Great piece! I always find these US/UK differences very interesting: popularity and market trends, of course, but on a related (and much nerdier, admittedly) point: different album editions! Correct me if I am wrong but I feel this was quite common in the early 90s with some pop releases: depending on where the artist originated from, the packaging, track list, and sometimes even the mixes were different across the US and UK markets!
Another thing I noticed is different UK vinyl cover art in early/mid 60s records by US artists (Aretha comes to mind). I’ve always wondered why.
I’ve never heard of Chesney Hawkes but Nik Kershaw?!? My god I loved him in the early 80s, especially 1983’s The Riddle. Damn near wore the magnetic coating off my copy of that cassette from overuse! I’m listening to it again right now, for the first time in several decades. Thanks for putting it back on my radar!!
As someone who lives on an island between the US and UK (Bermuda being 700 miles east of Cape Hatteras, NC), and growing up with friends who went off to boarding school, some in the US and some in the UK, I found myself in a unique position of being exposed to hit music from both sides of the Atlantic. And what an odd experience it was! Friends would return for the summer from the UK armed with the latest compilation CDs of popular music and I so often found very little overlap with what was popular in the UK and what was hitting the charts in the UK. In fact, quite judgmentally, I found a lot of the music “weird”! I just didn’t get a lot of it.
I’d echo Ellen’s point about the UK music scene - it’s just *different* particularly in their affinity for a type of pop music that just wouldn’t find traction in North America. Then there’s Eurovision which is almost like a national sport over there. The Christmas #1 phenomenon, hilariously but accurately lampooned in Love Actually, remains alive and well.
I’d be interested to see someone research the overlap of hit between the US and UK over the decades and to see which way the hits flowed. Outside of the intermittent British invasions I’m inclined to think US popular music was more influential and popular in the UK than the US. Not that that’s an indication of “success” or “better” music.
North of the US border, many Canadians chafe at the idea of their favorite local bands “not making it in the US” and rightfully so. While the US music scene likely remains the most influential globally success there is certainly not the arbiter of “great” music. In fact, looking at many of the musical movements over the years - punk, new wave, ska, reggae, reggaeton and many more - many of them emerged from outside of North America. And if you go back far enough, to the roots of just about all of popular music, you end up on the continent that birthed humanity as we know it.
Fun piece, Brad! Was that the Nik Kershaw piece you were telling me about? Or is there another NK one coming down the pike? I never heard of Chesney Hawkes and the name doesn't ring a bell at all.
You are certainly aware of this, but you gave us a 3-fer in terms of the "pop-progeny" theme here. First Chesney's father being a musician. Then him starring as the son of a famous musician, starring Roger Daltry! That's a 2-fer on its own! But then the Nik Kershaw produced aspect adds another layer of progeny. So maybe it's a 4-fer! A litter rations abound!
Maybe it was because I was a full-time dad and traveling P.R. flak back then, but I have no recall of Chesney Hawkes at all. Also, I had a strong revulsion for "boy band" style pop songs, so he just wasn't on my radar.
Brad, who founded Chrysalis Records? Does it still exist? I vaguely remember Ten Years After was on Chrysalis, but anyone else of note?
I lived in the UK for 17 years and was surprised by the music scene. They love pop there, and I found it hard to find classic rock stations, no matter where I lived. Much smaller market with everyone watching the BBC and new pop stars debuting on national talk shows and music shows. London the center of everything, so living in Windsor gives easy access. (I think Elton John also lives there.) So it's a great place to launch a new act.
I think Take That launched at the same time, Gary Barlow already performing in smaller venues. Take That became absolutely huge and they're still cherished celebs, appearing on mega popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing and things like that. UK also competes in Eurovision Song Contest, the pop competition that's kind of gone beyond europe, and everyone watches that as well. So pop there is like a national sport and obsession.
Wondering also if Chesney was influenced by Wham and George Michael? His look reminded me of them/him.
