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Remember this ballad singer from the eighties?
There is an interesting story about her that has just a few unexpected twists thrown in.
Charlene was an American artist who luckily was given a recording contract, setting out an album with a single or two in 1974 from the classy Motown recording label. Upon her signing, Charlene released her first album, but without anything really happening for her from her debut album. It just failed to get any kind of radio play.
The record label had a few ideas for the singer though. "Charlene Duncan", the name she was being labeled as at the time was going to be receiving consistent help from her supporting label. Three years had passed when album number two came out, "It Ain't Easy Comin' Down" from Charlene. But wait! Another album came out at the exact same time,too! This one was recorded by "Charlene Duncan", but was said to be recorded by just the artist "Charlene". Two albums at once in the same month with two different names by the same artist?
What kind of strategy is this to break-out an artist?
Then in 1977, another try occured, a single ballad was released on the album, but without any major chart action. She remained without any radio or sales fo her album.
The next attempt went with Charlene releasing the same single recording previously, but this time it was on Motown's umbrella label, and it had a change in it. A change? What kind of change?
Well, in the lyrics to the single, it was supposed to be from the male point
of view, but the writer, Ron Miller, he had decided to rewrite the lyrics for Charlene.
There was some controversy with these lyrics as where it is refered to as a female who wishes she made more of an effort to have children could be misunderstood. People for some reason didn't get the message.
Anyway, the changed single didn't do so much either on the chart. It just reached to the upper 90s for the fledging artist. The people behind her knew they could keep trying with the female artist.In a rather confusing way, this composition was brought out again, all in all, a third time all-together.
But what of the change?
All in all, it didn't work with the new change added. If you compared the two singles, both together, there was just a minor change lyrically.
Into the eighties, things were about to really change for the artist.
Charlene re-released the same ballad featured, except with a minor reworking back to the original recording. No change. "I've Never Been to Me" interestingly was the same composition she had brought out the first time.
Charlene had recorded this originally during 1976, waiting for it to go somewhere high on the single chart the following year, but now we know nothing much happened. It was a long wait for her for any change in her career with the hopes on one single tune.
Sometimes, change can be good.
The single effort was not forgotten by her company. Sticking firmly with the artist and composition, they took it out once again in 1982; but this time it went right up to the number three spot in America. All in all, Charlene did two versions of the this. The version which was initially released first was actually the version everybody liked. Charlene had preciously recorded it to be a hit for radio, and Motown knew it would be without giving up on it. Overseas, the situation was different for the artist in Great Britain, the 45 went to the number one position with great attention put on the singer then. Ironically, Charlene had released different lyrical versions of "I've Never Been to Me", but it was the original version that had been actually given a second chance by a disc jockey in Florida that brought it great attention. It was funny for her, Charlene had moved to England and began living a normal family life; working in a small store when the re-released 45 became a charting big hit. "I've Never Been to Me" was about going back to a fantasy life and not dealing in the reality world, this was regards to the lines about non-committed fantasy with familiar faces, and areas as she wanted them to be, which was against the commitment to the honest love for her family.
In the 80s, the organisation behind her tried to get her an even bigger hit, but it just never happened again for the performer, no matter what she did. This included changing her image and working with other artists at the label.
Lately, Charlene is currently still working on this one single with an updated sound for her fans.
Published by *E*
Tags:
England
Added: 9th December 2009
Views: 1064
Rating: 
Posted By: Electricland |
 
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Something that brought attention to the "Philly" lady back then, originally done in the late Nineteen Sixties from Tommy James and the Shondells. Remember him? The thing about the significant other one is that, it really went to the lower bottom of No. Eighteen - then went right out off the chart. Kinda a wonder how that happened so fast? Big one week, practically gone the following. Tommy and the Shondells percussion player put, both together, really made the effort to make a great sounding composition unlike anything they did prior; perfecting the steady number lyrically and instrumentally. The update had a harder edge than the '68 one. It was from an album that really showed how strong she is in the field. The release was a success for weeks. The updated one, it climbed up to the seven spot. The woman had a tough time getting a deal at first though. How many don't know that? In the end, she really proved herself with so many cover sleeves. And, you can really feel her coming off the disc. The lady was really influenced by what she saw on a trip to the United Kingdom, then did her best to project the appeal to the people she was trying to capture with her solid sound. She is still on the live circuit. And she inspired women globally with the actual fact that if she could do it, then they could do it too. Many of them became interested in her for this reasoning. This prompted the woman to continue on with what she does best worldwide. *E*
Tags:
Radio
USA
Added: 10th December 2009
Views: 885
Rating:
Posted By: Electricland |
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Remember this British tune performed by Robin Scott's "M"?
