Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet (born 1961), is an English pop singer noted for her bluesy voice, who had a number of hits mostly in the 1980s.

Moyet was born in Basildon Essex. She was involved in a number of punk, pub rock and blues bands in the South East Essex area during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including The Vandals and the Screamin' Ab Dabs, The Vicars and The Little Roosters, although her more mainstream pop career began in 1981 as half of the electropop duo Yazoo (a.k.a. Yaz) who had several hits.

In 1983 Yazoo split and Moyet signed to CBS (because it had been Janis Joplin's label) and began her solo career. In 1984 she released her debut album Alf (titled after her punk-era nickname). This was a big success in Britain, reaching number one in the album charts. "Alf" spawned 3 hit singles, including 'Invisible' and 'All Cried Out'.

In 1985 Moyet performed at the Live Aid concert, along side Paul Young.

In 1986 Alison had another big UK hit with the single 'Is This Love?', followed in 1987 by the album "Raindancing". "Raindancing" spawned further hit singles, including: 'Ordinary Girl' and a cover of Floy Joy's 'Weak In The Presence of Beauty'.

Following a period of personal and career evaluation "Hoodoo" was released in 1991. "Hoodoo", which was a far earthier and more personal album than Moyet had previously released, received little label support and only minimal promotion. Despite having spawned the Grammy nominated single 'It Won't Be Long', "Hoodoo" marked the beginning of what was to become a long fight for Moyet to secure complete control of her artistic direction.

Her album "Essex" (1994) did not see the light of day as Moyet had originally intended for it to be heard. In order for the album to be released her label (now Sony) required that certain Essex tracks be re-recorded and re-produced, and that there be additional material remixed to create a more 'commercial' package.

"Singles" (Alison Moyet's ‘greatest hits’ CD), was released in 1995 and entered the UK charts at #1. Following incredible CD success and a UK tour, 'Singles' was re-issued as a double CD set which included "No Overdubs", a bonus live CD. Upon re-issue "Singles" again charted, this time in the top 20.

Due to prolonged litigation with Sony, during which time Moyet refused to record a radio-friendly 'pop' album for the sake of creating chart hits, Moyet did not release a new studio album for over 8 years since the release of Essex. During this time, however, Moyet recorded vocals for Tricky, Ocean Colour Scene, The Lightning Seeds and King Britt. Moyet also made her critically acclaimed stage debut in the West End musical Chicago in 2001. She played the part of Matron ‘Mama’ Morton, and although initially planned to be a short run, Moyet enjoyed the experience so much that the run was extended to 6 months. 2001 also saw the release of The Essential Alison Moyet CD, and in 2002 'The Essential Alison Moyet' DVD was released.

In August 2002, after years of holding our and refusing to compromise, Moyet was finally released from her Sony contract. Moyet signed to Sanctuary Records and released her first studio album in eight years, Hometime, an album which Sony had refused to release. Hometime launched Moyet into the top 5 best-selling female UK artists of 2002 and resulted in a BRIT nomination for Best Female Vocal.

Alison Moyet's latest album, Voice, was released on 6 September 2004 and entered the UK charts at #7. A 2005 "Voice" tour and DVD release are presently in the planning stages, as is a 2-woman play starring Alison Moyet and Dawn French (of French & Saunders fame).

Discography

(See Yazoo for the discography as this group)

  • 1984 "Alf"
  • 1984 "Invisible" (Single based on "Alf")
  • 1984 "All Cried Out" (Single based on "Alf")
  • 1986 "Is This Love?" (Single based on "Raindancing")
  • 1987 "Raindancing" (initially called "Chasing Rain")
  • 1987 "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" (Single based on "Raindancing")
  • 1987 "Love Letters" (Single)
  • 1991 "Hoodoo"
  • 1991 "It Won't Be Long" (Single, Grammy nomination for 'Best Female Rock Performance')
  • 1994 "Essex"
  • 1995 "Singles" (Alison Moyet's ‘greatest hits’ CD, UK charts at #1)
  • 2002 "Hometime" (BRIT nomination for Best Female Vocal)
  • 2004 "Voice" (entered UK charts at #7)

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(See Yazoo for the discography as this group). In 2005, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Ayreon, The Final Experiment was reissued with a bonus semi-acoustic disc; this reissue is not yet available in the United States. A 2005 "Voice" tour and DVD release are presently in the planning stages, as is a 2-woman play starring Alison Moyet and Dawn French (of French & Saunders fame). Starting in 2004, Arjen began rereleasing his Ayreon catalog, with enhancements ranging from basic (The Universal Migrator, issued as a two-disc set instead of two separate albums) to drastic (Actual Fantasy, "Revisited" with completely re-recorded drums, bass, synth and flute). Alison Moyet's latest album, Voice, was released on 6 September 2004 and entered the UK charts at #7. With The Human Equation, Ayreon turned away from the usual science fiction and fantasy themes with a story taking place inside the head of a man lying comatose in a hospital bed after a bizarre car accident in broad daylight, with no other cars in sight. Hometime launched Moyet into the top 5 best-selling female UK artists of 2002 and resulted in a BRIT nomination for Best Female Vocal. As on Into the Electric Castle, there are several singers, each playing their own role.

