "The Game of Love" by Santana and Michelle Branch as well as four songs on Enrique Iglesias' album 7 under the pseudonym Alex Ander.^{[citation needed]}

Misc.[link]

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo released a cover of the song "The World We Love So Much" in his 2007 release "Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo"

Discography[link]

For Gregg Alexander's releases with the New Radicals, see New Radicals' discography

Albums[link]

• Michigan Rain (1989)
• Intoxifornication (1992)

Singles[link]

• "In the Neighborhood" (1989)
• "Smokin' In Bed" (1992)
• "The Truth" (1992)

Others[link]

• "Promise Tomorrow Tonight" (1994, duet with Danielle Brisebois on her album Arrive All Over You)
• "A Love Like That" (2003, digital download)

See also[link]

• List of songs written by Gregg Alexander

References[link]

External links[link]

• Gregg Alexander at the Internet Movie Database

Colbie Caillat
Colbie Caillat performing in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Colbie Marie Caillat
Born	(1985-05-28) May 28, 1985 (age 27) Newbury Park, California, United States
Origin	Malibu, California, United States
Genres	Pop, folk pop, pop rock, blue-eyed soul
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist
Instruments	Vocal, acoustic guitar, ukulele, piano
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Universal Republic Records
Website	www.colbiecaillat.com

Colbie Marie Caillat (ⁱ/ˈkoʊlbi kəˈleɪ/; born May 28, 1985) is an American pop singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist from Malibu, California. She debuted in 2007 with Coco, which included hit singles "Bubbly" and "Realize". In 2008, she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy. Caillat released her second album, Breakthrough, in August 2009. Breakthrough was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2010 Grammy Awards. She was also part of the group that won Album of the Year at the 2010 Grammys for her background vocals and writing on Taylor Swift's Fearless album. She has sold over six million albums worldwide and sold over 10 million singles. In 2009, Billboard magazine's 94th-best-selling music artist of the 2000–2009 decade.^[1]

Life and career[link]

Childhood and youth[link]

Caillat performing in Birmingham, Alabama

Caillat was born in Malibu, California, and grew up in Newbury Park, California. Her father, Ken Caillat, co-produced Fleetwood Mac's Rumours (1977) and Tusk (1979) albums. When she was an infant, her parents gave her the nickname "Coco", which she would later name her debut album.^[2] Caillat took piano lessons as a child, but lacked significant inspiration until she turned 11 years old, when she became enthralled with Lauryn Hill's performance in Sister Act 2.^[3] She realized that she wanted to be a singer, and began taking vocal lessons, performing onstage for the first time in sixth grade.^[4] Since then she has covered the Roberta Flack song that Lauryn Hill immortalized, "Killing Me Softly", and Hill's own^{[citation needed]} "Tell Him" (an import bonus song from her solo debut album).

Caillat soon met producer Mikal Blue, who hired her to sing on techno songs used at fashion shows. Caillat began playing the acoustic guitar at age 19, and Blue helped her record her first song.^[3] She auditioned for American Idol but was rejected at the pre-audition stage and was unable to sing for the judges.^[5] The second time she auditioned for the show, she sang her own original song, "Bubbly", and was rejected once again. However, Caillat expressed gratitude at the judges' decision, saying "I was shy. I was nervous. I didn't look the greatest. I wasn't ready for it yet. I was glad, when I auditioned, that they said no."^[6] The popularity of Caillat's MySpace profile led her to become the number-one unsigned singer in her genre for four consecutive months.^[7]

[edit] 2007–2008: Coco

Caillat performing at The Malibu Inn during the Coco Summer Tour

Caillat performing at The Malibu Inn

Caillat's debut album, Coco was released in 2007. Her debut single "Bubbly" peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Pop 100. Two other singles followed, "Realize" (#20, Hot 100) and "The Little Things" (#94, Pop 100).^[8] After touring with The Goo Goo Dolls and Lifehouse in 2007, she was the supporting act for John Mayer on his 2008 Summer Tour.

In 2008, Caillat recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, called "Lucky," on his album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things.^[9] In August 2008, Caillat released a song and video for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics called "Somethin' Special".^[10] Caillat also sings on "You" by Schiller and appears in the music video. She has been involved in the soundtrack of the movie Imagine That; she and Mikal Blue cover the Beatles song "Here Comes the Sun". She is also featured in Colombian singer Juanes' album La vida... es un ratico (en vivo) in the song "Hoy Me Voy". In October 2008, the song "Midnight Bottle" was included in the soundtrack of Brazilian soap opera Três Irmãs. She also played herself on this soap opera and performing the song. Caillat provided background vocals for and co-wrote Taylor Swift's song "Breathe", on her album, Fearless.

[edit] 2009–2010: Breakthrough

Caillat on the red carpet at the 2009 American Music Awards

Caillat's second album, Breakthrough, was released in August 2009. Most of the album was co-written by Jason Reeves and features guitarist David Becker on two tracks. Becker has worked with Caillat's father Ken.^[11] Caillat had writer's block during the recording sessions, so she enlisted her friends Kara DioGuardi and Jason Reeves, and they went to Hawaii for three weeks, rented a beach house and wrote songs. The first single from Breakthrough, "Fallin' for You", was released in June. The second single, "I Never Told You," was released in February 2010. Caillat released two Christmas songs for the 2009 holiday season: the standard "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and the Beach Boys song "Merry Christmas, Baby".^[12]

Caillat was recognized as BMI's songwriter of the year. In July 2010, Caillat performed "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch at the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In September 2010, Caillat performed the national anthem in the season opener game of the National Football League in New Orleans and a Monday Night Football game in Chicago. In December 2010, Caillat performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. In 2010, Caillat visited the Watkins Glen, New York shelter of Farm Sanctuary, an organization she supports.^[13]

[edit] 2011–present: All of You

Caillat with with longtime-collaborator Jason Reeves

Caillat's third album, All of You, was released on July 12, 2011. The first single, "I Do" was released in February. The second single, "Brighter Than the Sun", was released in June.^[14] Caillat performed an acoustic version of the National Anthem before the San Diego Chargers v Minnesota Vikings game at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on September 11, 2011, during the day of remembrance for 9/11. Caillat performed "Brighter Than the Sun" on Disney Channel's Original Series So Random.

Caillat appeared in the third episode of the cancelled NBC television series The Playboy Club as 1960s singer Lesley Gore. In the episode broadcast on October 3, 2011, Caillat sang Gore's 1963 hit, "It's My Party".^[15] Cast for the part in August 2011,^[16] Caillat taped her portion of the episode in Chicago.^[17]

Discography[link]

• Coco (2007)
• Breakthrough (2009)
• All of You (2011)

Tours[link]

Caillat performing at The Nobel Peace Price Concert 2010

• 2008: John Mayer 2008 Summer Tour
• 2008: Coco Summer Tour
• 2008: Coco World Tour
• 2009/2010: Breakthrough World Tour
• 2011: All of You Summer Tour
• 2012: Co-Headlining Summer Tour with Gavin DeGraw

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2011)

Grammy Awards[link]

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Caillat has won two awards from four nominations, including Album of the Year (as featured artist).

Others awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Colbie Caillat

	Book: Colbie Caillat
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• Official website
• Colbie Caillat at Universal Republic
• Colbie Caillat at the Internet Movie Database
• Colbie Caillat on the cover of the March 19, 2008 issue of iProng Magazine
• Colbie Caillat cover story in the January 2009 issue of International Musician
• AOL Sessions Performance & Interview
• Interview with Caillat's manager Chad Jensen, HitQuarters Jun 2008

Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Belinda Jo Carlisle
Also known as	Belinda, Dottie Danger, Belinda Jo Kurczeski
Born	(1958-08-17) August 17, 1958 (age 53)
Origin	Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Genres	Pop rock, pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, author
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1978–present
Labels	I.R.S. (1986) MCA (1987–1991) Virgin (1987–1999) Chrysalis (1996) Rykodisc (2007–present)
Associated acts	The Go-Go's The Germs Black Randy and the Metrosquad
Website	www.belindacarlisle.tv

Belinda Jo Carlisle (born August 17, 1958) is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands of all time and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments.^[1] Topping the Billboard charts with the Go-Go's, she sold more than seven million albums^[2] in just three years and later went on to a successful solo career with hits "Mad About You", "Summer Rain", "I Get Weak", "Circle in the Sand", "Leave a Light On" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" among others, which were major successes in the United States and United Kingdom as well as internationally. Her autobiography, Lips Unsealed, published in June 2010, reached No. 27 on the The New York Times Best Seller list and received favorable reviews.^[3] On August 11, 2011, she received, as a member of the Go-Go's, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early life[link]