How about the catchy title? Sounds all so improvisational, but it ain't.
Once heard, it's hard to forget. The single came out prior to the eighties in 1979. It did its best on the American chart where it landed on the top spot. Here as shown, Robin Scott, the singer/ studio genius had creative ideas with various instumental sounds; and did his best working in English groups, ever since the early 1950s in Britain. The clip represents his long career at that point; or his view on the business he was working in.
If you notice, the 3rd singer in the actual piece, not with the two acting models, but the one solo performer alone, her name is Brigit Novic. She's the actual backing vocalist on the 45 hit single we have come to know. The composition was recorded in Queen's Switzerland studio, with accompanied pro-instrumentalists known for working in a recording environment. They now had become "M" alongside Robin.
Much later, the group brought out a few other albums with Robin Scott and vocalist Brigit, but this one memorable track has forever been recognised as a classic from its time. Robin Scott was unable to match its success. With the featured clip behind them, the group were then lucky enough to tour suddenly with this singles success.
Nowadays, the singer is still asked to perform at selected events, this was because of U2's use of the song each night on their 'Pop-Mart' world tour, and the sudden resurgence in its popularity again, this just after two decades of its synth-pop appearance. The 45 has been reworked over and been given different arrangements, all with Robin's blessings. The memorable single has become a world-wide recognised hit thirty years on. A songwriter's dream.
*E*
Tags:
70s
Radio
Added: 15th December 2009
Views: 813
Rating:
Posted By: Electricland |
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Remember this British band?
Singer Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie on xylophone, and Joe Leeway on various instruments and back-vocals.
They were all over the radio and television in the 1980s. 1984 in particular.
For me, I never respected their synth-pop music enough, not until later on.
These talented players were grouped up with the British bands that crossed overseas to great acclaim in the early Brit pop-eighties.
I saw years ago, it was an interview with the band that the female in the group was seriously breaking under the pressure from journalistic writers pressing on her with questions. It was just too much for the songwriter/musician on each city promotional/tour stop. The singer as well had a nervous breakdown with the pressures in the band.
I really enjoyed the xylophone playing in this clip from the album "Here's to Future Days". It brought a unique sound to the band.
Prior to this single, they really were introduced in America when they opened up for the sold-out Police tour in early 1983. That tour led up to more and more fans discovering them for the first time.
I wanted to show you this so you can appreciate their unique sound that they brought to radio, and as well experience one of their finest moments from the mid eighties.
The group had originality, and brought quality to themselves with various compositions from their albums. This tune was first brought out as a single in 1984, then released on the next album as mentioned above in 1985.
It's just one of many solid hits from the early 1980s, which started with the album 'Into The Gap' in 1984.
The chart hits enabled them to tour around the world on their own.
Actually, 1984 was their international year that brought them chart hitting singles.
The band existed in the seventies with more members, but it wasn't until they broke down to a threesome that they became a household name with turntable sleeved albums, and cassettes (remember them) being played worldwide.
The band existed till 1993. Their final release was in 1991. So, who knows the name of this memorable band? You?
*E*
Tags:
TV
Added: 17th December 2009
Views: 919
Rating: 
Posted By: Electricland |
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Canada's first pioneer sports broadcaster was diminutive Foster Hewitt. His first hockey broadcast was an amateur game between Toronto and Kitchener in 1923--which he did from the penalty box. He became the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night In Canada when its radio broadcasts began in 1931. For the next 40 years Hewitt's familiar voice was the most famous in Canada. He regularly began his broadcasts with the phrase, 'Hello, Canada...and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland.' Hewitt smoothly made the transition to television in 1952--and his TV broadcasts were still simulcast on radio until 1963. That year his son Bill took over the TV broadcasts; Foster continued hockey broadcasts on the radio until 1970. Hewitt was lured out of retirement to call the historic Canada-Russia series in 1972. He was given the Order of Canada that same year. Hewitt died in 1985 at the age of 82.
Tags:
Foster
Hewitt
hockey
broadcaster
Added: 7th January 2010
Views: 584
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Posted By: Lava1964 |
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Remember this great television/album recording from The Partridge Family? A perfectly named show that ran for four years on it's original broadcast. The program brought many hit singles and many popular albums at the time to the radio,
but only David and Shirley were actually singing with another group of professional singers.
David was also responsible for his own memorable compositions on the show, this which led to a long career thanks to The Partridge Family series.
About the performances, most featured compositions were written by a profession staff of "talented" songwriters, this included perfomers Carol King and Paul Anka. Each broadcast meant a nice payment for all composers.
"I Woke Up in Love This Morning" was one of many radio heard hits, this one was written by L. Russell Brown and Irwin Levine, from the long-play album "The Partridge family Sound Magazine". The hit album was brought out late summer of 1971, and went straight up the Billboard chart.
