Download Out Of My Life
| 1 | Out Of My Life (Don't Mess With Me) | |||
| 2 | Out Of My Life (Under Ground Mix) | |||
| 3 | Don't Fuck With Me (Mix) | |||
| 4 | Out Of My Life (Dub) |
(From the Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars)
| 1 | Out Of My Life (Don't Mess With Me) | |||
| 2 | Out Of My Life (Under Ground Mix) | |||
| 3 | Don't Fuck With Me (Mix) | |||
| 4 | Out Of My Life (Dub) |
| 1 | Superstar (Album Version) | |||
| 2 | Superstar (Star Mix) | |||
| 3 | Superstar (Super Dub) | |||
| 4 | Superstar (Ecstasy Mix) | |||
| 5 | Superstar (Electro Mix) | |||
| 6 | Superstar (Star Radio Edit) |
| 1 | Let's All Jack | |||
| 2 | Let's All Chant (Bonus Beats) | |||
| 3 | Let's All Chant (Jack Mix) | |||
| 4 | Let's All Chant |
| 1 | Gravity (Electro Housmatic Mix) | |||||||
| 2 | Gravity (Newton's Dub) | |||||||
| 3 | Gravity (Foley's Club Mix) | |||||||
| 4 | Gravity (Club Mix) | |||||||
| 5 | Gravity (7" Edit) |
| 1 | Body Talk (Club Original Mix) | |||
| 2 | Body Talk (Percapella) | |||
| 1 | Body Talk (EURO Mix) | |||
| 2 | Body Talk (House Mix) |
And yet another Canadian rarity. I featured Pobi's only album, released in 1993, some time ago on The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars. But this was one of her first two releases in 1988. I saw her perform this on the old dance show Electric Circus and I bought it soon after. While her album is more eurohouse, this was a fantastic straight up pop-dance song. The house mix is quite haunting as well.| 1 | Dance With Me (Dance Mix) | ||
| 2 | Dance With Me (Radio Mix) | ||
| 3 | Dance With Me (Club Mix) | ||
| 4 | Dance With Me (House Mix) |
I featured Pobi's album of the same name on The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars. Go there for what little info I could gather. This was likely her biggest 'hit', a remake of the Real Life song. Enjoy!| 1 | Send Me An Angel (Cocktail Party Mix) | |||
| 2 | Send Me An Angel |
So, I just featured Carrie McDowell's album on The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars. Go there for all the details on Carrie. But I happen to have the original version of "Casual Sex", which isn't on the album. A bit different than the more popular remixed version on the album, before they thought to add the 'Uh Uh, No No' to the title. ;) It also includes the awesome funky non-album track "Prove It". Enjoy!
| 1 | Casual Sex (12" Mix) | ||
| 2 | Casual Sex (7" Version) | ||
| 3 | Casual Sex (Instrumental) | ||
| 4 | Prove It |
Here's another pop gem from 1986 by another artist whose album was featured on The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars - Robey. As mentioned there, this single was her one and only on her new label, Chrysalis. It's a dance-pop tune in the same vein as those on her previous album. It's unknown whether she was to release a new album on Chrysalis or not, but if the bonus track here, "Paris, Paree", is any indication of the direction the album was to go, it would have been a very strange listen indeed. ;)| 1 | I Surrender | ||
| 2 | I Surrender (Dub Mix) | ||
| 3 | Paris, Paree |
I did a post on the Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars early last year on Regina, the lady who had one big hit with the Madonna-esque "Baby Love" in 1986. As I mentioned, two other singles were released off of her album Curiosity, and here is the extended mixes of one of them. "Head On" is very similar to "Baby Love". This mix is very sample-heavy, repeating spoken bits from the song and even having a track, "One Minute Of Head", dedicated to the "Head" in the title.| 1 | Head On (Vocal 12" Mix) | ||
| 2 | Head On (Vocal Dub Mix) | ||
| 3 | One Minute Of Head |
I did a post on Shirley Lewis on The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars some time ago, and mentioned that this single preceded her album on A&M Records and likely led to her album deal. It does not appear on the album, but would have fit well with its poppier side. As my friend Max pointed out, it is a remake of the Jo Joe song from 1987 and is very similar, not surprising considering it was produced by the same team of Jolley/Harris/Jolley, who also wrote it. The remixes here dance it up a bit.| 1 | (You Used To Be) Romantic (Some Like It Hot Mix) | ||
