Maxine Nightingale
Encyclopedia
Maxine Nightingale is a British
R&B
and soul music
singer
. She is best known for her hits
in the 1970s, with the million seller "Right Back Where We Started From
" (1975, U.K. & 1976, U.S.), "Love Hit Me" (1977), and "Lead Me On
" (1979).
production of Hair
; the same year she made her first recordings, vocalizing on the Pye
singles "Talk to Me" and "Don't Push Me Baby" which were released under the name Nighttime Flyer. "Don't Push Me Baby" was issued by Pye's Australian distributor Astor in Nightingale's own name; her first UK release as Maxine Nightingale was in 1971 with the Pye single "Love on Borrowed Time".
In the early 1970s Nightingale relocated to Germany, having become affianced to Minoru Terada Domberger, the Japanese-born director of the German production of Hair whom she'd met when he visited the London production. In Germany Nightingale continued her stage musical career in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar
and Godspell
. After dropping out of performing to marry her fiancé and give birth in 1973 to their daughter Langka Veva Domberger, Nightingale returned to London in the summer of 1975 to appear in the West End production of Savages; at this time she also provided background vocals on recording sessions including that for Al Matthews
' "Fool".
Matthews' producer Pierre Tubbs
was struck by Nightingale's voice and asked composer J. Vincent Edwards to write a song for her. Edwards, who had worked with Nightingale in the West End production of "Hair", convinced her to record this song: "Right Back Where We Started From
" overcoming Nightingale's initial refusal occasioned by her disinterest in a second attempt at a recording career; however she recorded "Right Back Where We Started From" on the understanding it would be issued under a pseudonym. (Nightingale also had to be convinced to take a royalty rather than a onetime session fee.)
After being released on United Artists Records
— in Nightingale's true name — "Right Back Where We Started From" reached #8 in the UK in the autumn of 1975, "Right Back Where We Started From" was released in the US early 1976 to enthusiastic reaction, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
in May 1976. Nightingale, who had returned to Germany, was motivated by her single's US success to complete a Right Back Where We Started From album in London and then proceed to the US, which has remained her home base ever since. However her only significant hit in the period following the success of "Right Back Where We Started From" was in the UK, where she reached #11 in 1977 with "Love Hit Me" the title cut from her second album (aka Night Life).
Nightingale's third album Love Lines was a 1978 release in the UK and Europe with UK single releases "Lead Me On
" and "(Bringing Out) The Girl in Me" both overlooked despite Nightingale making her sole TOTP
appearance 8 June 1978 to promote the latter. The US release of "Lead Me On" early in 1979 met with a favorable reception especially in the Easy listening
market with the track reaching #1 on Billboard
s Easy Listening chart
that July2; the track gradually accrued enough mainstream Pop support to reach #5 on the Hot 100 that September. As with "Right Back Where We Started From", Nightingale was unable to follow-up her US Top Ten success, the subsequent "(Bringing Out) The Girl in Me" marking Nightingale's final Hot 100 appearance with a #73 peak.
After reaching the Top 20 on Billboards R&B chart
for the first time in 1982 with "Turn to Me", a duet with Jimmy Ruffin
, Nightingale dropped out of the Pop mainstream working for some 20 years as a more jazz-orientated live performer. She has reportedly recorded an album of her live performance at B.B. King's Club at Universal Studios Hollywood
although it remains unreleased. Since 2000 Nightingale has become active on the retro music circuit, appearing in the 2004 PBS
music special Superstars of Seventies Soul: Live. In February 2008 Nightingale undertook a club tour of Australia.
1971:
1975:
1976:
1977:
1978:
1979:
1980:
1982:
1986:
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...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. She is best known for her hits
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
in the 1970s, with the million seller "Right Back Where We Started From
Right Back Where We Started From
"Right Back Where We Started From" is a song written by Pierre Tubbs and J. Vincent Edwards which was first recorded in the summer of 1975 by Maxine Nightingale for whom it was an international hit...
" (1975, U.K. & 1976, U.S.), "Love Hit Me" (1977), and "Lead Me On
Lead Me On (Maxine Nightingale song)
"Lead Me On" is a popular song written by Allee Willis and David Lasley which was a hit single for Maxine Nightingale in 1979....
" (1979).
Career
The daughter of comedian Benny Nightingale, Maxine Nightingale began singing at age 16 with her school band, displaying sufficient vocal prowess to begin performing in London area venues with her brother Glen1 on guitar. In 1969 — the year she turned 17 — Nightingale joined the cast of the West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
; the same year she made her first recordings, vocalizing on the Pye
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
singles "Talk to Me" and "Don't Push Me Baby" which were released under the name Nighttime Flyer. "Don't Push Me Baby" was issued by Pye's Australian distributor Astor in Nightingale's own name; her first UK release as Maxine Nightingale was in 1971 with the Pye single "Love on Borrowed Time".
