The eclectic playlist of a former music junkie who had to give up her addiction when she became hearing impaired. Reviews, cherished memories, videos and audio. Come and lend me your ears
The Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, passed away after a battle with cancer this morning. As a 70s child, and also sharing the name Donna, I was familiar with her chart presence. I loved her style and beauty, she really paved the way for a lot of black female artists into mainstream music. So sad that I'm honoring another musical icon after their death. There will be more on this blog about Donna's unforgettable music.
The two biggest talent shows on UK TV
(The Voice BBC1 and Britain's Got Talent) both featured contestants
singing Terrence Trent D'arby's 80's smash hit Sign Your Name Across
My Heart. I'm not fit to judge anybody but I think Tyler James (The
Voice) did a better job. My TV was on maximum and I liked what
(little) I heard. Of course, me singing along (badly) made my
curious daughter want to know how I knew the song so well and who
sung it originally.
Well... back to the 80's I travelled
down memory lane. When Terrence released his debut single If You Let
Me Stay in 1987 his 'prancing' around stage was a bit too much for
me. Also with his one short, one tall male backing singers a lot of
people were certain he was just another gimmick artist (Jermaine
Stewart was one amongst a few) and there was a lot of curiosity about
his sexuality, especially as he busted a braided bob. It was when he
released the bluesy ballad Sign Your Name that I sat up and noticed.
Terrence's raspy and refined vocals over that unforgettable beat had
everybody singing along back then. I never bought the album
Introducing The Hardline According To Terrence Trent D'arby (UK sales
5x platinum) but follow up singles Wishing Well and the funky rocky
pop Dance Little Sister were big and lasting favourites of mine.
A FUNKTASTIC LIVE RECORDING OF TERRENCE PERFOMING DANCE LITTLE SISTER
Terrence's vocal saxophone in the
bridge of Dance Little Sister “Do Do Do Doooo, Do Do Do, Do Do Do
Do Du Du Do, Do Do Dooo” was the catchiest thing ever. Some
critics compared him as a cross between James Brown and Prince and
its clear to see influences were there, the dancing style of the
former and the effeminate image of the latter. I regret not
appreciating his art enough back then as its hard for me to recapture
the magic but I hope music lovers who were around in the 80's do
recognise his talent and the impact his music made on pop back then.
After his 1993 album Symphony Or Damn
which released the rocky She Kissed Me and the beautiful ballad Let
Her Down Easy Terrence disappeared from the charts and as there
wasn't the internet access we're fortunate to have now, it was hard
to follow up on what he was doing. He officially changed his name
to Sananda Maitreya in 2001 and still records music.
Sananda! I've had a blessed and funky
weekend watching your videos on Youtube and sharing that magic with
my kids. Unforgettable music I'm eternally grateful for, I salute
you.
Check out Terrence Trent D'arby's hits on my mixpod in the side bar
'Fruit At The Bottom' is the second studio album released by Wendy
and Lisa after their departure from The Revolution. I bought this
album, in cassette form after becoming hooked on Prince's music the
previous year as a young teen and highly rating Wendy and Lisa's
contribution on recordings with Prince and The Revolution. There was
(and still is) something inspiringly wonderful and entrancing, to me,
when it came to female musicians. I think it boils down to the inner
musician I aspired to be but sadly didn't get to fulfil. Back in the
80's, Wendy and Lisa, Sheila E and the Bangles brought 'Girl Power'
to the forecourt of pop music whilst their other female
contemporaries were satisfied showcasing their vocal and dancing
abilities as opposed to performing music. Wendy and Lisa at Amazon
'Are You My Baby?' was the albums most popular release in the UK.
Many critics and Prince fans said their music was a carbon of
Prince's style which is insulting to their talent. Wendy and Lisa
come from musical families and shared a lot of their creativity with
Prince during The Revolution era without getting much credit for
their art. Of course influences and similarities are going to be
heard. I don't remember their music getting a lot of air play on the
radio but the video for 'Are You My Baby' was often screened on cable
tv, Cable Jukebox was the channel if I remember right. I was
intrigued, their image was a world away from the clothes they sported
in The Revolution and they were funky.
'Fruit At The Bottom' is a feelgood throwback to pop music of the
late 80's opening the doors of the dance sounds of the early 90's.
'Lolly Lolly', 'Are You My Baby?' and 'Satisfaction' are all funky
club tracks. Undertones of R&B Soul can be heard in ballads
'Tears Of Joy', 'Always In My Dreams' and the uplifting 'Someday I'.
'From Now On (we're one)' and the album title track 'Fruit At The
Bottom' are what I call punchy pop with a hit of rock. The former
has a stunning guitar solo by Wendy, the latter is an electrifying,
drum thrashing composition that certainly never did my ears any
favours, maxed out on my personal stereo whilst I air-drummed Carla's
(Wendy and Lisa's drummer) sticks. Lisa's grand piano at the start
of 'I Think It Was December' rattles listeners soul for the gospel
influenced melody that's to come.
'Everyday' is the one song on 'Fruit At The Bottom', in my personal
opinion, that screams Prince and that's not a diss to Wendy and Lisa,
but a beautiful compliment. 'Everyday' doesn't imitate him but as a
fan I could imagine him co-singing on the track and the vocal
arrangement highlights how great Wendy and Lisa were with Prince,
totally mesmerising. With so many great songs, it was no surprise,
yet totally upsetting when the reel on my cassette bust after
constant rewinding years later. I updated to the CD version via
Amazon as my album collection wouldn't be truly mine without
it. My daughters dig Wendy and Lisa too.
Check out Wendy and Lisa music and videos from Donnatella's Playlist on the mixpod in the side menu
Look out for more Wendy and Lisa reviews in future posts
“Boy Meets Girl
and Girl Meets Boy
They Promise Each
Other Eternal Joy
Thanking Heaven and
God Above
For They Never
Thought
That They Would Find
Such A Love
Singing Lolly Lee
Lolly Lee
Forever They're
Together
Hearts And Souls
Forever Free”
'Lolly Lolly' L Coleman and W Melvoin 1989 Virgin Records Ltd
