Roger Chapman
Roger Maxwell Chapman (born 8 April 1942 in Leicester), also known as Chapp… Read Full Bio ↴Roger Maxwell Chapman (born 8 April 1942 in Leicester), also known as Chappo, is an English rock vocalist.[1] He is best known as a member of the progressive rock band Family, which he joined along with Charlie Whitney, in 1966 and also the rock, R&B band Streetwalkers formed in 1974. His idiosyncratic brand of showmanship when performing and vocal vibrato led him to become a cult figure on the British rock scene. Chapman is claimed to have said that he was trying to sing like both Little Richard and his idol Ray Charles. Since the early 1980s he has spent much of his time in Germany and has made occasional appearances there and elsewhere.
Chapman was originally the vocalist for Farinas, who released the single "You'd Better Stop" b/w "I Like It Like That" in August 1964. (However, lead vocals on that single were performed by Jim King.) He moved on to join The Roaring Sixties who were renamed Family in 1966. In 1967 the first single was released, "Scene Through The Eye of a Lens", something of a psychedelic classic. Chapman wrote most of Family's songs with Charlie Whitney and their debut album Music in a Doll's House was released in 1968. Their bluesy, experimental rock music gained them a reputation as a progressive underground band.
The release of Family Entertainment (1969), A Song for Me (1970) and Anyway (1970) established Family as a fast and loud rock band also capable of producing the most intense acoustic music, in the British underground music scene, at that time. Their single "The Weaver's Answer" from the Family Entertainment album was a hit in 1969. On 28 August 1970 they appeared at the third Isle of Wight Festival. Although the band was popular in UK and Europe, success in the US eluded them and in 1973 they broke up.[3]
Chapman formed Chapman-Whitney with Whitney, late in 1973. They signed to the Vertigo label and recorded an album Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers (1974), with a line-up including other members of Family and King Crimson, as well as future Iron Maiden member Nicko McBrain. Chapman and Whitney morphed their band into Streetwalkers, who were a polished album-oriented rock band who used more white soul than Family had. They released Downtown Flyers (1975), moving on to record the groove heavy album Red Card (1976)[4] which was released in the UK in 1976 and remains a much respected album by music fans and the music press.[5] Two more albums followed before the band broke up in 1977, ending eleven years of the Whitney-Chapman musical partnership.
In 1979 Chapman began a solo career and recorded his first solo album Chappo.[6] His backing band became known as The Shortlist at this time and he toured Europe extensively. Mike Oldfield's song "Shadow on the Wall" from the album Crises (1983) featured Chapman on vocals and became a hit.[7] He appeared as a guest artist on the second Box of Frogs album Strange Land (1986) singing lead vocals on two songs. Chapman went on to record Walking the Cat (1989) and Hybrid and Low Down (1990).
Since then Chapman has released eleven albums of new and live recordings. His album Hide Go Seek (2009) was produced by former Family bassist Jim Cregan and released during May 2009. His appearance on Saturday 21 August 2010 at the Rhythm Festival was billed as: "The farewell performance from Roger Chapman & The Shortlist". [8]
Chapman was originally the vocalist for Farinas, who released the single "You'd Better Stop" b/w "I Like It Like That" in August 1964. (However, lead vocals on that single were performed by Jim King.) He moved on to join The Roaring Sixties who were renamed Family in 1966. In 1967 the first single was released, "Scene Through The Eye of a Lens", something of a psychedelic classic. Chapman wrote most of Family's songs with Charlie Whitney and their debut album Music in a Doll's House was released in 1968. Their bluesy, experimental rock music gained them a reputation as a progressive underground band.
The release of Family Entertainment (1969), A Song for Me (1970) and Anyway (1970) established Family as a fast and loud rock band also capable of producing the most intense acoustic music, in the British underground music scene, at that time. Their single "The Weaver's Answer" from the Family Entertainment album was a hit in 1969. On 28 August 1970 they appeared at the third Isle of Wight Festival. Although the band was popular in UK and Europe, success in the US eluded them and in 1973 they broke up.[3]
Chapman formed Chapman-Whitney with Whitney, late in 1973. They signed to the Vertigo label and recorded an album Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers (1974), with a line-up including other members of Family and King Crimson, as well as future Iron Maiden member Nicko McBrain. Chapman and Whitney morphed their band into Streetwalkers, who were a polished album-oriented rock band who used more white soul than Family had. They released Downtown Flyers (1975), moving on to record the groove heavy album Red Card (1976)[4] which was released in the UK in 1976 and remains a much respected album by music fans and the music press.[5] Two more albums followed before the band broke up in 1977, ending eleven years of the Whitney-Chapman musical partnership.
In 1979 Chapman began a solo career and recorded his first solo album Chappo.[6] His backing band became known as The Shortlist at this time and he toured Europe extensively. Mike Oldfield's song "Shadow on the Wall" from the album Crises (1983) featured Chapman on vocals and became a hit.[7] He appeared as a guest artist on the second Box of Frogs album Strange Land (1986) singing lead vocals on two songs. Chapman went on to record Walking the Cat (1989) and Hybrid and Low Down (1990).
