Would you like to see more "Artist Spotlights" like the Nitzer Ebb Spotlight

Friday, July 20, 2007

Blur - There's No Other Way


Blur...what can I say? A band located in London, England with Damon Albarn (vocals), Graham Coxon (guitar), Alex James (bass), and Dave Rowntree (drums). Todays feature post, which is now widely critisized as a "Plastic Mancherster sounding song", was their second single from the LP Leisure and their first top 10 in England. In the US, barely cracking the Top 100, it reached #82.

Yet in the clubs, it heated up the dance floor. As their first chart appearance on the Dance chart, it peaked at #15, while spending 10 weeks on the chart. Both of today's posts were taken from the US 12" single on SBK 19747

Purchase the original 12" single here

There's No Other Way (Red Sleeve Mix) 5:01
There's No Other Way (Rock Mix) 5:36
Charted on November 9, 1991. Spent 10 weeks on the chart and peaked at #15

Check out the video for this on YouTube

Thursday, July 19, 2007

EBN/OZN - AEIOU Sometimes Y


EBN/OZN consisted of two males from New York. On synthesizer was Ned Liben (aka EBN) and the vocals were by Robert Rosen (OZN). They met when a friend of Rosen's girlfriend intorduced them.

In the early 80's, they started going to clubs together and listening to different types of dance music. Then got a record deal with Elektra with the release of their first single AEIOU Sometimes Y. An album, Feeling Cavalier, soon followed and their follow-up was released called Bag Lady (I Wonder). Soon after the album release, the duo went their seperate ways.

Liben went on to work with Scritti Politti and Rosen formed a studio group before leaving music altogether to become a screenwriter. In 1998 Liben died of a heart attack.

Today's post includes both of their songs to reach Billboard's dance chart.

AEIOU Sometimes Y (Long Version - Vocal) 7:38
Charted on July 30, 1983. Spent 10 weeks on the chart and reached #20

Check out the video for AEIOU here

EBN/Ozn - Bag Lady (I Wonder)

Bag Lady (I Wonder) (Extended Version) 6:35
Charted on March 3, 1984. Spent 8 weeks on the chart and reached #36
P.S. - Contact me if anyone has the Late Nite Version



Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Boys Don't Cry - I Wanna Be A Cowboy


On December 28, 1985, Boys Don't Cry made their first, and only, appearance on Billboard's Hot Dance/Disco charts with a silly little song called I Wanna Be A Cowboy. Even though they only spent one month on the chart and reaching the #44 position, many people recognize this song song since it peaked at #12 on the Pop chart.

I don't know too much about this band other than they originated from England. Boy's Don't Cry (consisted of Nick Richards on vocals, Nico Ramsden on guitar, Brian Chatton on keyboards, Mark Smith on bass and the rhythm guy was Jeff Seopardi. They were discovered by the now famous Paul Oakenfold, who at the time was a talent scout for Profile Records.

The video for this song featured Lemmy from Motorhead (of all people). It is sooooo Kooky that it worth watching. Watch it here

I'm posting the Original 12" version from Profile 7084


Monday, July 16, 2007

Double Exposure - Ten Percent


This is the first "Commercially Available" 12" single produced. I felt it would be a great way to start this new blog.

Double Exposure was a disco group out of Philadelphia featuring James Williams, Leonard "Butch" Davis, Charles Whittington and Joseph Harris. They formed in 1968 under the name of United Image. As United Image, they recorded for Stax Records in the early 70's and released "African Bump". They then signed to Salsoul Records, thanks to their friend Norma Harris, who also produced their first three albums with Salsoul.

Ten Percent is the first release off their album Ten Percent. It charted on Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart on April 17, 1976 and reached the #2 position. It stayed there for 6 of the 18 total weeks it spent on the chart. It is also the first of 5 songs to make the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart.

Ten Percent (Walter Gibbons Mix) - 9:45

Please tell me you comments/thoughts/reactions on this song.