Belinda Carlisle was born in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles to Harold, a travelling salesman (he sold vacuum cleaners) and his wife Joanne, who raised the children at home. The first of seven siblings, with three brothers and three sisters, she was five years old when her father abandoned the family and upon her mother's second marriage, did not have a close relationship with her stepfather, Duke Kurczeski. Growing up in Ventura County's Thousand Oaks, a part of the Greater Los Angeles Area, she was a cheerleader at Newbury Park High School and, at the age of 19, left home.^[4][5]

Early career and The Go-Gos[link]

Carlisle live with The Go-Go's in 2008

Carlisle's first venture into music was a brief stint as drummer for the punk band The Germs, under the name Dottie Danger. Around this time Carlisle did some back-up singing for the Black Randy and the Metrosquad. Soon after leaving The Germs, she co-founded The Go-Gos (originally named The Misfits), with friends and fellow musicians Margot Olaverria, Elissa Bello, and Jane Wiedlin. Olaverria and Bello were soon out of the group and the new line-up included bassist-turned-guitarist Charlotte Caffey, guitarist-turned-bassist Kathy Valentine, and drummer Gina Schock. The Go-Go's became one of the most successful American bands of the 1980s, helping usher New Wave music into popular American radio, and becoming the first all-female band, who wrote their own music and played their own instruments, to ever achieve a #1 album. The Go-Gos recorded two more studio albums on I.R.S. Records, including 1982 Vacation, which went gold. "Head over Heels", from their 1984 album Talk Show, made it to #11, but they never repeated the success of their 1981 multi-platinum debut, Beauty and the Beat, which featured the hits "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed".

In 1984, Carlisle made a foray into acting in the movie Swing Shift starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell and performed backing vocals for the Don Henley recording of "She's on the Zoom" from the Vision Quest soundtrack.

Solo career[link]

The Go-Go's disbanded in 1985 and Carlisle embarked on a solo career, although she continued to work with fellow Go-Go Charlotte Caffey.

[edit] 1986–1987: Belinda

Carlisle's first solo album Belinda was released in 1986, also on I.R.S. Records. This album was successful in North America and was certified Gold in the US and Platinum in Canada. Her summer hit "Mad About You" peaked at No. 3 in the US, topped the Canadian Singles Chart, and charted in the top 10 in Australia. "Mad About You" was followed by the Motown-influenced single "I Feel the Magic", and by a cover version of the Freda Payne song "Band of Gold". All three songs were included on her debut album. The single "Since You've Gone", co-written by Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, was used only for promotion. Susanna Hoffs co-wrote the single "I Need a Disguise". Duran Duran's Andy Taylor played guitar on some album tracks and appeared in her "Mad About You" video clip.

During this time, Carlisle also had songs featured on movie soundtracks, notably "In My Wildest Dreams" from the movie Mannequin "Shot in the Dark" from the Anthony Michael Hall thriller, Out of Bounds, as well as "Dancing in the City" from the Whoopi Goldberg movie Burglar.

[edit] 1987–1989: Heaven on Earth

Carlisle changed again her hairstyle significantly for her second solo album, giving up her California Girl blonde bob for a long auburn style for 1987's Heaven on Earth. The musical style eschewed the 1960s-influenced pop of Carlisle's first album in favor of slickly produced 1980s power-pop, and was released in the United States through MCA, and in the United Kingdom through Virgin. The album became a Top 5 bestseller in the UK and Australia, and was nominated for a Grammy Award. The album's producer, Rick Nowels, previously worked with Stevie Nicks, and would later collaborate with Kim Wilde, Jennifer Rush and Madonna. Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas, Chynna Phillips and Carnie Wilson sang backup for the album. Thomas Dolby played the keyboards on some album tracks.

