Belouis Some | |
|---|---|
 Belouis Some in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Neville Keighley |
| Born | 12 December 1959 England |
| Origin | Forest Hill, London |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | belouissome |
Belouis Some (born Neville Keighley;[1] 12 December 1959)[2] is a British singer, songwriter and musician. He had UK and worldwide hits in the 1980s with "Some People", "Imagination" and "Round, Round", the latter being featured on the soundtrack for the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink. "Some People" and "Imagination" charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.[3]
Neville Keighley grew up in Forest Hill, south London. He started playing guitar and writing songs while at school (Dulwich Prep London and Royal Russell School).[4] After leaving school in 1978, Keighley spent several years developing his songwriting, recording demos and playing small gigs.
Keighley's first release was "Lose It to You" on The Cue Record Label in 1981 under the name Nevil Rowe.[5] This record was produced at Crescent Studios, Bath, by David Lord and Darren Hatch, later of the Italo disco group My Mine. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith from the band Graduate, later Tears for Fears, played on the recording with Manny Elias on drums.
In 1982, Keighley formed his first band and started performing live gigs in and around London under the new name Belouis Some. The lineup included guitarist Scott Taylor who later became a founding member of Then Jerico[6] and on keyboards Phil Harrison from the Korgis. Belouis Some played numerous gigs the following year with his band developing his songs and musical style and after a gig at The Embassy Club, Old Bond Street in the summer of 1983, Belouis Some signed to Tritec Music owned by Paul and Michael Berrow, who at the time managed Duran Duran.[4]
In October 1983, Some was signed to Parlophone by EMI's David Ambrose. The single "Target Practice" was released in spring 1984, his first single on a major label.[7] To promote the release, Some supported Nik Kershaw on Kershaw's Human Racing UK tour in 1984.[8]
In 1985, a new version of "Target Practice" was recorded and produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero; this new track was included on Some's first album and also later released as a single.[9]
Belouis Some's first album Some People was released in 1985.[10]
Initial production had taken place on some tracks in London at Maison Rouge, Good Earth and AIR Studios produced by Ian Little and Pete Schwier with musicians Guy Fletcher, Chester Kamen, Andy Duncan, Gary Twigg, and Gary Barnacle.[11]
Some People was produced by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero in New York City in late 1984 to early 1985, recorded at Media Sound. Belouis Some had been introduced to Thompson and Barbiero in New York in spring 1984, when they had been asked to do a dance mix of the original version of "Target Practice"; at this stage Some was not satisfied with the London recording sessions and asked if they would produce and re-record the tracks "Imagination" and "Walk Away". Some was introduced to guitarist and arranger Carlos Alomar who asked Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson from Chic to play. Other musicians were Jack Waldman on keyboards, Jimmy Maelen on percussion and Rick Bell on sax. Robin Clark, Frank Simms and Diva Grey sang backing vocals. Thompson and Barbiero were then asked to re-record "Target Practice" and "Aware of You", with overdubs and remixes of "Some People", "Jerusalem" and "Stand Down". Carmine Rojas, Alan Childs, Dave Lebolt and Kurt Yahjian were added to the recording line up with Earl Slick playing lead guitar on "Target Practice".[12]
The video for the first single release from the album, "Imagination", was directed by Storm Thorgerson and caused controversy as it contained full frontal nudity. Using the 12" version, it was a big success in bars and clubs, and the worldwide premier of the "Imagination" video was held at Studio 54. An alternative version without the nudity used the 7" edit of the track, suitable for MTV and mainstream TV. The video for the second single, "Some People", also directed by Thorgerson, was used as a Swatch television advertisement in the US.[13][4]
"Some People" and "Imagination" were both US Hot Dance Club Play hits.[14]
In spring 1985, Belouis Some supported Frankie Goes to Hollywood on their North American tour with band members Chester Kamen, Gary Twigg, Larry Tolfree, Bias Boshell, Robin Clark and Sandy Bar.[15] Some was sponsored by Swatch on the tour.[16]
Some's contribution to the Pretty in Pink soundtrack,[17] "Round, Round" (released February 1986) was written especially for the film and was produced by Bernard Edwards and recorded in Los Angeles in August 1985. The album was listed in Rolling Stone's list of "The 25 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time".[18]
