Sunday, 31 October 2021

Snap!

Snap! is a German Eurodance group formed in 1989 by producers Michael Munzing and Luca Anzilotti. The original lineup featured Luca Anzilotti, Michael Munzing, Penny Ford and Turbo B. In 1990, they came to prominence with "The Power", which reached #2 in Native Germany and in the States. It would take #1 on the UK singles chart as well as both the Canada and US dance chart. The debut album, "World Power" included follow-ups "Ooops up", a re-working of the Gap Band's "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Ooops!)", "Cult of Snap" and "Mary had a little boy". (Penny Ford was a backing singer for the Gap Band). "Ooops Up" and "Mary had a little boy" were also Canada Dance #1s. In between albums, the "Snap! Megamix" hit the UK top 10 in 1991.
For the second album, "The madman's return", Thea Austin joined the line-up as a singer/songwriter. "Colour of love" was the actual lead single whilst a German top 10 hit, it failed to make the UK Top 40. "Rhythm is a dancer" was a different story. It spent 6 weeks at #1 on the UK singles chart as well #1 on both the Canada and US Dance charts in 1992. Follow-up singles featuring Niki Harris, "Exterminate" and "Do you see the light" made the UK Top 10 in 1993.
The third album, "Welcome to Tomorrow" featured the vocals of Summer (Paula Brown).

90 Hits (Discography):
Date	   UK	Song
Mar 1990    1	The Power
Jun 1990    5	Oops Up
Sep 1990    8	Cult Of Snap
Dec 1990    8	Mary Had A Little Boy
Mar 1991   10	Snap Megamix
Jul 1992    1	Rhythm Is A Dancer
Jan 1993    2	Exterminate (featuring Niki Harris)
Jun 1993   10	Do You See The Light (Looking For) (featuring Niki Harris)
Sep 1994    6	Welcome To Tomorrow (featuring Summer)
Apr 1995   15	The First The Last Eternity (Til The End) (featuring Summer)

What happened next?
In 1996, Snap! officially disbanded after releasing a greatest hits compilation called "Snap! Attack: The Best of Snap!". In 2000, the group made a surprise return in 2000 with "Gimme a thrill" with Turbo B and vocals from Maxayn. Plaything remixed "Do you see the light" and that reached UK#14 in 2002. It reached #11 on the German dance chart. "Rhythm is a dancer" has been remixed in 2003 (UK#17) and in 2008 (UK#23). The 2003 version of "The Power (of Bhangra 2003)" made UK#34.

Saturday, 30 October 2021

SL2

SL2 are an English breakbeat hardcore group consisting of Matt "Slipmatt" Nelson, John "Lime" Fernandez and rap vocalist Jason "Jay-J" James. They also recorded, remixed or produced. They are best known for "On a ragga tip" and "DJs take control." The name SL2 came from the initials of their names, Slipmatt and Lime. They started in the rave scene, running pirate stations, Awesome FM and Raw FM. After problems with their original label, created their own 'Awesome Records' label, where they released appropriately named "DJ's take control." A larger label, XL Recordings took note and gave SL2 commercial success. Jo Millett (who later produced her own music) and Kelly Overett (who would later go on to be a member of the Italian Eurodance act Cappella) joined as dancers for live shows and videos.

90 Hits (Discography):
Date	   UK	Song
Nov 1991   11	DJs Take Control / Way In My Brain
Apr 1992    2	On A Ragga Tip
Dec 1992   26	Way In My Brain (remix) / Drumbeats
Feb 1997   31	On A Ragga Tip '97 (remix)

What happened next?
SL2 split up in 1993 after some internal disagreements. After remix of "On a ragga tip" returned SL2 charts, Slipmatt and Lime made up even though no new material has been released since.

Friday, 29 October 2021

Skee-lo

Antoine Roundtree better known as Skee-Lo is an American born (Mar 5) singer/rapper. Best known for the title track of his only album, "I wish". The song uses a horn sample from Bernard Wright's "Spinnin'." Another hit "Top of the Stairs" was featured in the ending credits as well as the soundtrack to the 1995 film Money Train.

90 Hits (Discography):
Date	   UK	Song
Dec 1995   15	I Wish
Apr 1996   38	Top Of The Stairs

What happened next?
Skee-Lo quietly 'retired' from rapping five months after the album's release because of a dispute with label Sunshine Records. Skee-Lo claimed the label took all the credit from the album's success, and he did not make a single cent from it. He said "So I refused to shoot any more videos, promote or record music. I’m not their slave. I wasn’t working for free."
After many years he eventually won the rights against the label in court.