This featured 45 rpm single just almost reached the top ten. It is well worth the effort to listen to this album again. This is the seventies at its best. It was hard to not see the well-packaged group being promoted in department stores with posters, albums, and a lot of magazine coverage.
*E*
Tags:
1970
TV
Cassidy
1974
Jones
Added: 18th December 2009
Views: 1150
Rating:
Posted By: Electricland |
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Note: *Quality Difference*
Remember the comedy show that was a direct copy of Saturday Night Live?
How about this rare KISS performance?
After a series of hard sounding longplays, this concept album became one of their most recommended critical hits, but a bomb for the dedicated fans who had followed them since their breakthrough albums in the early 1970s. Upon hearing this new sound, which was actually different than this track; their business associates around them disowned the new material.
A major setback had started for the once popular group.
It was operatic, and just too different for a rock band to suddenly change into a new direction.
You would not know from this solid performace.
Executives had said, they had gone too far with being secretive in the Canadian/American studio sessions. Ultimately, the group was on the way to a lynching for this. Money had been drawn up to get this band back on the radio and the road. This was the last thing they needed. Their popularity was on the way down at that time, and this, this was a big mistake for them.
If ever you were a Friday night viewer, one can not forget this night's performance from the masked act on January 15, 1982. Actually, it was as close as you were ever going to get to seeing them live as well, as this was from their 1981 ill-fated album entitled (Music From) "The Elder".
In the studio, they were given acess to Bob Ezrin and Lou Reed's talents. The featured tune here was written by Simmons and Ezrin. Bob Ezrin had just finished working with Pink Floyd on "The Wall" album.
This did not matter though.
Because of this fact, the tour, which was going to include a stage in the "centre of the round" or
"theatre-in-the-round" performance did not appear. It was canned from the day the executives has heard what months of hard labour in the studio had become.
Now, this is not what you would call a lip -synced performance. This was as live as it gets on that big "A" network.
In the end, the album did better in Europe and Australia than America. But has grabbed itself a cult following as most things like this happens.
The album was just too different for the fans, the band from their went directly into the studio and brought out something with a more formulated and catchy sounding. This in which was expected from them.
The band lost the guitarist for years due to the bullying he got on the voting on what stays and what goes on each recorded disc. The group became stronger just after a few years of constant touring, especially in 1983, this was when they appeared without makeup on various programs and magazine covers. Despite the considerable success, the group returned to the makeup in 1996 with soldout concerts.
*E*
Tags:
TV
80s
Added: 20th December 2009
Views: 727
Rating:
Posted By: Electricland |
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In 1974, this was included on the top of the charts, the Hollies last major hit,
"The Air That I Breathe".
Recognized by many radio listeners, helped mainly in the California recording process by perfomer/producer Alan Parsons. As well, this composition has shown up on various other artists albums, including Olivia-Newton-John, and on television shows, and any other movie released with this track; which evidently is all good for any composer.
Once again, this means it's a moneymaker to the writer when used for a television production, not including radio plays, or album/single purchases. Released in record form in '73, becoming a big 45 single hit around the world the next year.
Don Everly of The Everly Brother turns out to be the first to take a try at it with radio play, but this version was the one that became a must-listen. Mike Hazlewood and Albert Hammond are British born writers responsible for this memorable tune.
If you take the time to listen to the tune "Creep" by the U.K. act Radiohead, you'll see that it sounds a lot like this. The influence from this track is incredible.
With The Hollies, this group has been together since the early 1960s, and once again, they also come from Britain.
This band will be placed inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 for the amount of success they achieved as a group of musicians.
*E*
Tags:
Seventies
England
Added: 20th December 2009
Views: 1612
Rating:
Posted By: Electricland |
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Just recently, on The Osmonds 50th Anniversary Tour, this number was performed as their opening number, played in front of soldout audiences across Britain. Their tour was a natural sell-out. All-together, the tour grossed quite a bit in each stadium. Receipts were unbelieveable.
Well, it was difficult to categorize the group with this wild rock song. Radio station were surprised at the sudden change.
This was not accidentally recorded. This was to show what the brotherly group could do together. This was originally recorded in 1972, intentionally to change the image of the Osmonds.
Questioned by critics as being too much of a difference.
The composition went up to the number fourteen position on the USA chart. The album reached the same position. In Britain, the album rose to number two. Across Europe, "Wild Horses" was well-received with chart sales.
This featured tune is lyrically about vehicle pollution. For this clip, TURN DOWN the speakers.
*E*
Tags:
Seventies
Added: 22nd December 2009
Views: 1987
Rating:
Posted By: Electricland |
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