Joe Fagin

Joe Fagin (January 1940 – 5 September 2023) was an English pop singer-songwriter. He was best known for the 1984 chart hit "Breakin' Away / That's Livin' Alright", and for singing a version of "As Time Goes By" for the 1990s BBC comedy series of the same name starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.

For the baseball catcher, see Joe Fagin (baseball).
For the one-time Liverpool football manager, see Joe Fagan.
Joe Fagin
Background information
BornJanuary 1940
Liverpool, England
Died5 September 2023(2023-09-05) (aged 83)
GenresPop, rock, soft rock, country rock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar

Musical career

Early years

In the early 1960s, Fagin was a guitarist with a group called The Strangers, who played gigs at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, sometimes with The Beatles, and at the Star-Club in Hamburg.[1] He then played in France with a band called The Playboys.[1]

By the 1970s, Fagin had returned to England and worked in advertising, writing jingles.[1] He also worked as a session musician.[1]

Chart successes and TV themes

In 1982, Fagin had his only U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charting single, "Younger Days". It was released there on Millennium Records and peaked at No. 80.[1] He was musical director for Jim Davidson, including his 1983 Falklands tour. In January 1984, the single "Breakin' Away" / "That's Livin' Alright", which were the opening and closing theme songs to the first series of the comedy-drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]

In 1985 he was part of The Crowd, which reached number one with the charity single "You'll Never Walk Alone" for the Bradford City stadium fire.[3][4]

"Get it Right" and "Back With the Boys Again", the two songs for the second series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, were also released as a single, reaching number 53 in 1986.[2]

Fagin sang the version of "As Time Goes By" used as the theme of the sitcom of the same name.[1]

Later years

Fagin released a greatest hits album in 1996,[5] which included a cover of the Beatles song "She's Leaving Home".

"Breakin' Away" / "That's Livin' Alright" was re-released when Auf Wiedersehen, Pet was repeated on Channel 4 in 1996.

A reworked version of "That's Living Alright" was released on 5 June 2006 for the World Cup. However, "That's England Alright" was an unofficial song, since Embrace were chosen to record the official song, "World at Your Feet".[6]

Personal life and death

Fagin was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool in 1940, and trained as an electrician before beginning his music career.[1] In adulthood, he was a longtime resident of Brixton.[1]

Fagin and his wife, Valerie, had five children. He died on 5 September 2023, at the age of 83.[1][7]

References
  1. "Joe Fagin, singer and songwriter who sang the theme to Auf Wiedersehen, Pet – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 192. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 405. CN 5585.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 128. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. "The Best Of Joe Fagin". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  6. "TV theme reworked for World Cup". BBC News. 5 April 2006.
  7. O'Hare, Mia (5 September 2023). "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet legend Joe Fagin dies as co-stars left devastated". The Mirror. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
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