Adam Faith

Adam Faith

Source: Flickr/Bradford Timeline

British pop rock vocalist, Adam Faith, was born on 23 June 1940 in Acton, Middlesex. As an adolescent he delivered and sold newspapers, then later worked for a screen printer. Faith first recorded on 27 November 1957, appearing live at the 2i's Coffee Bar on the BBC television program, 'Six Five Special', with his band, the Worried Men. His debut recording session quickly followed toward release in January 1958: '(Got a) Heartsick Feeling' backed by 'Brother Heartache and Sister Tears' on HMV POP 438. The 2i's Coffee Club at 59 Old Compton Street is considered the birthplace of British rock & roll where the fare had begun with skiffle, a British folk style of jug band music with which most early British rock stars were familiar including members of the Beatles in early years prior to their formation in 1960. In 1959 Faith went rockabilly with 'Ah, Poor Little Baby' composed by Ruth Falk and Fred Koury.

'(Got a) Heartsick Feeling' / 'Brother Heartache and Sister Tears'

First recordings to issue by Adam Faith

Recorded Nov/Dec 1957 toward HMV POP438 in Jan 1958

'Heartsick Feeling' composed by Cindy Walker

'Brother Heartache' composed by Aaron Schroeder / Kay Twomey

'Poor Little Baby'   Rockabilly by Adam Faith

Circa April 1959 toward Top Rank JAR126 in May

Composition: Ruth Falk / Fred Koury

Faith placed ten titles in the UK Singles Top Ten during his career. 'What Do You Want?' in 1959 and 'Poor Me' in 1960 topped the UK charts at #1.

'Poor Me'   Adam Faith w Bruce Forsyth   Television

'Sunday Night at the London Palladium' broadcast 17 April 1960 [BFI]

This title charted for Faith at #1 in Jan 1960

Composition: Les Vandyke

It was 1960 when Faith starred in his second motion picture, 'Beat Girl', a B grade cult or exploitation film, in this case spotlighting teenage delinquency via beatnik rebellion complete with striptease. 'Beat Girl' was a UK version of 'Rebel Without a Cause' (1955) in America excepting poor reviews of its lesser quality. Faith was cast as a sort of James Dean in the role of Dave opposite Gillian Hills as Jennifer. Howsoever wanting the film, its soundtrack charted at #11 on the UK albums charts in latter 1960. This was the first full soundtrack released on vinyl LP in England rather than 10" shellac. A contributor at RYM comments that the soundtrack doesn't properly match the film [see also Geoff Leonard]. The soundtrack, for instance, seems to use 'Made You' which was earlier issued on Parlophone R4665 on the flip side of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' which had been deployed to Faith's first film titled 'Never Let Go' released in June of 1960 to better reviews, and in which he played the role of car thief, Tommy Towers. 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home' had charted at #5 in July, but 'Made You' was banned by the BBC for suggestive lyrics. That is say, issued flip side of 'When Johnny Comes Marching Home', 'Made You' was the real reason the plate charted. Also of note per 'Made You' was the substitution of Joe Brown at guitar in place of Faith's regular guitarist, Vic Flick [45 Cat]. Be as may, 'Beat Girl' was released to American theaters as 'Wild for Kicks' the following year.

'When Johnny Comes Marching Home'   Adam Faith

Parlophone 45-R 4665 issued 17 June 1960   Charts: #6 July 1960

Used in the film 'Never Let Go' released on 7 June 1960

Composition: Patrick Gilmore U.S. Civil War

Copyright: Louis Lambert 26 Sep 1863

'Made You'   Adam Faith

Parlophone 45-R 4665 issued 17 June 1960

Guitar: Joe Brown

Released on the soundtrack 'Beat Girl' 28 October 1960

Composition: John Barry / Trevor Peacock

'The Time Has Come'   Adam Faith

Parlophone 45-R 4837 issued Oct 1961   Charts: #4

Released on the soundtrack 'Beat Girl' 28 October 1960

Composition: John Barry / Trevor Peacock

Faith's major contribution to the British Invasion was by airwave and mail. 'It's Alright' reached Billboard's Top 40 in the States in January of 1965 at #31. Faith also featured on the television program, 'Shindig', alongside other British stars like Billy Fury and Bobby Sherman. 'Shindig' was based in Los Angeles but Faith never visited the States. British musicians including the Beatles and Rolling Stones taped for 'Shindig' at Twickenham Film Studios in London for shipping across the water.

'It's Alright'   Adam Faith   Television

'Shindig' broadcast 31 March 1965   Taped at Twickenham Film Studios in London

This had been a #1 title for Faith in the U.K. in Jan 1960

Composition: John Barry / Trevor Peacock

'I Survived'   Adam Faith   Television

BBC 'Top of the Pops' broadcast 4 October 1974

Others in this show: David Bowie / Paul Anka

Composition: David Courtney / Adam Faith

Lead song of the 1974 album 'I Survive'   Warner Brothers Records

'Squeeze Box'   Adam Faith   Television   BBC   1993

Composition: Pete Townshend 1974

Faith had been working as a financial advisor and investor by the eighties, writing articles as a financial journalist for 'Daily Mail' in the latter eighties. It isn't known if Faith made anyone any money as financial advisors go, but his investments in UK's Sky 515 'Money Channel' wrought bankruptcy in 2002 with bills worth 32 million pounds ($50,000,000 US). Faith died of heart attack on March 8 of 2003 ruing television. Wikipedia reports his last words to be "Channel 5 is all shit, isn't it? Christ, the crap they put on there. It's a waste of space." [Obit].