Manchester-born Britten began writing for Adelaide, Australia bands the Hurricanes and The Twilights, a popular '60s band for which he played lead guitar. At times he co-wrote with Glenn Shorrock and Peter Brideoake.

After the Twilights broke up, he moved to London and wrote for Cliff Richard; eventually coming up with "Devil Woman". He was a guitarist in Cliffs band for years and he wrote some of his best work. Cliff called 'Devil Woman' his best song ever and it brought him the heavier pop-rock image that partly typify his shows until today. It became a top 10 hit in the U.S.A. Britten initially sent 'What's love got to do with it' to Cliff's office, but unfortunately they turned it down without playing it to Cliff.. Recently the singer joked 'the man who did that didn't work for him anymore'...

In the early 80s, his psych-rock song "9.50" was revived by Australia's Divinyls as a single B-side. With Graham Lyle (ex-Gallagher and Lyle), Britten wrote Tina Turner's comeback hit "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1984), which reached #3 in the UK. The following year, they co-wrote "We Don't Need Another Hero" for the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Also sung by Tina Turner, the song reached #2 in the USA and #3 in the UK charts. It got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song in 1985. It also earned Turner a 1986 Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance. Additionally, the pair co-wrote "Just Good Friends" for Michael Jackson’s mega-selling Bad album.

Britten has also written songs for Olivia Newton-John these include "Love Make Me Strong" in 1981 and "Toughen Up" (with Lyle) in 1985. He has also written songs for Meat Loaf, Melissa Manchester, Bonnie Raitt, and Hank Marvin. Britten continues to compose from his home base in rural England but has returned to Australia on occasion, including the Twilights' reunion for the Long Way To The Top concert tour.