The Brief: After 1985′s LP ‘Vive Le Rock’, Adam Ant rarely played live and did not enter the studio again until 1989. Ant was concentrating on his acting career during that time taking roles in various commercials, TV shows and feature films. The ’89 studio sessions resulted in ‘Manners & Physique’ which, by Ant’s own [...]
The Brief: Guest Blogger: Paul “Lovin’ You’s A Dirty Job” by Ratt sums up my three-decade relationship with this band. We’ve been together through the good, the bad and the ugly. I personally don’t think the band gets enough credit for producing a number of solid pop-metal anthems. And, it really frustrates me when Ratt [...]
Posted in FWV, Ratt 
Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Atlantic Records, George Morel, Mojoe Nicosia, Rock, Stephen Seltzer 
5 Comments »
The Brief: Thirty years ago this month, March 23rd to be exact, ZZ Top released the best selling album of their career, ‘Eliminator’. The album sold over 10 million copies and the music videos produced for the album’s singles cemented the ZZ Top image. Surprisingly, the band only released one other album in the 80s, [...]
The Brief: The Top 20 charting album ‘World Clique’ by Deee-Lite was released in 1990 and spawned 3 Billboard Hot Dance/Disco number ones. “Power Of Love” was the second single released from the album following the Top 5 smash “Groove Is In The Heart”. The group were a fusion of house, techno, rap and funk with [...]
The Brief: Guest Blogger: Britney Wendy & Lisa had a long history working with Prince, serving as contributors and members of his backing band, The Revolution. After the disbandment of The Revolution, Wendy and Lisa struck out on their own, recording three albums between 1987 and 1990. “Strung Out” is the first single from their [...]
Posted in FWV, Wendy and Lisa Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Carmen Rizzo, MPLS, Pop, Promo, R&B, Virgin Records 8 Comments »
The A Side: Close To You (Phil Bodger Main Body Mix) 5:28 Close To You (Leo Grant Bad Ass Mix) 6:00 Close To You (Leo Grant Acapella & Drum Mix) 5:56 The B Side: Close To You (Phil Bodger Radio Mix) 3:59 Close To You (Phil Chill’s Rap Sensation Featuring Darren Deere) 6:08 Close To [...]
Posted in FWV, Maxi Priest Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Charisma Records, Leo Grant, Phil Bodger, R&B 18 Comments »
The A Side: Precious Love (Tongue In Groove Mix) 6:48 Precious Love (Dub Instrumental) 5:00 The B Side: Precious Love 5:14 Precious Love (Instrumental) 4:45 The Brief: Jody Watley’s second solo LP release was ‘Larger Than Life‘ in 1989 and “Precious Love” was the fourth and the final single to be released from the album. [...]
Posted in FWV, Jody Watley Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Brian "Chuck" New, MCA Records, Promo, R&B, The Dynamic Duo 9 Comments »
The A Side: Rainforest 90 4:58 The B Side: Rainforest (Original Version) 4:22 Dark Star 4:20 The Brief: “Rainforest 90” is an “update” of the title track from Paul Hardcastle’s 1985 album ‘Rain Forest’ which was posted to this blog in September of 2010. The original version of the tune is on the flip side [...]
The A Side: Certainly (R&B Mix w/o Rap) 4:52 Certainly (Album Mix) 5:02 Certainly (Instrumental) 5:02 The B Side: Doncha Wanna Be (Hip Hop Mix) 4:52 Doncha Wanna Be (12″ Extended Mix) 6:30 Doncha Wanna Be (Dub Mix) 4:54 The Brief: Prince did it. Rick James did it. Andre Cymone did it. Morris Day may as well do [...]
Posted in FWV, The Day Zs Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Larry Robinson, MPLS, Promo, R&B, Reprise Records 23 Comments »
The A Side: Tic-Tac-Toe (Long Game X Mix) 6:43 The B Side: Tic-Tac-Toe (Long Game Instrumental O Mix) 6:49 The Brief: With the regional success of “What Gets Your Body Hyped (XTC)”, Kyper got noticed by Atlantic Records and signed a recording contract that produced the LP ‘Tic-Tac-Toe’ in 1990. The title track was released [...]
The A Side: The Funk Shop (Radio Version) 3:23 The F**k Shop (Nasty Version) 3:23 The B Side: European Ultimix 10:32 The Brief: “The Funk Shop” comes from The 2 Live Crew’s 1989 double platinum selling album “As Nasty As They Wanna Be”. The single samples heavily from Van Halen‘s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” and [...]