Great piece! I always find these US/UK differences very interesting: popularity and market trends, of course, but on a related (and much nerdier, admittedly) point: different album editions! Correct me if I am wrong but I feel this was quite common in the early 90s with some pop releases: depending on where the artist originated from, the packaging, track list, and sometimes even the mixes were different across the US and UK markets!
Another thing I noticed is different UK vinyl cover art in early/mid 60s records by US artists (Aretha comes to mind). I’ve always wondered why.
Fun fact: It was the Tremelos that Decca chose to sign over The Beatles after the infamous Decca audition.
I’ve never heard of Chesney Hawkes but Nik Kershaw?!? My god I loved him in the early 80s, especially 1983’s The Riddle. Damn near wore the magnetic coating off my copy of that cassette from overuse! I’m listening to it again right now, for the first time in several decades. Thanks for putting it back on my radar!!
As someone who lives on an island between the US and UK (Bermuda being 700 miles east of Cape Hatteras, NC), and growing up with friends who went off to boarding school, some in the US and some in the UK, I found myself in a unique position of being exposed to hit music from both sides of the Atlantic. And what an odd experience it was! Friends would return for the summer from the UK armed with the latest compilation CDs of popular music and I so often found very little overlap with what was popular in the UK and what was hitting the charts in the UK. In fact, quite judgmentally, I found a lot of the music “weird”! I just didn’t get a lot of it.
I’d echo Ellen’s point about the UK music scene - it’s just *different* particularly in their affinity for a type of pop music that just wouldn’t find traction in North America. Then there’s Eurovision which is almost like a national sport over there. The Christmas #1 phenomenon, hilariously but accurately lampooned in Love Actually, remains alive and well.
I’d be interested to see someone research the overlap of hit between the US and UK over the decades and to see which way the hits flowed. Outside of the intermittent British invasions I’m inclined to think US popular music was more influential and popular in the UK than the US. Not that that’s an indication of “success” or “better” music.
North of the US border, many Canadians chafe at the idea of their favorite local bands “not making it in the US” and rightfully so. While the US music scene likely remains the most influential globally success there is certainly not the arbiter of “great” music. In fact, looking at many of the musical movements over the years - punk, new wave, ska, reggae, reggaeton and many more - many of them emerged from outside of North America. And if you go back far enough, to the roots of just about all of popular music, you end up on the continent that birthed humanity as we know it.
Phew, sorry, that was long!!
Fun piece, Brad! Was that the Nik Kershaw piece you were telling me about? Or is there another NK one coming down the pike? I never heard of Chesney Hawkes and the name doesn't ring a bell at all.
You are certainly aware of this, but you gave us a 3-fer in terms of the "pop-progeny" theme here. First Chesney's father being a musician. Then him starring as the son of a famous musician, starring Roger Daltry! That's a 2-fer on its own! But then the Nik Kershaw produced aspect adds another layer of progeny. So maybe it's a 4-fer! A litter rations abound!
Maybe it was because I was a full-time dad and traveling P.R. flak back then, but I have no recall of Chesney Hawkes at all. Also, I had a strong revulsion for "boy band" style pop songs, so he just wasn't on my radar.
Brad, who founded Chrysalis Records? Does it still exist? I vaguely remember Ten Years After was on Chrysalis, but anyone else of note?
Great post, Brad.
I lived in the UK for 17 years and was surprised by the music scene. They love pop there, and I found it hard to find classic rock stations, no matter where I lived. Much smaller market with everyone watching the BBC and new pop stars debuting on national talk shows and music shows. London the center of everything, so living in Windsor gives easy access. (I think Elton John also lives there.) So it's a great place to launch a new act.
I think Take That launched at the same time, Gary Barlow already performing in smaller venues. Take That became absolutely huge and they're still cherished celebs, appearing on mega popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing and things like that. UK also competes in Eurovision Song Contest, the pop competition that's kind of gone beyond europe, and everyone watches that as well. So pop there is like a national sport and obsession.
Wondering also if Chesney was influenced by Wham and George Michael? His look reminded me of them/him.