Thursday, 28 October 2021

Size 9

Size 9 is alias of Joshua Winkelman (or Josh Wink). Best known for the UK and US Dance #1 hit "I'm ready" in 1995.

90 Hits (Discography):
Date	   UK	Song
Nov 1995   30	I'm Ready

What happened next?
Josh Wink had a limited release, Feel EP in Spain in 2020.

Wednesday, 27 October 2021

Simply Red

Simply Red is an English soul and pop band formed in Manchester in 1984 by lead vocalist (and songwriter) Mick "Red" Hucknall with three former members of the band Durutti Column: bassist Tony Bowers, drummer Chris Joyce, and keyboardist/brass player Tim Kellett, plus guitarist Sylvan Richardson and keyboardist Fritz McIntyre. The band line up changed over the years. By 1996, after their fifth album "Life", Mick Hucknall was the only remaining original member and the name Simply Red had become a trademark for him.
The 90s was arguably when Simply Red at their peak with three UK #1 albums, "Stars", "Life" and "Blue". They had 6 top 10 hits including the UK #1 hit, "Fairground," which heavily sampled Goodmen's "Give it up" and whose video was filmed in Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

90 Hits (Discography):
Date	   UK	Song
Sep 1991   11	Something Got Me Started
Nov 1991    8	Stars
Feb 1992    9	For Your Babies
May 1992   33	Thrill Me
Jul 1992   17	Your Mirror
Nov 1992   11	Montreux EP
Sep 1995    1	Fairground
Dec 1995   22	Remembering The First Time
Feb 1996   18	Never Never Love
Jun 1996   11	We're In This Together
Nov 1996    4	Angel
May 1998    7	Say You Love Me
Aug 1998    6	The Air That I Breathe
Dec 1998   34	Ghetto Girl
Oct 1999   14	Ain't That A Lot Of Love

What happened next?
Simply Red After being dropped by their label EastWest in 2000, they established a website simplyred.com which also became their own label and released the album "Home" in 2003 and all subsequent releases under it. Hucknall retired the name Simply Red after a farewell tour in 2010, but reunited in 2015 for a tour that marked the 30th anniversary of the band, and released the album "Big Love". In 2021, Mick Hucknell is bringing back Simply Red for the Blue-Eyed Soul Uk and Europrean tour.

Tuesday, 26 October 2021

Shola Ama

Shola Ama is an English born (Mar 8) singer who best known for her version of Randy Crawford's "You might need someboday" and the UK top 3 hit, "You're the one I love". Shola was discovered singing to herself ona platform at a London tube station and on her 16th birthday signed a recording contract. Her debut single was "You're the one I love" was failed to chart. However, the next song was Turley Richards penned "You might need somebody" and that reached #4 in the UK. The re-issue of "You're the one I love" gave Shola her biggest hit when it reached #3 in August 1997. Other hits (including the title track) from her debut album, "Much love" followed. She collaborated with Glamma Kid on "Taboo" (based on Sade's "Sweetest Taboo") and spent 1 week at #1 on UK Dance Chart in April 1999.

90 Hits (Discography):
Date	   UK	Song
Apr 1997    4	You Might Need Somebody
Aug 1997    3	You're The One I Love
Nov 1997   13	Who's Loving My Baby
Feb 1998   17	Much Love
Apr 1998   28	Someday I'll Find You / I've Been To A Marvellous Party	(with Craig Armstrong / Divine Comedy)
Nov 1999   26	Still Believe
Apr 1999   10	Taboo	(Glamma Kid featuring Shola Ama)

What happened next?
Shola Ama played a garage gig alongside Artful Dodger, Crazy Cousinzm DJ Luck and MC Neat, Oxide and Neutrino and Piped Piper, July 2021. Shola's last album was "Surreal" in 2015 but her most recent single release was "My Future" in 2019.

Monday, 25 October 2021

Shawn Christopher

Shawn Christopher is an American born singer. She started as backing singer for the great Chaka Khan and was lead on the vocalised mixes of L'il Louis' "French Kiss". In the 1990s, she had 2 dance chart #1s in the US with "Another Sleepless Night" in 1991 and "Sweet Freedom" in 1998. She nipped into the UK Top 40 with "Don't lose the magic" but she possibly best known for the song "Make my love" in 1995.

90 Hits (Discography):
Date	   UK	Song
Mar 1992   30	Don't Lose The Magic

What happened next?
Shawn Christopher's most recent release appears to be as featured artist on Ralphi Rosario's track, "Menergy" in 2012. She also released a gospel album, "Still standing" in the same year.