Dream Express, US = Belgium cast???

[KoolChris]

I was writing a review of the Dream Express LP on MCA from 1979, when I found there was another Dream Express disco group operating out of Belgium during the same years. I assumed they were 2 totally different bands, until I heard the Belgians, and found they sounded fairly similar to the Americans I knew.

The Belgian Dream Express had some success in Europe with "A Million In One Two Three", having represented Belgium for the 1977 Eurovision contest, which, for those who don't know it, was (still is?) a pan-European (plus Israel & Turkey) song contest, held annually, where consistently unknown, and often awful groups contended. For some reason, foreigners were often chosen to represent other countries, like Celine Dion for Switzerland.



Belgian Dream Express consisted of one man (Luk De Smets) and three women, all white, and sounding white.

When I checked the US Dream Express cover, I noticed 5 men are listed, all black, and no women, neither as part of the band, or even chorus. However, in every track, one single male voice can be distinguished, and several female, all white-sounding. Puzzling!! I only found one sample on UToob for both bands, and I'm sure you'll agree they could be the same. In any case, the US Dream Express is fishy, because no female singers are listed although female chorus voices are present in each track, and 5 male singers are listed, while only 1 single male voice is audible in tracks.



Could this be another case of the Milli Vanilli syndrome?? Does anybody know anything about this? Many disco covers present models in place of the probably less glamorous-looking studio singers (Lorraine Johnson, etc..), but would they show 5 models dressed as clowns, and state their names as group members (although none of them play any kind of instrument...)???

VS, do you know anything about this? Have you been underhandedly exporting your local talent stateside???

[darrens]

Isn't that funny? I have a vast collection of disco (of course) and I have had a copy of the 1979 Dream Express LP for years. But I am also a Eurovision enthusiast, and have mp3s, videos or CDs covering every single contest entry, ever! Until today, it had never occurred to me that there is a "Dream Express" in both of my collections.

I am convinced that there is absolutely no link between the two groups, sorry to disappoint you, which is the conclusion I have come to after a bit of surfing.

The Belgian Dream Express were produced by Luc Smets, and the members were Bianca, Stella and Patricia Maessen. The group name first appeared in 1975, but before that the group was Netherlands based, and known as "Hearts of Soul". They entered Eurovision in 1970 for the Netherlands with the song "Waterman".
Dream Express
Hearts of Soul - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In 1979, Dream Express changed their name to LBS, and had a couple more hits. In 1982, Stella Maessen entered Eurovision for Belgium again, singing "Si tu aimes ma musique", another disco-tinged entry which came 4th.

Meanwhile, the 1979 Dream Express group and LP seems to be a product of American musician, songwriter and producer Wes Farrell.
Wes Farrell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia .

I can't imagine, given all of the above, that the Belgians would agree to have an album released with their identity concealed, or that Wes Farrell would need to recruit singers from Belgium for his LP!

Incidentally, "A million in 1,2,3" was apparently one of the hot favourites to win Eurovision in 1977 (along with Germany's "Telegram" by Silver Convention that I'm sure you all know) but it only came 7th. Nevertheless, this represents the most recent time that the Flemish broadcaster VRT finished in the Top 10 of the contest, 31 years ago! (The Flemish and Walloon broadcasters take turns, Stella's entry was with RTBF). VRT have the duties in 2008, and have entered a song sung in an imaginary language - but now I'm going waaay off topic.

[remicks]

*****

This is a puzzler . The group's photo sure doesn't match the featured female voices.


There's certainly something goofy going on here wouldn't you say !


******

[KoolChris]

Here's a link to the relevant post in the vault:

Dream Express Dream Express (LP) Disco Music.com



Thanks for your input, darrens. My searching gave the same result: no official link between the 2, just two separate groups on either side of the sea.

Nonetheless, what puzzles me, is really the discrepancy between an all-male cast (5 members), none musician, and the end result: one audible male voice + female chorus on each track. Why would all these guys be listed as the group, if none of them plays an instrument, and only one of them sings??? Much more subjective, the voices also seem very white to me, along with being female.

Originally Posted by remicks

*****
This is a puzzler . The group's photo sure doesn't match the featured female voices.
******

Exactly!!!

[Videoskooter]

Originally Posted by darrens

The Belgian Dream Express were produced by Luc Smets, and the members were Bianca, Stella and Patricia Maessen.

Some info in case people do a little search on the man: LuK Smets, a former member of The Pebbles , who scored a worldwide hit with "Seven Horses In The Sky".



They were almost signed by Apple records but Eddy Barclay refused to let 'em go. Smets teamed up with Fred Bekky who later launched the Belgian Discopop band "Trinity" >



BTW, the girls of Dream Express were not that white because they were in fact from Indonesian origin.

Originally Posted by darrens

VRT have the duties in 2008, and have entered a song sung in an imaginary language - but now I'm going waaay off topic.

Oh, let's show it to da whole world.



Don't vote for Belgium plz, vote for Switzerland!!!

BTW, you know your Eurovison!!!