The first release from Heaven on Earth was "Heaven Is a Place on Earth", which topped the single charts, not only in the US, but also in the UK and in several other countries (the dance mix of the song also topped the dance chart). The radio-ready song was further propelled by a video, directed by Academy Award-winning American actress Diane Keaton. The second single from the album was the Diane Warren-penned "I Get Weak", which peaked at #2 in the US and #10 in the UK. The third single from the album was "Circle in the Sand", another Top 10 hit in the US, the UK, and Germany. "World Without You" was another British hit, followed by 1988 low-charting ballad "Love Never Dies", making this her fifth single from the album in the UK. In the US, the fourth and last single, "I Feel Free", a cover of the Cream classic, failed to reach the Top 40.

After the release of the Heaven on Earth album, Carlisle embarked on the 'Good Heavens' world tour during which she sold out Wembley Arena in London.

In 2009, a remastered edition of the album was released with extra tracks, remixes, and a bonus DVD containing a complete live concert from 1988 (available for the first time on DVD).

[edit] 1989–1991: Runaway Horses

Carlisle's follow-up to the success of Heaven on Earth was Runaway Horses, released on October 23, 1989. The album hit the Top 5 in both Australia and the UK, certified double platinum in Australia and platinum in the UK and in Canada, but failed to reach similar success in the US The first release, "Leave a Light On", peaked at #11 in the US, and became another Top 5 smash in the UK, Australia and Canada. The song features a slide guitar solo by George Harrison; he also played on the song Deep Deep Ocean. The second US single, "Summer Rain", reached #30 in early 1990. The song, which Carlisle noted was the most difficult song she had ever sung up to that point,^{[citation needed]} peaked successfully at #6 in Australia, where it has maintained popularity, and the tune saw a cover version, in 2004, by the Australian group Slinkee Minx. It was the final release from Runaway Horses in the UK where it was released as the album's sixth single in December 1990, peaking at #23 in January 1991. Whereas in the US Carlisle's success was decreasing, her popularity remained big in Europe and Australia. In 1990, further singles from the Runaway Horses album were successful as well: the title track, the summer mood influenced "La Luna", a Top 10 in Switzerland and top 20 hit in Germany and Australia, and "(We Want) The Same Thing", remixed from a country-styled release into a massive Pop hit, reaching #6 in the UK. Bryan Adams contributed backup vocals for the track "Whatever It Takes".

In the late autumn of 1990, the Go-Go's reunited for a tour to support their first best-of album, Greatest, including a new recording of the cover song "Cool Jerk" (Go-Go's original cover was featured on their 1980 European EP, with a second version being released in 1982). A notable feature of the tour was an anti-fur campaign, where the band members supported People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA, an animal rights organization. That same year, Carlisle joined with The Smithereens lead singer Pat Dinizio on his group's ballad "Blue Period" and also performed backing vocals on Then Jerico's album The Big Area on the track "What Does It Take?".

[edit] 1991–1992: Live Your Life Be Free

In 1991, Carlisle released her fourth solo album, Live Your Life Be Free. The album marked somewhat of a return to 1960s-influenced music for Carlisle and included songs mainly written and produced by Rick Nowels but also two songs co-written by Carlisle. The single "Do You Feel Like I Feel?" was accompanied by a tongue-in-cheek video, inspired by the B-movie Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. The title track, "Live Your Life Be Free", released as first single outside the US, was a Top 20 hit single in many countries reaching number 12 in the UK and #13 in Australia. Subsequent releases "Half the World" and "Little Black Book" (co-written by Marcella Detroit of the Shakespears Sister under her real name Marcy Levy) were also hits outside the US, and although Live Your Life Be Free as an album flopped in the US, it was a success in Europe (Top 10 in the UK and Gold certification). To date, "Do You Feel Like I Feel?" is Carlisle's final single to enter in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #73.

[edit] 1992: The Best of Belinda, Volume 1

Still active in Europe and Australia with a record contract at Virgin Records, her 1992 greatest hits album The Best of Belinda, Volume 1 reached #1, and was certified double platinum in the UK and platinum in Australia. This first greatest hits album included all the hits taken from the Heaven on Earth, Runaway Horses, and Live Your Life Be Free albums. It neglected the ballad "Love Never Dies", and the three I.R.S. singles from her first album Belinda, as this only received a limited UK release and produced no hit singles there. Also, no movie-soundtrack songs appear on the collection. The US version of the album was named Her Greatest Hits and also included songs from the first album Belinda.

