David Freeman (born David Edward Daniel Freeman, 25 September 1957) is a British singer, musician, and songwriter, best known as a member of the new wave duo the Lover Speaks during the 1980s and as the co-writer of the song "No More 'I Love You's'", later a Grammy-winning international hit for Annie Lennox.
Background
Freeman was born in Ilford, Essex, England, on 25 September 1957. He moved to Coventry at age 14 and was educated at Bishop Ullathorne Roman Catholic School. He began his musical career in the mid-1970s as a guitarist in the band Midnight Circus, which evolved into the punk group the Flys in 1976. The Flys recorded two studio albums—Waikiki Beach Refugees (1978) and (Own) (1979)—as well as several singles and EPs before disbanding in 1980.
After the Flys split, Freeman returned to education, earning an A-level and studying English at North London Polytechnic. In 1983, he released a solo single, a cover of the Supremes' "Stop in the Name of Love", in the Netherlands through VIP Records. He also published a local history book, Looking at Muswell Hill (1984).
The Lover Speaks
In 1985, Freeman formed the new wave duo the Lover Speaks with former Flys bassist Joseph Hughes. With assistance from Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, producer Jimmy Iovine helped the duo sign to A&M Records in 1986. Their self-titled debut album was released in August 1986. The single "No More 'I Love You's'" reached number 58 on the UK Singles Chart, while "Every Lover's Sign" reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart. A second album, The Big Lie, was recorded but never commercially released. The Lover Speaks disbanded in 1988.
Later career
Following the duo's split, Freeman continued writing and recording. In 1991, the album Balance was released under the name Free Man Creese. Between 1988 and 1995, Freeman became a father, developed a drug problem, and separated from the mother of his children. After recovering, he resumed performing.
In 1995, Annie Lennox covered "No More 'I Love You's'" on her album Medusa. Released as a single in February 1995, it reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and earned Lennox a Grammy Award. Freeman and Hughes each received a BMI Award in 1996 and three Ivor Novello Award nominations.
In 1996, Freeman released six solo albums on the Discrete label: Painting as Autobiography (A Love Story), Balance, Going Out Without Makeup, Under a Tall Tree Looking Up, Apart & Together, and Melodrama. In 1997, he began working in Nashville as a freelance songwriter. He later studied piano and sang in choirs. A digital compilation, No More I Love You's – The Best of David Freeman, was released in 2014. In 2018, he released the album Overview Effect.
Discography
Solo albums
- Painting as Autobiography (A Love Story) (1996)
- Balance (1996)
- Going Out Without Makeup (1996)
- Under a Tall Tree Looking Up (1996)
- Apart & Together (1996)
- Melodrama (1996)
- Overview Effect (2018)
Compilations
- No More I Love You's – The Best of David Freeman (2014)
Selected singles
- "Stop in the Name of Love" (1983)
- "Sleep Like Breathing" (Alison Moyet with David Freeman, 1987)
- "No More 'I Love You's'" (2010)
