One To One (One 2 One) - Forward Your Emotions (1985), 1-2-1 (1988) & Imagine It (1992) TRIPLE POST!!!

There isn't much more that I can say about One To One than I already have in my posts about Sal's Birdland and Artificial Joy Club, the groups they became after their poppy phase as One To On. So go to those posts for more details.  I will add that the duo or Louise Reny and Leslie Howe came from Ottawa, Canada's capital, and were very involved in Alanis Morrisette's dance-pop phase before Jagged Little Pill. Alanis even does backing vocals on the song "Friends" from Imagine It.  Forward Your Emotions was very much new-wave and synth-pop, a popular sound in 1985.  Their first single, "There Was A Time", reached #14 in the Canadian Top 40. The next, "Angel in My Pocket", only reached #24 there, but it also hit the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #92. The third single, "Black On White", only managed to squeak into the end of the Canadian Top 100. Their next album, 1-2-1, was a lot less new wave and a lot more straight up pop.  The first single, "Hold Me Now", reached #25 on the Canadian charts, while the next three singles hit the Canadian Top 100 - "Love Child"(#43), "Do You Believe" (#34) & "We've Got the Power" (#90). In 1992, they changed their name slightly to One 2 One, which was likely to differentiate their new folky, pop rock sound. They had their biggest Canadian hit with the single "Peace of Mind (Love Goes On)", which reached  #11, which also hit #95 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following two singles, "Memory Lane" and "Friends", hit the Canadian Top 40 and reached #34 and #36, respectively.  After that, they formed Sal's Birdland, which eventually became Artificial Joy Club, and delved into much harder rock. I realized it was due time to post their albums, so enjoy!










Video for There Was A Time

Video for Angel In My Pocket

Download Forward Your Emotions

1 Don't Call It Love
2 Angel In My Pocket
3 Hearts And Diamonds
4 Where's The Answer
5 Forward Your Emotions
6 There Was A Time
7 Black On White
8 Love Is Blind
9 Boys Will Be Boys
10 Tell Me Straight

Video for Hold Me Now

Download 1-2-1

1 Hold Me Now
2 Love Child
3 We've Got The Power
4 Do You Believe
5 Heading For Zero
6 Inside These Eyes
7 Victorious
8 Voices Cry
9 Life Is So Easy
10 Not A Love Song

Video for Peace Of Mind (Love Goes On)

Download Imagine It

1 Peace Of Mind (Love Goes On)
2 Memory Lane
3 Keeping Faith
4 Friends
5 Big On Emotion
6 Tough To Tame
7 I'll Walk Away
8 Big Hush
9 Gypsy Girl
10 World Without Love

The Zummos - Modern Marriage (1985)

Oh dear, are we already 5 months into 2015 and I haven't posted anything?  I must say I don't have the time or desire that I used to, but I figure I should add a little something to keep you all interested. Isle fan Raymond generously sent me this awhile back, as it was on my wishlist after I heard about them when researching for my David Morales post (their single was his first major remix).  It is definitely fit for the Isle.  New York native Vinnie Zummo grew up in a musical family and taught himself how to play guitar. He got his big break when he met established British new wave/power pop artist Joe Jackson in 1983.  Joe asked him to play on his 1984 album Body And Soul and he ended up playing with Joe for the next five years. With Joe's help, Vinnie managed to get an album deal with Joe's label A&M, after enlisting his wife, singer Janice, to form the pop duo The Zummos. Their album was produced by the Zummos along with Joe Jackson, and it was similar to Joe's pop/new wave sound, though perhaps a little more bubblegum, thanks mainly to Janice's perky vocals.  "An Obsession (Over You)" was the first and only single, likely chosen for it's very upbeat dance-pop groove. The rest of the album is varied, from straight up new wave to retro '60s.  Overall it is a happy, fun listen.  "An Obsession (Over You)" was not a hit, though it did have some dance club attention thanks to the aforementioned David Morales remix, which really didn't alter the song too much. (You can download the remix on Lost Pop Treasures.) The duo was soon dropped, though Vinnie continued to record with Joe Jackson until 1989, and then went on to play with other artists.  He hooked up with Joe again in 2012 for his album The Duke.  That same year he and Janice released their second album together, Jazz Album, which obviously delved into their love of jazz music.  They still perform together to this day, and Vinnie has released several retro guitar-based albums which explore many genres, with Janice doing vocal duties, the most recent being A Retro Cool Mixed Bag Christmas in 2014.

