Saturday, December 15, 2007

Missing Persons (Walking in LA)

In 1980 the band made its first record, a 4-song EP entitled Missing Persons, in Zappa's brand-new UMRK studios; the recording was financed by Cuccurullo's father. The band toured, promoted the EP, appeared in the movie Lunch Wagon, and became a must-see band among the L.A. live music crowd. "Mental Hopscotch" was a #1 record on local radio station KROQ, and the self-promoted EP ended up selling 7,000 copies. Two years of hard work led up to a signing with Capitol Records in 1982. With label support, the re-released EP sold another 250,000 units, and the new album Spring Session M (an anagram of "Missing Persons") went gold.

The singles "Mental Hopscotch", "Destination Unknown," "Words," "Walking in L.A.," and "Windows" met with varying success, especially in the local markets of Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. The visual effects used in the music video for "Words" were unusual for the time, making it popular on the fledgling cable TV channel MTV. Missing Persons appeared at the three-day Southern California concert, the US Festival in May 1983, along with Berlin, The Pretenders, U2, David Bowie, and many more.

Missing Persons (Walking in LA)

C Bank with Jenny Burton "One More Shot"

C-Bank's 1983 Top 5 Hot Dance Music/ClubPlay

Jenny Burton was born in New York and raised as a foster child. She became interested in the music business while st still in high school. By 1970, she had become a receptionist at the Bell Record Company. At one recording session there, the producer required a singer and Jenny
volunteered.
This led to a recording contract at Cotton Records. in 1983 she recorded a single entitled 'One More Shot', with C Bank which led to a deal at Atlantic Records. The single "One More Shot" is considered to be among the canonical works of "Freestyle".

Freestyle is a style of urban dance records known for mixing, among other things, latin influences and hip-hop styled beats.
Jenny then released her debut album 'In Black And White' and recorded a duet ballad with Patrick Jude called 'Strangers In A Strange World' that was featured in the movie 'Beat Street'.

C Bank w/Jenny Burton "One More Shot"

Siouxsie and the Banshees (Cities in Dust)

Siouxsie and the Banshees were among the longest-lived and most successful acts to emerge from the London punk community; over the course of a career that lasted two decades, they evolved from an abrasive, primitive art punk band into a stylish, sophisticated unit that even notched a left-field Top 40 hit.

Throughout its numerous lineup changes and textural shifts, the group remained under the leadership of vocalist Siouxsie Sioux, born Susan Dallion on May 27, 1958. She and the Banshees' initial lineup emerged from the Bromley Contingent, a notorious group of rabid Sex Pistols fans.
(by Jason Ankeny)

Siouxsie and the Banshees (Cities in Dust)

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Erotic Drum Band "Plug me to Death"

Erotic Drum Band has always been somewhat of an enigma. Even when they burst on the scene in 1978 not much was known about the group.


Some brief facts that we do know is that the creative force behind them was Peter DiMilo and George Cucuzzella. The duo would have other successes in their native Canada, most notably Nightlife Unlimited and Suzy Q. At the time of their first LP release, "Plug Me To Death," the group was managed by Joe LaGreca.

Erotic Drum Band "Plug me to Death"

Giorgio Moroder "The Chase"

Giorgio Moroder is one of the world's best known, most active and innovative composers of film, dance, and other popular musical forms. Like so many other influential musicians of our time, Moroder has always maintained an abiding interest in visual as well as musical expression. Indeed, he was trained as an artist before he turned to playing and composing music.

Mr. Moroder was recently inducted in the "Dance Music Hall of Fame," and is the winner of 3 Oscars: "Top Gun," "Flashdance," and "Midnight Express." He has also been honored with 4 Golden Globes, and 3 Grammies, best know for his hit song "the case", Over the years, Giorgio Moroder has produced countless artists, over 40 songs for films, scored 15 films (including the theme for Midnight Express which won an Academy Award), and won numerous top awards.

  • Barbra Streisand, Miami Sound Machine, Janet Jackson, David Bowie, Graham Nash
  • Donna Summer, Sammy Hagar/Van Halen, Kenny Loggins, Pat Benatar, Jon Anderson
  • Limahl, The Silvers, Eric Martin-Mr.Big, Remix Eurythmics, Berlin, Jermaine Jackson
  • Cheap Trick, Irene Cara, Cher, Chaka Khan, Freddie Mercury, Sparks, Adam Ant,Janis Ian
  • Phil Oakey, S. S. Sputnik, Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, In Aura Remix, Bonnie Tyler
  • Loverboy, Bill Medley, Roger Miller, Blondie, Debbie Harry, Melissa Manchester
  • Billy Squier, Roger Daltrey, Jennifer Rush, DeBarge, Asia, RuPaul, Gravity Kills remix
Giorgio Moroder "The Chase"