“… an album that once again displays his talent for marrying hard edged rock vocals to sweet pop tunes.”
Martin Townshend, Sunday Express (2011)
“As an album, this is a prime example of how a renowned singer who is reaching a more mature age can grow old gracefully…at this stage of his career Steve Ellis has no right to be producing albums as captivating and convincing as ‘Ten Commitments’. Thankfully for us, he has!”
Fireworks Magazine (2012)
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Artist: Steve Ellis
Title: Ten Commitments
File: Rock/Soul
Steve Ellis is one of the defining voices of British music, his throaty vocal styling often likened to that of Steves Marriott and Winwood, all under the spell of the great Ray Charles.
From his time fronting 1960’s charters Love Affair to helming ‘70’s rock acts Ellis and Widowmaker, to recording a slew of acclaimed solo albums in the ‘80s and beyond, he has remained ‘on song’ and unbending in his search for perfection.
For his fourth solo album, 2011-recorded ‘Ten Commitments’, Steve brought his distinctive sound to a set of some of his favourite songs.
“Healing Touch” reunites Steve with Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden’ who wrote Love Affair hits “Everlasting Love” and “Rainbow Valley“. Buffalo Springfield‘s Neil Young-penned “On the Way Home” honours its original arrangement while The Beatles‘ “Please Please Me” is a more relaxed affair than the Fab Four’s original.
Ellis is in fine form as ever and his distinctive, soulful voice gets complementary support from his backing band The Big City Allstars to craft another set of classic pop/rock/soul from one of the best in the business.
Londoner Steve Ellis first began singing at the age of 15 with the Soul Survivors, who cut their teeth playing local gigs before progressing to venues like The Marquee, The Flamingo and Tiles along with mod and soul clubs further afield.
After a brief spell with Decca Records, they moved on to CBS to become one of the most successful British pop acts of the late `60s as Love Affair with a string of hit records under their belt.
Steve’s first project after leaving the band in 1969 was contributing to the soundtrack of ‘Loot’, the screen adaptation of the play by playwright, Joe Orton.
In 1971, under the management of Chas Chandler, Steve fronted his own band Ellis, releasing two albums for Epic before helming hard rockers Widowmaker: while commercially-successful, poor chemistry within the band led to Steve’s embarking on his solo career.
‘The Last Angry Man’ was recorded in 1977/78 with A-List talent including guitarists, Albert Lee (Heads, Hands & Feet, Emmylou Harris), Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy) and Henry McCullough (Joe Cocker, Wings) with Family’s Roger Chapman on backing vocals.
When his label Ariola shelved the album, and devastated by the passing in 1978 of close friend Keith Moon, Steve took a break from the music business but after a sustaining serious in 1983 he returned to the studio to record live-to-tape the intimate ‘Basement Days’.
For his third solo album, 2008-recorded ‘Best of Days’, Steve assembled a roll call of musical talent bolstered by guest appearances from pals Roger Daltrey and Paul Weller to craft one of his finest releases. Blue-eyed soul never sounded better.
On fourth solo album, 2011’s ‘Ten Commitments’, Steve brought his distinctive sound to a set of some of his favourite songs. In fine form as ever, his distinctive, soulful voice got complementary support from his backing band The Big City Allstars to craft another set of classic pop/rock/soul.
2018 saw in Steve’s latest solo album, ‘Boom Bang Twang’. On Cd and limited edition vinyl, it’s an expertly-crafted mix of new songs and heartfelt covers with guests and long-time friends Paul Weller, COW, Mike D’Abo, and The Moons along for the ride.
Steve’s back catalogue has remained available throughout his long career and his songs and performances are ably-documented in 2022’s 175-track, 10-CD disc box set, ‘Finchley Boy’ while 2024 heralds ‘March On’, a compilation of his solo work between 1977 and 2011.
Along with his own releases, Steve in recent years has been involved in charity fund-raising concerts and tours regularly now with other UK 60’s pop legends throughout the UK.
Other projects include a book/biography in the writing and documentary `A Life in Music`, also in development.
Tracks
- Don’t Let Me Be The Only One
- Healing Touch
- Hit The Spot
- Never Say Never
- On The Way Home
- Perfect Sunday
- Please Please Me
- Thank You Baby For Loving Me
- War Train
- We Got It
- War Train (Ashley Beedle remix)