Since then Chapman has released eleven albums of new and live recordings. His album Hide Go Seek (2009) was produced by former Family bassist Jim Cregan and released during May 2009. His appearance on Saturday 21 August 2010 at the Rhythm Festival was billed as: "The farewell performance from Roger Chapman & The Shortlist". [8]
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Roger Chapman Lyrics
Beautifully Indecent She's got a medieval dresser Standing in the hall Where s…
Black Forest Rainfall from far I hear the wind call The sky opens…
Blood And Sand Well, come along to the circus Tiger and cheetah untamed P…
Bluesbreaker Joking aside you sitting astride of that duvet So terribly …
Busted Loose It was a cruel turn of fate I spent 3 bitter…
Bye bye love There goes my baby She's gone with someone new She sure lo…
Can't Stand It I can't stand the pain of love When you get all…
Chicken Fingers Well she looked like easy-money, Sitting in the bank When …
Collar Turned Up WELL I GOT ME A VEHICLE RED AS IT COMES…
Come the Dark Night In the neon jungle, where the poison rains Call the hand…
Common Touch The two of us we'd run down to the water…
Don't Give Up You don't give up for a man Who finds it easy…
Face of Stone Well I've bin blue, for far too long I'm like a…
Green As Guacamole I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF GYPSY WARNINGS AND WHAT'S THE DEAL…
Hands Off Straight from school I was shooting pool There's always one…
Hang On To A Dream What can I say, she's walking away From what we've…
Having Us A Honeymoon WE BE SLAMMING MARGARITAS CHASING MOSCOW MULES WE DON'T NEE…
Hearts On The Floor The jungle awaits the lion's return Fully aware but heavily…
Hideaway Ah, sweet thing Well I can whisper you sweet things But ca…
HOLDING ON Daylight comes easing the pain Go to work, try to pick…
Hot Night To Rhumba Local Casanova – I watch those big girls run Wishing I…
House Behind The Sun Young wolves getting rowdy, all busy out there howling Unde…
Hunt The Man Diamond back move a slither Midnight wolves howl and moan …
I I can't stand the pain of love When you get all…
I Read Your File I know you're cool, you're nobodies fool You're razor blade…
I Really Can't Go Straight Too late - too late Take my limousine - drive it…
I Think of you now Chapman-Whitehorn I think of you now, as the night touches …
I'm a good Boy Now Don't get drunk all the time Don't take drugs - least…
Is There Anybody Out There? Is there anybody out there Who can help me through the…
Its All Over Now Well, baby used to stay out, all night long She made…
J & D What would the preacher do If the Devil quote the Testament…
Jivin' Now the juke-joint's jumping, Baby's on the scene, Pumping …
Jukebox Mama She's a jukebox mama with a painted smile A little crazy…
Keep Forgettin' I keep forgetting you don't love me no more I keep…
Kick It Back 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 When you come to visit wear your party hat …
Killing Time Kid stepped, don't stop, he just looked around Thumbed a ri…
Leader of Men Drove a red sedan up to my front door Lit himself…
Let Me Down Smoke to Hamburg B.A. Flyer Could go faster Can't get hig…
Let The Beat Get Heavy Where the four winds gather, lonely pipers blow Touching na…
Let's Spend the Night Together My, my, my, my Don't you worry 'bout what's on your…
Los Dos Bailadores There were ladies lacquered and painted Oohing and aahing t…
Mango Crazy Mango Sitting in the park ready to munch A tuna fish salad…
MIDNITE CHILD It seems never ending the way she weave her spell There's…
Moth to a Flame Through the longest day or darkest night Come to you…
Only Love is in the Red And bye colour love There is no beauty in your pain Lookin…
Pills Ode to Billy Joe, oh so woeful oh so sad Kept…
Prisoner Got me a mynah but it can't talk I got a…
Ready to Roll How much longer will you keep on stalling? How much longer…
Rivers Run Dry Well 1 bin took, yes, I got hooked Bin hung up…
Room Service Room service room service send me a room 6 foot walls…
Run for Your Love I said you used to be my lady But now you'd…
Saturday Night Kick Back Saturday Night And I just got paid Fool about my money don't…
Shadow On The Wall Shadow on the wall! Shadow on the wall! Shadow on the wall! …
Shape Of Things Crazy night bordello's in the heart of town Me in my…
Sitting up Pretty Sitting up pretty on government hill - While we the little…
Slap Bang in the Middle Visualise a sister of swing Sweet as a nut, pretty…
Someone Else's Clothes Let me be your water, be your glass of wine Let…
Son of Red Moon Put your shoes on Lucy You're a big girl now Welli let's…
Stranger Than Strange Everyone's a sinner - everyone look out Because everyone's …
Sushi Rock There's a slap bang party at the chicken shack Even Bo…
SUSHI ROLL I gotta hot-foot-down grab Ruby Tuesday Move myself, it's g…
Sweet Vanilla Sitting alone in a bar-room, sipping my last glass of…
Techno-Prisoners Got me a mynah, but it can't talk I got a…
The Drum Lost horizons, fire in the sky Visions of glory come to…
The Fool Gather around me buddies, hold your glasses high And drink …
The Long Goodbye Chapman While walking on the bank of the wild wild river,…
Toys: Do You Wanna Cartier around your wrist Dog tooth diamond on your fi…
Turn it up loud It's crazy insane to put up with the pain Can't call…
Walking the Cat The guy picking guitar, Dandy's the name Some call him Jim,…
We Will Touch Again Hang around in bar rooms Until the bitter end Contemplatin…
Who pulled the nite down Who pulled the nite down on me Who pulled the nite…
Wild Again Met on a Monday it was instant love Come Tuesday morning…
Zipper She came out of Norway, the colour of ice A born…