Ruth Joy - Pride And Joy (1992)

Here we have another request. Ruth Joy first came to public attention as the lead vocalist for house group Krush, who released the fantastic acid house-ish "House Arrest". The group didn't release anything else immediately after this success, and Ruth Joy decided to pursue a solo career. Over the next few years, she released the singles "Don't Push It", "Soul Power" and "Feel", all to moderate success in the UK. These singles were added to her long anticipated solo album ("Don't Push It" being retitled "Push It" for some reason). Alas, the album wasn't a success. But the music is brilliant, heavy on soul and pop, with traces of house and reggae, and includes production by Mantronik, Aswad and Loose Ends' Carl McIntosh. Her voice is smooth and airy and very pleasing to the ear. But the lack of success of the album nipped her solo career in the bud. She did appear again with Krush years later on their single "Walking On Sunshine" and performed back-up vocals on Stacey Q's underrated album Nights Like This. Bios on Ruth Joy claim she is actually Ann Saunderson, wife of Inner City's Kevin Saunderson, and that she has appeared on several of his recordings and sang lead on some other house hits by other acts. This may well be true, but there is no mention of Ruth Joy or her work in Ann Saunderson's biography on her own Myspace page, and the look and voice of the woman are nothing like Ruth Joy, in my opinion. If anyone has solid proof that she is indeed Ann, aside from the Wikipedia or Discogs bios, please let me know!

**UPDATE - Thanks once again to the fab Consolecharlie/Dream101, we have proof that I was right! LOL He wrote Ann Saunderson herself and here was her response:

"Hi ya! Funny you should ask that one... I actually emailed Wikipedia to let them know that Ruth Joy WAS NOT one of my pseudonyms EVER!! But they rejected my knowledge, apparently i didn't have enough evidence about ME to warrant the change :-) Here is what i believe happened. At one point in my earlier career i recorded a few tracks under the pseudonym KAREN JOY, the closeness in names caused the problem. But i don't have a daughter, I never recorded with Krush, etc... Hopefully this will help understand how the initial confusion happened. "

So Ruth Joy is NOT Ann Saunderson! It looks like Consolecharlie/Dream101 has just created another job for himself - Who and where is the real Ruth Joy?? ;)

Video for Don't Push It

Video for Feel

Download Pride And Joy

1		Feel
2		Push It
3		Question Of Time
4		Remind Me
5		You Bring Me Joy (Instrumental)
6		Soul Power
7		Fools Paradise
8		War
9		Keep Holding On (Life Is What You Make It)
10		You Bring Me Joy
11		Give Me Your Love