Download Modern Marriage

1	'Scusa Mi Please
2	An Obsession (Over You)
3	Do It Again
4	Nightmare
5	Please Stop Dancing
6	Fool For You
7	Leopards In Love
8	Modern Marriage
9	Jaguar
10	No More Goodbyes

PAL - Truth For The Moment (1986)

Four years ago I posted the one and only single. "Talk We Don't", from 1980s funk/synth pop trio PAL on Lost Pop Treasures.  I have had their album on my wantlist ever since, and finally I have it to share, thanks to longtime Isle friend Robert G! :)  And it is every bit as good as I'd hoped, definitely something different from the "R&B" girl groups of the time.  PAL was Rebecca A. Sweet (aka Rebekha Sweet) and sisters Lanetta and Laretta Collier (aka Sinden and Rhett Cellier).  Luckily two thirds of PAL themselves saw my post on Lost Pop Treasures and filled us in on their past (which I've since also shared on Discogs), so I'll simply just repost that here.  Enjoy!

PAL's musical influences included Eurythmics, Sting, Joni Mitchell, Steve Winwood, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac... Most notably, it was Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) who telephoned Motown and inquired about the group after meeting them at an Eurythmics concert. He had assumed that PAL was already signed to Motown and upon being told they were not, asked "Why."  The group's name was inspired by "Pal" Shazar of Slow Children as it aptly represented the relationship of the members of the group.  PAL's music was only released in Europe as it was welcomed by the European licensees who had been anxiously awaiting a new fresh sound from Motown.  PAL's CD was somewhat altered from their original sound and true musical instincts, but they were lucky enough to maintain some elements true to their musical integrity as was showcased in "Talk We Don't." Simply told, PAL was not an" R&B" group but the record company enlisted the services of a Motown producer attempting to infuse R&B into their music in hopes of serving the American R&B base. This approach was again exercised in Motown's 12 inch remixes of "Talk We Don't" down-playing the breathing drums that were an integral part of the song's original music.  In January 1986, PAL embarked upon a promotional tour at the request of Motown's European licensees. The official video for the single "Talk We Don't" was produced in London utilizing the original track. PAL was told that their single at that time was the highest debuting single by any new group in Holland. PAL toured England, France, Spain, Germany, Holland and Belgium. They loved it!
Upon returning to the U.S., Motown was still at a loss as what to do with PAL. Even though the music had been so positively accepted abroad, America was not Europe. Motown never released PAL's music in America and this freed the group from any further recording obligations to Motown.  Around 1988, PAL disbanded and went on to lead very successful lives in other creative genres.

Here is a live performance of Talk We Don't

Download Truth For The Moment

1	Man About Town
2	Like It
3	Her Husband
4	On The Edge
5	Everybody's Nasty
6	Panic
7	Talk We Don't
8	Spellbound
9	Strange Dreams
10	Checkin' You Out

Mens Room - Mens Room (1984)

So I know, once again I've been negligent of this blog, but I've been very busy at work and haven't had much chance to post.  But I did manage to rip some records for my other blog, and I ran across this very rare gem in my record collection and knew I had to add it here.  Mens Room was a studio project featuring three well-known Canadian singers. Charity Brown (aka Phyllis Boltz), a Kitchener native who had success in Canada with the group Rain, had also had solo success as Phyllis Brown and as Charity Brown, her biggest hit being "Take Me In Your Arms" in 1975.  Cherrill Rae was half of the successful British-Canadian duo The Raes with her husband Robbie, who released three albums, had a hit television variety show in Canada from 1978 to 1980, and even managed a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "A Little Lovin' (Keeps the Doctor Away)". Caren Cole was a classical musician and rock singer from Toronto who would later have a Hi-NRG hit with "I Need A Lover Tonight". The group released a self-titled EP in 1983 that included four of the tracks that would be on the album.  The first single was a remake of British 80s all-female group The Belle Stars' biggest British hit "Sign Of The Times".  It got quite a bit of play on Canadian radio (I remember loving it when I was a kid, though years later I also finally heard The Belle Stars' version and love that too).  A promo single was also released of their version of The Ronettes' "Baby I Love You".  A full album followed, with the first four tracks being produced by Canadian producers Brian Ainsworth and Michael McCarty (who was President of EMI Music Publishing Canada for 18 years after this), while the last five were produced by the mysterious SST.  The rest of the album also consisted of mostly remakes of well known songs including The Ronettes' "Be My Baby", Buddy Holly's "Everyday", Modern Romance's "Best Years Of Our Lives", and The Rolling Stones' "Tell Me", and rarer tracks including BB Gabor's "Simulated Groove", and The Dooleys' "In Car Stereo". The one original,  "Baby I'm Back In Love Again", became most famous for being Family Ties star Tina Yothers' only single in 1987, which she also performed on Family Ties. Isle postees Boomerang also recorded a version for their album in 1985. Like Boomerang, the point of the group was obviously to update the girl group sound of the 60s with a decidedly new wave edge.  You be the judge as to how well it worked.  I, for one, love it!

Download Mens Room

1		Baby I Love You
2		Tell Me
3		Everyday
4		Be My Baby
5		Simulated Groove
6		Sign Of The Times
7		Best Years Of Our Lives
8		In Car Stereo
9		Baby I'm Back In Love Again

The Burns Sisters - The Burns Sisters Band (1986) & Endangered Species (1989) DOUBLE POST!!

Thanks to a request from Isle visitor 6thzodiacsign, I've discovered The Burns Sisters.  Since the existing links I found to their albums seem to be troublesome, 6thzodiacsign suggested that I do a post on the ladies myself.  Well, I fell in love on first listen and am taking that advice.  A bit of research revealed that the ladies are still alive and active, and have a pretty big internet presence.  So I'll just give a brief bio on them here.  The group originally consisted of five sisters: Annie, Jeannie, Marie, Theresa (Terry) and Sheila and went by the name The Burns Sisters Band (they had seven other siblings not in the group).  They grew up in New York and all performed from an early age, mastering vocals and many instruments, and eventually formed a rock band.  When their brothers were working on the movie Atlantic City in 1979, they got the girls a spot performing for the film.  They kept at it and their talents were finally recognized by Columbia Records, who signed them in 1985.  In 1986 they released their first self-titled album, which spawned two singles, "I Wonder Who's Out Tonight" and "Listen To The Beat Of A Heart". While the former track was a new-wavey dance song, the latter was pure AOR (adult-oriented rock) and it managed to reach #23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Both were perfect representations of the album's sound.  It was produced by Richard Gottehrer, who had previously worked with Blondie and The Go-Gos (and had helped make them stars), and The Burns Sisters Band had a very similar sound.  They soon began work on a follow-up with another successful producer, David Kershenbaum, who had produced acts like Joe Jackson, Supertramp and Tracy Chapman.  As a result, the album had a rockier vibe, which was closer to the sisters' hearts.  They managed to release one single in 1989, "Treat Me Like A Man", but thanks to the label's change of management many acts were dropped, including the Burns Sisters, so their follow-up album Endangered Species never got a proper release and promotion.  After releasing an independent album in 1992, Theresa and Sheila left the group, leaving the trio of Annie, Jeannie and Marie to carry on.  They were signed to Rounder/Philo and released four albums on the label over the rest of the decade, leaving pop-rock behind for folk and country.  All three ladies also released solo albums, as did Terry.  They still record together and released their latest album The Hills Of Ithaca this year on their own label.  To find out more, go to their website. Terry also released her latest album this year as part of the country duo Burns and Kristy, and you can get more info at their website.  But for a pure blast of 80s pop-rock, explore their first two albums.  If you are a fan of The Go-Gos, The Bangles, Voice Of The Beehive or Isle postees like The Rebel Pebbles, The Graces or Big Trouble, you'll adore The Burns Sisters and their amazing vocal harmonies.

Video for I Wonder Who's Out Tonight

Download The Burns Sisters Band

1		I Wonder Who's Out Tonight
2		Listen To The Beat Of A Heart
3		We Should Be Together
4		Tell Me
5		This Time
6		Run Rebel Run
7		Take Me Tonight
8		Who's Gonna Dance With Me
9		I Need Your Love
10		I'm Gonna Stand

Download Endangered Species

1		Love Me Like A Man
2		We Wait For Freedom
3		The King Is Going To Fall
4		Remember Me
5		Hold On
6		My Boyfriend's Back
7		Greenlight
8		Place To Rock
9		Answers
10		Last Eagle (For The People Of Big Mountain)

Regina - Regina Richards And Red Hot (1981) & Curiosity (1986)

Isle visitor Luvsong just mentioned in my C-Box that they were surprised that I had not yet featured Regina, the "one hit wonder" and "Madonna wannabe" of the 1980s. Well, I have a policy not to post any album that I can find easily on the web or that has been posted on my affiliate blogs. That used to be the case with this album, but currently it is hard to find on the internet. I did manage to find one obscure download of it however, so here we are! Regina did indeed only have one major hit, "Baby Love", that managed to hit the Billboard Top 10, and the song was produced by Madonna regular Stephen Bray. In fact, Regina wrote the song with Bray with Madonna in mind, but Madge passed, so they recorded it. Her vocals were very Madonna-esque, and the comparisons were inevitable. But Regina had in fact recorded an album many years before Madonna in 1981 on A&M, Regina Richards And Red Hot. It was produced by Richard Gottehrer, who had produced the likes of the Go-Gos and Blondie, and the sound was very much like those groups. They released three singles - "Don't Want You Back", "Tyger" and "Ton Of Bricks".  After Regina Richards And Red Hot failed to hit, Regina decided she wanted to concentrate on songwriting, but once Madonna rejected "Baby Love", Regina was again thrust in the spotlight. There is no denying that "Baby Love" hit because of the Madonna comparison (I, like many, though it WAS Madonna the first time I heard it), and even Regina herself must have realized it. Her vocals on the album are very similar to Madonna's, but weren't so much on the Regina Richards And Red Hot album. The rest of the album is also very Madonna-esque, though it was produced by Leslie Ming, formerly of disco group B.T. Express (and I must confess, I was always pretty indifferent to it, but listening to it now, it's quite good!). Alas, neither of her follow-up singles, "Beat Of Love" and "Head On", got any attention. Undeterred, Regina began work on a second album for Atlantic, and concentrated on a new, more alternative sound. Atlantic wasn't having it and she was dropped, but not before the single "Extraordinary Love" made a dent on the Billboard dance charts in 1988. She made one more independent freestyle single, "Track You Down", and then apparently left the record industry to concentrate on being a mom and is now known as Regina Lee. With the whole 80s revival still going on, however, she should definitely make a comeback. (Oh, and I just realized my dear Bunny also featured her on his blog HERE. Please check it out!)

Download Regina Richards And Red Hot

1 Ton Of Bricks
2 Company Girl
3 Tyger
4 Don't Want You Back
5 Daytime Dream
6 Jealous
7 You Better Go
8 Main Chick
9 Shoulda Done Something
10 Tug Of War

Video for Baby Love

Live performance of Beat Of Love

Download Curiosity

1		Sentimental Love
2		Beat Of Love
3		Say Goodbye
4		Baby Love
5		Head On
6		Love Time
7		Bring Me All Your Love
8		Curiosity
9		Just Like You

Cindy Valentine - Rock & Roll Heart Attack (1984) and Secret Rendez-Vous (1987) DOUBLE POST!!

