Quick Facts
Biography
Christopher Neil (born 1948) is a British record producer, songwriter, singer, and actor.
He has produced records for A-ha, Amazulu, Bonnie Tyler, Celine Dion, Cher, Dollar, Edyta Gorniak, Gerry Rafferty, Jennifer Rush, Jose Carreras, Leo Sayer, Marillion, Mike + The Mechanics, Morten Harket, Paul Carrack, Paul Young, Rod Stewart, Shakin' Stevens, Sheena Easton, the Moody Blues, and Toyah Willcox
In 1973, his song "Help It Along" finished third in the BBC's annual A Song for Europe contest, performed by Cliff Richard. The track was a hit single later in the year for Cliff and the title of his 1974 live album.
Neil started in the mid-sixties as a singer with Manchester group the Chuckles. In 1972 he released a solo album Where I Belong on RAK Records.
He worked as an actor during the 1970s playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Ginger in Leaping Ginger at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester before working full-time as a record producer. His film roles included The Sex Thief (1973), Eskimo Nell (1975), and Three for All (1975), and in 1976 he starred in the British TV series Rock Follies. In 1977 and 1978 he starred in two of the three 'Adventures of...' British sex comedy films: Adventures of a Private Eye and the final film in the trilogy, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate. In addition to taking the lead role, he wrote and sang the theme songs to the two films. From 1976, Neil was the host of the BBC's children's programme "You And Me"
Discography
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Where I Belong |
Hit singles as producer
Christopher Neil has produced many songs that reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart or the US Billboard Hot 100:
| Year | Artist | Title | UK Singles Chart | Billboard Hot 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Paul Nicholas | "Dancing With the Captain" | 8 | — |
| "Grandma's Party" | 9 | — | ||
| 1977 | "Heaven on the 7th Floor" | 40 | 6 | |
| 1978 | Marshall Hain | "Dancing in the City" | 3 | 43 |
| 1979 | Dollar | "Love's Gotta Hold on Me" | 4 | — |
| "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" | 9 | — | ||
| 1980 | Sheena Easton | "Modern Girl" | 8 | 18 |
| "9 to 5" / "Morning Train" | 3 | 1 | ||
| Dennis Waterman | "I Could Be So Good for You" | 3 | — | |
| 1981 | Sheena Easton | "For Your Eyes Only" | 8 | 4 |
| 1983 | Shakin' Stevens | "Cry Just a Little Bit" | 3 | 67 |
| 1984 | Shakin' Stevens & Bonnie Tyler | "A Rockin' Good Way" | 5 | — |
| Shakin' Stevens | "Teardrops" | 5 | — | |
| 1985 | Mike + The Mechanics | "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)" | 21 | 6 |
| 1986 | Amazulu | "Too Good to Be Forgotten" | 5 | — |
| Mike + The Mechanics | "All I Need Is a Miracle" | 53 | 5 | |
| 1987 | Paul Carrack | "Don't Shed a Tear" | 60 | 9 |
| 1989 | Mike + The Mechanics | "The Living Years" | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | Celine Dion | "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" | 72 | 4 |
| 1994 | "Think Twice" | 1 | 95 |