Dave Townsend

This article is about the British songwriter, lyricist, and singer. For other uses, see David Townsend.

Dave Townsend is a British songwriter, lyricist, and singer, and was born in Somerset, in South West England.[1] Aside from a solo career, he was also a vocalist for The Alan Parsons Project, singing lead vocals on "Don't Let it Show" on the album, I Robot (1977),[2] and "You Won't Be There" from Eve (1979).[3]

Townsend was the singer for the Taunton band Phoenix Press before going solo.[4] He wrote the song "Miss You Nights" in 1974 while his girlfriend was away on holiday, and recorded it on an album for Island Records, but the label shelved the album and offered the songs to other artists as covers. Cliff Richard recorded it in September 1975, and Townsend (as the composer) was nominated for an Ivor Novello Award in 1977 for "Best Middle of the Road Song," although the winner was John Miles for "Music.",[5] a fellow vocalist with The Alan Parsons Project.

His debut album, Making Up the Numbers, was produced by Robin Geoffrey Cable and released on the Mercury label in September 1978, under the name David Townsend.[6] A single, "When I Kiss You," backed with "High Endeavours," was released on 23 June 1978.[7] The label promoted Townsend to record shops in Music Week as "an imaginative composer, an inventive lyricist and a stylish singer," telling proprietors that they were "going to hear a lot of requests for the album from your customers, so stock up now."[8] As a songwriter, he most notably wrote tracks for:

Townsend formed his own music publishing company, Cappy Rat Music.[10] As of 2003, it was reported that Townsend was writing a Ph.D. thesis in history at Essex University.[9] Lyrics for many of his songs are on his official website.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Back cover (liner notes) for 45rpm single, "When I Kiss You," Mercury 6008 103, 1978; accessed 18 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Alan Parsons Project, The – I Robot (Cassette, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 26 October 1977. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Alan Parsons Project, The – Eve (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 26 October 1979. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Mystery of the miss-ing muse: Sir Cliff Richard springs a surprise on the former Taunton composer of his classic 'Miss You Nights' hit on local radio shortly," Somerset County Gazette, 21 September 2001; accessed 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ "The Ivors 1977". TheIvors.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  6. ^ "David Townsend – Making Up The Numbers at Discogs". Discogs.com. 26 October 1978. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  7. ^ "David Townsend - When I Kiss You". 45cat.com. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  8. ^ "DAVID TOWNSEND MAKING UP THE NUMBERS 1978 Music Week Advert like poster flyer". PicClick UK. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d "Dave Townsend". Encyclopaedia Projectologia. Archived from the original on 1 February 2003. Retrieved 25 November 2012. .
  10. ^ "Britten's faith in Dave Townsend," Music Week, 11 March 1978): 35; accessed 4 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Dave Townsend". Dave-townsend.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
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