Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden on May 18, 1954 in Newhaven, East Sussex, England) is a rock and roll singer-songwriter. May 18 is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Newhaven is a town in the Lewes District of East Sussex in England. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Stiff Records record label was created in London in 1976, at the outset of the punk boom by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman (aka Jake Riviera). ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Newhaven is a town in the Lewes District of East Sussex in England. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2007 estimate... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ...

History

Wreckless Eric is best known as one of the original members of the Stiff Records artist roster, along with Ian Dury, Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, and his biggest hit record was "Whole Wide World". This, his debut single, was produced by, and featured bass (and most of the other instruments) by Nick Lowe, with Ian Dury on drums. Eighteen bands have covered "Whole Wide World", such as The Monkees, who covered the song on their Pool It! album in 1987. The Stiff Records record label was created in London in 1976, at the outset of the punk boom by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman (aka Jake Riviera). ... Ian Dury, in a look combining Gene Vincent with a Cockney pearly king. ... Declan Patrick MacManus (born August 25, 1954, in London), better known by his stage name, Elvis Costello, is an English musician, singer, and songwriter of Irish ancestry. ... Bowi EP sleeve (1977). ... Methods and media for sound recording are varied and have undergone significant changes between the first time sound was actually recorded for later playback until now. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is an electrically-amplified string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... Bowi EP sleeve (1977). ... Ian Dury, in a look combining Gene Vincent with a Cockney pearly king. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... The Monkees were a pop-rock quartet created and based in Los Angeles in 1965 for an NBC American television series of the same name. ... Pool It! is the tenth album by the Monkees. ...

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 label to display his spectacular alcoholism. He attempted a more pop music style on the (either dryly or optimistically) titled Big Smash album, his last with Stiff Records. Ironically Cliff Richard's cover of "Broken Doll" from Big Smash was the highest one of his songs that ever charted. A debut album is the first released music album by an artist or a band. ... The Top 50 refers to a list of weekly hit singles, or albums. ... In popular music, a chart-topper is an extremely popular recording, identified by its inclusion in a ranked list—a chart—of top selling or otherwise judged most popular releases. ... The UK Albums Chart is a chart of the sales positions of albums in the United Kingdom. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ...

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. See also: other events of 1985 Musical groups established in 1985 Record labels established in 1985 list of years in music 1980s in music // January 28 - Various artists, including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny... Ian Dury, in a look combining Gene Vincent with a Cockney pearly king. ... Ian Dury (May 12, 1942 - March 27, 2000) was a rock and roll singer, songwriter, and bandleader. ... Gallagher (right) with Eric Burdon. ...

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."^{[citation needed]} Wreckless Eric (born Eric Goulden on May 18, 1954 in Newhaven, East Sussex, England) is a rock and roll singer/songwriter. ...

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 Galla and Fabrice Bertran on the drums.Together they formed the Hitsville House Band. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. ... Karl Benzs Velo (vélo means bicycle in French) model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race 2005 MINI Cooper S. An automobile (also motor car or simply car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... New Rose was the first single by The Damned. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...

Eric returned to the UK in 1998, wrote his autobiography A Dysfunctional Success - The Wreckless Eric Manual about his life in England in the crazy punk years and music business, 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. See also: 1998 in music (UK) other events of 1998 Musical groups established in 1998 Record labels established in 1998 list of years in music 1990s in music // February 15 - Sir Edward Elgars unfinished third symphony, completed by Anthony Payne is performed for the first time at the Royal...

In late 2005 Eric toured the UK (also playing Dublin and Belfast) supporting fellow ex-Stiff artists The Damned. WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... The Damned are a punk rock/gothic rock band formed in London, England in 1976. ...

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 popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... A song is a relatively short musical composition. ... The Crimea are a British indie band, based in Camden, London. ... The Wedding Present is a rock group based in Leeds, England, that was formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. ...

In the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction starring Will Ferrell, he sings "Whole Wide World" while playing the guitar, until the Wreckless Eric version takes over. Film is a term that encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the motion picture industry. ... Stranger than Fiction is a 2006 American comedy-drama film. ... John William Will Ferrell (born July 16, 1967[1]) is an Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Irish-American comedian, impressionist and actor who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to a successful film career. ...

Discography

As Wreckless Eric

• Wreckless Eric (1978) [album]
• The Wonderful World of Wreckless Eric (1978) [album]
• The Whole Wide World (1979) [album]
• Big Smash (1980) [album]
• "Yuletide Forty-Five" (1990) [single]
• "Sweet Jane" (2002) [single]
• Almost a Jubilee: 25 Years at the BBC (with Gaps) (2003) [album]
• Bungalow Hi (2004) [album]

With Captains of Industry Wreckless Erics debut album was released in 1978. ...

• Roomful of Monkeys (1984) [album]

With The Len Bright Combo

• The Len Bright Combo Presents... (1985) [album]
• Combo Time (1986) [album]

(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) [album]
• At the Shop (1990) [album]
• The Donovan of Trash (1991) [album]

With Hitsville House Band

• 12 o'Clock Stereo (1996) [album]
• "The Girl with the Wandering Eye" (1996) [single]

As Eric Goulden

• Karaoke (1997) [album]

Compilation appearances

• Bunch of Stiffs (1977) [album]
• Live Siffs Live (1978) [album]
• Heroes & Cowards (1978) [album]
• Can't Start Dancing (1978) [album]
• The Last Compilation Album (1980) [album]
• The Stiff Records Box Set (1991) [album]
• DiY 3: Teenage Kicks - UK Pop I (1976-79) (1993) [album]
• Stranger Than Fiction Soundtrack (2006) [album]

Bibliography

• "Wreckless Eric" Goulden: A Dysfunctional Success - The Wreckless Eric Manual Do Not Press (2004), ISBN 1-904316-18-2 Book Homepage

External links

• Official Wreckless Eric website