In the early 1970s Nightingale relocated to Germany, having become affianced to Minoru Terada Domberger, the Japanese-born director of the German production of Hair whom she'd met when he visited the London production. In Germany Nightingale continued her stage musical career in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
and Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
. After dropping out of performing to marry her fiancé and give birth in 1973 to their daughter Langka Veva Domberger, Nightingale returned to London in the summer of 1975 to appear in the West End production of Savages; at this time she also provided background vocals on recording sessions including that for Al Matthews
Al Matthews
Al Matthews is a UK-based American actor and singer, best known as Sergeant Apone in the 1986 movie Aliens....
' "Fool".
Matthews' producer Pierre Tubbs
Pierre Tubbs
Pierre Tubbs is a British songwriter and music producer. One of his biggest successes is "Right Back Where We Started From" recorded by Maxine Nightingale. He also co-wrote the J.J...
was struck by Nightingale's voice and asked composer J. Vincent Edwards to write a song for her. Edwards, who had worked with Nightingale in the West End production of "Hair", convinced her to record this song: "Right Back Where We Started From
Right Back Where We Started From
"Right Back Where We Started From" is a song written by Pierre Tubbs and J. Vincent Edwards which was first recorded in the summer of 1975 by Maxine Nightingale for whom it was an international hit...
" overcoming Nightingale's initial refusal occasioned by her disinterest in a second attempt at a recording career; however she recorded "Right Back Where We Started From" on the understanding it would be issued under a pseudonym. (Nightingale also had to be convinced to take a royalty rather than a onetime session fee.)
After being released on United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
— in Nightingale's true name — "Right Back Where We Started From" reached #8 in the UK in the autumn of 1975, "Right Back Where We Started From" was released in the US early 1976 to enthusiastic reaction, reaching #2 on the Billboard 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...
in May 1976. Nightingale, who had returned to Germany, was motivated by her single's US success to complete a Right Back Where We Started From album in London and then proceed to the US, which has remained her home base ever since. However her only significant hit in the period following the success of "Right Back Where We Started From" was in the UK, where she reached #11 in 1977 with "Love Hit Me" the title cut from her second album (aka Night Life).
Nightingale's third album Love Lines was a 1978 release in the UK and Europe with UK single releases "Lead Me On
Lead Me On (Maxine Nightingale song)
"Lead Me On" is a popular song written by Allee Willis and David Lasley which was a hit single for Maxine Nightingale in 1979....
" and "(Bringing Out) The Girl in Me" both overlooked despite Nightingale making her sole TOTP
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
appearance 8 June 1978 to promote the latter. The US release of "Lead Me On" early in 1979 met with a favorable reception especially in the Easy listening
Easy listening
Easy listening is a broad style of popular music and radio format that emerged in the 1950s, evolving out of big band music, and related to MOR music as played on many AM radio stations. It encompasses the exotica, beautiful music, light music, lounge music, ambient music, and space age pop genres...
market with the track reaching #1 on 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...
s Easy Listening chart
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...
that July2; the track gradually accrued enough mainstream Pop support to reach #5 on the Hot 100 that September. As with "Right Back Where We Started From", Nightingale was unable to follow-up her US Top Ten success, the subsequent "(Bringing Out) The Girl in Me" marking Nightingale's final Hot 100 appearance with a #73 peak.
After reaching the Top 20 on Billboards R&B chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
for the first time in 1982 with "Turn to Me", a duet with Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
, Nightingale dropped out of the Pop mainstream working for some 20 years as a more jazz-orientated live performer. She has reportedly recorded an album of her live performance at B.B. King's Club at Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
although it remains unreleased. Since 2000 Nightingale has become active on the retro music circuit, appearing in the 2004 PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
music special Superstars of Seventies Soul: Live. In February 2008 Nightingale undertook a club tour of Australia.
- 1Glen (aka Glenn) Nightingale subsequently played guitar in Boy GeorgeBoy GeorgeBoy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
's band; his session credits include guitar work on recordings by Des'reeDes'reeDes'ree is an English pop/soul singer who was popular during the 1990s. She is well known for her hits: "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", "Life", and "Kissing You"...
, Terence Trent D'Arby, the Gap Band, JamiroquaiJamiroquaiJamiroquai is a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, and the Brand New Heavies. Other Acid Jazz artists such as...
and Junior co-writing the last named's "Do You Really (Want My Love)". - 2"Lead Me On" was #1 Easy Listening 7–21 July 1979; 4–8 August 1979; 1 September 1979
Albums
- Right Back Where We Started From (1976) (US:#65), (US R&B:#38)
- Love Hit Me aka Night Life (1977) (US:#65)
- Love Lines (UK) (1978) aka Lead Me On (US) (1979) (US:#45), (US R&B:#35)
- Bittersweet (1980)
- It's a Beautiful Thing (1982) (US:#176), (US R&B:#35)
- Cry for Love (1986)
Singles
1969:- "Talk to Me"/ "Spinning WheelSpinning Wheel (song)"Spinning Wheel" is the title of a popular song from 1969 by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears. The song was written by band member and Canadian musician David Clayton-Thomas and appears on their self-titled album....
