Wreckless Eric

Infobox musical artist
Name = Wreckless Eric


Img_capt = UK 45 rpm single picture cover: "Wreckless Eric – Whole Wide World"
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Eric Goulden
Born = Birth date and age|1954|5|18|df=y
Died =
Origin = New Haven, East Sussex, England
Genre = Rock and roll,
new wave
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active =
Label = Stiff Records,
Go! Discs Records,
Empire,
New Rose,
Kelt,
Hangman,
Humbug,
Vibrasonic
URL = [http://www.wrecklesseric.com/ Official website]

Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden, 18 May 1954, Newhaven, East Sussex, England) is a rock and roll / new wave singer-songwriter best known for his 1978 single "(I'd Go The) Whole Wide World" on Stiff Records. More than two decades after its release, the song was included in "Mojo" magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time. [Mojo (October 2001) - "100 Punk Scorchers ", Issue 95, London;] It was also acclaimed as one of the ‘top 40 singles of the alternative era 1975 – 2000’. [cite book |title= "Alternative Rock"|last= Thompson|first= Dave|year= 2000|publisher= Miller Freeman Books|location= San Francisco|pages= p.818;] He currently lives in France with his wife, singer-songwriter Amy Rigby.

Early history

Wreckless Eric is best known as one of the original members of the late 1970s Stiff Records artist roster, along with Ian Dury, Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. Eric’s first ever record was the appearance of "Whole Wide World" on the Stiff label sampler "A Bunch of Stiff Records" in April 1977. The single version of that song was finally released in August. The song was produced by, and featured bass (and most of the other instruments) by Nick Lowe, with Ian Dury on drums. The following month, the song was one of five tracks broadcasted for the first of two sessions Eric recorded for DJ John Peel at BBC Radio 1. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/w/wrecklesseric/ Wreckless Eric’s John Peel Sessions on BBC Radio 1] ; ] The song went on to make number 47 in John Peel’s ‘Festive Fifty’, the so-called ‘lost list’ of 1977; [ [http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/list2.html John Peel’s Festive Fifty on Rock List Net] ;] it was number 8 in the Sounds Critics’ singles of the year; and it received an ‘honourable mention’ in the NME critics’ chart. The song’s reputation has grown over the years and numerous bands have covered "Whole Wide World", such as the Lightning Seeds, Mental As Anything, The Monkees (who covered the song on their "Pool It!" album in 1987), The Proclaimers (who covered it on their 2007 album "Life With You"), and Paul Westerberg.

His debut album "Wreckless Eric" was a Top 50 hit in the UK Albums Chart. But, by the time his second album with Stiff Records "The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric" came out, he was pushed by the punk record label to openly display the effect of his alcohol intake.Fact|date=September 2007 He attempted a more pop music style on his next album, entitled "Big Smash", his last with Stiff. Ironically Cliff Richard's cover of "Broken Doll", from "Big Smash", was the highest one of his songs that ever charted.Fact|date=August 2008

End of Stiff Days

Eric became increasingly unhappy with Stiff Records business ideas and promotion. The label forced Eric to work with songwriting teams and hired backing bands.By 1980, shortly after the release of "Big Smash," he decided to leave Stiff and record music at his home studio. While Eric may have left the music business and the public eye, he has continued writing songs and performing consistently at underground clubs and bars. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s Eric has released albums on numerous independent record labels. [http://turnit-down.blogspot.com/2008/01/wreckless-eric-interview.html Turnit-down.blogspot.com] ]

Post Stiff Bands

Eric's post-Stiff bands include: The Captains of Industry, The Len Bright Combo, Le Beat Group Electrique, The Hitsville House Band and one album called "Karaoke" (1997) under his real name, Eric Goulden.

Post Stiff Albums

In 1985 he released "A Roomful of Monkeys" with a new band, Captains of Industry. It was followed in 1986 by a couple of homemade garage albums with "The Len Bright Combo". He always stayed in touch with Ian Dury and the Blockheads - two Blockheads, Norman Watt-Roy and Mickey Gallagher, were in the Captains of Industry. In 1989, he signed to New Rose Records as Eric Goulden, released the homemade "Le Beat Group Electrique" with bassist André Barreau and drummer Catfish Truton. This same year he moved to France, in a quiet countryside corner where he stayed for about ten years. By the time he made this move to the vineyard country, he had already ended his "career of full-time alcoholic."Fact|date=February 2007

Eric toured Eastern Europe in a 1960s Peugeot car, both solo and with his band. In 1990, he released a second Le Beat Group Electrique album, recorded live in a New Rose record shop in Paris, entitled "At the Shop" with Eduardo Leal de la Gala and Fabrice Bertran on the drums. Together they formed the Hitsville House Band.

