Production and Continuous Songwriting
During this record company conflict, Bruce wrote and directed the cult animation movie GOG and produced a single and EP for Firmament and The Elements, a group formed under a pseudonym with his brother Guy. Woolley also teamed up again with Trevor Horn to co-write and produce "Hand Held in Black and White" – a top 20 UK hit for Dollar in 1981 and the pair also co-wrote their follow up single "Mirror Mirror" that reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1983 Magnus Uggla recorded a cover of "Blue Blue Victoria" with new lyrics in Swedish. The song was the first single on the album called "Välkommen till folkhemmet". It sold 20,000 copies, becoming a gold single.
Success came again with 1985’s Slave to the Rhythm album for Grace Jones; (also a No 1 Dance record in America). Originally intended as a track for Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Island Records’ founder, Chris Blackwell, suggested using the title for Jones. Almost a year was spent in the studio, using the Synclavier system, to produce the eponymous, ground-breaking LP.
For the next few years, Woolley temporarily abandoned live work and concentrated on production and writing for other artists, including Grace Jones with whom he collaborated on all the songs for her next album, Inside Story; also working closely with ex-Chic guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers. During this period, he spent time with Andy Warhol, Timothy Leary and also Keith Harring, who designed the sets for the video of "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You)". This song received the ASCAP Award for Black Music in 1987 – presented to Woolley by Cab Calloway.
Through the magic of sampling, Woolley co-wrote the seminal ambient piece "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld" by The Orb. The track made the UK Single Chart in 1990 and featured vocals by Woolley and Trevor Horn taken from the Slave To The Rhythm album.
Artists who have recorded Bruce Woolley’s songs include John Farnham (another No 1 Australian record with "Two Strong Hearts"), Shirley Bassey - 2007’s Get the Party Started was her highest charting album since 1978, and featured a cover of "Slave To The Rhythm"), The Feeling (No 1 UK Gold album February 2008), Divine, Cliff Richard, Tori Amos, Tom Jones, Cher - "Love Is The Groove" featured on her Multi-Platinum album Believe, and Bebel Gilberto. To date, Woolley's compositions have sold over 25 million records worldwide.
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