Johnny Hates Jazz
Encyclopedia
Johnny Hates Jazz is an Anglo
-American
Pop/Rock band
, formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler
(vocals, keyboards, guitar), Mike Nocito (bass, guitar), and Calvin Hayes (keyboards, drums). In April 1987 they saw international success with their first hit single "Shattered Dreams
."
armed forces. Hayes is the son of Mickie Most
, the talent scout, record producer
and once owner of RAK Records
.
They met in the early 1980s whilst working on various projects at RAK Studios
in London. Datchler had released his first solo single at the age of 17, after which he was signed to Warner Bros.
. He was then signed to RAK Records as lead vocalist in the band Hot Club and as a solo artist. Nocito was a recording engineer
, who had worked with Pink Floyd
, The Police
, The Cure
and Duran Duran
. He engineered and co-produced Datchler's solo recordings for RAK before the formation of JHJ. Hayes was a founder member of Hot Club and also ran the A&R
Department at RAK Records. Their tongue-in-cheek name referenced Nocito’s brother-in-law Johnny, who really hated jazz.
The first Johnny Hates Jazz single, "Me and My Foolish Heart", was released on RAK in April 1986. It gained substantial airplay
, was Sounds
magazine's record of the week, but was not a commercial success. After this, Datchler began to write the songs for the band, the first being "Shattered Dreams
".
In late 1986, JHJ performed acoustically at Ronnie Scott
's jazz club in London, and as a result were signed to Virgin Records
. "Shattered Dreams
" was released as a single in March 1987 and became a worldwide hit, going top 5 in the UK, Australia and many European territories. It was also a hit in Asia, reaching number 2 in Japan.
In August 1987 their follow-up, "I Don't Want to be a Hero
", an anti-war anthem, consolidated their chart success. Their next single, "Turn Back the Clock", featuring Kim Wilde
on backing vocals, was released in November 1987 and became their third hit. JHJ's debut album, Turn Back the Clock, was released in January 1988, topping charts worldwide. It entered the UK Albums Chart
at number 1, achieving double platinum
status. The following month they achieved their fourth hit single from the album, "Heart Of Gold".
That same year, "Shattered Dreams" reached number 2 on the US Billboard
Hot 100
chart
, and number 1 on the AOR chart. The record has since been played over 3.2 million times on radio and television in the US alone, for which Datchler received a BMI
award in October 2010. To date, the Turn Back the Clock album has sold four million copies.
Since leaving Johnny Hates Jazz at the end of 1988, Datchler has lived in Britain, Holland and the USA, and has recorded two solo albums: Fishing for Souls and Tomorrow. Nocito and Hayes carried on under the Johnny Hates Jazz banner to record an album titled Tall Stories featuring Record producer
Phil Thornalley
on vocals. Nocito went on to write and produce for Hepburn
, Gina G
, Orson
and 1997's Eurovision Song Contest winner, Katrina & the Waves' "Love Shine a Light". After a serious car crash in 1992, Hayes spent a year in a body cast, effectively putting an end to the band, although they reformed in 2007.
In 2009, Datchler rejoined the band, and in 2010 they performed live in Europe and the Far East. Following this, Datchler and Nocito decided to begin work on a new Johnny Hates Jazz album. The album is due to be released in early 2012, and will be followed by a tour later in the year. Hayes left JHJ in 2010 and is now in the US focusing on writing a book about his father.
Former members
Footnotes:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Pop/Rock band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler
Clark Datchler
Clark Datchler is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer...
(vocals, keyboards, guitar), Mike Nocito (bass, guitar), and Calvin Hayes (keyboards, drums). In April 1987 they saw international success with their first hit single "Shattered Dreams
Shattered Dreams
In 2009, French singer Quentin Elias covered the song in a single released on-line at such retailers as iTunes and Amazon.com.Track listing# "Shattered Dreams" [Original Die For Me Mix]# "Shattered Dreams" [Deep & Dark Mix]...
."
Career
Datchler's father was a member of two chart topping bands from the 1950s, The Stargazers and The Polkadots. Nocito hails from an American family based in Europe with the USUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
armed forces. Hayes is the son of Mickie Most
Mickie Most
Mickie Most was an English record producer, with a string of hit singles with acts such as The Animals, Arrows, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and the Jeff Beck Group often issued on his own RAK Records label....
, the talent scout, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and once owner of RAK Records
RAK Records
Rak Records was a British record label, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. Rak was home of artists like Herman's Hermits, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Kenny, Hot Chocolate, Smokie, Arrows, Span, Racey and Kim Wilde. Rak Records were distributed via a licensing deal with EMI, which bought the...
.
They met in the early 1980s whilst working on various projects at RAK Studios
RAK studios
RAK Studios are located near Regents Park in central London. The Studios were created by Mickie Most in late 1976 and they have been host to the recording of a number of artists for over three decades.- Artists recorded at RAK :All info from artist list....
in London. Datchler had released his first solo single at the age of 17, after which he was signed to Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. He was then signed to RAK Records as lead vocalist in the band Hot Club and as a solo artist. Nocito was a recording engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, who had worked with Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
and Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
. He engineered and co-produced Datchler's solo recordings for RAK before the formation of JHJ. Hayes was a founder member of Hot Club and also ran the A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Department at RAK Records. Their tongue-in-cheek name referenced Nocito’s brother-in-law Johnny, who really hated jazz.
The first Johnny Hates Jazz single, "Me and My Foolish Heart", was released on RAK in April 1986. It gained substantial airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
, was Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
magazine's record of the week, but was not a commercial success. After this, Datchler began to write the songs for the band, the first being "Shattered Dreams
Shattered Dreams
In 2009, French singer Quentin Elias covered the song in a single released on-line at such retailers as iTunes and Amazon.com.Track listing# "Shattered Dreams" [Original Die For Me Mix]# "Shattered Dreams" [Deep & Dark Mix]...
".
In late 1986, JHJ performed acoustically at Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
's jazz club in London, and as a result were signed to Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. "Shattered Dreams
Shattered Dreams
In 2009, French singer Quentin Elias covered the song in a single released on-line at such retailers as iTunes and Amazon.com.Track listing# "Shattered Dreams" [Original Die For Me Mix]# "Shattered Dreams" [Deep & Dark Mix]...
" was released as a single in March 1987 and became a worldwide hit, going top 5 in the UK, Australia and many European territories. It was also a hit in Asia, reaching number 2 in Japan.
In August 1987 their follow-up, "I Don't Want to be a Hero
I Don't Want to be a Hero
"I Don't Want to be a Hero" is a 1987 song by the British band Johnny Hates Jazz. It reached #11 in the UK top 40 in August 1987 spending 10 weeks on the chart. It is taken from their #1 album Turn Back the Clock.-Writing and inspiration:...
", an anti-war anthem, consolidated their chart success. Their next single, "Turn Back the Clock", featuring Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
on backing vocals, was released in November 1987 and became their third hit. JHJ's debut album, Turn Back the Clock, was released in January 1988, topping charts worldwide. It entered the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at number 1, achieving double platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
status. The following month they achieved their fourth hit single from the album, "Heart Of Gold".
That same year, "Shattered Dreams" reached number 2 on the US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, and number 1 on the AOR chart. The record has since been played over 3.2 million times on radio and television in the US alone, for which Datchler received a BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
award in October 2010. To date, the Turn Back the Clock album has sold four million copies.
Since leaving Johnny Hates Jazz at the end of 1988, Datchler has lived in Britain, Holland and the USA, and has recorded two solo albums: Fishing for Souls and Tomorrow. Nocito and Hayes carried on under the Johnny Hates Jazz banner to record an album titled Tall Stories featuring Record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Phil Thornalley
Phil Thornalley
Phil Thornalley is a songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing the song "Torn" which Natalie Imbruglia later covered to great success for her 1997 debut album, Left of the Middle...
on vocals. Nocito went on to write and produce for Hepburn
Hepburn (band)
Hepburn were a four-piece British all-girl pop rock band. The band released an album and three singles in 1999-2000, but is best known for their first single, "I Quit", which reached #8 on the UK charts, and was best known to American audiences when it appeared on the soundtrack to the TV series,...
, Gina G
Gina G
-Albums:*1997 Fresh! — #12 UK #40 Norway.*1998 Gina G Remix Album *2005 Get Up & Dance -Singles:...
