Sue Wilkinson (singer)

Susan Mary Wilkinson (19 October 1943[1] – 4 January 2005),[2][3] known professionally as Sue Wilkinson, was a British singer-songwriter.[4] She is best remembered for "You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Wanna Get On" (1980), her sole hit on UK Singles Chart which was promoted by an appearance on the BBC's flagship music programme, Top of The Pops.

Career

Wilkinson appeared on Top of The Pops on the show of 28 August 1980, to perform her self-penned hit "You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Wanna Get On".[5][6] Don Powell of the band Slade appeared on the drums.[7] The single, released on the Cheapskate label, reached No. 25 in the UK Singles Chart.[8] Sue Wilkingson presented a show on Raidersfm in 1988 co-presenting before she left in 1989.

Wilkinson also worked as an actress and model under the name of Sue England.[9]

Wilkinson later moved to Nashville and had success as a jingle writer.[10]

Her book, Reflections of a Recovering Bimbo, was published in 2002.[11]

Musical works

Albums

• Looking for Cover (LP) on Hustler label in UK; catalogue no: SUW001 in 1980
• Hot Tea – Mood Swings (mp3) on Tyneville label in USA; catalogue no: 1617 in 2001

Singles

• "You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Wanna Get On"//"Double Dealin' Day" P/S Cheapskate CHEAP2 1980 (UK No. 25)[12]
• "Posers"//"Hollywood sheik" P/S Cheapskate CHEAP9 1980 [13]
• "Time 'N' Tide"//"I'll take what you want to give" P/S Cheapskate CHEAP17 1981 [13]
• "Women Only"//"Rich man's son" P/S Cheapskate CHEAP26 1981 [13]
• "Toy Boys"//"Extra Marital affair" P/S Hustler SUW002 1987 [13]

Singles as songwriter

• "Toy Boys"//"Bad Loser" Deauville STL7 1982 – recorded by Julie Walters

Singles as co-songwriter

• "Victim of the Planets"//"Dippers delight" Hansa 103-439-100 1981 Germany – recorded by Big Dipper & The Heavenly Bodies

Personal life

She died in January 2005 of breast cancer at the St.John's Hospice in N.W.London.[10][14][15]

She was a friend and colleague of the actress Sally Farmiloe, who appeared on the Wilkinson-co-penned hit "Victim of the Planets".[16][17]

References

1. "Susan Mary WILKINSON – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
2. General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office.
3. "Susan WILKINSON |". The Gazette. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
4. "Sue Wilkinson – You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Wanna Get On / Double Dealin' Day – Cheapskate – UK – CHEAP 2". 45cat. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
5. "BBC One – Top of the Pops, 28/08/1980 – Music Played". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
6. "sue wilkinson – you gotta be a hustler if you want to get on – totp – (vhs rip) vcd [jeffz].mpg". YouTube. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
7. "TOTP on BBC4 Thread | Haven". Fatherandy2.proboards.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
8. "SUE WILKINSON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
9. "Full text of "Smash Hits Volume 45"". Archive.org. 21 August 1980. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
10. "Left and to the Back: Sue Wilkinson – Posers/ Hollywood Sheik". Left-and-to-the-back.blogspot.co.uk. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
11. Wilkinson, S. (2002). Reflections of a Recovering Bimbo. Author Solutions. ISBN 9781401020149. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
12. "you-gotta-be-a-hustler-if-you-wanna-get-on | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
13. "Sue Wilkinson Discography – UK". 45cat. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
14. Simon (13 September 2011). "Yes It's Number One: The Alternative TOTP Canon #33: Sue Wilkinson – You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Wanna Get On". Yesitsnumberone.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
15. "Left and to the Back: Sue Wilkinson – Posers/ Hollywood Sheik". Left-and-to-the-back.blogspot.co.uk. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
16. "H O T G O S S I P :: Celebrity Fashion, Fitness & Beauty by Sally Farmiloe-Neville :: April 2005". Hotgossip.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
17. "45cat – Big Dipper And The Heavenly Bodies – Victim Of The Planets / Victim Of The Planets (Edit) – Epic – UK – EPC A1531". 45cat.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017..

External links

• Official Chart Company
• Yes It's Number One