The A Side: Feels Good (Edit) 4:33 Feels Good (LP Version) 4:56 The B Side: Feels Good (12″ Party Mix) 8:30 Feels Good (Extended Version) 6:56 The Brief: In December of 2010 I posted the first of four #1 R&B singles, “The Blues”, released from Tony! Toni! Tone!’s second LP ‘The Revival’. “Feels Good” became [...]
The A Side: Melody Cool (Extended LP Mix) 4:42 Melody Cool (Extended Remix) 6:06 The B Side: Melody Cool (Deep House Vocal) 6:22 Melody Cool (Mellow Dub Mix) 4:33 Time Waits For No One (Edit) 4:18 The Brief: It was two? TWO! years ago today that the first post was put online at blog.djrichiep.com. Since that [...]
Posted in FWV, Mavis Staples Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, David Bianco, Junior Vasquez, Keith Cohen, MPLS, Paisley Park Records, R&B, Soundtrack 9 Comments »
The A Side: Ice Ice Baby (Radio Mix) 4:28 Ice Ice Baby (Club Mix) 4:59 Ice Ice Baby (Instrumental Mix) 4:22 Ice Ice Baby (Acapella Mix) 3:46 The B Side: Play That Funky Music (Radio Mix) 4:39 Play That Funky Music (Instrumental Mix) 4:36 Play That Funky Music (Acapella Mix) 4:32 The Brief: You love [...]
The A Side: Knockin’ Boots (Radio Mix) 4:07 Knockin’ Boots (12″ Mix) 4:35 Knockin’ Boots (Instrumental) 4:05 The B Side: Knockin’ Boots (St. James Remix) 5:10 Keep On Watcha Doin’ 3:36 Keep On Watcha Doin’ (Instrumental) 3:36 The Brief: Candell Manson is best known as Candyman, the rapper who hit the Top 10 in 1990 [...]
The A Side: Mentirosa (Radio Edit) 4:16 Mentirosa (Extended Remix) 6:08 Welcome To My Groove (Hurley’s House of Trix Mix) 4:30 The B Side: Welcome To My Groove (Hurley’s Deep House Mix) 5:45 Welcome To My Groove (Hurley’s Hip House Mix) 5:56 Welcome To My Groove (Latin Hip House Mix) 5:13 The Brief: Born Ulpiano [...]
Posted in FWV, Mellow Man Ace Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Capitol Records, Joe The Butcher, Rap, Steve "Silk" Hurley, Tony G 6 Comments »
The A Side: Hold You Tight (Radio Edit) 3:46 The B Side: Hold You Tight (All Night Extended Mix) 6:44 Hold You Tight (Album Version) 4:43 The Brief: “Hold You Tight” was the first of two Top 10 pop singles for Tara Kemp from her one and only self-titled LP on Giant Records in 1991. [...]
The A Side: My Girl (12″ Version) 7:09 My Girl (Dub) 6:31 My Girl (Instrumental) 5:39 My Girl (Radio Edit) 4:11 The B Side: My Girl (Palladium Mix) 8:04 My Girl (The Mo You Know Dub) 7:49 My Girl (The Palladium Dub) 4:35 My Girl (7″ Edit) 4:29 The Brief: Another, in my opinion, bland, [...]
Posted in FWV, Kool Skool Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Capitol Records, Keith Cohen, Michael "Mixin" Moore, MPLS, R&B Comments Off
The A Side: Waste My Time (Now’s The Time Mix) 4:09 Waste My Time (Clockin’ The Beat Mix) 5:54 The B Side: Waste My Time (Jungle Love Remix) 6:34 Waste My Time (Heavy On The Vocal Tip Mix) 3:54 The Brief: Taking a cue from Prince, Jesse Johnson involved himself with several side projects as an [...]
The A Side: Sensitivity (S + P Full Rub Mix) The B Side: Sensitivity (USA 12″ Mix) Sensitivity (Ralph’s Rap) The Brief: Ralph Tresvant is an original member of New Edition and the primary lead vocalist on most of the band’s hit songs. In 1990 Ralph recorded and released a self-titled solo debut LP. He teamed [...]
Posted in FWV, Ralph Tresvant Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Flyte Tyme Productions, MCA Records, R&B, S+P Jervier, UK Pressing 5 Comments »
The A Side: Rub You The Right Way (J.G. Classic) 5:40 The B Side: Rub You The Right Way (Extended Hype) 5:40 Rub You The Right Way (Instrumental) 5:40 The Brief: Johnny Gill was asked by Michael Bivins to join New Edition in 1987 when it was thought that Ralph Tresvant was leaving to pursue [...]
