This week for retro cassette Friday we reach into the milk crate of cassettes and pull out something from one of Madonna’s backing singers, a camp album from a British soapie star and a critically lauded album from a Glaswegian band.
Donna Delory, Self Titled
MCA
Records,1992
Donna Delory is best known as one of Madonna’s long serving backing singers working on many of the material girl’s albums and tours. Here Delory attempts to step into the spotlight with an album of 90’s pop.
There’s nothing wrong with the material on this album, it would stand up next to the work of Debbie Gibson or Martika – or any of the people who were hitting the charts in the late 80’s. Most of the album is produced by Stephen Hague (Pet Shop Boys, OMD, Erasure and Jimmy Somerville) but it’s surprisingly rockier than you’d expect.
Madonna and long time collaborator Stephen Bray write and produce one track ‘Just a Dream’. Delory went on have success with her future albums that had a more spiritual / yoga influence.
Adam Rickett, Good Times
Polydor, 1999
In the late 90’s Adam Rickett was starring in a British soap opera Coronation Street and regular appearing on the pages of gay magazines showing off his abs and pecs. A camp dance album was probably a natural progression. ‘Breathe Again’ had a memorable video, and ‘Good Times’ and ‘You Make Me Believe in Love’ are great dance tracks. Flip over the B side and the camp dance party continues with ‘The Best Thing’, ‘Hold On To Our Love’ and ‘I Want To Take You High’.
The album was written and produced by Jewels and Stone, and the whole album has a definite Stock Aitken Waterman sound, which is not surprising because Julian Gingell (the Jewels half of the duo) spent his early career at the PWL studios.
This is Rickett’s one and only album, he returned to acting – moving to New Zealand to join the soapie Shortland Street. Today he’s back in the UK working in a charity and eyeing a move into politics.
The Blue Nile, A Walk Across The Rooftops
Linn Records, 1983
The title track on this album is an intriguing piece of music, it’s like the vocals and music could potentially be two different songs, it’s incredibly intricate music. ‘Tinseltown in the Rain’ was the albums other single. The track was later covered by Andrea Corr on her solo record and it was also used as the theme tune to a BBC TV series ‘Tinsel Town’. On the flip side is a cool track called ‘Heatwave’.
The Blue Nile hailed from Glasgow and that may explain a lot about their sound, it’s somewhat desolate and tense. It’s almost like an electronic opera because the words are so clearly sung and the music is quite sparse. Overall it’s an intriguing album and a little bit reminiscent of another 80’s band Talk Talk.
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