"Round, Round" propelled Belouis Some towards audiences outside of the clubs and college radio in the US and so, after worldwide chart success and extensive touring,[4] the single "Imagination" was re-issued in the UK[19] and became a hit in the United Kingdom in the spring of 1986. Both "Some People" and "Imagination" were remixed and re-issued several times.[20][21]
"Imagination" can be heard in the films Ghost Chase (Hollywood-Monster)[22] and The Business[23] and has been used in many national and international TV adverts including Panasonic, Barclays Bank and Rimmel London.[citation needed]
In May 1986, whilst on tour in the UK, Belouis Some also performed at Swatch Live at the Beacon Theatre, New York. Swatch Live also featured skateboarder Rodney Mullen.[24][page needed]
In the summer of 1986, Belouis Some was one of the support acts on Queen's Magic Tour appearing at Knebworth, Paris and Manchester.[25][26]
In late 1986, Belouis Some recorded his self-titled second album Belouis Some at Right Track and The Hit Factory in New York,[27] produced by Gary Langan and Guy Fletcher.[10] Main band members were Carlos Alomar, Geoff Dugmore, Carmine Rojas, Chester Kamen and Fletcher on keyboards with Robin Clark, Gordon Grody, Jimmy Maelen, and the Borneo Horns - Lenny Pickett, Steve Elson and Stan Harrison.[28] Pete Townshend, Julian Lennon and Neal X made guest appearances on the album.[4] The album was mixed in London at Eel Pie Recording Studios and Roundhouse Recording Studios.
"Let It Be with You" and "Animal Magic" were both US Hot Dance Club Play hits.[14]
In the spring of 1988, Some toured the US with band members Carmine Rojas (musical director/bass), Alan Childs (drums), Doug Worthington (guitar), Chuck Kentis (keys), Frank Elmo (sax), Kati Mac and Kim Lesley (backing vocals).
In 1989, Some formed The Big Broadcast. The band toured the UK throughout the summer playing small venues and clubs.[4]
In 1993, Belouis Some released the album Living Your Life on BMG Records. The album was recorded at Marcus Recording Studios in London and produced by Geoff Dugmore and Nigel Butler. Musicians included Karl Hyde, Steve Barnacle, Peter Oxendale and J.J. Belle.[29] "Sometimes" and "Something She Said" were released as singles in the UK and Europe.[30][31]
In 1995, Belouis Some released the single "Let Me Love You for Tonight" produced by Richard "Biff" Stannard (Biffco) and Matt Rowe.[32]
In 2019, Belouis Some performed at the '80s oriented Let's Rock summer festivals across the UK.[33]
In February 2023, producer Lee Rose with Belouis Some released a tech house version of "Imagination" on Deevu Records.
In January 2024, it was announced that Belouis Some will join the Alarm and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel on the "Live Today Love Tomorrow" tour of North America in spring and summer 2024.[34]
In 1996, Keighley acquired the lease to the historic Wellington Club Knightsbridge, London. The bar, restaurant and nightclub were thoroughly restored and refurbished opening in 1997. Keighley closed the club in 1998 and later passed the lease on.
In 2013, Keighley and Eva Linderholm founded Barnklubb®, a Scandinavian-style day nursery, in Chelsea London. Barnklubb is now licensed at 8 locations across Japan.[35]
Belouis Some lives in London and is married to Swedish model Eva Linderholm; they have two daughters.[citation needed] Ingrid Keighley is an actress appearing in the second season of the Apple TV series Invasion.[36][37]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [1] |
AUS[38] | IRE | BEL (FLA) [39] |
GER [40] |
SWI [41] |
NZ [42] |
RSA [43] |
US [44] |
US Dance [45] |
UK Upfront Club | |||
| 1981 | "Lose It to You" (as Nevil Rowe) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Single only |
| 1984 | "Target Practice" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Some People |
| 1985 | "Imagination" | 50 | 90 | — | 40 | 48 | 30 | — | 13 | 88 | 4 | — | |
| "Some People" | 33 | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 67 | 8 | — | ||
| 1986 | "Imagination" (reissue) | 17 | — | 16 | — | — | — | 38 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Target Practice (Bullseye Mix)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | ||
| "Jerusalem" | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Have You Ever Been in Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "Let It Be with You" | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | Belouis Some |
| "Animal Magic" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | ||
| 1988 | "Some Girls" | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 1993 | "Sometimes" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Living Your Life |
| "Something She Said" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995 | "Imagination (Remix)" | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Singles only |
| "Let Me Love You for Tonight" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023 | "Imagination (Lee Rose)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Single and Extended Mix |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. | |||||||||||||
