Eria Fachin - My Name Is Eria Fachin (1988)

Thankfully last week I slipped into a record store and slipped out with an album I've wanted to feature for some time, and all for a dollar! This is my first vinyl rip for this blog as well (UPDATE - My friend Max sent me a CD rip of the album, so I've posted that instead as the sound is much clearer. ;). Eria Fachin is another artist that there is very little info available for, though she did indeed have a 'hit'. From what I have been able to find out, I can tell you that she was born in Hamilton, Ontario. She attended college there and also dabbled in singing. She did gigs with the McMaster Jazz Band across Canada in the early 1980s, one of which you can watch HERE. Her strong clear voice was indeed perfect for jazz, but when she emerged in 1986 with her first single (though there are rumours of an earlier single), she was in full-on dance diva mode. "Savin' Myself" was produced by Canadian hi-NRG producer extraordinaire Vincent Degiorgio, and was released on his indie Power label. The upbeat song quickly became a hit in Canadian dance clubs, and soon spread to clubs across the world. The song was so successful for Eria that it prompted American label Critique to sign her, and it even peaked in the Billboard Hot 100 at #50. It is to this day considered one of the classic hi-NRG songs. This success led to an album. Though DJs were clamoring for her hi-NRG take on The Supremes' "I Hear A Symphony" to be released as a single, instead the freestyle-ish "Your Love Just Came Too Late" was released as a follow-up. Though it had success in some clubs, it was a departure from her hit and likely confused potential fans. "I Hear A Symphony" was finally released, and it too was a hit in clubs, but by then a larger audience was out of her grasp. Not much was heard from Eria over the next while, and this was likely due to the fact that she was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with treatment and recovery. She did manage to record another song, the title track to the Kiefer Sutherland movie (and notorious bomb - it wasn't released until 2000) "Woman Wanted". She was said to be recording a new album as well, but sadly her disease got the best of her and she passed away in 1996. Such a shame, as hers was a voice that was sure to capture the spotlight once again. Thankfully we have this fun and upbeat album to remember her fondly by. (For another great live performance from 1986 that showcases her true talent, go HERE.)

Download My Name Is Eria Fachin

1		Savin' Myself
2		Only A Hope
3		Everytime
4		Get You Out Of My Heart
5		Innocence Falls Away
6		Eria's Aria / I Hear A Symphony
7		Your Love Just Came Too Late
8		Dontcha Know
9		Remember Me
10		You're So Sexy
11		Let Somebody Love You

Eleanor Academia - Jungle Wave (1987) & Global Conversations (1992) DOUBLE POST!!

Thanks to the awesome "Joe", I now present to you an album I've wanted to share for some time and have had many requests for but, as is often the case here, I only have on cassette. Joe luckily had the CD version from Japan (entitled Adventure and released under her full name) and sent me the files and voila! Thanks SO MUCH Joe! You are a god! Eleanor Academia was born in Hawaii and raised in California. She perfected many instruments and was especially adept at percussion. Luckily her talents were recognized by Columbia Records and the label signed her. As a credit to her talents, the label allowed her to produce her first album, a rarity for new artists back in the day. The album explored many different sounds, and was considered a 'worldbeat' album, containing international folk elements mixed with some synth flavour. While the album itself was released to little fanfare, the first single, "Adventure", was remixed by scorching remixer Shep Pettibone. The remix took the electro bassline from Rockers Revenge's "Walkin' On Sunshine", which was produced by the brilliant Arthur Baker, and animal noises and chants were added for exotic effect. I first heard of Eleanor when the remix was played in a local record store and I became entranced, snatching the 12" single up immediately. It is one of the best dance songs of all time, IMO. The remix deservedly became a #1 dance hit. (I've included an edited version of the dance mix, graciously also sent by Joe, in the download so that you can experience it's pleasures). I bought the album later, and must confess I was greatly disappointed. I was expecting more dance awesomeness, but the album was far from a dance album. But as the years went on I was drawn back to the album several times as I discovered its understated pleasures. Alas, other people must have initially approached the album with the same attitude I did, and it went nowhere commercially. At that point Eleanor disappeared from my radar. But research revealed that Eleanor managed to release a follow-up on Epic under her full name entitled Global Conversations in 1992, though its distribution seemed to be limited to Europe. And she carried on after that on her own label, Black Swan, embracing a much rockier vibe. She has released two albums on that label thus far, Oracle Of The Black Swan in 2002 and When You Live in 2009, and she continues to record and tour. She is also a "teacher, scholar and Thought Leader" (according to her website) and also hosts her own radio show. So once again, talent prevails!

Download Jungle Wave

1		Bahala Na
2		Perfection
3		Philippines, Philippines
4		I'm Human
5		Better Safe Than Sorry
6		One Dot World
7		Adventure
8		Hiwaga Sa Loob Ng Perlas (Magic In The Great Pearl)

 9 Adventure (Edited Club Version)

Download Global Conversations

1 Global Conversations
2 Speak To Me
3 The Dialogue - Caught Between ii Worlds
4 Caught Between ii Worlds
5 Kiss The Moon
6 Passion With A Sword
7 Are You Well
8 My Name Is
9 (Interlude) Kulintang Eruption
10 Who Is God
11 -1-0-1-0-1-0-
12 (Interlude) Wo-Oo-Ee-Yo-Oo

Tara Kemp - Tara Kemp (1991)

I know that I have been very lax in my posts on here for the last month, and it will continue as I'm going on vacation next week, but I thought I'd leave you with one gem before I go. Originally I was not going to post this album on my blog because Tara had two top ten hits and I deemed her too successful. Plus, this album seemed to be featured quite a bit on other blogs. But that no longer seems the case, and her rise, fall and disappearance were so quick that she indeed fits the criteria! Some time ago my dear friend Joe featured Tara on Milk Carton Pop Stars, so for more details please go there. In brief, her first single, "Hold You Tight", was such a club hit that she was scooped up by major label Giant (who were no doubt looking for the next Paula Abdul), and the song became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up, "Piece Of My Heart", also leapt into the top ten on that chart, and her future success seemed definite. It was an incredible feat for a previously unknown artist who was produced by unknowns. But her third single, "Too Much", barely squeaked into the Top 100. And aside from a track on the Beverly Hills 90210 soundtrack, a duet, and one more single on an indie label, Tara's voice was never heard on the airwaves again. There have been murmurs that differences with management and the label ended her recording career. Whatever the case, she has apparently turned her back on recording and is instead pursuing interior design. Her career in music was so brief that she remains a bit of an enigma, and the premier example of how fickle the pop music world can be. But thankfully there are many of us who still admire her career, no matter how short it may have been.

UPDATE:  Queen Tara herself just wrote a comment, and I simply had to share as I know many of you are big fans.  Most excitingly she's going to be releasing new music soon and performing!!!  Finally!!  Here is her comment.  Thanks so much for visiting Tara!

"Hey, TK here. Wow! How sweet to be remembered so fondly! I know it's been a long time, but I will be releasing a new dance single and video in January 2013! Looking forward to getting back out there and performing for my fans again. Thank you for all the kind comments! And yes, those two tracks were written by Jake and Tuhin."

Video for Hold You Tight

Video for Piece Of My Heart

Download Tara Kemp

1		Prologue
2		Hold You Tight
3		Be My Lover
4		Too Much
5		One Love
6		Tara By The Way
7		Piece Of My Heart
8		Together
9		The Way You Make Me Feel
10		Something To Groove To
11		Monday Love
12		Epilogue