The Soldiers Explained

The Soldiers
Background:group_or_band
Years Active:2009 - present
Label:Demon Music Group / Warner Bros. Records
Associated Acts:Robin Gibb
Current Members:(Sergeant Major) Gary Chilton
(Staff Sergeant) Richie Maddocks
(Corporal) Ryan Idzi

The Soldiers is a singing trio consisting of serving British Army soldiers, whose debut album, Coming Home, was released on 26 October 2009, and who have since continued their singing career whilst remaining full-time army personnel. Signed to CPW Productions Warner Bros. Records, the trio consists of Ryan Idzi, Richie Maddocks and Gary Chilton.

The Soldiers' first national interview was with The Sun, with a free download of the lead song "Coming Home" from the debut album Coming Home. The song was written by Jake Hook, Nick Patrick and Jeff Chegwin. It was delivered as a free download for 48 hours through The Sun website as a promotion for the forthcoming album. Proceeds from the single were donated to The Army Benevolent Fund. The Soldiers were also featured in Big Sing 2009, hosted by Aled Jones from London's Royal Albert Hall, with special guests also including Bryn Terfel, Ruby Turner, Amy Nuttall. The show was broadcast on BBC TV on 25 October 2009.[1]

The Soldiers have released four studio albums, Coming Home (2009), Letters Home (2010), Message to You (2011) and the self-titled The Soldiers (2012) and two compilation album Best of The Soldiers (2011) and Greatest (2013).

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Album TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)
UK
Coming Home 4

2× Platinum[3]

Letters Home 10
  • UK: Platinum[4]
Message to You 11
  • UK: Gold
The Soldiers 23
Special album releases
Album TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsNotes
UK
Love Songs Track list
  1. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin (4:45)
  2. "I Don't Want to Talk About It" (Danny Whitten) (3:42)
  3. "Three Times a Lady" (Lionel Richie) (4:16)
  4. "I'll Stand by You" (Billy Steinberg, Chrissie Hynde, Tom Kelly) (4:15)
  5. "Hero" (Mariah Carey, Walter Afanasieff) (4:26)
  6. "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen, Robert John "Mutt" Lange) (4:05)
  7. "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" (Holland-Dozier-Holland, Sylvia May
  8. "Can't Help Falling in Love (With You)" (George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore) (3:40)
  9. "Fields of Gold" (Gordon Sumner) (3:18)
  10. "When I Need You" (Albert Hammond, Carole Bayer Sager) (4:32)
  11. "Against All Odds" featuring Caroline Redman Lusher (Phil Collins (3:18)
  12. "Bridge over Troubled Water" (Paul Simon) (4:14)
Christmas With the Soldiers
  • Released: 17 December 2012
  • Label: Demon Music Group
Track list
  1. "Frosty the Snowman" (2:44)
  2. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (2:26)
  3. "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" (3:37)
  4. "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (2:42)
  5. "Jingle Bells" (3:20)
  6. "Merry Xmas Everybody" (3:24)
  7. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (2:08)
  8. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (2:48)
  9. "Winter Wonderland" (2:20)
  10. "Let It Snow" (1:56)
  11. "White Christmas" (1:25)
  12. "Home Coming (Christmas Mix)" (3:42)
  13. "Little Drummer Boy" (2:44)

Compilation albums

Album TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsNotes
UK
Best of The Soldiers
  • Released: 14 October 2011
  • Label: Demon Music Group
Track list
  1. "Great British Hero" - 4:41
  2. "Coming Home" (LP Version) - 4:07
  3. "Hero" - 4:25
  4. "Against All Odds" (LP Version) - 3:18
  5. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" - 4:45
  6. "Letters Home" - 3:05
  7. "Three Times a Lady" - 4:17
  8. "You're in My Heart" - 4:01
  9. "Tears in Heaven" (LP Version) - 4:25
  10. "Pennies from Heaven" (Chelsea Pensioners) - 3:42
  11. "I'll Stand by You" (LP Version) - 4:17
  12. "You Raise Me Up" - 3:51
  13. "Fields of Gold" - 3:19
  14. "I Will Carry You" - 3:56
  15. "Your Song" - 3:52
  16. "With a Little Help from My Friends" (LP Version) - 3:37
  17. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (LP Version) - 4:12
  18. "While We're Away" - 2:43
  19. "Requiem for a Soldier" - 3:42
Greatest
  • Released: 2 September 2013
  • Label: Demon Music Group
Track list
  1. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (with Robin Gibb) - 3:19
  2. "Dance with My Father" - 4:25
  3. "Healing Hands" - 3:57
  4. "Father and Son" - 2:50
  5. "She" (with Charles Aznavour) - 3:43
  6. "Amazed" - 4:01
  7. "I Have a Dream" - 4:58
  8. "Through the Barricades" - 6:16
  9. "Desperado" - 3:36
  10. "If Tomorrow Never Comes" - 3:37
  11. "Make You Feel My Love" - 3:33
  12. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (Full Instrumental Version) - 3:17

Singles

YearSingleChart peak positionsAlbum
UK
2009"Coming Home"Coming Home
"A Soldier's Christmas Letter"65
2010"Letters Home"Letters Home
2011"I've Gotta Get a Message to You"
(with Robin Gibb)
75Message to You

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Songs of Praise Big Sing, October 2009. BBC. 2014-02-07.
  2. https://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/announcements/birthdays/fiftieth/16204306.Gary_CHILTON/ Family Announcements
  3. Web site: Certified Awards Search . . 2009-11-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130115055129/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx . 15 January 2013 .
  4. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx