One To One (One 2 One) - Forward Your Emotions (1985), 1-2-1 (1988) & Imagine It (1992) TRIPLE POST!!!

There isn't much more that I can say about One To One than I already have in my posts about Sal's Birdland and Artificial Joy Club, 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 Imagine It.  Forward Your Emotions 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, 1-2-1, 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" 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!










Video for There Was A Time

Video for Angel In My Pocket

Download Forward Your Emotions

1 Don't Call It Love
2 Angel In My Pocket
3 Hearts And Diamonds
4 Where's The Answer
5 Forward Your Emotions
6 There Was A Time
7 Black On White
8 Love Is Blind
9 Boys Will Be Boys
10 Tell Me Straight

Video for Hold Me Now

Download 1-2-1

1 Hold Me Now
2 Love Child
3 We've Got The Power
4 Do You Believe
5 Heading For Zero
6 Inside These Eyes
7 Victorious
8 Voices Cry
9 Life Is So Easy
10 Not A Love Song

Video for Peace Of Mind (Love Goes On)

Download Imagine It

1 Peace Of Mind (Love Goes On)
2 Memory Lane
3 Keeping Faith
4 Friends
5 Big On Emotion
6 Tough To Tame
7 I'll Walk Away
8 Big Hush
9 Gypsy Girl
10 World Without Love

Rainy Davis - Sweetheart (1987) & Ouch (1988) DOUBLE POST!!

 

When I began this blog, you would be hard-pressed to find one iota of info about Rainy Davis.  Luckily the internet has grown over the years and lesser known and under-appreciated artists have gotten their due (I'd like to think this blog had something to do with that in some small way. ;) )  So, finding info now on Rainy is much easier, and makes this post easier to put together as well.  Born Denise Lorraine Davis in Brooklyn, Rainy's first major singing gig was as part of a band called Jamilah, which also included her sister Charisse and R&B crooner Keith Sweat. Soon after she joined disco trio Musique for their live shows, and her association with its founder Patrick Adams led to writing and arranging for other acts.  Her first major success was in 1979 as co-writer of disco group Inner Life's "I Want To Give You Me".  During this time she also connected with singer/songwriter/producer Pete Warner, who was also working with Adams. Together they wrote for and produced a few artists over the next few years, most notably Canadian disco singer Chatelaine's second album in 1980. They also wrote the song "Sweetheart" together in 1986.  According to Rainy, her Nana overheard them playing the song and told her she would give them her next social security cheque to record it.  Once the demo was recorded, they were planning on submitting it to Janet Jackson for her career altering Control album, but luckily they missed the deadline.  So Rainy released her version on a local indie label and it got immediate attention on urban radio, which led to rotation on pop radio.  The song hit both the Dance and Black Singles charts on Billboard, reaching #24 on the latter.  Columbia Records then noticed her potential and signed Rainy to an album deal. Her debut album, which was produced by Rainy and Warner, hit the R&B album chart and included similar sexy electro-funk tracks. The next single, "Lowdown So & So", reached #9 on Billboard's Dance chart and #14 on the Black Singles chart.  Her third single was a remake of Prince's 1980 release "Still Waiting", and it almost made the top 40 on the Black Singles chart. The final single, "4-Ever", failed to chart. Rainy and Warner quickly went to work on her next album, Ouch, which was released the following year. Unfortunately it did not have the same success.  The first single, "Indian Giver" (which was the first track I ever heard by Rainy, and I fell in love instantly), hit #16 on the Billboard Dance chart and, like "Still Waiting", #41 on the Black Singles chart. The song, as well as much of the album, used more straight-forward freestyle elements that were only hinted at on Sweetheart, and maybe that threw fans off.  I, for one, loved it!  The next single was the title track, and after it didn't chart, Rainy was no longer with Columbia Records.  She and Warner kept busy writing and producing others, with their biggest success likely being The Cover Girls' "Spring Love".  Rainy also released the single "Storybook Romance", a sort of reworking of "Sweetheart", in 1993 (and again in 2008). Then, in 1998, Jermaine Dupri remade "Sweetheart" for his Life in 1472 album, thanks to a suggestion by Mariah Carey, who loved the track as a girl and sang the chorus. Though Mariah and Jermaine's "Sweetheart" wasn't a huge hit (thanks to the label pulling the commercial single right before its release, and the Billboard chart eligibility rules changing), Mariah included it on her hugely successful hits album #1's the same year, and the song was introduced to a whole new generation and was even nominated for a Grammy award. Mariah also included the song on her Greatest Hits in 2001, The Remixes in 2003, and The Essential Mariah Carey in 2011, further rejuvenating Rainy's career (and bank account!). In 2005 Rainy ended up founding her own full service digital distribution company, Rainysongs Entertainment, for which she is president, and it has continued to successfully support new music artists.  

Live performance of Sweetheart

Download Sweetheart

1	Sweetheart
2	4-Ever
3	Love-At-Last
4	Still Waiting
5	Lowdown So & So
6	Kiss & Make Up
7	Come Back
8	Do-U-Remember?
9	Sweetheart (Reprise)

 
Download Ouch

1	Indian Giver
2	Ouch
3	Be My Man
4	Choosey Beggar
5	Save It
6	Lets Make Up
7	Tell Me
8	Danger

Nicole McCloud - What About Me? (1985), Rock The House (1988/89), Love Town (1998) & So What? (2002) QUADRUPLE POST!!!!

Why not start the new year with our first QUADRUPLE post? I have been a fan of Nicole McCloud from the moment she emerged in 1985 with her breakout dance hit "Don't You Want My Love".  But not much was heard from her since her last album was released in 2002.  So imagine my surprise when I was switching through channels on TV late last year and saw a familiar face, looking almost as youthful as she did in 1985. She was on The X Factor US, and the voice was also familiar and amazing.  I waited to see her name, which was Lillie McCloud.  I was sure that it must be Nicole's daughter, but soon discovered after a second of searching online that it was indeed Nicole herself (Lillie is her real first name, while Nicole is one of her middle names)!  I was shocked that an artist who I followed and admired through much of her recording career was being presented as a new artist.  But I soon realized that, although she had a long career, she still remained unknown to the general public, and this was the best forum to bring her front and center and let the public experience what I already enjoyed about the lady.  Unfortunately she was eliminated on The X Factor in the fifth week, but not before she gained the admiration of the judges and an adoring new fan base.  While her heart is now in gospel music, she did eventually acknowledge her dance diva past after it was uncovered on the internet and created controversy.  Her past is now well-documented on the internet as a result, but I will give a bio anyway. ;) She was born in Rochester, New York, and after performing locally for years, finally got her big break in her 20s after meeting producer Lou Pace (who would go on to produce all of her albums).  Her amazing voice and looks got her a deal with Epic sublabel Portrait Records, who released her first single, a remake of Heatwave's ballad "Always And Forever," in 1985.  It was a minor R&B hit, but it was her next single, the upbeat "Don't You Want My Love," that would become her best known hit, reaching the top ten on the Billboard Dance charts and pop top 40 charts worldwide.  It helped that the song was featured on the soundtrack to the hit movie Ruthless People. (The song was also recorded by Isle postee Chantal Condor.)  It's success led to her debut album which, along with the previous singles, were released under the name 'Nicole' in most markets, though some releases used her last name as well.  Her next three singles, the Timmy Thomas duet "New York Eyes," "What About Me" and "Housecalls," were also minor R&B hits.  This led to her second album on Epic in 1988, Jam Packed.  The first single, "Jam Packed (At The Wall)," was again a minor R&B hit and the house remix brought Nicole back to the dance chart as well.  The next single "Rock The House" became an even bigger hit on both charts.  It's success led to Lou Pace re-releasing the album on his own label Oceana the following year under the title Rock The House, with different artwork and a reordered tracklisting.  The song re-entered the dance chart that year.  Despite the minor chart success, Nicole was dropped from Epic.  She wouldn't be heard from again until 1992, when she was featured on The Source's successful rave remake of "Rock The House".  The following year she appeared on three tracks on U.S.U.R.A.'s album Open Your Mind, including the single "Drive Me Crazy" (I had the album and always thought it sounded like her, but couldn't verify it was her at the time).  These collaborations led to the single "Runnin' Away," released in 1994, which became her biggest hit on the Billboard Dance chart thanks to the E-Smoove house mixes, reaching #3.  It would be re-released in many versions over the next four years, charting in the UK pop charts at #69 in 1996.  That same year she signed to Aureus Records and released a house version of the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running," and it hit the lower end of the top 40 on the Billboard Dance charts. An album, Love Town, followed in 1998 (finally using her last name) and it was much more dance oriented than her previous albums.  It included "Runnin Away," "Long Train Runnin' (Without Love)" and "Rock The House", as well as "Stay In Love", which Isle postee Mona Q would have a Billboard Hot 100 hit with three years later.  Though two promo singles were released - "Missing You" and "I Ain't Crazy" - neither was a hit and the album went unnoticed.  Nicole kept at it, however, and joined Angel Williams and Simone Böhlhoff to form vocal trio Voices Of Freedom, who featured on dance singles such as "Lift Your Hands Up" in 1999.  In 2001, Nicole released "One Good Reason" on an indie Florida label, this time as Nicole J McCloud.  The song again hit the lower end of top 40 of the Billboard Dance chart.  An album, So What?, was released the following year and included remakes of some of her previous songs, as well as a version of "Tell Me Where It Hurts," previously a single by Isle postees Try 'N' Be.  The next single, "Search'n," brought Nicole back to the Billboard Dance chart top 10.  But she became discouraged with her music career, as she never wanted to be pigeon-holed as a dance diva, and it was not paying off financially.  Nicole left the industry in 2004 to raise her kids and moved to Slovakia with her partner.  Though she continued to perform and record occasionally, it wasn't until 2010, when she recorded the theme song for the Slovak version of Simon Cowell's Got Talent TV series, that she considered re-entering the music business full-time.  She moved back to the US and auditioned for the X Factor, and the rest is history (on an interesting side-note, another successful 80s based, Lou Pace produced diva, Donna Allen, competed on rival show The Voice the same year).  Now Lillie (she claims Simon Cowell called her by her first name after seeing it on her legal documents, so she continued to use it) is pursuing gospel music, and though that is not necessarily my fave genre, I am thrilled to have this versatile, underrated and amazing singer back in the spotlight where she has always rightfully belonged.

UPDATE:  Amazingly, Miss McCloud herself wrote me in praise of this post and more!!  Here is her message.  So VERY honoured! :) 

"Hello cool Angel,  Thank you for you kind words and your overview of my career...You have certainly did your research on my career quite thoroughly.  I would like to speak more about my recordings and experiences in Slovakia such as The TV Show (Show Dance and the song or recording Show Dance) and the TV Show (Slovakias Got Talent) and the song Slovakias Got Talent ) which I wrote the lyrics and melody along with partners who wrote the music. I also sang the lead vocals and background vocals. At the time of these recordings I had no knowledge about The X Factor. Such shows were not of interest  to me. I want to make it clear that I've never collaborated with Simon Cowell or the X Factor in any way prior to season 3. This was one of the rumors along with a few others which did bother me a bit but ofcourse not any more. 

I'm very proud of both  recordings in Slovakia and television shows. 

All the best to you my friend. 

Lillie McCloud

AKA Nicole J McCloud"

Live performance of Don't You Want My Love

Live performance of New York Eyes

 Download What About Me?

1		Don't You Want My Love
2		New York Eyes
3		Housecalls
4		What About Me
5		Always And Forever
6		Why You Take My Love
7		Ordinary Girl
8		Shy Boy
9		It Happens Every Night

 
 Download Rock The House

1		Rock The House
2		Desire
3		Let's Talk About Love
4		So Lost Without Your Love
5		Jam Packed (At The Wall)
6		Two Hearts Are Better Than One
7		Everlasting Love
8		Throwdown
9		He's So Romeo

 Download Love Town

1		Stay In Love
2		Runnin Away
3		Missing You
4		Love Town
5		Thinkin' About You
6		Live Your Life
7		I Ain't Crazy
8		Rock The House
9		Maybe Next Time
10		Try My Love
11		Dreamin'
12		Pray For Love
13		Long Train Runnin' (Without Love)
14		Missing You (R&B Mix)

 
Download So What?

1		One Good Reason
2		Search'n
3		Get Your Hands Off My Man
4		This House Is Not A Home
5		Lessons Of Love
6		Get The Hell Out Of Here
7		Why Should I
8		Tell Me Where It Hurts
9		Missing You
10		Stay In Love
11		Your Love Is King To Me
12		If You Come To Me
13		One Good Reason (Megamix)
14		Damn I'm Pretty
15		Don't You Want My Love 2002
16		Search'n (Remix)

Voyéur - Boulevard (1988)

Since I just featured the amazing remix of Voyéur's "Hangin' On The Boulevard" on Lost Pop Treasures, I figured I'd feature their album here to coincide with it.  I had never heard of Voyéur until I picked up that single in some delete bin, and I immediately loved it.  It wasn't until years later that I found the cassette of their only album in a delete bin.  I was hoping for more of the same but, alas, it was not a house album, but much more pop-funk in nature.  I wasn't a fan at the time, but I recently came across a rip of the album and gave it another listen.  Certainly not as bad as I remembered.  As for Voyéur themselves, little can be found about them other than that they were a duo consisting of Bahamian vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Grant Williams, who produced the album, and Bermudian vocalist June Ventzos.  The two appear to have previously done some session work for other artists, like on Ruffin & Kendrick's track "Goodnight Pillow".  The entire album was written by the two, and two singles were released, "Hangin' On The Boulevard" and the ballad "Another You For Me".  Obviously great success was not forthcoming, and even though they were signed to a major label, Columbia, and "Hangin'..." was a minor dance hit, they soon disappeared.  Though I can't find much on Grant's whereabouts (his common name makes internet searching difficult), I did discover that June kept singing, including contributing to the 1993 holiday album, The Bermuda Christmas Collection. She currently lives in Arizona, as her Facebook profile outlines.  Surely you can contact her there should you wish to know more.

Download Boulevard

1		Hangin' On The Boulevard
2		Colour Of Money
3		Another You For Me
4		Fools Love
5		Sad Goodbyes
6		Don't Throw Me Away
7		I Can Love You Better
8		The Only One
9		Falling For You

Burrell - Burrell (1988)

Here is another album that I only had on vinyl until last week, when I realized that I needed the CD. I first heard of Burrell back in the 80s when I saw the video to their song "I Really Like". I instantly fell in love, but heard nothing else from them and forgot about them until I saw the vinyl of their album many years ago. Luckily there were more great house songs on it. Rheji & Rhano (aka Ronald) Burrell are identical twin brothers who were born and raised in New Jersey. In their early teens they were part of a gospel group, Inner Spirit. Their local success with this group, as well as their burgeoning technical skills, led to a recording contract with Virgin. They wrote and produced most of their debut, along with some help from R&B and house artist and producer Terry Burrus. The album was a mix of uptempo house songs and R&B ballads. Their first single was the awesome "I Really Like", an upbeat house track. It had some dance club success and was followed up by the more R&B flavoured "I'll Wait For You (Take Your Time)". But it was the third single, "Put Your Trust In The Music", released the following year, that is likely their best known and loved track. It too is a pumping house track. At the same time, Ronald was getting into producing and produced the first two singles by previous Isle postees Bas Noir. Those tracks, "My Love Is Magic" and "I'm Glad You Came To Me", were also house tracks and were far bigger hits than the Burrell singles. This in part led to the Burrell brothers turning their backs on being artists and focusing more on production. With their associates Frank and Karen Mendez they even started a label, Nu Groove, to release Burrell material. Over the next few years, the brothers, especially Ronald, were behind most of the label's output, which was primarily deep house. Ronald also produced some tracks for previous Isle postee Ceybil Jefferies. They also released a few tracks as artists again, under the names B.M.E. (Burrell Music Enterprises), BME Project, and A.B.T. (A Burrell Thang). In the late 90s Rheji got more involved in production, but while Ronald was mostly a house producer, Rheji concentrated on R&B and produced acts like Aaliyah, Total, Monifah and Yvette Michelle. They have remained active in the music scene, writing, producing and remixing mostly for indie artists, and run Burrell Brothers Entertainment. (And on a side note, they should not be confused with the boxing Burrell Brothers, who are also identical twins born in New York State. ;)

Video for I Really Like

Download Burrell

1		Trust In The Music
2		I'll Wait For You (Take Your Time)
3		I Really Like
4		Gonna Make You Dance
5		Dominate Me
6		Sunshine
7		Let Me Love You Tonight
8		No Greater Love
9		Calling
10		One And Only Lady

Denise Lopez - Truth In Disguise (1988) & Every Dog Has Her Day!!! (1990) DOUBLE POST!!

Denise Lopez is an artist who is custom made for the Isle, but though I have had her albums forever, I never featured her because I assumed that she'd be back in the spotlight and on to bigger and better things. My dear friend Bomitoni did a post on her almost five years (!!!) ago on Milk Carton Pop Stars, and he could find little info about her. However, that was a long time ago and since then so many 'lost' artists have resurfaced on the internet, especially on Myspace and Facebook. Since Denise was a powerhouse vocalist and had three Billboard Top 100 'hits', I naturally assumed that she would reemerge and at least have her own Myspace page, especially given the glut of lesser freestyle divas popping up there as the years passed. (She does have a Myspace fan page and a Facebook fan page, however. And don't get her confused with the Swedish artist with the same name. ;) Then, in 2008 and out of nowhere, her last single, "Don't You Wanna Be Mine", was remixed by Bimbo Jones and released to become a huge dance hit. Though you would think that would bring Denise once again into the spotlight, nothing came of it. And she remains an enigma even still. The little info I can gather indicates that she was born in Queens, New York. She released a few dance singles on indie labels in the mid-80s, including the awesome electro track "Best Of Me", as Neecy Dee, and "Love Patrol", as part of an act of the same name. In 1987, with assistance from hot electro and HiNRG producers and remixers John Morales and Sergio Munzibai, she managed to get a HiNRG single released on RCA Victor, "If You Feel It". It was a club hit and got her an album deal with A&M Records. Her next single, the freestyle-ish "Sayin' Sorry (Don't Make It Right)" was a huge club smash and reached #31 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her next single was a rerelease of "If You Feel It", and though it managed to make it into the Hot 100 to #96 and almost made it to the top 20 on the dance charts, it was considered a disappointment. The third single, "Too Much Too Late", fared even worse. At the time I thought that this was where Denise's story ended. But years later I was trolling delete bins in Florida and delightedly came across her second album on A&M, which I never knew existed! I must say that I was a bit disappointed at first listen, however. Though John Morales was back on production, the freestyle and HiNRG elements that I loved on her first album were replaced with a much more pop/funk sound, thanks to assistance from producers (who have also worked with other Isle postees) Oliver Leiber (Stacy Earl, Alta Dustin, Bobby Z, Elisa Fiorillo) and David Z (also Bobby Z and Elisa Fiorillo, as well as Tyka Nelson and Terri Nunn). Over the years the album has grown on me, but I guess the slight change of sound didn't impress people at the time, as it didn't do very well. "Don't You Wanna Be Mine" did make it into the Hot 100, but no single followed. And then Denise truly did fade into obscurity. Until the rerelease of "Don't You Wanna Be Mine" in 2008, that is, which even updated the original music video. Apparently the Clivilles and Cole remix of the original was an underground hit in the UK in the early 1990s, and there were fans who demanded an update. But I remember at the time reading an article that claimed that Denise had nothing to do with the rerelease and was barely even made aware of it, and didn't make much, if anything, off of it. And clearly she wasn't interested in riding on the attention it got her. She apparently now either lives in New York or LA and continues to make musical appearances every now and again. Denise, we want you back! Yours is a voice that cannot be denied! We DO feel it!

Video for Sayin' Sorry (Don't Make It Right)

Download Truth In Disguise

1		Sayin' Sorry (Don't Make It Right)
2		Tell Me What It Is
3		Stop The Fight
4		I Wanna Fall In Love With You
5		Truth In Disguise
6		If You Feel It
7		Causa U
8		Too Much Too Late
9		Power Of Suggestion

Video for Don't You Wanna Be Mine

Video for 2008 rerelease of Don't You Wanna Be Mine

Download Every Dog Has Her Day!!!

1		Don't You Wanna Be Mine
2		Communicate
3		Causa U
4		Land Of The Living
5		Love Come Down
6		It's Just My Heart That's Breakin'
7		Loving You A To Z
8		I Want U 2 Know
9		Layin' Down The Law
10		Everlasting Love

Big Trouble - Big Trouble (1988)

Big Trouble is a girl band that I had never heard of until recently, thanks to one of my fave weekly blog features on Popdose, Bottom Feeders: The Ass End Of The '80s, which features songs from the 1980s that made it into the Billboard Top 100 but not the Top 40. I've discovered many 'deserted' pop stars through that, so thanks Dave! Big Trouble was formed by TV exec Fred Silverman, who had also created TV sensations The Monkees. Obviously wanting to make a modern, female version of the Monkees, Fred did a country-wide search and finally chose Bobbie Eakes (lead vocals - and former Miss America finalist), Julia Farey (bass and background vocals), Rebecca Ryan (keyboards and background vocals) and Suzy Zarow (drums and background vocals). They were fortunate enough to get hooked up with the legendary Giorgio Moroder, who produced the whole album with assistance from various other producers. This gave them a dance-pop sound with a rock edge, reminiscent of Giorgio's work with acts like Berlin. Luckily for the girls, his talents helped them score a minor hit in 1987 with their first single, "Crazy World", which reached #71 on the Billboard Top 100. Coasting on this fame, their manager got them a gig as the house band for a comedy sketch show, Comedy Break, where they also occasionally performed in the skits. Yet, despite a 'hit', extensive touring, and television exposure, their second single, "When The Love Is Good", failed to chart and they broke up soon after. Though they likely all continued to perform, none but Farey, who joined all-female hard rock group Precious Metal, managed to get another high profile gig. In music, that is. Bobbie Eakes enjoyed her acting experience on Comedy Break so much that she decided to pursue acting, and in 1989 she joined the cast of soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful as Macy Alexander. She stayed in the role, off and on, until 2003, and then joined the cast of another soap opera, All My Children, as Krystal Carey, where she still appears. Through the years she also continued to sing, releasing an album of duets in 1994 with B&B love interest Jeff Trachta, which went double-platinum in Europe. She also recorded a successful country duet, "Tired Of Loving This Way", with Collin Raye in 2000, and released two solo albums - Here And Now in 1998 and Something Beautiful in 2005. She has even hosted country music shows on cable network Great American Country. Busy lady indeed! (Note: Major credit must be given to Isle fan Jason who graciously sent me the album after seeing it on my wanted list. Thanks so much again!!!!)