In August 2002, after years of holding our and refusing to compromise, Moyet was finally released from her Sony contract. Moyet signed to Sanctuary Records and released her first studio album in eight years, Hometime, an album which Sony had refused to release. The latest Ayreon release is The Human Equation, released in 2004. 2001 also saw the release of The Essential Alison Moyet CD, and in 2002 'The Essential Alison Moyet' DVD was released. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) made an appearance on Flight of the Migrator, being probably the best-known musician to appear on an Ayreon album. She played the part of Matron ‘Mama’ Morton, and although initially planned to be a short run, Moyet enjoyed the experience so much that the run was extended to 6 months. Again, both of these albums have about ten singers supported by many instrumentalists. Moyet also made her critically acclaimed stage debut in the West End musical Chicago in 2001. 2: Flight of the Migrator.

During this time, however, Moyet recorded vocals for Tricky, Ocean Colour Scene, The Lightning Seeds and King Britt. Later, he "pre-incarnates" further back, all the way to the big bang in the heavy second album, Universal Migrator, Pt. Due to prolonged litigation with Sony, during which time Moyet refused to record a radio-friendly 'pop' album for the sake of creating chart hits, Moyet did not release a new studio album for over 8 years since the release of Essex. This first album consists of soft, atmospheric progressive rock. Following incredible CD success and a UK tour, 'Singles' was re-issued as a double CD set which included "No Overdubs", a bonus live CD. Upon re-issue "Singles" again charted, this time in the top 20. 1: The Dream Sequencer, he begins a trip back in time to flashbacks of different peoples' memories during human history, using a device called Dream Sequencer. "Singles" (Alison Moyet's ‘greatest hits’ CD), was released in 1995 and entered the UK charts at #1. In the story of the first CD, Universal Migrator, Pt.

In order for the album to be released her label (now Sony) required that certain Essex tracks be re-recorded and re-produced, and that there be additional material remixed to create a more 'commercial' package. The twin album The Universal Migrator (2000) features a science fiction story of the last human alive, living in the Mars colony. Her album "Essex" (1994) did not see the light of day as Moyet had originally intended for it to be heard. This story full of science-fiction clichés is told in psychedelic rock by eight singers (along with a few supporters), each playing a role of a single character, and eleven instrumentalists. Despite having spawned the Grammy nominated single 'It Won't Be Long', "Hoodoo" marked the beginning of what was to become a long fight for Moyet to secure complete control of her artistic direction. There, a mysterious voice talks to them, guiding them on their quest to find a way home through the Electric Castle. "Hoodoo", which was a far earthier and more personal album than Moyet had previously released, received little label support and only minimal promotion. The double album is a story of eight people from different eras of humankind, locked together in a weird "place of no-time and no-space".

Following a period of personal and career evaluation "Hoodoo" was released in 1991. Into the Electric Castle - A Space Opera (1998) is considered by many as the best Ayreon album. "Raindancing" spawned further hit singles, including: 'Ordinary Girl' and a cover of Floy Joy's 'Weak In The Presence of Beauty'. There are "only" three singers and three instrumentalists on Actual Fantasy. In 1986 Alison had another big UK hit with the single 'Is This Love?', followed in 1987 by the album "Raindancing". With its individual fantasy stories, it can still be considered a concept album though. In 1985 Moyet performed at the Live Aid concert, along side Paul Young. Actual Fantasy from 1996 is the only Ayreon album without a continuous story.

"Alf" spawned 3 hit singles, including 'Invisible' and 'All Cried Out'. All albums feature many guest musicians. This was a big success in Britain, reaching number one in the album charts. Ayreon albums are written by Arjen Lucassen who also sings and plays instruments on each album. In 1984 she released her debut album Alf (titled after her punk-era nickname). The Final Experiment is often mentioned as one of the first metal operas and a reviver of the rock opera genre. In 1983 Yazoo split and Moyet signed to CBS (because it had been Janis Joplin's label) and began her solo career. The album features thirteen singers and seven instrumentalists, most of them Dutch.

Yaz) who had several hits. The first Ayreon CD, released in 1995, is The Final Experiment, a story of a man in 6th century Britain who begins to receive messages from scientists in the year 2084 when humankind has almost destroyed itself in a final great war. She was involved in a number of punk, pub rock and blues bands in the South East Essex area during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including The Vandals and the Screamin' Ab Dabs, The Vicars and The Little Roosters, although her more mainstream pop career began in 1981 as half of the electropop duo Yazoo (a.k.a. Use of rare instruments to support the more conventional rock instruments is common for Ayreon. Moyet was born in Basildon Essex. Ayreon's music is characterized by the combination of mellow rock and metal, often within the same songs. Alison Moyet (born 1961), is an English pop singer noted for her bluesy voice, who had a number of hits mostly in the 1980s. Ayreon has an original musical style which derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with different genres to form what some call a completely new style of music.

2004 "Voice" (entered UK charts at #7). Ayreon is a Dutch music project by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. 2002 "Hometime" (BRIT nomination for Best Female Vocal). The Human Equation (2004). 1995 "Singles" (Alison Moyet's ‘greatest hits’ CD, UK charts at #1). Ayreonauts Only (2001). 1994 "Essex". 2: Flight of the Migrator (2000).

1991 "It Won't Be Long" (Single, Grammy nomination for 'Best Female Rock Performance'). Universal Migrator, Pt. 1991 "Hoodoo". 1: The Dream Sequencer (2000). 1987 "Love Letters" (Single). Universal Migrator, Pt. 1987 "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" (Single based on "Raindancing"). Into the Electric Castle (1998).

1987 "Raindancing" (initially called "Chasing Rain"). Actual Fantasy (1996). 1986 "Is This Love?" (Single based on "Raindancing"). The Final Experiment (1995). 1984 "All Cried Out" (Single based on "Alf"). 1984 "Invisible" (Single based on "Alf").

1984 "Alf".