Swing Out Sister's 90's Love Child

While rummaging though clothes racks and finally buying all the sweaters I didn't bother to buy in the Fall, I heard this lovely track playing from the store speakers. Audio on this version is crappy but you'll get the idea. Was a big Swing Out Sister fan for approximately one season in the 80s when the "Breakout" 45 was on constant rotation. Never really warmed to their other stuff as they got more jazzy and less pop...but perhaps I need to revisit.

Swing Out Sister - "Love Child"

George Clinton + Public Enemy+ Prince

UNDERAPPRECIATED!!! This song George Clinton/Public Enemy did absolutely zilch when it came out in 1989. And the album version was sort of annoying with 80s style production. But this 12" mix (which apparently was the single version too - smart) was remixed by none other than Prince and at least made it sound like it came out in 1990.

Good stuff! And rare too. It's slow to load but be patient.

George Clinton f/Public Enemy - "Tweakin' (Paisley Park Mix)" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZqHJgkp4Eg

 

90s House favorites....Blue Pearl, Bizarre Inc...and Billy Idol?

So I'm diving back down the early 90s house rabbit hole....

This song was on some random 90s compilation I had.... it wasn't a big success in the US but was a big theme song for me my senior year in college.

Blue Pearl - "Mother Dawn"

Turns out Billy idol covered the track on his Cyberpunk record. Who knew?

The group was mostly known stateside for this track, (I actually always thought the vocalist was male. Guess I was wrong).

"(Can You Feel) The Passion" :

....which was a response/reinterpretation of Bizarre Inc.'s "Playing with Knives"

...who best known for this gem...

"I'm Gonna Get You"

They put out a final album in 1996 on Mercury that was ignored but I adored. The title track had a total 60s Motown vibe but it gets the remix treatment from 90s-era DJ du jour Todd Terry (who did Everything But The Girl's "Missing" the same year I believe) here with his take on "Surprise"

+Bonus

Here's a new Blue Pearl discovery, which features David Gilmour & Rick Wright from Pink Floyd. Random. But me likey: "Alive"

Now we're all caught up!

Belinda Carlisle Binge

So my previous Belinda post was inspired by the fact that i just finished Carlisle's autobiography, Lips Unsealed. It's a quick read and I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a huge amount of time wasn't spent on the music. Drug use is discussed at length and it's juicy stuff (how much did she do, you ask? A lot)...but the memoir really misses a more thorough discussion of her addiction and her talent. Most of her troubles are blamed on a lack of confidence. And while I don't discredit her reasons, you do wish she had the guts to go a bit deeper.

For some reason I've always been a fan of hers. So here's a good reason to chronicle a few more of my under-appreciated favorites.

Belinda had a massive success with Heaven on Earth with global hits "Heaven Is A Place on Earth" (that's a fail on the video, Diane Keaton), "Circle In The Sand" and my personal favorite (with a simmering pre-Madonna Tony Ward) "I Get Weak" all peaking in 1987/1988. She eked out another hit from her follow-up record Runaway Horses with "Leave A Light On For Me" but things dried up for her stateside after that. Also from RH, I think this was the album's shining moment...

"Summer Rain" 

And there's this song too. Let's hear it for swoony/girly pop with big choruses.

"Valentine"

She returned in 1991 with Live Your Life Be Free and was completely ignored in the US. But it's one of my favorites. And speaking of big choruses, they don't get bigger than this.

"Live Your Life Be Free" 

In the late 90s, the chorus was sampled in this groovy track that still gets me moving. Total euphoria. I remember hearing it out somewhere and excitedly saying that it was Belinda on vocals. I was mostly met with blank (ok, maybe drunk) stares.

Live Element - "Be Free" 

And the album had a couple other gems, "Do You Feel Like I Feel" and the 60s inspired "Little Black Book," co-penned by Shakespear's Sisters' Marcella Detroit.

"Do You Feel Like I Feel?" 

"Little Black Book" 

1993's Real was a snooz. But I like this track, penned by New Radicals' ("You Get What You Give") Gregg Alexander.
"Here Comes My Baby"
And then if you zip to 1999 (you heard me!), there's "Feels Like I've Known You Forever." It's not known very well (and I discovered it a little late myself) but it has some special connotations and nice memories for me. Seek it out if you can. 

I'll stop with Belinda now. :)