Irene Cara - Breakdance

From 1984, taken from the album "What A Feelin". Irene Cara had had a huge hit the previous year, but struggled to match the success of the "What A Feelin" single. "Breakdance" peaked at #8 in the US, and #88 in the UK charts. Produced by Giorgio Moroder, it's a great slice of 80's electro-pop.

TRACKLISTING:

Breakdance (Edit)

Breakdance (Extended Remix)


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Chip Chip - Everything You Love

I know very little about this 80's girl group but recently stumbled upon this track from them on an "Italo Hits" compilation. Taking info from www.discogs.com, I can tell you is that "Everything You Love" is from 1988. They appear to have released three singles prior to that, "Never Say Goodbye", "Rock Me Tonight", "So Close To Heaven". A further single followed in 1988, "No More Tears". In 1989, "Let Me Give You All My Love". In 1990, a single and an album both entitled "Close To Me". And then further singles, "Radio", "Motion", "Nobody Nobody", "Let The Music Play" and "Oh Guy", until 1993. Information overload I know!

Anyway, "Everything You Love" is a great little late-80's dance track. The live video is a joy to watch, as their dancing is really quite.....unique!

TRACKLISTING:

Everything You Love (Edit)

Everything You Love (Dolce Vita Edit)


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Crystal Waters - Makin' Happy

From 1991, this was the follow-up to her massive hit "Gypsy Woman" and the second single released from Crystal Water's debut album "Surprise". The track performed moderately well around the world, peaking at #22 in Switzerland & Ireland, #18 in the UK, #17 in France, and #1 in the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

TRACKLISTING:

Makin' Happy (Hurley's Happy House Mix 7")

Makin' Happy (Hurley's Happy House 12")

Makin' Happy (Basement Boys Happy Club Mix)


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Kim Wilde - Never Trust A Stranger

From 1988, this was the third single released from Kim Wilde's "Close" album. The song peaked at #20 in France, #12 in Sweden, #11 in Germany, #7 in the UK, #5 in Ireland, #4 in Switzerland & Netherlands, and #2 in Austria.

Two further singles were released from "Close". These were "Four Letter Word" & "Love In The Natural Way".

TRACKLISTING:

Never Trust A Stranger (Album Version)

Never Trust A Stranger (Extended Version)

Never Trust A Stranger (Razormaid Mix)


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Celine Dion - Misled

'Misled' is the third single from Céline Dion's album The Colour of My Love. It was released on April 4, 1994. The song was remixed by: Mark Kinchen (MK), Richie Jones, Shedrick Guy (The Groove) and Eric Miller (E-smoove). It's one of only few Céline Dion's songs remixed so many times.

'Misled' topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States for two weeks. It's Dion's only #1 on that chart so far. The single reached top ten in Canada (#7), and top forty in the United Kingdom (#15), United States (#23 on the Billboard Hot 100, #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and #52 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales), and New Zealand (#31). According to Nielsen SoundScan the single sold 112,000 copies in the U.S. It's the third Céline Dion's single that was re-released in the United Kingdom (after 'Where Does My Heart Beat Now' and 'If You Asked Me To'). 'Misled' reached #40 in April 1994 and #15 in November 1995.

TRACKLISTING:

TRACKLISTING:

Misled (Album Version)

Misled (E-Smoove's Mission 7")

Misled (E-Smoove's Mission 12")

Misled (E-Smoove's Mission Dub)

Misled (MK Club Radio Mix)

Misled (MK Club Mix)


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Cathy Dennis - You Lied To Me

From 1992, this was the first single to be taken from Cathy Dennis's third album 'Into The Skyline'. Surprisingly, the track peaked at #34 in the UK charts and #32 in the US charts. Two further singles were released from the album, 'Irresistable' & 'Falling'. The track 'Why' was featured on the album and was also released as a single in 1994, but under the name 'D-Mob with Cathy Dennis'.

TRACKLISTING:

You Lied To Me (Radio Edit)

You Lied To Me (Sprayed With Shep's Attitude Mix)

You Lied To Me (Pathological Mix)

You Lied To Me (Domination Mix)

You Lied To Me (Dan's Club Mix)

You Lied To Me (Dan's Dub Mix)


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Jody Watley - When A Man Loves A Woman

From 1994, this was the final single from Jody Watley's fourth album, "Intimacy". The track was released in the UK with alternate gay-themed mixes by progressive house/ trance outfit, BBG. The BBG mixes substituted the gender roles in their titles, hence they were "When a Man Loves a Man" and "When a Woman Loves a Woman". Watley's willingness to discuss gay issues was unprecedented at the time and still remains a rarity among black artists to this day.

The song peaked at #33 in the UK charts, #115 on the U.S. pop chart, and #11 on the R&B chart. It was backed with the David Morales produced track "Ecstasy".