" Pye 7N.17739 as Nighttime Flyer - "Don't Push Me Baby"/ "Thru' Loving You" Pye 7N.17798 as Nighttime Flyer
1971:
- "Love on Borrowed Time"/"It's That Hurtin' Thing" Pye N.45046
1975:
- "Right Back Where We Started FromRight Back Where We Started From"Right Back Where We Started From" is a song written by Pierre Tubbs and J. Vincent Edwards which was first recorded in the summer of 1975 by Maxine Nightingale for whom it was an international hit...
"/ "Believe in What You Do" UP 36015
1976:
- "Right Back Where We Started FromRight Back Where We Started From"Right Back Where We Started From" is a song written by Pierre Tubbs and J. Vincent Edwards which was first recorded in the summer of 1975 by Maxine Nightingale for whom it was an international hit...
"/ "Believe in What You Do"
United StatesUA-XW752-Y - "Gotta Be the One"/ "Can't Get Enough" UP36086
- "Gotta Be the One"/ "One Last Ride" United StatesUA-XW820-Y
- "(I Think I Wanna) Possess You"/ "Life Has Just Begun" UP 36120 United StatesUA-XW865Y
1977:
- "Love Hit Me"/ "Life Has Just Begun" UP 36215
- "Love Hit Me"/ "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" United StatesUA 944
- "Will You Be My Lover"/ "How Much Love" UP 36283 United StatesUA 1015
- "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"Didn't I " is a 1970 single by The Delfonics, produced by Thom Bell and released on the Bell record label. The recording is considered one of the most notable early Philly soul singles to be released and is regarded as a classic, winning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group...
"/ "You Are EverythingYou Are EverythingAnother cover was by one-time Motown singing duo, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. Released as the second UK single from their Diana & Marvin album, the song reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1974. It also reached #13 on the Dutch charts and #20 on the Irish Singles Chart...
" UP 36320 - "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"Didn't I " is a 1970 single by The Delfonics, produced by Thom Bell and released on the Bell record label. The recording is considered one of the most notable early Philly soul singles to be released and is regarded as a classic, winning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group...
"/ "I Wonder Who's Waiting Up For You Tonight" United StatesUA 1086 - "Right Now"/? United StatesUA#?
1978:
- "Lead Me OnLead Me On (Maxine Nightingale song)"Lead Me On" is a popular song written by Allee Willis and David Lasley which was a hit single for Maxine Nightingale in 1979....
/ "No One Like My Baby" UP 36447 - "(Bringin' Out) The Girl in Me"/ "You Are the Most Important Person in Your Life" UP 36395
1979:
- Lead Me OnLead Me On (Maxine Nightingale song)"Lead Me On" is a popular song written by Allee Willis and David Lasley which was a hit single for Maxine Nightingale in 1979....
/ "Love Me Like You Mean It" ("Forest For the Trees" on early pressings) United StatesWindsong CB-11530 - "(Bringin' Out) The Girl in Me"/ "Hideaway" United StatesWindsong CB-11729
1980:
- "All Night With Me"/ "Work On It" UA_BP 375
- "All Night With Me"/ ? United States RCA#?
- "Take Your Heart"/ "Why Did You Turn Me On" Liberty BP384 United StatesRCA 12020
1982:
- "Turn to Me" (with Jimmy Ruffin)/ "Give a Little Love (to Me)" United StatesHighrise 2004
- "I Don't Miss You at All"/ ? United StatesHighrise #?
1986:
- "My Heart Knows"/ "Same Refrain"
Early Modern FranceMercury 884562
Charted singles
| Year | Title | 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 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... |
US: Billboard R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US: Billboard A/C 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... |
Various |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "Right Back Where We Started From Right Back Where We Started From "Right Back Where We Started From" is a song written by Pierre Tubbs and J. Vincent Edwards which was first recorded in the summer of 1975 by Maxine Nightingale for whom it was an international hit... " |
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 Australia#4  Belgium Flemish Region#2 Canada#5 Early Modern France#10  Germany#38 Republic of Ireland#14  Netherlands#6  New Zealand#6 Sweden1979 #9 |
| 1976 | "Gotta Be the One" | |
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New Zealand#19 |
| 1977 | "Love Hit Me" | |
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Australia#22 |
| 1977 | "Will You Be My Lover" | |
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Early Modern France#44 |
| 1979 | "Lead Me On Lead Me On (Maxine Nightingale song) "Lead Me On" is a popular song written by Allee Willis and David Lasley which was a hit single for Maxine Nightingale in 1979.... " |
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Canada#2 New Zealand#8 |
| 1979 | "(Bringin' Out) The Girl in Me" | |
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| 1982 | "Turn to Me" (with Jimmy Ruffin Jimmy Ruffin Jimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:... ) |
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See also
- List of disco artists
- List of black Britons
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart