Edwin Starr, real name Charles Hatcher, was a American singer-songwriter who began his artistic career at age 15 with a band called The Future Tones.
But it was only at the age of 23 that he experienced his first success, not in a group but this time solo, with the title "Double Agent-O-Soul". We are then in 1965.
It was not until 1968 that he released his first album "Soul Master", an album of moderate success and which did not produce any major hits.
This is not the case for the album "25 Miles", a notoriously successful album released a year later in 1969, from which the flagship single that bears the name of the album will be extracted.
The consecration, the real one, came a year later in 1970 with the title "War", a title which remains to this day its biggest record success. Title taken from the album "War & Peace" which also remains to this day its biggest album success.
The year 1971 saw the release of a new hit album called "Involved", album which still struggled to produce a major single worthy of the name. The next album "Free to be myself", which was released four years later in 1975, did not do much better.
It was the album "Clean", which came out in 1978, which allowed the artist to temporarily return to the race. In particular thanks to the single "Contact" which will experience a nice course in the Charts.
Ditto for the album "Happy radio" which was released a year later in 1979 and which will experience its heyday with the title "H.A.P.P.Y. radio”.
A success story which will be seriously complicated during the following decade with the release of a significant number of titles during the 80s but which will all fail to be worthy of mention in the Charts.
Except in 1985 for the title "It ain’t fair" and "Whatever makes our love grow" in 1987. Two titles which will be the last significant artistic events at the discographic level.
Artist who died of cardiac arrest at the age of 61 on April 2, 2003.
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
Agent double-O-Soul 1965
Back street 1965
Stop her on sight (S.O.S.) 1966
I'll love you forever 1966
Headline news 1966
I am the man for you baby 1968
Twenty-five miles 1969
I'm still a struggling man 1969
Time 1970
War 1970
Stop the war 1970
Funky music sho nuff turns me on 1971
There you go 1973
Who's right or wrong 1974
Stay with me 1975
Accident 1976
I just wanna do my thing 1977
I'm so into you 1978
Contact 1979
H.A.P.P.Y. radio 1979
Stronger 1980
Sweet 1981
I wanna take you home 1983
Marvin 1984
It ain’t fair 1985
Soul singer 1986
Whatever makes our love grow 1987
Long line of lovers 1988
Ain't no stopping us now 1990
Clips :
1965 ... first title and already first success. An ideal start to say the least and which augurs well for a most interesting sequel ...
1965 ... he confirms all the good that we could think of him with this second success. Of course, on a smaller scale, but the dynamics are now well in place and that is the main thing !
1966 ... success is now global. The artist is clearly growing in importance and is now unquestionably one of the future Grands
1966 ... an exceptional year 1966 which saw him chain successes with disconcerting ease. And the year is not over yet !
1966 ... the pass of 3 ! Three world-class successes in one year, who could say better ? Not many people anyway ...
1968 ... then comes the fall. As incomprehensible as it may seem, the singer suddenly disappears, and above all completely, from the Charts for 2 years. And this despite the release of several titles ...
1969 ... it is the year 1969 and this title that will put him back in the saddle. We thought he was lost but he is reborn from his ashes in a spectacular way and at the same time offers himself one of his biggest successes !
1969 ... the sequel will not really have the same level of success but still allows the artist to continue to believe in it. And given what is on the horizon, there is no need to worry about him ...
1970 ... the new decade starts with a bang with this totally over-the-top title. A year 1970 which will prove to be one of the most significant in the artist's career. Especially with what comes after ...
1970 ... the title of the consecration ! Here he signs quite simply the biggest success of his career thanks to this revisited version of the title interpreted by the Temptations shortly before. A major track, with openly anti-Vietnam war lyrics, which will be picked up by other big names in future years. Notably Bruce Springsteen and Frankie Goes To Hollywood, just that !
1970 ... a year 1970 resolutely anti-war oriented. The singer puts the cover back with this title which more or less resembles the previous one. With the key to a result in the most honorable Charts !
1971 ... one of his rare single-title years. It must be said that the year 1970 was nevertheless particularly provided in title hence this slight relaxation ...
1973 ... after a year 1972 without relief, the singer returns in force, or at least all in finesse, in this year 1973. And the result is up to it, to say the least !
1974 ... a mid-decade that sees him somewhat with difficulty. There are years with and without. This year 1974 was rather a year without. Except for this title ...
1975 ... 1975 would be more of a year with but the quality level remains fairly average. No more planetary top hits of the beginning of the decade ...
1976 ... new single-title year. A single title which in addition will not even be classified while it is far from unworthy. Sometimes you don't have to try to understand ...
1978 ... the year 1977 will also be single-title. With this time a classified title but without much relief. Relief, there is of course on this new title. But this one will not be classified either ...
1979 ... it is the Disco wave which will bring him back in a shattering way on the front of the stage. Starting with this first title. A rebirth to say the least unexpected ...
1979 ... a rebirth which is confirmed with this second success which rewards one of its most emblematic titles. Here he is simply delivering one of the biggest Dance titles of the end of the decade, just that. MAS-TER-FUL !
1980 ... unfortunately, the upturn will be short-lived. The transition to the 80s is painful and the singer will simply disappear from the Charts without almost never coming back. And this despite the production of many titles in the years to come ...
1981 ... another nice Intimist title which would have deserved a recognition much higher than it was. Unfortunately the singer is out of fashion and no one is interested in what he offers ...
1983 ... one more title that will go completely under the radar. The poor will only be figuring during this decade and we really wonder what can still motivate him to continue ...
1984 ... a magnificent title in homage to the singer who tragically died that year. A title which literally floats in the air and which once again shows all the talent of this dear Edwin ...
1985 ... his only 'little' hit of the decade. Always better than nothing as they say but that will not change the situation unfortunately ...
1986 ... he in any case continues to believe in it. Rightly or wrongly, but his will to move forward whatever happens commands respect ...
1987 ... will the SAW manage to save Private Starr ? Despite an ultra Dance title offered on a set by Stock Aitken & Waterman, the miracle will not take place once again ...
1988 ... he still managed to get through the decade for whatever reason. A down to the endism that will hardly have brought him back but he is still there, no matter what ...
1990 ... he will even attempt the transition to the 90s. But the miracle that did not take place during the 80s will not take place during the following ...
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