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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Candi / Candi And The Backbeat - Candi (1988) & World Keeps On Turning (1990) DOUBLE POST!!

Once again I present a group who I have had overwhelming demand for, and I finally located the CDs in my collection, so here we are. ;) This is the epitome of 80s dance pop. Candi was a group of Italian-Canadians who initially toured the wedding circuit as a cover band apparently called Sensation. It consisted of singer Candita Pennella, bassist Nino Milazzo, drummer Paul Russo and keyboardist Rich Imbrogno. Somehow they got the attention of I.R.S. Records and signed on, changing their name to Candi, a moniker obviously taken from their lead singer, and also a good description of their music. Their first single, "Dancing Under A Latin Moon", was an instant hit in Canada and soon also blew up in the US, reaching number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's Latin sound was in vogue at the time thanks to the popularity of the freestyle genre as well as Latin influenced artists like Gloria Estefan (though the rest of the album wasn't very Latin-flavoured). Three other singles were released from the album (which was produced by popular remixer David Shaw with assistance from hot pop production duo Sergio Munzabai & John Morales) and they were all big hits in Canada: "Under Your Spell", "Missing You" and the ballad "Love Makes No Promises". (Also check out the song "Pleasure Island", which uses the melody from Isle postee Liberty Silver's "I Do Love You".) The group and Candita were even nominated for several Juno awards. But their success didn't continue south of the border, unfortunately. This didn't stop them from releasing a second album, but this time as Candi And The Backbeat, thanks to people often confusing 'Candi' as Candita herself and, thus, a solo act. The name change made sure people acknowledged the boys as well (though Imbrogno left the group to become a successful freestyle producer). Though they were now produced by relative unknown Robert Brown, their sound stayed very much the same, and they had more Canadian hits with "The World Just Keeps On Turning", "Friends Forever", and "Good Together" (but likely the most interesting track for pop lovers here will be their remake of the SAW song "Getting Closer", made famous by Haywoode and also recorded by Kylie ;). But their success remained within Canada's borders and quickly waned, and they soon ceased to be. It is said that Candita married Russo and now teaches music at a high school somewhere in Toronto. Oh, how I would love to run into her, and if I do, I'll be sure to get the scoop on her time with Candi and what she's done since, and I'll definitely share it here! ;)

UPDATE: I recently discovered that Candita did the lead vocals for a track in 1986 called "Humpty Dumpty" by Rainbow.  It's a cute kid-centric Hi-NRG song.  Download it HERE.

Video for Dancing Under A Latin Moon

Video for Under Your Spell

Video for Love Makes No Promises

Video for Missing You

BONUS: Thanks to Steve, here are some Candi remixes. Thanks Steve!!

Download Candi

1
Under Your Spell
2
Missing You
3
Shine On
4
Independent
5
Love Makes No Promises
6
Dancing Under A Latin Moon
7
Dance With Me
8
Lucky Night
9
Pleasure Island
10
Closer Than Ever

Video for The World Just Keeps On Turning

Video for Good Together

Download World Keeps On Turning

1
The World Just Keeps On Turning

2
Friends Forever

3
What's In A Love

4
Dream Train

5
Good Together

6
Time For A New Life

7
Getting Closer

8
Someone Like You

9
Find Love (Don't You Wanna)

10
Saving All The Love

23 comments:

  1. thak you soooooooooo much for this double post
    I'm currently downloading it and have yet to judge the music but to finally get to hear the "getting closer" cover version thrills me very much :)

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  2. "thank you soooooooooo much"

    +1

    ;-)

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  3. OMG! thank you so much for this post, I've been looking for these forever. You ROCK!!
    Steve.

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  4. I always used to see their first CD in cutout bins and at used record stores in the cheapie section. Why I never bought it, is beyond me. I just watched the first video and they are TOTALLY up my alley!

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  5. I have been looking all over the net to download this for 5 years now!!! Thank u sooooo much!!!

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  6. I found this for my brother.. Thanks a Million...!!!!!

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  7. Thanks a lot ! I'm secretly obsessed with Candi ! :P

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  8. Where online could I find the music video for the song "Good Together" by Candi & The Backbeat?

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  9. This is awesome! I've been looking for "Good Together" and "Friends Forever" for YEARS. Plus someone finally has the cover so I can add it to iTunes :-). Thanks so much!!!!

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  10. Thanks SO MUCH!! I've been looking for these CD's forever! Couldn't find them anywhere! Very much appreciated :)

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  11. Does anyone know who is the guy that sings background vocals and also appears in the video "Under your spell" with Candi?
    Thanks very much!

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    Replies
    1. I'm pretty sure it was the drummer or keyboardist who did the background vocals in that track

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    2. Nino Milazzo (bass and background vocals)

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  12. She was always a favourite of mine. When I was 12 yrs I swore "Closer than Ever" would be my wedding song. 19 yrs later (last Nov) I kept my word.(turns out the lyrics turned out to be true for us-kind of a shitty coincidence LOL. I also loved that we kept it local. She was/is fabulous!!

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  13. Finally i found these songs. Thank you so much. Appreciate it very much.

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  14. I loved, nay, still love, Candi. Bitch rocks! She is currently a music teacher at a Catholic school here in Toronto. Fuck, my city rocks.

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  15. I had the Candi cassette tape and wore it out, I haven't been able to find it since, thank you!!!

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  16. Wow! Had both on cassette and saw them/her in concert in Calgary in 6th grade.

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  17. She was my teacher. Its awesome, yet weird to know she had fans and was famous. Its sad she moved to another school, she is an amazing teacher.

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  18. https://ca.linkedin.com/pub/candy-russo/43/865/6b5

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  19. It woul be good u upload any performance or video singing "humpty dumpty" for me the best song of her.

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  20. There are also videos for:

    Missing You - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG1u2mv9vFY

    Good Together - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bt8962F1OE

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