Artist Spotlight Week #5 - Nitzer Ebb - Getting Closer

The second single to be released from "SHOWTIME" was "Getting Closer" As the follow-up to Lightning Man, it found greater audience appeal in the club. This song gave Nitzer Ebb their highest chart success on the US Dance charts as it peaked at #3.

Getting Closer" captures an atmosphere of impending, imminent doom better than just about anything, while the heavy synth distortion makes the track rock, all without using guitars. The way the song literally revs up alone is worth the listen.

This song was produced by Flood and Nitzer Ebb. Mixed by Flood. Recorded at Swanyard Studios and The Garden. Mixed at Swanyard Studios with remix and additional production by Arnaud Rebotini

Taken from the original 12" single on Geffen 21606
Getting Closer (Pool Mix) - 5:15
Getting Closer (Trance Mix) - 7:09
Song charted on July 14, 1990. Spent 8 weeks on the chart and reached #3

Young MC - I Come Off

Young MC is really Marvin Young. Born on 5/10/67, in London, England, he is best known for his hit "Bust A Move" in 1989. You may not know this but he is also the co-writer of "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina" for Tone Loc

"I Come Off" was his follow-up, on the dance chart, to "Bust A Move". Even though the above three songs were huge, this one did not fair too well. Heck, you might not have even heard this song before. I think it was OK at best. This is his second and final time he charted on the Dance/Disco Chart.

Song taken from the original 12" single on Delicious Vinyl 96499
I Come Off (Southern Comfort Mix) 6:31
Song charted on April 14, 1990. Spent 3 weeks on the chart and reached #36

Expose - Tell Me Why

Formed in 1984, Miami-based Exposé (originally X-Posed) was the brainchild of dance music producer Lewis A. Martinee. The all-girl trio consisted of Sandra “Sandee” Casanas, Aléjandra “Alé” Lorenzo and Laurie Miller.

After just two singles, “Exposed To Love” and “Point Of No Return,” both of which became major club hits, Exposé split up. Alé and Sandee embarked on solo careers, and Sandee had great club success with her solo album “Only Time Will Tell”, which included the dance smash “Notice Me”.

When it came time to record a third single, “Come Go With Me” , an entirely new lineup, Ann Curless, Jeanette Jurado and Gioia Bruno, was brought together by Martineé.

The album “Exposure” was released in 1986 and sold over two-million copies and reached the top 20. The album was released with the original versions of Point Of No Return and Exposed To Love, with the vocals of Alé Lorenzo et al intact. Martineé chose to re-record and re-release Point Of No Return with the new vocalists, and the song was a hit.

Exposé released a second successful album in 1989, What You Don't Know, and had many more hits. But in 1992 Gioia left the trio due to health reasons. She was replaced by Kelly Moneymaker for a self-titled release later that same year, but the album didn't make much of an impact and the group broke up.

Gioia has since released several solo singles and a solo album, called Expose This.

Taken from the original 12" single on Arista 9918
Tell Me Why (Extended Version) - 6:37
Song charted on January 13, 1990. Spent 12 weeks on the chart and reached #3

Red Flag - Count To Three / Give Me Your Hand

Red Flag is a Duo originating from Liverpool, England. The group consisted of brothers Mark & Chris Reynolds, who, in 1979, moved to San Diego.

They first started playin electronic music in 1982, when Mark bought a Roland JUNO-60. They started recording under the name Shades Of May. During 1984, after they recieved offers to play live, the two began to study music and computer technology. During this time, they changed the name to Red Flag. Many would associated this with the flag of the Soviet Union. The brothers, however, insisted that it was taken from a surfers warning flag.

After their first release in 1988, the band was critisized as being a Depeche Mode knock off. I feel however their sound is alot darker and more meaningful than Depeche Mode's.

Today's post is the fourth time the group made and dance chart. At the time, Billboard listed both songs on the 12" as one chart position. On the original 12", Razormaid Remix Service contributed 2 songs, which, I'm including in today's post.

Taken from the original 12" single on Enigma 75545
Count To Three (Razormaid Remix) - 6:48
Give Me Your Hand (Razormaid Mix) - 6:53
Songs charted on June 16, 1990. Spent 9 weeks on the chart and reached #13