Posted in FWV, Johnny Gill Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Flyte Tyme Productions, Motown Records, R&B, UK Pressing 11 Comments »
The A Side: The Sex Of It (Extended Remix Version) 6:26 The Sex Of It (House Version) 6:38 The B Side: The Sex Of It (Radio Version) 3:30 The Sex Of It (House Dub Version) 6:24 The Brief: Kid Creole is August Darnell and the Coconuts are a trio of female backing vocalists. “The Sex [...]
Posted in FWV, Kid Creole and The Coconuts Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Columbia Records, Justin Strauss, MPLS, Pop, Richie Jones 4 Comments »
The A Side: Stranger To Love (Vocal Club) 7:34 The B Side: Stranger To Love (Club Edit) 5:41 Stranger To Love (Gamson Lieber Mix) 6:54 The Brief: Today is the scheduled release date for the new CD, ‘Gaslight‘ by fDeluxe. fDeluxe is a reunion of the Paisley Park Records artist The Family. If you haven’t [...]
Posted in FWV, St. Paul Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Atlantic Records, MPLS, Pop, Promo, Steve Peck 4 Comments »
The A Side: Doubleback (Single Version) The B Side: Planet Of Women (LP Version) Doubleback (AOR Mix) The Brief: “Doubleback” from ZZ Top‘s ‘Recycler’ album was featured in the film Back to the Future Part III. The band had a cameo in the movie playing an Old West version of the song along with some [...]
The A Side: On The Way Up (Jam Mix) 4:56 On The Way Up (IL Mix) 6:16 On The Way Up (7″ Power Mix) 3:54 The B Side: On The Way Up (12″ Remix) 6:23 Am I Dub II 5:37 The Brief: Elisa Fiorillo won the Star Search talent show on US TV in 1983. [...]
Posted in Elisa Fiorillo, FWV Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Chrysalis Records, David Williams, Junior Vasquez, Keith Cohen, MPLS, Pop 9 Comments »
The A Side: Groovy Train 6:05 The B Side: Groovy Train (The Bootle Mix) 6:20 Groovy Train (Jumped at 3.30 am Mix) 3:51 The Brief: I hope you like this song… The Farm released their major label debut record, ‘Spartacus’, on Sire Records in 1991 and watched it shoot to the top of the UK [...]
Posted in FWV, The Farm Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Mark Saunders, Pop, Produce Records, Rock, UK Pressing 4 Comments »
The A Side: Ring My Bell (A Midnite Mix by Richie Rivera) 8:18 The B Side: The Hustle 6:25 The Brief: This 12″ is part of the “Hot Classics” reissue series of the early 90′s. Numerous records were reissued from the Sugar Hill, TK, Sunnyview and AVI record labels. This release, a TK Records reissue, [...]
Posted in Anita Ward, FWV, Van McCoy Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Disco, Richie Rivera, TK Records 5 Comments »
Side A: The Power (Switch Mix) The Power (Power Dub) Side B: The Power (Ful Mix) The Power (Potential Mix) The Power (Single Version) The Brief: Snap! released the album ‘World Power’ in the U.S. in 1993 and it featured the smash single “The Power”. The single hit the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart on [...]
Posted in FWV, Snap! Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Arista Records, Michael Hutchinson, Off, Pop, Rap Comments Off
Side A: The Blues (The Mix) The Blues (The Other The Mix) Side B: The Blues (Extended Version) The Blues (T.T.T. Mix [Tyler Talkin' Trash]) The Blues (The Dusted Mix) The Brief: Tony! Toni! Tone! are D’wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, Raphael Saadiq on lead vocals and bass, and Timothy Christian Riley on [...]
Posted in FWV, Tony! Toni! Tone! Tags: 12 Inch, 1990, Gerry E Brown, Ken Dr Shaft Kessie, R&B, Wing Records Comments Off
Side A: Chocolate (Edit) 4:23 Side B: My Drawers (Album Version) 4:04 The Brief: “Chocolate” is the final single released from the ‘Pandemonium’ album and, to date, it is the last single released by The Time. The single edit on this record is timed at 4:23. The B-Side “My Drawers” is the full album version [...]
Side A: Jerk Out (Edit) 3:54 Side B: Mo’ Jerk Out 4:30 The Brief: The first of two singles from The Time’s 1990 reunion album ‘Pandemonium’. The single “Jerk Out” made its debut on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart on June 30, 1990. It became The Time’s first and only #1 hit on the [...]