As it's been awhile since my last post, I'm hitting you with yet another triple post! This time I'm featuring house diva Alison Limerick. Alison was born in London and at first set out to be a dancer, even attending the London Contemporary School of Dance. But her strong, soulful voice couldn't be denied and soon she was an in demand backing singer. Her first major gig was backing vocals on Style Council's "
Shout To The Top" in 1984. Through the rest of the 80s and early 90s she made vocal appearances on songs by an eclectic array of alternative artists such as
Peter Murphy,
The Icicle Works, Ultravox and This Mortal Coil, on whose albums she took lead on several tracks like "
Nature's Way" and "
Drugs". During this time she also began working with producer and songwriter Lati Kronlund. Kronlund had written a house song that he thought Alison's voice would be perfect for, and "Where Love Lives" was born. Released in 1990 on Arista, the song became a huge club hit, thanks in large part to the remix by Frankie Knuckles and David Morales. In 1991, it reached #3 on the Billboard dance chart and #27 on the UK singles chart. This led to an album deal with Arista, but the second single, "Come Back (For Real Love)", was less successful, only reaching #53 on the UK pop chart. She did almost make the top 40 again that year with a collaboration with Malcolm McLaren, "
Magic's Back". And the next single from her album, "Make It On My Own", was another chart hit, reaching #6 on the Billboard dance chart and #16 on the UK chart. But the album was not released in the US, and the follow-up singles "Hear My Call" and "Gettin' It Right" were only minor chart hits in the UK. Undaunted, Alison began to work on new music. While her next single, "Time Of Our Lives", failed to chart, her remake of Evelyn "Champagne" King's "
Love Come Down" managed to hit the UK top 40 at #36, and her second album was released in 1994, with Frankie Knuckles behind the production of most of it. It wasn't successful enough for the label to keep her, alas. She kept busy over the following few years by contributing vocals and lyrics to acid jazz group
Vibraphonic, and had another minor UK hit with the James Taylor Quartet, "
Love Will Keep Us Together". Then, in 1996, "Where Love Lives" was re-released with new mixes, and became an even bigger hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard dance chart and #9 on the UK pop chart. Then "Make It On My Own" was re-released and reached #30 on the UK chart. This led to another album with an indie label in 1998, and the preceding single. "Put Your Faith In Me", just missed the top 40 in the UK. None of the follow up singles - "Never Knew", "Let's Hold On (To Love)" and "Spirit Rising", managed to chart, however. And though she has not released a proper album since, Alison has kept very busy with music, collaborating on singles with, among others,
X-Press 2,
And If,
Ringleader and
Ikon, as well as extensive touring. And in 2003, "Where Love Lives" appeared on the charts yet again thanks to new remixes, reaching #16 on the Billboard dance charts and #44 on the UK pop chart, proving you can't keep a good song down. Expect it to 'live' again on the charts in the near future. You can keep up with Alison via her
Facebook and
Twitter accounts.
Video for
Where Love Lives
Video for
Make It On My Own
Video for
Gettin' It Right
Video for
Come Back (For Real Love)
Download
And Still I Rise
| 1 |
Make It On My Own |
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| 2 |
Gettin' It Right |
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| 3 |
Where Love Lives (Come On In) |
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| 4 |
Hear My Call |
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| 5 |
Trouble |
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| 6 |
Come Back (For Real Love) |
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| 7 |
Tell Me What You Mean |
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| 8 |
Let's Make A Memory |
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| 9 |
You And I |
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| 10 |
The Difference Is You |
Video for
Time Of Our Lives
Video for
Love Come Down
Download
With A Twist
| 1 |
Time Of Our Lives |
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| 2 |
Love Come Down |
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| 3 |
Twisted |
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| 4 |
No Way Out |
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| 5 |
Crime To Be That Cool |
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| 6 |
So Long |
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| 7 |
Sentimental |
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| 8 |
Buck The System |
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| 9 |
Take It Back |
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| 10 |
Let's Just Pretend |
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| 11 |
Build Your Love |
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| 12 |
Unique |
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| 13 |
Come Home |
Video for
Put Your Faith In Me
Video for
Let's Hold On (To Love)
Download
Spirit Rising
| 1 |
Spirit Rising |
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| 2 |
Never Knew |
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| 3 |
Let's Hold On (To Love) |
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| 4 |
Put Your Faith In Me |
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| 5 |
How Happy |
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| 6 |
Stronger Love |
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| 7 |
So Far So Good |
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| 8 |
Dangerous Game |
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| 9 |
Take It Easy |
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| 10 |
It's Getting Better (This Could Be Good) |
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Bonus Tracks
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| 11 |
Never Knew (Joe T. Vanelli Classic Mix) |
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| 12 |
Put Your Faith In Me (Peppermint Jam Faith Club Mix) |
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| 13 |
Let's Hold On To Love (Metro Mix) |
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| 14 |
Where Love Lives (Ruff Driverz Full Vocal Mix) |