| 2 | (You Used To Be) Romantic (The Hot & Bothered Remix) | ||
| 3 | (You Used To Be) Romantic (Romancing The Street Mix) | ||
| 4 | (You Used To Be) Romantic (Terrific Dub) |
Brenda Jay Nelson is known primarily as a session singer. She has done backing vocals for many acts including Nona Hendryx, Freddie Jackson, Melba Moore, Al Green and even a couple Isle postees - Nokko and Vanessa Paradis. Her greatest fame as a backing singer was with the group Scritti Politti, and her vocals were even featured up front in one of their songs, "Hypnotize" (one of my fave songs, BTW - and that's not her in the video, alas). Another artist she did backing vocals for was Robert Palmer, who produced this song and her entire self-titled debut album, which was a soul-pop affair, as is this song. It failed to make any sort of impression, and Ms. Nelson went back to session singing. Check out her Myspace page for her current goings-on.| 1 | | Evidence Of Love (Urban Mix) | |
| 2 | | Evidence Of Love |
I knew nothing of Julia Santana other than this track, and I hadn't really even listened to it much. It's a fun, little known freestyle track that includes a good house mix on the 12". Julia released two other freestyle tracks with the same production duo of Kenny Krytell and Louis Caceres - "Sooner Or Later" on Posse Records in 1988 and "Surrender Your Heart" on MicMac in 1991. This was her only track that was released on a major label, Atlantic, likely due to the presence of heavyweight remixers Mojoe Nicosia (who also remixed Isle postees Chena, Tricia Leigh Fisher and Rumorz) and Charlie Casanova (who also remixed Isle postees Blue Pearl, Cindy Valentine and Jomanda). So I was surprised to see that Julia is still active in the music biz (and looking good!), having appeared as Mimi in Rent and recorded new music in her favoured genre, rock. See her Myspace page for more.| 1 | | Love Has A Name (Mojoe Nicosia Club Edit) | |
| 2 | | Love Has A Name (Charlie Casanova Club Version) |
It's been awhile, I know, but I'm back with a few more gems. First up is this remake of the 1975 Silver Convention disco classic. It was released on Canada's Sizzle Records as a double A side with Natasha's freestyle song "Be Gentle With My Heart". Like that track, I suspect it was produced by the man behind most of Sizzle Records' releases, Teneen Ali (see previous post on Shari), though production is credited to the 'Sizzle Connection'. It is basically a straight-forward remake, with a little less disco and a little more synth.| 1 | | Fly Robin Fly (Club Mix) |
I featured Sheree's first and last albums on The Isle, but did not post Miss My Love because it was already featured on The Music Spectrum. This was the second single released from that album, and here it is remixed with a much funkier vibe. Obviously I love me some Sheree, as this is the fourth post on her here, and there will be more to come!| 1 | Serious (Album Version) | ||
| 2 | Serious (CHR Remix Edit) | ||
| 3 | Serious (The D Tone Serious Boom Mix) |
Here is a little-known Canadian freestyle/house track that really must be heard. It has a very similar vibe to the electro house songs produced by the Komix crew (which includes previous postee Jillian Mendez) but with a more freestyle flavour. It was produced by Tzvi Erez, who was partly responsible for previous postee Patrick L. Myles' big hit "My Heart's On Fire", which was also released on Vincent Degiorgio's Power label. Degiorgio and Erez wrote the track with singer Ronit Benyovits. Love this track!| 1 | Take Me Tonight (The Extended "L.O.V." Mix) | ||
| 2 | Take Me Tonight (The Novox Mix - Instrumental) | ||
| 3 | Take Me Tonight (Edit) |
