The Music

Although Dan Chisholm had written songs since his teenage years, it wasn't until his meeting with Leicestershire composer Ray Kirby in 1978 that things changed.

It was an unlikely alliance - a thirty-seven year age gap between them, but Dan was fascinated by a man who demonstrated a great knowledge of (and an all-encompassing interest in) modern music. They agreed to write a couple of songs together to see "what came up" and continued writing until Ray's death in 2007.

At first, Dan recorded demos at home - this gave birth to his first 'album' in 1981. PLAYING MUSICIAN was produced on cassette (recorded partly in a hi-fi shop and partly at home) which sold about fifty copies to friends, family and anyone who would listen. Publishers were complimentary about the songs, but suggested better quality recordings would help pitch them to top flight artists.

Using the services of session musicians in London, Dan arranged the Ray Kirby song LOVING NEVER COMES EASY which was recorded in 1982. Once bitten by the big recording studio bug, Dan conceded his money was better invested in top session musicians who played better than he ever could.

The songs got better and the recordings improved. But another milestone occured when they decided it was time for a change of studio production and recorded for the first time with John Hamilton at EQ Studios in 1991. It was a relationship which has continued to the present day.

In 2000, Dan persuaded Ray Kirby to commemorate his 80th birthday with his first CD. As part of the project, Dan was asked by Ray to arrange and produced his new classical piece ADAGIONATA. Although having loved classical music for many years, it was the first time Dan had taken on such a project. After it was completed, Ray paid tribute to Dan by saying he'd "waited all his life for this one piece."

Ray's CD INSTRUMENTALLY SPEAKING was released in June 2000.

(Dan vowed never to undertake such responsibility again, but was persuaded by Ray to record EL VIA CRUCIS six years later.)

For the next four years, Ray Kirby continued to persuade his friend to release a CD of his best material. Eventually - in 2003 - Dan agreed. The Chisholm / Kirby partnership combined to write new material to feature alongside some of Dan's own work and songs written in conjunction with other writers. Mr Chis intended to hire session vocalists for the tracks, until Glam Rock legend Andy Scott from The Sweet persuaded him to do it himself.

"What's the point of spending all that money and not singing your own album?" He asked.

EXCESS BAGGAGE was completed after Dan left broadcasting in 2004. The CD was only ever designed as a showcase of the best of his songs, and was never commercially released.  (See 'Charity Purchase' section)

Dan's work as a composer has more recently taken a back seat, but he has since written material with talented singer-songwriter Anna Neale. Their song 'Can You Read Me' was released via download in 2006.

http://www.annaneale.net/

In 2009, Dan finally returned to the studio (for the first time since Ray's death) to write and record some new material, but has yet to decide whether this will ever surface. He has also produced the Dave Parsons song 'Soldier' which was a collaboration with musicians from across the world. 

A reworking of the PLAYING MUSICIAN album to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its creation in 2011 was scheduled, but never materialised. A new version of 'Playing Soldiers' featuring Andy Scott from The Sweet on lead guitar is the only track to have been completed so far. The project was shelved in favour of new material composed in a remote cottage in the far north of Scotland. 

2012 looks to be the year when the new material will surface. New styles; a new sound and a new 'attitude' - and a working title of POSTCARD FROM FINDO GASK.

AND FINALLY ....

One Dan Chisholm production achieved a level of publicity (and notoriety) like no other.

In 2006, he was approached by NEIL COWLING of FRESH AIR PRODUCTION with an unusual idea for a World Cup song project. He wanted NEIL and CHRISTINE HAMILTON to record a piece of music which would gain everyone national media attention. They agreed it had to be credible musically, but feature a lyric which would be fun and give the impression of being written by two toffs who appeared to know nothing about football.

The inspiration finally came after a couple of pints and a curry. Dan came to the conclusion that a radical idea would be the best to gain media attention - and suggested Neil and Christine should front an Indie rock song. He offered the use of the backing to one of the songs from EXCESS BAGGAGE and Neil Cowling rewrote the lyrics to the above brief - giving birth to ENGLAND ARE JOLLY DEE.

As word got out, it became clear there was a lot of media interest which then aroused substantial interest from major record companies. They got the joke; many of the media didn't - and portrayed it as the 'latest desperate attempt by the Hamiltons to court the media spotlight.' For once, even the most experienced journalists missed the joke!

A family bereavement unavoidably delayed the project and the record companies decided that time was tight for a commercial disc release, although it was downloadable. The video attracted a great deal of interest too.

The coverage:

• Played by Steve Wright and discussed by Terry Wogan on BBC Radio Two
• Interview plus video clip on SKY NEWS, BBC NEWS, GMTV, THIS MORNING and Channel Five's THE WRIGHT STUFF
• Featured during HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU
• Countless local radio stations across the UK
• Extensive national newspaper coverage - The Mirror described the song as: "possibly the worst world cup song in the world ... ever!"

Christine and Neil Hamilton recording 'ENGLAND ARE JOLLY DEE'

2010 may have been another World Cup year, but they didn't add to the misery by doing it again.

2014 is another matter ...