THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

611-David Essex-Hold Me Close.

1975-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.10. David Essex wasn’t just a pretty face, as far as teen idols go, he was probably the most talented.

David Essex was born David Albert Cook on July 23rd, 1947, in Plaistow, Essex, England, which probably provides the clue as to where he took his stage name from. Success didn’t come instantly, as prior to his first self penned hit ‘Rock On,’ in 1973, he had released 11 none charting hits between 1965-1971.Before becoming a Pop star Essex became a film star, starring in the movie ‘That’ll Be the Day,’ alongside Ringo Starr, and Keith Moon, and others.He would also achieve even greater success in 1974 with that films sequel ‘Stardust.’

David Essex has released 28 studio Albums to date, between 1973-2013, and achieved 19 UK top 40 singles, two of which got to Number 1,’Hold Me Close,’ and ‘Gonna Make You A Star,’ both of which he wrote. In America, his only hit was ‘Rock On,’ which reached Number 5 on Billboard in 1973, but a 1989 cover version by Michael Damian reached Number 1 on Billboard.

‘Hold Me Close’ was taken from his third Album,’All the Fun of the Fair,’ and like many of his early successes it was produced by Jeff Wayne, who in 1978 released ‘Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds,’ his musical adaption of the H. G. Wells science fiction novel ‘The War of the Worlds’. The Album has gone on to sell in excess of 15 million copies worldwide, making it one of the top 50 best ever selling Albums. David Essex appears on the Album, providing spoken passages.

‘With your love light shining, every clouds got a silver lining, so hold me close, don’t let me go.’