, Orson
Orson (band)
Orson was a BRIT Award-winning American rock band from Hollywood, California, formed in 2000.-Career:Originally the band called itself Halogen. Recently, it was also known as Dr. Lady...
and 1997's Eurovision Song Contest winner, Katrina & the Waves' "Love Shine a Light". After a serious car crash in 1992, Hayes spent a year in a body cast, effectively putting an end to the band, although they reformed in 2007.
In 2009, Datchler rejoined the band, and in 2010 they performed live in Europe and the Far East. Following this, Datchler and Nocito decided to begin work on a new Johnny Hates Jazz album. The album is due to be released in early 2012, and will be followed by a tour later in the year. Hayes left JHJ in 2010 and is now in the US focusing on writing a book about his father.
Band personnel
Current members- Mike Nocito (born 5 August 1960, WiesbadenWiesbadenWiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
) — bassistBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
(1986-1992; 2009-present) - Clark DatchlerClark DatchlerClark Datchler is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer...
(born 27 March 1964, SurreySurreySurrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) — vocalist / keyboard player / guitaristGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
(1986–1988; 2009–present)
Former members
- Calvin Hayes (born 23 November 1962) — keyboard player / drummerDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
(1986–1992; 2009-2010) - Phil ThornalleyPhil ThornalleyPhil Thornalley is a songwriter-producer who has worked in the music industry since 1978. He is perhaps best known for co-writing the song "Torn" which Natalie Imbruglia later covered to great success for her 1997 debut album, Left of the Middle...
(born 5 January 1960, SuffolkSuffolkSuffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) — vocalist (1989–1992)
Albums
- Turn Back the Clock (Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
) - 1988 - #1 UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, #56 USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, #5 NLDNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... - Tall Stories (Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
) - 1991
Compilations
- The Very Best of Johnny Hates JazzThe Very Best of Johnny Hates Jazz (1993 album)The Very Best of Johnny Hates Jazz is Johnny Hates Jazz’s first of two compilation albums. Released in May 1993, the majority of the album concentrates on songs from the band’s debut album, although the b-sides from several of the major singles on that album, the non-album single, "Turn the Tide,"...
- (Disky Records, 1993) - Best of the '80s - (Disky Records, 2000)
- The Very Best of Johnny Hates JazzThe Very Best of Johnny Hates Jazz (2003 album)-Track listing:#"Shattered Dreams" – 3:29 #"My Secret Garden" – 3:19 #"Me and My Foolish Heart" – 3:29 -Track listing:#"Shattered Dreams" – 3:29 (Clark Datchler)#"My Secret Garden" – 3:19 (Calvin Hayes and Mike Nocito)#"Me and My Foolish Heart" – 3:29 -Track listing:#"Shattered Dreams" – 3:29...
- (EMI Gold, 2003)
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
AC Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
NLD Netherlands The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders... |
|||
| 1986 | "Me and My Foolish Heart" | — | — | — | — | Turn Back the Clock |
| 1987 | "Shattered Dreams Shattered Dreams In 2009, French singer Quentin Elias covered the song in a single released on-line at such retailers as iTunes and Amazon.com.Track listing# "Shattered Dreams" [Original Die For Me Mix]# "Shattered Dreams" [Deep & Dark Mix]... " 1 |
5 | 2 | 1 | 30 | |
| "I Don't Want to be a Hero I Don't Want to be a Hero "I Don't Want to be a Hero" is a 1987 song by the British band Johnny Hates Jazz. It reached #11 in the UK top 40 in August 1987 spending 10 weeks on the chart. It is taken from their #1 album Turn Back the Clock.-Writing and inspiration:... " 2 |
11 | 31 | 15 | 25 | ||
| "Turn Back the Clock" | 12 | — | 5 | 5 | ||
| 1988 | "Heart of Gold" | 19 | — | — | 26 | |
| "Don't Say It's Love" | 48 | — | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Turn the Tide Turn the Tide (Johnny Hates Jazz song) "Turn the Tide" is the only single of 1989 from UK pop band Johnny Hates Jazz. The song did not appear on any studio album, remaining a stand-alone single.... " |
84 | — | — | — | stand-alone single |
| 1990 | "The Last to Know" | — | — | — | — | Tall Stories |
| 1991 | "Let Me Change Your Mind Tonight" | — | — | — | — | |
Footnotes:
- 1 "Shattered Dreams" was not released in the US until 1988.
- ² "I Don't Want to Be a Hero" was not released in the US until 1988.