Eric returned to the UK in 1998, wrote his autobiography "A Dysfunctional Success - The Wreckless Eric Manual" about his life in England in the punk rock years and the music industry, ending at his departure for France. A second part is expected. Eric contributed his version of "Clevor Trever" (sic) to the Ian Dury tribute album "Brand New Boots and Panties" released in 2001. His latest album "Bungalow Hi" was home recorded, produced and released in 2004.

In late 2005 Eric toured the UK (also playing Dublin and Belfast) supporting fellow ex-Stiff artists The Damned.

A tribute album to Wreckless Eric is currently being recorded, featuring cover versions of his songs performed by upcoming bands like The Crimea, plus established acts, such as The Wedding Present, among others.

In the 2006 film, "Stranger Than Fiction", starring Will Ferrell, Ferrell sings "Whole Wide World" while playing the guitar, until the original Wreckless Eric version takes over.

In 2008 "Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby" was released. The album has a sound that is described as including "lots of strummed acoustic guitars, insistent and melodic bass lines and atmospherics created by vintage keyboards, synthesizers, processed electric guitars and electronic effects". Goulden wrote two songs his wife Amy Rigby wrote five songs and three songs were collaborations. The couple are touring to support the album. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/09/04/derk.DTL Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby: The underground royal couple take to Thee Parkside stage San Francisco Chronicle 4 September, 2008] ]

Wreckless Eric joined The Proclaimers onstage at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, on 19 July 2008, to perform his song, "(I'd Go The) Whole Wide World" which they covered on their album, "Life With You".Fact|date=September 2008

Discography

Albums

"As Wreckless Eric
* "Wreckless Eric" (March 1978: Stiff Records, SEEZ 6) # 46 UK Albums Chartcite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages=
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]
* "The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric" (October 1978: Stiff, SEEZ 9)
* "The Whole Wide World" (December 1979) [compilation album] US release
* "Big Smash" (February 1980: Stiff, SEEZ 21) [double compilation album] # 30 UK
* "Almost a Jubilee: 25 Years at the BBC (with Gaps)" (2003)
* "Bungalow Hi" (2004)

"With" Captains of Industry
* "Roomful of Monkeys" (1984)

"With" The Len Bright Combo
* "The Len Bright Combo Presents..." (1985)
* "Combo Time" (1986)(The two Len Bright Combo albums were re-released on a single CD on Eric's Southern Domestic label in 2004).

"With Le Beat Group Electrique
* "Le Beat Group Electrique" (1989)
* "At the Shop" (1990)
* "The Donovan of Trash" (1991)

"With" Hitsville House Band
* "12 o'Clock Stereo " (1996)

"As" Eric Goulden
* "Karaoke" (1997)

Various artists compilation album appearances

* "A Bunch of Stiff Records" (1977)
*"Reconnez Cherie" and " Semaphore Signals" featured on the "Stiffs Live Stiffs" compilation album (1978: Stiff Records, GET 1) # 28 UK Albums Chartcite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages=
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]
* "Heroes & Cowards" (1978)
* "Can't Start Dancing" (1978)
*"Whole Wide World" featured on the "That Summer!" compilation album (June 1979) UK # 36
* "The Last Compilation Album" (1980)
* "The Stiff Records Box Set" (1991)
* "DiY 3: Teenage Kicks - UK Pop I (1976-79)" (1993)
* "Stranger Than Fiction Soundtrack" (2006)
* "The Sandinista! Project" (2007)
* "Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby" (2008)

ingles

ee also

* List of New Wave bands and artists
* List of Peel sessions
* Music of the United Kingdom (1970s)

Bibliography

* "Wreckless Eric" Goulden: "A Dysfunctional Success - The Wreckless Eric Manual" Do Not Press (2004), ISBN 1-904316-18-2 [ [http://www.thedonotpress.com/titles/dysfunctionalsuccess.html Book Homepage] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.wrecklesseric.com/ Official Wreckless Eric website]
*amg|11:wpfoxql5ld0e|Wreckless Eric
* [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/wreckless_eric.htm Wreckless Eric] on www.punk77.co.uk
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSjwl8lHEVE Wreckless Eric-Whole Wide World] haroldturkeypants, YouTube, 2006-07-13
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u76_YFFgtC8 Wreckless Eric - A Pop Song] k8fan, YouTube, 2006-11-01
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDf3bFCxpIE Wreckless Eric, Just For You, Belgian TV 1986] BruSweeney, YouTube, 2007-02-20