TRACKLISTING:

When A Man Loves A Woman (Radio Mix)

When A Man Loves A Man (BBG Deep Mix Edit)

When A Woman Loves A Woman (BBG Deep Mix Edit)

Ecstasy (B.Y.C. 12")


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Bardeux - Bleeding Heart

From 1988, 'Bleeding Heart' was the 4th single lifted from Bardeux's debut album 'Bold As Love'. The track reached #36 in the Billboard Hot Dance chart. They're often considered to be a one-hit wonder, but had many dance hits throughout their short career - including 'Magic Carpet Ride', 'Three Time Lover', 'Hold Me Hold Me' and of course 'Bleeding Heart'.

TRACKLISTING:

Bleeding Heart (Radio Mix)

Bleeding Heart (7" House Mix)

Bleeding Heart (12" House Mix)

Bleeding Heart (Intropella House Mix)

Bleeding Heart (Percapella)

Bleeding Heart (Instrumental)


PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Erasure - Abba-esque

From 1992, this EP from Erasure consisted of cover versions of four Abba songs. Originally it had been planned to release a full album of ABBA covers. The release gave the duo their first UK number one. Many credit this EP release as a major catalyst for a revival of ABBA's music in the 1990s. The greatest hits album "ABBA Gold" would be released by the end of the summer, and the coming years saw a heavy emphasis on ABBA music in the Australian motion pictures Muriel's Wedding and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. By the decade's end, the musical Mamma Mia! had opened in the West End.

TRACKLISTING:

Lay All Your Love On Me
S.O.S.
Take A Chance On Me
Voulez Vous



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

East 17 - Let It Rain

From 1995, this was the 4th single released from East 17's "Steam" album. It was the follow-up to the bands #1 smash "Stay Another Day". "Let It Rain" had moderate success around the world, peaking at #33 in Sweden, #26 in Germany, #21 in France, #18 in Norway and #10 in the UK. The track was co-written & produced by Ian Curnow, Phil Harding & Rob Kean. Remixes were provided by J-Pac & Overworld.

TRACKLISTING:

Let It Rain (Thunder Radio Edit)
Let It Rain (Overworld's Storm Edit)
Let It Rain (J-Pac Sleeting Mix)
Let It Rain (Overworld Storm Mix)
Let It Rain (P & C Black Clouds Vocal Remix)
Let It Rain (Part One Low Pressure Remix)
Let It Rain (P & C Black Clouds Hard Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Kariya - Baby Let Me Love You For Tonight

Originally released in 1988, 'Baby Let Me Love You For Tonight' has long been regarded a club classic. Ten years later, in 1998, the track was given a rework in the form of remixes by Junior Vasquez and the Sol Brothers. The Sol Brothers fantastic remix still stands the test of time today. The original track reached #44 in the UK charts in 1989, but the 1998 remix failed to chart.

TRACKLISTING:

Baby Let Me Love You For Tonight (Sol Brothers Radio Edit)
Baby Let Me Love You For Tonight (Sol Brothers 12" Mix)
Baby Let Me Love You For Tonight (Juniors Club Mix)
Baby Let Me Love You For Tonight (Original Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Herb Alpert - Diamonds

From 1987, "Diamonds" was the second single by Herb Alpert from his "Keep Your Eye On Me" album, and featured vocals from Janet Jackson and Lisa Keith. The single marked a huge comeback for Herb Alpert.

It was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who melded Alpert's sound with their own Minneapolis funk. In the music video Herb Alpert appears in "Bucky's" night club where the DJ eventually plays his new single. The song is a hit with the crowd and Herb and his band end up performing onstage. Meanwhile, Janet heads back to the club in a limo. Janet herself does not appear in the video - a look-alike is used for the limo scenes, and the shadow of Janet in the club is actually that of a child.

The track was a moderate hit around the world, peaking at #27 in the UK, #8 in South Africa, #5 in the US Billboard Hot 100, #4 in Holland, #4 in Canada, and #1 in the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, Hot Dance Music/Club Play & Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles charts.

TRACKLISTING:

Diamonds (Edit)
Diamonds (Album Version)
Diamonds (Dance Mix)
Diamonds (Cool Summer Edit)
Diamonds (Cool Summer Mix)
Diamonds (Cool Summer Dub)
Diamonds (Beats Dubcapella)
Diamonds (Instrumental)
Diamonds (Girl's Best Friend Mix)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com

Cheryl Baker - If Paradise Is Half As Nice

Released in August 1987, this was Buck Fizz singer Cheryl Bakers debut solo single. It was a cover version of the 1969 hit by Amen Corner. Sadly this track wasn't a hit and only managed to reach #94 in the UK charts. Inspite of the poor chart performance it's still a well-performed cover and the 80's production shines through.

TRACKLISTING:

If Paradise Is Half As Nice
If Paradise Is Half As Nice (Extended Version)



PASSWORD: http://popgems.blogspot.com