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Leopold Whiteley is head of international creative at Notting Hill Music, which represents more than 25,000 copyright works, including hits recorded by Rihanna, Beyonce, Dizzee Rascal, Ian Brown, Madonna, Paul Weller and New Order.
He started his career in the decorative arts and gilding world before moving over to publishing 15 years ago. He’s since worked across all aspects of the business, from administration to A&R and music placement.
The first music I remember hearing was…
With my mum being German and my dad a Francophile, we would always hear fifties and sixties French and German tunes playing around the house. In the evenings they’d play classical music too, while Sundays would bring choral and opera.
The first record I ever bought was…
Mr Blue Sky by ELO on seven-inch vinyl. I still have it and there are moments when I brush it down, sing along and turn back the clock!
The last great record I listened to was…
Eels’ Wonderful, Glorious. I am a huge fan of Mark Everett and this album, in my opinion, finds him at the top of his powers again. He’s a supremely talented songwriter and lyricist, producing a very diverse, yet unifying record.
The song I wish I’d written is…
Compared To What by Eugene McDaniels. I first came across this on the Les McCann and Eddie Harris album Swiss Movement and footage of their iconic performance at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. This is the version for me, but the song has been covered by people as diverse as Roberta Flack and David Holmes.
The song that makes me want to dance is…
Not being the world’s greatest, or keenest, dancer I would probably have to go back to my punk days and jump around to the epic West One (Shine On Me) by The Ruts. It does get me going eventually… probably due to the length.
The song that makes me cry is…
I do have quite a collection of morose and sad music from the likes of Bill Callaghan (Smog) and Bonnie Prince Billy, but for crying, Prefab Sprout’s When Love Breaks Down always has and always will.
The song that I know all the words to is…
Not having the best memory for lyrics, there are two which immediately spring to mind because I play and sing them far too much, some would say. The first is Gil Scott Heron’s Three Miles Down, probably because of all the easy ‘do do do do dos’ in there. Second is Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazelwood’s Summer Wine - probably because I’ve been singing it since I was very young.
The song I want played at my funeral is…
Louis Chadid’s Ainsi Soit-Il (So Be It/Amen) for my French friends and Frank Sinatra’s That’s Life.
He started his career in the decorative arts and gilding world before moving over to publishing 15 years ago. He’s since worked across all aspects of the business, from administration to A&R and music placement.
The first music I remember hearing was…
With my mum being German and my dad a Francophile, we would always hear fifties and sixties French and German tunes playing around the house. In the evenings they’d play classical music too, while Sundays would bring choral and opera.
The first record I ever bought was…
Mr Blue Sky by ELO on seven-inch vinyl. I still have it and there are moments when I brush it down, sing along and turn back the clock!
The last great record I listened to was…
Eels’ Wonderful, Glorious. I am a huge fan of Mark Everett and this album, in my opinion, finds him at the top of his powers again. He’s a supremely talented songwriter and lyricist, producing a very diverse, yet unifying record.
The song I wish I’d written is…
Compared To What by Eugene McDaniels. I first came across this on the Les McCann and Eddie Harris album Swiss Movement and footage of their iconic performance at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. This is the version for me, but the song has been covered by people as diverse as Roberta Flack and David Holmes.
The song that makes me want to dance is…
Not being the world’s greatest, or keenest, dancer I would probably have to go back to my punk days and jump around to the epic West One (Shine On Me) by The Ruts. It does get me going eventually… probably due to the length.
The song that makes me cry is…
I do have quite a collection of morose and sad music from the likes of Bill Callaghan (Smog) and Bonnie Prince Billy, but for crying, Prefab Sprout’s When Love Breaks Down always has and always will.
The song that I know all the words to is…
Not having the best memory for lyrics, there are two which immediately spring to mind because I play and sing them far too much, some would say. The first is Gil Scott Heron’s Three Miles Down, probably because of all the easy ‘do do do do dos’ in there. Second is Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazelwood’s Summer Wine - probably because I’ve been singing it since I was very young.
The song I want played at my funeral is…
Louis Chadid’s Ainsi Soit-Il (So Be It/Amen) for my French friends and Frank Sinatra’s That’s Life.
nottinghillmusic.com