[edit] 1993–1994: Real

Carlisle's fifth solo album, Real, was released in 1993 on the Virgin label in the US and in Europe. Produced without Nowels, the disc was a departure from Carlisle's polished pop music formula. Even the album's cover photograph featured her with little or no make-up. Carlisle co-produced and co-wrote much of the disc, collaborating heavily with friend and ex-Go-Go Charlotte Caffey. The album was Carlisle's fifth consecutive to reach the UK Top 10 peaking at number #9. Real peaked also at number #23 in Sweden. Its first single, "Big Scary Animal", peaked at #12 in the UK. The second single from Real was "Lay Down Your Arms", which made the Top 30 in the UK. Gregg Alexander of the New Radicals co-wrote the single "Here Comes My Baby".

At this time, Carlisle also recorded "One by One", on the soundtrack for the 1993 movie The Harvest and sang on The Lemonheads' Come On Feel The Lemonheads album on the track "I'll Do It Anyway".

After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Carlisle and her family moved to Europe. The Go-Gos reunited again later that year to support the retrospective double-CD Return to the Valley of The Go-Go's, their second collection, which featured three new songs, including the single "The Whole World Lost Its Head". However, the band broke up again, soon after the promotional tour. Carlisle has since lived in France and England.

[edit] 1996–1997: A Woman and a Man

Carlisle returned to the recording studio, and resumed working again with Rick Nowels. In 1996 she released in the UK and Australia her sixth solo album, A Woman and a Man, on the Chrysalis Records label. This album, consisting of mostly relaxed adult pop, revitalized her solo career in Europe, and included several hits. The leadoff single, "In Too Deep", returned Carlisle to the UK Top 10, for the first time in six years, reaching #6. "Always Breaking My Heart", written and produced by Roxette's Per Gessle, also made the UK Top 10, peaking at #8. The album spawned two more smaller hits in UK: "Love in the Key of C", and "California", which featured arrangement and back-up vocals by Brian Wilson. The album reached #12 in the UK, and was certified gold. As a result of A Woman and A Man's UK success, the album was released in the US during the summer of 1997 on the small Ark21 label. Despite the recent successful comeback in Europe, and the promotional appearances Carlisle made on American television and radio, the album did not enjoy similar success in North America selling only 17,000 copies.

In 1996, Carlisle recorded "I Wouldn't Be Here (If I Didn't Love You)" for the Two If by Sea official movie soundtrack. In 1997, she recorded "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" from Walt Disney Animation Studios's Hercules as part of that movie's standard distribution in Europe, and was released as a single exclusively in France and Germany. Neither of these tracks has been released on compilation albums.

[edit] 1999–2000: A Place on Earth: The Greatest Hits

In 1999, Carlisle released a greatest hits album in the UK, a double-disc on the Virgin label, collectively entitled A Place on Earth: The Greatest Hits. Carlisle recorded three new tracks for the album's first disc, properly called The Greatest Hits, including the single "All God's Children", and the songs "A Prayer for Everyone" and "Feels Like I've Known You Forever". The second disc of the album entitled A Place on Earth, contained previously released remixes of some of her hits, plus a couple of B-sides which were previously unreleased. Some of the remixes were by William Orbit, who also worked with Madonna on her 1998 Ray of Light album. A Place on Earth: The Greatest Hits was certified Gold in the UK and went on to sell an excess of one million copies worldwide.

[edit] 2001: Go-Go's Reunion

In 2001, the Go-Go's reunited again and released an album of new material, God Bless The Go-Go's. Green Day's lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong co-wrote the only released single "Unforgiven". God Bless The Go-Go's received mixed reviews from critics. Rolling Stone wrote "Every bit as Go-Go's, that is, as their non-hits and less remarkable material. While the Go-Go's sound is intact, there is not a "We Got the Beat" or a "Head Over Heels" to be found. It is feasible that in this age of pop rebirth, the Go-Go's decided it was now or never". Allmusic wrote "The album doesn't attempt to update the band's sound with hip-hop moves or electronic frippery, for which God should bless 'em, indeed. The girls' hold on the current pop world remains so strong that Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong co-writes a song ("Unforgiven") in impeccable Go-Go's drag".

The album sold fewer copies than the previous Go-Go's studio albums but still managed to chart in the US Billboard 200, peaking at number #57.