Thanks to a dear Isle devotee, Adriana, I can now share with you one of my fave pop albums of the 1980s. Cindy Valentine was a fixture on Canadian radio and television in the 1980's. Born in Italy, she moved to Canada to pursue a career in music. At some point she crossed paths with disco producer Tony Green (he also produced Isle postee Alta Dustin). As Pat Benatar and her hard rock sound rose to fame in the early 1980s, many female singers followed her lead, and Cindy was no exception. She signed to Columbia and released Rock & Roll Heart Attack, a hard rock album laced with new wave elements. Songs such as "Victim" and "Make It Through The Night" were radio staples in Canada. But then Cindy seemed to disappear from the music scene, though she did pop up in a few small acting roles. Three years later, to my surprise and delight, she re-emerged, transformed into a dance-pop diva on her Polydor album Secret Rendez-Vous. Her first single, the brilliant "In Your Midnight Hour" (which was later a European hit for C.C. Catch), was a dance hit in Canada and the video was played on Muchmusic frequently. Her second single, the album's title track, was an even bigger success, attracting international attention, especially from freestyle fans. The whole album, also produced by Tony Green, is a dance pop dream, mixing synth-pop, freestyle and funk (similar to artists like Alisha, for whom she co-wrote the track "Into The Night" with Green). Cindy wasn't heard from again until 1989, when her freestyle single "Pick Up The Pieces (To My Heart)" hit #11 on the Billboard Dance Charts. That same year, she also contributed a couple songs to the film Teen Witch and performed in the film. Another album was apparently planned but never released. She then surprised me again by popping up on lead vocals on three tracks on Jellybean's Spillin' The Beans album. I thought this would lead to even greater success, but instead she faded from the spotlight. Wanting to know what happened to her and whether she planned on ever re-releasing Secret Rendez-Vous on CD (Rock & Roll Heart Attack was re-released in 2007), I discovered her website, under her given name Valentine Leone, and wrote to her. To my surprise, she actually wrote me back! She said she was flattered that she still had a fan base, but that she had "no intentions of going backwards and am not a fan of remakes in any form" -->. She also filled me in on her other work. It appears she decided to work in the background, working on music for several films, including Repossessed and Another 9 1/2 Weeks, as well as producing films and taking on small acting roles once again. She was excited about the musical version of Teen Witch, which uses her original songs. And though she said she didn't want to go backwards, in addition to independently releasing an MP3 album entitled Blame Yourself in 2008, she also released another MP3 compilation this year entitled Speak Your Mind, which includes unreleased tracks (likely from her unreleased album from 1989), as well as her versions of songs written for others and remixes, including those for "In Your Midnight Hour" and "Pick Up The Pieces". It's more great freestyle and dance pop. Both albums are available for download on iTunes and Amazon.com. So the lady is back! For more info on her, visit her website or her Myspace page. And you can also be part of the fan page I created for her on Facebook. Welcome back, Valentine!

UPDATE:  Cindy e-mailed me to update us on her current goings on, and she has lots of amazing things going on!  Always an honour! :)  Here is her message:

"I wanted to reach out to you again since you were kind enough to write about me a while back and genuinely care. On July 4th I released a new single called, "Le Derrière"  25% of the money going to North Shore and 25% going to help Diabetes. On iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and pretty much anywhere.

I also had a role in a new movie released two weeks ago called The Great Chameleon. I play the sister to a thief and it is another small role.

I'm releasing a second single called "Wicked Ways" this Halloween. It was remixed by DJ Mark Love Rush in the UK and the USA remix is being done by Funk Generation-H3D Rush.

I'm also planning a remake of the Teen Witch song "It's Never Gonna Be The Same Again" to coincide with the Halloween release (I know I said I wouldn't go back but I am).  I'll be giving the song away for free to all those who buy the "Wicked Ways" single.  Do, spread the word.

