Paradise Express - Let's Fly

[neonlights]

Don't know if anyone else here does, but I love this song and album.. The first song - "Let's Fly" with those slow-burning vocals; ambient, pulsing synths. Love that dark, driving sound. I imagine this would have sounded amazing in a club with a big sound system. Their cover of "Nowhere To Run," "You and I" and "You Set Me On Fire" are also great tracks..

The album seems pretty representative of what seemed to be the dominant sound (or at least one of the dominant sounds) in 1979. Darker, harder, more synths, a bit more euro and rock in the mix... Any takers?

[Noman]

There are a lot of similarities with Gino Soccios Dancer in Lets Fly. Same on their first album, the intro of the song Hold on is a Soccio Rip off (or vice versa).

Anyway, two great albums. I used to own them both but they got lost somewhere 25 years ago. I just baught a mint copy of the 1:st album for $4 :) Still looking for Let's Fly....

[neonlights]

^ Hmm.. I never noticed the Gino Soccio similarity before..

EDIT: After listening to the two a little more, I do start to hear more similarity in style.. The synthesized beat with little touches of guitar for one. The songs are still pretty distinct to my ears though, but I do hear some little similarities.. Still need to hear their first album.

[discokicks]

I'm interested in hearing this 2nd album. I love the song 'Dance' and have the 12" b/w 'Poinciana'. I've always wondered about Paradise Express. 'Dance' is written by Paul Jabara and the vocals sound like his voice so was this his group? :-? And backing vocals sure sound like Martha Wash and Izora Armstead...and of course, three years later they all make dance history with 'It's Raining Men'.

Hmmmmm...just now adding all this up... :oops:

[neonlights]

^ hmm.. this first album is really starting to sound interesting!
I don't think it was Paul Jabara's group... I found a brief bio of the group online (which it seems, I'm not able to link to).

According to the bio, Paradise Express was Herb Jimmerson and his wife Vi-Ann on vocals. They had been performing under other names before being signed to Fantasy.. I have to pull out one of my Paul Jabara albums to see how him and Vi-Ann compare vocally :)

[discokicks]

I just listened to the first line of 'Dance' (over and over and over) and realize that it must be a woman and not Paul Jabara. All this time, I thought the line was something like 'alright, which one of you foxes wants to dance' but actually the line is 'alright, which one of you foxy-looking dudes wants to dance' :lol: ....course it still coulda been Paul! There's quite a similarity! :oops: It still sounds like the Tons of Fun on backing vocals though.

[Bernie]

Originally Posted by neonlights

Don't know if anyone else here does, but I love this song and album.. The first song - "Let's Fly" with those slow-burning vocals; ambient, pulsing synths. Love that dark, driving sound. I imagine this would have sounded amazing in a club with a big sound system. Their cover of "Nowhere To Run," "You and I" and "You Set Me On Fire" are also great tracks..

The album seems pretty representative of what seemed to be the dominant sound (or at least one of the dominant sounds) in 1979. Darker, harder, more synths, a bit more euro and rock in the mix... Any takers?

Please consider posting your helpful review on the Paradise Express page you linked to so that your comments become permanently attached to that album. Unfortunately any comments posted here on the forums will fade away with time and it's kind of a shame to loose them.

[neonlights]

^ will do Bernie!

Originally Posted by discokicks

I just listened to the first line of 'Dance' (over and over and over) and realize that it must be a woman and not Paul Jabara. All this time, I thought the line was something like 'alright, which one of you foxes wants to dance' but actually the line is 'alright, which one of you foxy-looking dudes wants to dance' :lol: ....course it still coulda been Paul! There's quite a similarity! :oops: It still sounds like the Tons of Fun on backing vocals though.

:lol: I listened to a bit of Paul Jabara earlier to compare, and just downloaded "Dance".. I definitely hear the vocal similarity now! wow haha.. I also hear the Two Tons O' Fun on there too, gotta love those ladies! :)

[swerzer]

Everytime I think about "Dance" I remember being at a club in New York that had a great sound system and the drum breakdown in the middle was soooooo loud.......add in the strobe lights and I thought I was in heaven! Sometimes I wish I could go back in time!!!!!!

swerzer

[Kjelle]

Hi!

Great album!
It`s shame but i sold the album many years ago but gladly
it`s still available on a good old tape
In fact i`ve been listining to the tape this very evening
and remembers all the songs You set me on fire,Lets fly,
Nowhere to run and You and i?
I think the sound of Nowhere to run reminds me a little bit of
Sylvesters huge hit You make me feel mighty real
Anybody agree?
And of course similiar to the music of Gino Soccio!