Genuine Parts - I Don't Care For You (1987)

"I Don't Care For You" was the second single from freestyle act Genuine Parts, an act created by freestyle great Avy Gonzalez. Initially the act consisted of a duo of lovely ladies, Ivette and Diley. They released "Did It Feel Like Love" in 1986 and it became an instant freestyle classic. It even got them a deal with Atlantic Records. Despite its success, the two ladies were exchanged with a couple other singers, and a backup band was also included as part of the act.  "I Don't Care For You" and their other two singles, "Show Me (What To Do)" and "Start Our Love Again", were not as successful, and the band broke up.  I love this song, though it lacks the upbeat Latin tinge of "Did It Feel Like Love".

Download I Don't Care For You

1 I Don't Care For You (Club Mix)
2 I Don't Care For You (Radio Mix)
3 Give Me A Break (Dub)
4 I Don't Care For You (Original Mix)

Gabriella ‎– Bottom Line (1987)

I adore this track, and wish Gabriella had released more music.  I have no idea who exactly she is, so perhaps she did record music under another name.  Whatever the case, the song was produced in part by Lonnie Simmons, the man behind Total Experience Records, whose biggest acts were The Gap Band and Yarbrough & Peoples.  If you like the electro-funk of those groups, you'll love this track, though many also consider it a freestyle track.  Whatever it is classified, it is a classic!

Download Bottom Line

1 Bottom Line (Rock Bottom Mix)
2 Bottom Line (Radio Mix)
3 Bottom Line (Bonus Beat Box Mix)
4 Bottom Line (Instrumental)
5 Bottom Line (Acappella, Acappella)

Alta Dustin - One Man Woman (1989)

Here is another artist whose album I featured on The Isle. This single is one of two she released prior to her album. Both this and "Tonite" were much more freestyle than most of the songs on the album, and unfortunately were not included.  Both were also produced by Tony Green, who worked closely with another Isle postee, Cindy Valentine.  Given that Alta later proudly came out, I wonder what she thinks of this track now, as she is no man's woman, and good on her! ;)

Download One Man Woman

1	One Man Woman (Clam Mix)
2	One Man Woman (7" Version)
3	One Man Woman (Clam Dub)
4	One Man Woman (Clam Edit)

Kristin Baio ‎– Don't Turn Your Back On Love (1988)

Here's a fun freestyle track that is most notable for being co-written by Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars fave Cindy Valentine.  Cindy finally released her own version on her 2009 rarities compilation Speak Your Mind.  The song was likely planned for her second album but Kristin released it instead.  Kristin only released one other single, "Keep On Runnin'," in 1992.





Download Don't Turn Your Back On Love

1	Don't Turn Your Back On Love (Club Mix)
2	Don't Turn Your Back On Love (Dub Mix)
3	Don't Turn Your Back On Love (Kristin's House Party)
4	Don't Turn Your Back On Love (Kristin's Groove)

Vanilla Mix - Easier Said Than Done (1987)

Here's another track that I don't know much about.  I have it on a double A-Side with Shari's "Stop If You Want My Lovin'", which was the track I originally bought it for, and it was originally released on my fave Canadian freestyle/hi-NRG label Sizzle, and originally mixed by the label head Teneen Ali.  It is an amazing Latin freestyle track with a lovely lead vocal, and haunting backing vocals.  Making it even better is that it was remixed by the amazing Robert Clivilles & David Cole, so while the Club Mix is pure freestyle, the Stardom Club Groove is a house stunner.

Download Easier Said Than Done

1		Easier Said Than Done (Club Mix)
2		Easier Said Than Done (Stardom Groove Club)

Jasmin - Gravity (1989)

As promised, here is a second Jasmin track.  It was released a year later than "Body Talk" and appears to be her last single, as neither song was a huge hit.  But at least we can still enjoy them now!  It follows a similar sound to "Body Talk" and is a lot of fun.  Enjoy!






Download Gravity

1		Gravity (Electro Housmatic Mix)
2		Gravity (Newton's Dub)
3		Gravity (Foley's Club Mix)
4		Gravity (Club Mix)
5		Gravity (7" Edit)

Jasmin - Body Talk (1988)

FINALLY, I'm back on this blog! It's been almost a year and a half since my last post!  Luckily I had a three year warranty on my turntable and finally replaced it.  So hopefully I'll be able to share quite a few new gems in the new year.  Let's start with two songs by Jasmin.  I know very little about her, as there are a ton of artists who have went by that name over the years.  But I do know that she released a single in 1984 called "Get Up And Dance" as well as an album of the same name, which you can preview and buy on iTunes or Amazon (for some reason an 'e' was added to the end of her name for the album only).  I only recently heard "Get Up And Dance" and recognized from the voice that it is the same woman that sings this, her first single four years later on CBS Associated.  The original version stays with the freestylish sound of her other single from 1984, "Stop (Before You Break My Heart)" , while the house and Euro mixes do indeed up the house factor.  Enjoy!

Download Body Talk

1		Body Talk (Club Original Mix)
2		Body Talk (Percapella)
1		Body Talk (EURO Mix)
2		Body Talk (House Mix)

Julia Santana - Love Has A Name (1990)

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.

Download Love Has A Name

1		Love Has A Name (Mojoe Nicosia Club Edit)
2		Love Has A Name (Charlie Casanova Club Version)

Pressure Point Featuring Ronit - Take Me Tonight (1987)

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!

Download Take Me Tonight

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 - King Of The Jungle (Cum A Laude Veste) (1988)

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!

Download King Of The Jungle (Cum A Laude Veste)

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)

Michelle Blade - Tonight (1990)

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.




Download Tonight

1		Tonight (Power Mix)
2		Tonight (Percapella)
3		Tonight (Extended Mix)
4		Tonight (Single)

Fausta Monaco - Don't Give Up Our Love (1988)

And once again we have a mystery lady from Canada. I do remember Fausta performing this track on Electric Circus. It was released on the hi-NRG Power label, and remixed by it's founder Vincent Degiorgio, though it is more of a freestyle track. It's very similar to the works of Nancy Martinez, and also includes a nice house mix by the K. Bros. I believe that this was Fausta's only single.



Download Don't Give Up Our Love

1		Don't Give Up Our Love (Vince's Mix)
2		Don't Give Up Our Love (Mark's Mix)
3		Don't Give Up Our Love (K. Bros. House Mix)
4		Don't Give Up Our Love (Vince's Dub Mix)
5		Don't Give Up Our Love (Bonga Conga Instrumental)

Lizzie Tear - Silver Surfer (1989)

Lizzie Tear was a lovely British lass who had promise that was unfortunately never fully realized. She was signed and produced by the group ABC, and an EP, Enter The Lizard, was released as well as several singles in the late 1980s. This track is indeed an ode to the Marvel superhero. The Radical Mix is by Tim Simenon of Bomb The Bass and Nellee Hooper of Soul II Soul, but is mostly instrumental. I prefer the Apocalypse Surf Mix, which is a lost freestyle classic, IMO, in the vein of Mantronix.


Download Silver Surfer

1		Silver Surfer (Radical Mix)
2		Silver Surfer (Percapella)
3		Silver Surfer (Apocalypse Surf Mix)

Tina K. - Talk To Me (1987)

Here is another mystery artist from Canada. This Hi-NRG (and vaguely freestyle) track was written and produced by John Brenner, who worked out of Montreal and produced many Hi-NRG and disco songs throughout the 1980s. He also worked with Tina K. on her only other single, 1987's "All I Wanna Do (Is Make Love To You)", which is NOT a version of the Heart hit. It was released on the very indie Dance Plant label.

UPDATE:  No longer a mystery!  Tina K.'s real name is Tiziana Kutic. She was born in Montreal. She was part of the group Mannequin with Brenner, and they released "Boom Bam" in 1987. She also released the track "Heart In Two" in 1988.  In 1990 she moved to Belgium and in 1991 released the house track "Seduce Me" as Tiziana, and then released three eurohouse tracks in 1994 as Kontesa, "Skies Are Blue" and "Does Anybody Love This Girl?" backed with the awesome B-side "Kiss Me Deep".  She then moved to New York and worked with composer David Shea, whom she later married. She has continued to be active in the music scene in New York.  Who knew?  And Dance Plant Records is also still going strong, and has remastered, remixed and rereleased all three Tina K. singles.

Live Performance

Download Talk To Me

1		Talk To Me
2		Talk To Me (Instrumental)
3		Talk To Me (Radio Version)

Louie Louie - The Girl Who Seduced The World (1987)

This was the first single released by Louie Louie, the boy who was Madonna's love interest in the "Borderline" video and whose two albums I featured on The Isle Of Deserted Pop Stars. It is a remake of a Jon St. James track and was also produced by St. James (of Bardeux and Stacey Q fame). It's a fun synth-pop, almost freestyle track.




Download The Girl Who Seduced The World

1		The Girl Who Seduced The World (Dance Club Mix)
2		The Girl Who Seduced The World (Radio Edit)
3		The Girl Who Seduced The World (Instrumental)

Lois And Lane - Turn On The Night (1987)

Lois And Lane are a mystery group from Canada that released this one track, though a remix 12" was also issued with the extra track "Keep It Up" (both 12"s are included here). The original version of "Turn On The Night" is an awesome, overlooked electro freestyle jam, one of my faves of all time. The remix release included a slightly altered, extended version and a house mix, but the revelation is "Keep It Up", another solid freestyle track. The songs are produced by the K-Bros, a prolific Canadian 80s house and HiNRG team.

UPDATE: Excitingly, Yo Vanderkley, one half of Lois & Lane, wrote to clear things up!  Here's what she had to say:

"Actually, Turn on the Night was recorded in Toronto. The beautiful lead vocal on this track was sung by Linda Hanchar and I sang back up vocals. We were Lois and Lane. I was also Crystal in The Pink (Back to You) and Boiling Point (Starstruck Lover). Linda has also been featured on multiple records and many were recorded at Kensington Sound Studio (including the two Fire And Ice singles also posted here.  Linda and Yo were also in the successful disco group Harlow. - Nasty G) Nice to know these recordings are still being enjoyed! Yo Vanderkley http://musicbyyo.com"

Download Turn On The Night

1		Turn On The Night (Dance Mix)
2		Turn On The Night (Instrumental)
3		Turn On The Night (Radio Mix)

4		Turn On The Night (Dance Remix)
5		Turn On The Night (House Mix)
6		Keep It Up

Dana Rayne - Object Of My Desire (2003)

American Dana Rayne had a dance hit with this, her electro/breakbeat remake of Starpoint's 1985 R&B hit. She released a few more singles and was working on a debut album, but then joined a revamped La Bouche and has been touring with them ever since.





Download Object Of My Desire

1		Object Of My Desire (Hyperspace Breakbeat Radio)
2		Object Of My Desire (Johnny Budz Radio Edit)
3		Object Of My Desire (Valentin Radio Edit)

Solina - Show Me Love Tonight (1995)

Here are remixes of one of Solina's many releases from her Body And Soul album, which is available on the Isle. It includes a Megamix that mixes this song with I Wanna Know.







Download Show Me Love Tonight

1		Show Me Love Tonight (Radio Premier Mix)
2		Show Me Love Tonight (Original Mix)
3		Show Me Love Tonight (Basement Mix)
4		Show Me Love Tonight (Mi-Ro Mix)
5		Show Me Love Tonight (Club Mix)
6		Megamix

Velva Blu - Barbie Girl (1997)

Yes, this is indeed a remake of the Aqua song, and a bad one IMO. It was made and produced in Miami, Florida, and is almost the same as the original, but with worse vocals. An album by this act also came out with kid-friendly remakes of past hits. If you love the song and have wanted to hear electro-freestyle versions (the "Trip Hop" mix is one), then download now.




Download Barbie Girl

1		Barbie Girl (Radio Mix)
2		Barbie Girl (Extended Mix)
3		Barbie Girl (Trip Hop Radio Mix)
4		Barbie Girl (Extended Hit Mix)
5		Barbie Girl (Deep Club Mix)
6		Barbie Girl (Dub Mix)
7		Barbie Girl (Miami Radio Mix)
8		Barbie Girl (Extended Miami Mix)
9		Barbie Girl (Hit Radio Mix)