PS I never married Tony Green....lol Please correct that error. :-)
 
Cindy Valentine Xoxo"

UPDATE #2:  Hooray! Cindy has written to update us all again!  Here's what she had to say: 

"Since the last time we connected, The single, "Wicked Ways" was released in October 2013 for my favorite month and holiday, Halloween. What wasn't planned was my mother going through open heart surgery. :-(  Good news is, she has a second chance at life and I have a second chance to enjoy my mom.  The not so good news is, I was unable to promote the single properly and won't be attending the Grammy's this year as I did last year.  

I'm hoping the release of the music video for "Wicked Ways," that was just completed and scheduled for a Valentines Day release, will help boost and direct traffic to Itunes where you can purchase the video with a special behind the scenes extra bonus. The director, Rob Schwartz of Che Town Films, will be releasing a sneak peak on Youtube beginning the first week of February 2014. Remember that 25% goes to a good cause and your support is a blessing! 

Thanks for believing and spread the word. :-) 

Peace, Love, Happiness and keep the music alive!!"

Video for Make It Through The Night

Video for Using Me


Download Rock & Roll Heart Attack

1		Victim
2		Fool In The Night
3		Big Kiss
4		Love Child
5		Power Of Love
6		Living In The Fast Lane
7		Make It Through The Night
8		Using Me
9		Lust
10		Don't Waste Your Love

Video for In Your Midnight Hour

Download Secret Rendez-Vous

1		In Your Midnight Hour
2		Heartless
3		Don't Give Up
4		Try Your Luck
5		A Fine Mess
6		Secret Rendez-Vous
7		Savage
8		Fight The Feeling
9		Hungry Love

Dale - Riot In English (1988)

Here is another post that comes courtesy of another fantastic Isle fan, Tyler. He noticed that I had mentioned in the Terri Nunn post that I would like to feature this album, and he generously uploaded and sent it to me to share with you all. Thanks so much again, Tyler! You rock! Dale Bozzio was born Dale Frances Consalvi, but changed her last name after getting married to Terry Bozzio, her bandmate in new wave sensations Missing Persons. The group was formed out of musicians who worked with Frank Zappa. As one would suspect, their music was something different, punky new wave that featured Dale's unique voice. And given her penchant for appearing practically (and sometimes fully!) nude, they were an instant hit on MTV. (One of their most beloved songs, "Walking In L.A.", was even covered by Isle postee Traci Lords!) But Dale and Terry ended up going through a bitter divorce and the band broke up in 1986. In hopes of riding on the band's success, Dale pursued a solo career, dropping the last name. She was signed to Prince's Paisley Park Records, though like Good Question, her association to Prince was very limited, with her recording one song on the album that he wrote, "So Strong" (which is the best track on the album, IMO). The album was produced by singer/producer Robert Brookins, with an obvious attempt at a Prince sound, funky new wave. The first single "Simon Simon" made a small dent on the dance charts, but the second single "Riot In English" made no splash, and neither did the album. Clearly Dale's fans were looking for something more like Missing Persons, and her distinct hiccuppy little girl voice didn't quite suit the music. She faded into relative obscurity for years, occasionally showing up in a Missing Persons reunion or using the band name with other musicians. Her most recent moment in the spotlight was on the TV show Hit Me Baby One More Time, fronting a make-shift Missing Persons and singing their hit "Words", as well as a cover of Kylie's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head". They didn't win. But she continues recording, most notably doing modernized remakes of her own and others 80s hits for Cleopatra Records (joining Tiffany, Dead Or Alive and Information Society, among others). But her influence is underestimated. Listen to Gwen Stefani, Santogold and even Ashley Simpson in "Outta My Head", and you can hear the obvious influence of Dale's one of a kind vocal style.

Video for Simon Simon

Download Riot In English

1		Simon Simon
2		Giddi Up Baby-Be Mine
3		Overtime
4		So Strong
5		Love Is Hard Work
6		Riot In English
7		He's So Typical
8		Ouch That Feels Good
9		The Perfect Stranger