Nancy Kay is Nancy K. Goltsman, wife of house and freestyle producer and head of Bottom Line Records Edward Goltsman, better known as Ed The Red. Together they wrote and produced many an underground house and freestyle song. They also released music together under the monikers ODC and Red Follies. Nancy released only two singles of her own, the other being "Sun Above The Rain (Fly Away)". "King Of The Jungle" is a very unique track, a house/freestyle hybrid with plenty of jungle and even Tarzan samples. In fact, the Samplepella is just a bunch of the samples used strung together. Definitely a fun, original dance track!| 1 | King Of The Jungle (Cum A Laude Veste) (Edited Version) | ||
| 2 | King Of The Jungle (Cum A Laude Veste) (Instrumental Red Dub) | ||
| 3 | King Of The Jungle (Cum A Laude Veste) (Samplepella) | ||
| 4 | King Of The Jungle (Cum A Laude Veste) (Jungle Dance Mix) | ||
| 5 | King Of The Jungle (Cum A Laude Veste) (Flume Dance Dub) |
I can only assume that Kristine Morrell is a Canadian artist. I cannot find any info on her on the internet, but she did release her first single "Love Thing" on the awesome Canadian house label Blast Records in 1990. It was picked up by MCA Records and released as a promo in 1991, which I have and will hopefully feature in the future - I tried to rip the vinyl but it keeps skipping. :( That is a fun pop house song, and so is "Been So Long", which was released independently in the US. The B side, "Walk Away," is a change of pace, a very sexy mid-tempo funk track. Check out the 8 and a half minute long 'Minneapolis Purple Sex Remix', a hypnotic, trippy and funky ride.| 1 | Been So Long (Belgium Dance Remix) | ||
| 2 | Been So Long (Radio Edit) | ||
| 3 | Walk Away (Minneapolis Purple Sex Remix) | ||
| 4 | Walk Away (Radio Sex) |
Thanks to a request from Jeff on Facebook, I offer you Shari's "Sugar Sugar". Shari, like previous postee Yasmine, is a one-named mystery girl who was produced by Canadian Hi-NRG and freestyle producer Teneen Ali. Also like Yasmine, Shari's single is a Hi-NRG remake, this time of The Archies classic. Unlike Yasmine, Shari did record at least one other single, the better known freestyle song "Stop If You Want My Lovin'", also produced by Teneen Ali, which you can download at Freestyle Rebirth. Thanks for the request, Jeff!| 1 | Sugar Sugar | ||
| 2 | Sugar Sugar (Radio Mix) |
Sharon Lee Williams is well known in the Canadian music industry, but she only ever released one single as a solo artist. She did manage a hit as part of the group Sway and their remake of Ottawan's "Hands Up" in 1987 (which I also mentioned on The Isle in the Chantal Condor post. ;) and contributed vocals to the work of many other artists. Her only solo release was released a couple of years after the Sway hit, and the original is very 80s pop/R&B. The 'Your Place Mix' is a lot faster and has a very Pointer Sisters-ish sound, and the 'My Place Mix" is a lot funkier. But my fave is the 'Percusappella'. Sharon is still involved in the music industry and has even been a vocal coach for Canadian Idol. She currently runs her own vocal coaching company out of Toronto, MusicEnt Productions.| 1 | Your Place Or Mine (Your Place Mix) | ||
| 2 | Your Place Or Mine (Original 7 Inch) | ||
| 3 | Your Place Or Mine (My Place Mix) | ||
| 4 | Your Place Or Mine (Percusappella) |
Here is our next Canadian dance diva, Quebec's Sonia Papp. There is very little info available on this little lady, even though she released three albums in 1990s - the first two, in 1990 and 1993, (with the spelling of her first name chanced to Sonya) very dancey pop albums, and the last, in 1993, much more pop rock. I have all three albums and plan on featuring them on The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars in the future, so I'll leave the details to a minimum here. Suffice it to say, this was her first single, a Hi-NRG number with a light house touch that remains her best known song. It was produced by John Farley, who also worked on Pobi's "Dance With Me", also featured here, and later with Nancy Martinez. Enjoy!| 1 | Undercover Lover (Dance Mix) | ||
| 2 | Undercover Lover (Power 45) | ||
| 3 | Undercover Lover (Dub Mix) |
I have once again neglected this blog, and I apologize, but I return with peace offerings - a slew of pop-dance singles by Canadian female singers. I featured Kim Esty on the Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars already, so go there for more info on the lady. This single was one of her first, independently released somewhere in the late 1980's (the single itself doesn't say). It's a mid-tempo dance pop song (the version on her Variety Show and Best Of is a newer, ballad version) that was her first collaboration with Barry Harris from Thunderpuss, who would guide her to later success. The Hi-Bias and RPM mixes change the pace to housey and hip hop-ish respectively. And it also features one of the first remixes by Barry's future Thunderpuss partner Chris Cox. A lovely track that began a lengthy career in pop music.| 1 | Make You Mine (The Chris Cox Mix) | ||
| 2 | Make You Mine (Original Mix) | ||
| 3 | Make You Mine (The RPM Mix) | ||
| 4 | Make You Mine (The Hi-Bias Mix) | ||
| 5 | Make You Mine (Radio) |
This single is one that reminds me why I enjoy doing these blogs. You just never know what you're going to find out about these artists! I thought this was just a random one off single by some pop tart, but instead Nightcat was a creation of Marvel Comics! Marvel creator Stan Lee wanted to develop a female superhero who crossed over into the real world. Like Dazzler, this hero was also a rock singer. So they released an issue of the Nightcat comic book and hired actress/singer Jacqueline Tavarez to embody Nightcat in real life. They recorded an entire album simply titled Nightcat. This was the only single. Both the comic and album bombed and Jacqueline was fired, she claims because she appeared in a music video by Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher's ex-lover Joey Buttafuoco!! She has since appeared nude in the film Tromeo And Juliet and that's about it. For more on the Nightcat story, go HERE. I would have died for this had I known it existed back in the day, as I was both a music and comic book fiend! As for this song, it's actually a really good dance pop track (like something from Pajama Party, whose 'ghost' vocalist Nikki Gregoroff also has credits on the Nightcat album and is likely the one actually singing this), and the remixes give it a tasty house edge. Apparently the rest of the album is very rock oriented, but I would still LOVE to get my hands on it!| 1 | #1 House Rule (12" House Mix) | ||
| 2 | #1 House Rule (12" House Dub) | ||
| 3 | #1 House Rule (7" Radio Version) | ||
| 4 | #1 House Rule (Nightcat Mix) | ||
| 5 | #1 House Rule (Rock The Dub Mix) | ||
| 6 | #1 House Rule (7" Mix) |
April Wayne was a bikini model and occasional actress in the 80s, and this was her only single. It was produced by the people behind Stacey Q and Bardeux, and while the original is poppy fun, the remixes make it a house scorcher.| 1 | The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall (Passion Mix) | ||
| 2 | The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall (The Big Shot Mix) | ||
| 3 | The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall (The Original Mix) | ||
| 4 | The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall (The Invasion Of The Hippie Zombie Guys) |
Sorry that I've been neglecting this blog lately. But I'm back! And back with a bang! This track from the amazing Michelle Blade, whose talent and beauty are limitless, is one of my fave songs of all time. I featured Michelle on the Isle, and mentioned how I discovered her with her performance of this song on Electric Circus. It is a genius mix of hip hop, freestyle and house, and to me it's timeless. Enjoy! And check out Michelle's awesome new music on Myspace and Facebook.| 1 | Tonight (Power Mix) | ||
| 2 | Tonight (Percapella) | ||
| 3 | Tonight (Extended Mix) | ||
| 4 | Tonight (Single) |
Queen B was a British duo comprised of Belinda Lee (nee Leith) and Ray Kovacs. This was their only single, and though it was given a huge push in the UK, it was not a hit. Plans for an album were scrapped and the two broke up. The duo Shampoo would have greater success with this punk-pop sound a few years later. Belinda later joined the alt-rock group Daisy Chainsaw, replacing the lead singer. It is rumoured that the original Queen B songs have recently gotten a publisher behind them, so perhaps we'll hear more soon.| 1 | Red Top Hot Shot (Lead-Free Mix) | |||
| 2 | Red Top Hot Shot | |||
| 3 | Gardening |
This is another of those imports that I picked up from a dollar bin back in the day. I know nothing about Exception other than that the song was written and produced by British production trio Jolley/Harris/Jolley, who would later go on to release their own songs under monikers like Spider, Circuit and Mann. (Perhaps this was just another moniker.) They had their greatest success many years after this as trippy soul act Innocence, which was fronted by Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars featured artist, Gee Morris. This is one of their earliest works, and is clearly made to sound like a Stock, Aitken and Waterman song, especially something by Mel & Kim. It was even released on Mel & Kim's SAW based label, Supreme (that's SAW act Princess' hand you see on the sleeve). One other song was released by Exception, "Slap You Back", which appeared on the Mona Lisa soundtrack the same year, and it's unsurprisingly reminiscent of something by Princess.| 1 | Jump With It (High St. Mix) | |||
| 2 | Jump With It (7" Radio Version) | |||
| 3 | Jump With It (The Camden Dub Mix) |
I featured Adele Bertei's one solo album from 1988 on the Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars some time ago. Before she moved into that adult contemporary sound, she released a couple of solo dance singles. She released the Thomas Dolby produced "Build A Bridge" in 1983, and this was her follow up. It was produced in part by David Gamson and Fred Maher of popular Brit new wave group Scritti Politti and also features vocals by their frontman Green Gartside, so it sounds a lot like a Scritti Politti track. She would go on to do featured vocals on dance hits by Jellybean and Arthur Baker, and also explore other musical avenues.| 1 | When It's Over (Dance Mix) | |||
| 2 | When It's Over (Metal Mix) | |||
| 3 | Every Little Bit Hurts |
Another mystery artist, this track by Yasmine came out on Canadian label Sizzle and was produced by Canadian Hi-NRG and freestyle maestro Teneen Ali, probably best known for his work with Nancy Martinez. It is an English, Hi-NRG remake of the Italian song "Tutta La Vita" originally recorded by Lucio Dalla in 1984, and then remade in Spanish in 1986 as "Toda La Vida" by two artists, Franco and Emmanuel. In fact, Emmanuel's version replaced Franco's version on top of Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks chart. I believe that this is Yasmine's only release.| 1 | Toda La Vida (Coco Loco Mix) | ||
| 2 | Toda La Vida (Radio Mix) |
I know nothing about Denise Motto. All I can tell you is that her first release was the double sided single "Miss Demeanor / IMNXTC" in 1986. While "Miss Demeanor" was a Bobby Orlando-ish Hi-NRG song which Denise sang the vocals on, "IMNXTC" was an acid house-ish track on which she spoke. It was such a huge hit in the clubs that she released it again a year later as "I M N X T C (Jack Your Body To The Beat)", as well as the track "Doing It Properly - Is XTC". This was at the height of the 'jack' craze (the most poppish example being the Reynolds Girls' "I'd Rather Jack"). "Tell Jack" was the next single and very much in the same vein. It is one of my fave house tracks. She released one more double sided single, "Totally Serious / Every Woman", before disappearing.| 1 | Tell Jack (Jack The House) | ||
| 2 | Tell Jack (Jack The House) (Dub) |
Jillian Mendez was born in Trinidad but grew up in Toronto. She kicked around the Toronto music scene for several years and finally hooked up with local house label Bigshot Records. This was her first track on the classic label, with production by the label's co-founder, the legendary Andrew Komis aka Komix, who created a very distinct electro house sound. It became a minor hit in the UK, and is one of my all-time faves. She released another single on Bigshot, "Don't Know What You're Missin", and a single on major label 4th & Broadway (as Gillian Mendez), "Feel Like Making Love" (which included a remix of "Get Up" - I'll feature that single in the future). She is still active in music and was performing in Toronto in the late 2000s with her funk/rock/jazz band Groove Matrix, with whom she was said to be recording an album. Check out her website for more.| 1 | Get Up (E.Z. Mix) | ||
| 2 | Get Up (Nix Bop Mix) | ||
| 3 | Get Up (Eastside Dub) | ||
| 4 | Love's Over |
As promised, here is another single from LA group Fire On Blonde. (I posted another single, "Stop And Think", awhile back HERE.) The song was later recorded by pop singer Alisha in 1990 and was a minor hit for her, but not for Fire On Blonde. The versions are virtually the same only with different vocals, which makes sense as both versions were produced by 80s and 90s pop maestro Michael Jay (as was the single "Wrong Number", which was also released by both acts).| 1 | Bounce Back (12" Version) | ||
| 2 | Bounce Back (Radio Version) | ||
| 3 | Bounce Back (House Dub) | ||
| 4 | Bounce Back (7" Remix) | ||
| 5 | Bounce Back (Acapella) |
Brit Kerry Shaw released this one single, an upbeat techno-house number which never became a hit. She later became part of indie-pop band Whistler with former EMF member Ian Dench. They released two albums at the end of the 1990s and then split. No idea what she's up to now, but it's a shame she didn't release more singles like this one.| 1 | Could This Be Love? (Night Fever Mix) | ||
| 2 | Could This Be Love? (Diss-Cuss Vocal Mix) | ||
| 3 | Could This Be Love? (The Chameleon Mix) |
Here is the second single from Odette Doiley. Her first, "Comin' At You Boy", I featured HERE. Thankfully Odette herself gave me permission to share this with everyone. This song is similar to her first - poppy electro funk. It's a great track, released under her first name only. I'm keeping my eyes open for her third single. ;)| 1 | Love Walked (Out Of My Life) (Vocal) | ||
| 2 | Love Walked (Out Of My Life) (Dub Version) | ||
| 3 | Love Walked (Out Of My Life) (Club Edit) |
Now for something a little different. Stiletto Fetish were a sassy Canadian female duo who had a small underground cult following in the late 80s/early 90s. Kim Jacobson and Liane Alliston specialized in provocative rap rock with a goth edge. This was their first self-released single, a remake of the Partridge Family hit, with the original track 'Broke On Coke'. The video got a lot of play back in the day. They later changed their name to just The Fetish and released one self-titled mini-album in 1992, which I have posted on the Isle. According to Kim they were signed to Warner UK (but never released anything on it), and she is now a flight attendant and Liane is apparently married to a rich man. LOL This is a very acquired taste, but it is amazing how many people have requested this in the past. Enjoy?| 1 | I Think I Love You | ||
| 2 | Broke On Coke |
Canadian singer Sheree Jeacocke began her long recording career in 1985 and released several albums and singles in many different genres over the next 13 years years as either just Sheree (under which she had her biggest hit "Woman's Work"), just Jeacocke, Deeva or her full name. (To download two of her albums, please visit The Music Conflux.) J-Cock appears to be the last moniker she used before she pretty much left the music industry to pursue real estate. For a fairly comprehensive look at her discography, go HERE. She was also featured on the Pleasure Beat track I also posted HERE. This track seems to be her last proper physical release, and is a mid-tempo soul version of the Stevie Wonder classic with some ragga flavour added by Mystah Munroe.
| 1 |
| Sunshine Of My Life (Ragga Sunshine Mix) |
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| 2 |
| Sunshine Of My Life (Massive Sunshine Mix) |
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| 3 |
| Sunshine Of My Life (J-Cockin' Mix) |