Around the time of the Go-Go's definitive reunion tour, Carlisle appeared nude for the cover feature and a full pictorial of the August 2001 edition of Playboy.^[6]

[edit] 2007: Voila

In 2007, the singer released her seventh album Voila, which was her first full-length, solo studio album in more than ten years. The album was produced by John Reynolds and included Brian Eno on the keyboard. Consisting of a mix of French pop tunes and chanson standards, including covers of Françoise Hardy and Édith Piaf classics. Voila was released via Rykodisc in the UK on February 5, and in the US the following day, February 6, 2007. Carlisle was originally approached to make another pop rock album, but she declined immediately, in favor of recording this collection of songs, the style of which, she'd "absolutely fallen in love with",^{[citation needed]} since moving to France in the early 1990s.

2008–2010[link]

She recently toured as part of the Regeneration tour in the US, and the Here and Now tour in the UK and Ireland in 2008 and summer of 2009. The line up included Carlisle, as well as other acts such as The Human League, Bananarama, Boy George, Howard Jones, Paul Young, Naked Eyes, ABC, T'Pau, and Cutting Crew.

She took over the role of Velma Von Tussle in London's West End production of Hairspray on October 28, 2009 at the Shaftesbury Theatre.^[7] She remained with the show till late January 2010 and was replaced by Siobhan McCarthy.

Carlisle announced a Go-Go's farewell tour planned for July 2010, which was then cancelled due to a leg injury suffered by guitarist Jane Wiedlin.^[8]

Belinda Carlisle performed at Manchester Pride on August 27, 2010. This being her second appearance at this event, with the first being in 2007.

In October 2010, tickets went on sale for a concert tour of Germany in January 2011.

2011-2012[link]

Carlisle played dates around Australia, commencing on February 4, 2011 in Melbourne. She appeared as part of the "Here and Now, 10th Anniversary Tour" at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on the 7th of April 2011. Carlisle also toured the US with The Go-Go's, including playing to a packed house at the iconic Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in August 2011. On October 10, 2011, Carlisle performed at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines together with The Human League and Howard Jones. In February 2012

Television appearances[link]

Outside of appearances on tour with The Go-Go's, Carlisle continued her string of TV appearances.

In 2004, Carlisle was the first star to be voted off the UK reality TV show Hell's Kitchen.^[9]

In 2005, Belinda appeared on both UK and USA versions of Hit Me Baby One More Time in which participants had to perform their biggest hit as well as a contemporary cover. Belinda sang Heaven is a place on Earth and Coldplay's The Scientist. She lost out in her show to Shakin' Stevens who went on to win the final.

In 2006, she appeared on the Simon Cowell-produced Celebrity Duets, a Fox network reality competition, pairing celebrities not famous for singing (like Lucy Lawless and Cheech Marin) with actual singers like Carlisle, Michael Bolton, Jon Secada, Taylor Dayne and Macy Gray. Carlisle sang "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "I Get Weak" with Lea Thompson on the September 7 episode.

In 2008 she appeared as a judge on the MTV reality show Rock the Cradle, a competition reality show featuring aspiring musicians who were also the children of famous musicians.

In 2009 Carlisle was on the 8th season of Dancing with the Stars, paired with Jonathan Roberts. She was the first star to be eliminated from the competition, on March 17.^[10]

In 2011 Carlisle performed on "Good Morning America", Friday June 3 in an appearance for the show's "Summer Concert Series", in New York City's Central Park.

Personal life[link]

In 1986, Carlisle married Morgan Mason, film producer and former Special Assistant to the President of the United States, as well as the son of British actor James Mason. Mason made appearances in Carlisle's videos "Mad About You" and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth". They have a son, James Duke Mason, born on April 27, 1992.

She has been reported as being "deeply into Buddhism" and chants Nam Myoho Renge Kyo daily.^[11] In an interview, printed on March 7, 2007, the singer stated that: "I was wondering about happiness and started reading a lot of books by the Dalai Lama, and slowly embraced Buddhism" (published by Newindpress, India). She told the Sydney Morning Herald: "I don't smoke any more, I don't drink any more and I don't do drugs any more. I am very much into my Buddhism. I found turning 40 a real passage in time for me."

In January 2009, it was announced that Carlisle was appointed the new spokesperson for NutriSystem.^[12]

Discography[link]

See also[link]

• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
• List of artists who reached number one in Ireland
• List of RPM number-one singles of 1986

References[link]