Video for Crazy World

Download Big Trouble

1		When The Love Is Good
2		Say Yes
3		One More Arrow
4		Cool Jerk
5		What About You And Me
6		Dangerous
7		Crazy World
8		Trains And Boats And Planes
9		I Like It
10		Lipstick

Tyka Nelson - Royal Blue (1988) & Yellow Moon, Red Sky (1992) DOUBLE POST!!

Poor Tyka Nelson has not had an easy road. While her superstar older brother Prince is considered one of the most important and influential artists of all time, Tyka is still pretty much unknown, despite having such a famous sibling. And her attempt at being a renowned artist in her own right fell flat, leading to very turbulent personal times. Tyka was born in 1960, and was Prince's only full sibling. Though their childhood wasn't the easiest, they had music to lift their spirits as both of their parents were musicians, which rubbed off on their kids. Of course Prince was the first out of the gate, and after a few moderately successful albums, he found international success with the 1999 album and then, of course, Purple Rain. According to Tyka, Prince offered her use of his Paisley Park studios and money to fund an album, but she wanted to get a contract on her own. It took her quite a few years, after going to college and having two kids, but she finally signed a deal with Chrysalis/Cooltempo Records (which, though the label denied it, likely happened because she was Prince's sister) and released her debut in 1988. The first single, the longing ballad "Marc Anthony's Tune", was a minor urban hit on Billboard. It was dedicated to her imaginary lover Marc Anthony. There was a lot of talk regarding her sanity when she did interviews for the album, as she wore a second watch that was on "Marc Anthony's time" and carried around a stuffed dinosaur named Jazz on a leash for interviews. There was also a lot of criticism, as she was inevitably compared to Prince and considered a much weaker singer and talent (I personally love her light, dreamy voice), and though the album was funky, sweet and produced in part by Prince collaborator David Z, it wasn't deemed 'Prince' enough for fans. She was also unfairly criticized for her appearance, as she was overweight and definitely not the beauty people associated with Prince thanks to his protegees like Vanity and Sheila E.. This, combined with her admitted shyness, resistance to interviews and lack of videos, gave her a very low profile. Her second single, the upbeat "L.O.V.E.", went mostly unnoticed and the label dropped her soon after. She managed to sign to the smaller label CMC International a few years later to release a second album, Yellow Moon, Red Sky, but the singles "Boy Do You Feel Lucky" and "I Want You" were only released in Europe and failed to chart anywhere, even though she updated her sound with a more pop yet urban vibe, even rapping on occasion! After the failure of this album everything went further downhill for Tyka. At one point, in the early 2000's, Tyka did an interview with the National Enquirer claiming that she was addicted to crack and had to sell her body for sex to get money to support her habit and kids. She claimed that Prince did nothing to help her out. She was later sadly deemed one of "Rock's Most Embarrassing Siblings" in Blender magazine. But Tyka resurfaced in 2006, with a new look, commitment to God and Myspace page. She claimed that God, her children, and Prince helped her kick her habit and get back on track. She independently released the very Prince-like gospel album A Brand New Me in 2008 and has presumably been happily working in the gospel world since.

Download Royal Blue

1		No Promises
2		L.O.V.E.
3		Paris
4		Be Good To Me
5		Marc Anthony's Tune
6		Royal Blue
7		Try My Passion
8		My Friend
9		This Girl's Gonna Fall In Love

Download Yellow Moon, Red Sky

1		The End
2		Boy Do You Feel Lucky
3		I Want You
4		Chosen One
5		In My Eyes
6		Depend On Me
7		Oh Love
8		Priceless
9		Keep On
10		Love All Over The World
11		Night Hawks
12		Yellow Moon, Red Sky