[Andre Crockett]

I can stop all the questions about the 2! My name is Andre Crockett I'm the Nephew of David Crockett one of the Members to any of you that have the album and not the single you'll see him listed he the very light guy. Dream Express started in Chicago they were org. a dance group know as the Puppets. After the release of the album they appeared on American Bandstand, Soul Train, and opened for the Jacksons in Japan. After returning to the states they Performed for 5-6 years at Knotts Berry Farm in LA. Also, the opening track for the Midnight Special (Wolfman Jacks Show was theres). Since then Wayne another member has appear on numerous TV shows and Movies including the 5 heartbeats (Wayne Ward). As far as the other female Dream Express never knew anything of them so in short they are 2 very different groups. Any questions feel free to contact me anytime via email andre.crockett@gmail.com

Originally Posted by KoolChris

Here's a link to the relevant post in the vault:

Dream Express Dream Express (LP) Disco Music.com



Thanks for your input, darrens. My searching gave the same result: no official link between the 2, just two separate groups on either side of the sea.

Nonetheless, what puzzles me, is really the discrepancy between an all-male cast (5 members), none musician, and the end result: one audible male voice + female chorus on each track. Why would all these guys be listed as the group, if none of them plays an instrument, and only one of them sings??? Much more subjective, the voices also seem very white to me, along with being female.




Exactly!!!

[KoolChris]

Originally Posted by Andre Crockett

I can stop all the questions about the 2! My name is Andre Crockett I'm the Nephew of David Crockett one of the Members to any of you that have the album and not the single you'll see him listed he the very light guy. Dream Express started in Chicago they were org. a dance group know as the Puppets. After the release of the album they appeared on American Bandstand, Soul Train, and opened for the Jacksons in Japan. After returning to the states they Performed for 5-6 years at Knotts Berry Farm in LA. Also, the opening track for the Midnight Special (Wolfman Jacks Show was theres). Since then Wayne another member has appear on numerous TV shows and Movies including the 5 heartbeats (Wayne Ward). As far as the other female Dream Express never knew anything of them so in short they are 2 very different groups. Any questions feel free to contact me anytime via email andre.crockett@gmail.com

Hi, Andre, and welcome aboard! It's great to have access to someone who's actually in a position to have first-hand knowledge of the subject!

From your post, I'm understanding (tell me if I'm wrong) that Wayne Ward, Anthony Fairchild, Maurice Christian, Sammy Fultz, and your uncle David, all pictured on the cover of the LP, were in fact dancers, and had a travelling Dance act; the music itself being performed by studio musicians/vocalists. So that's the deal with the whole female vocals / male members debate?!? Am I correct?
Do you know of any other available (video) recordings of their performances? I searched & found they'd been guests on Midnight Special of april 13, 1979, hosted by Sister Sledge. (The Midnight Special: Hosts: Sister Sledge - TV.com). Apart from the "Midnight Dream" single, were there any other subsequent or prior releases? I wrote the entry to the DM record vault, so if you read it you'll find there's no ambiguity in the fact I LOVE this record. I'm in fact enjoying right now the chorus break @ 2:30 on "Wigged Out".
On the LP's back cover, I read your uncle's special thanks to Miltiree. Was she his mom / your grandmother?

It seems the group disbanded sometime in the late '80s. Is your uncle still in contact with former members? What are they up to now? What is he up to now??

Thanks in advance for your input, Andre. Despite the group's relative success (and I hadn't even heard of their touring with the Jacksons, or of most of their TV appearances), reliable data is hard to find to event the most enthusiastic layman...

Chris


David Crockett

[KoolChris]

Andre Crockett emailed me later with more info, which he invited me to post here. I added last names in paratheses for clarity, and cut out 1 more personal portion.


"Chris,

Incorrect they started as a dance act with a dance group named the "Puppets" the Chicago version of the "Lockers" of the 70's (ReRuns dance group from "What's Happening"). They sang every song on the album. As far as videos my mother has the copies of Midnight Special, American Band Stand, Soul Train, Live shows at Knotts Barry Farm, and the recording sessions from the making of the album.

Miltiree was my Grandmother and David's mother she passed away a year ago. David (Crockett) and Maurice (Christian) were the leaders of the band. Maurice's sister married David and they had 1 daughter: Lenora. Maurice is now a Gospel singer and I will include a link to his latest album.

David is the Nephew of GL Crockett whom you can easily google to find out more information on. GL is was very popular and even still today 40 years later he's still selling records he hit the to 10 in 1969 but died in 1967 so he never had the chance to enjoy the fame. That alone opened the MCA doors for Dream Express.

I wish that I could say that all worked out fine for all the members of Dream Express, but that wouldn't be true. At the time of the release and the time of the photos David was 22 years of age and I was 9. We still have the photos of the Jacksons in the Hotel room in Japan with David and Wayne (Ward). After returning to Chicago in 1982 David escaped death but was shot 3 times and at that point his life just went backwards. David and I had always been very close I'm his only nephew and he's my only Uncle. Nothing like being a kid and watching your Uncle on TV. David has fought with drugs ever since his return as have alot of the 70's performers. He states the 1st time he ever tried drugs was with Wolfman Jack at the very photo take that became the album cover. After the passing of my grandmother a year ago no one has heard from or seen David. I found this thread searching for him how odd. Anthony Fairchild overdosed in 1985 and Sammy (Fultz) last I heard from David he had a drug problem as well.

.....

Thanks,
Andre D Crockett"

P.S
link to Maurice
http://www.phx5.com/inside_pages/infopages/artists.htm

link to GL Crockett
http://inkhornterm.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html



I searched for info on the Midnight Special show, and found the recap:
Originally aired: Friday April 13, 1979 on NBC
Show Stars: Wolfman Jack (Announcer & frequent host)
Recurring Role: The Village People (Themselves, music video), Olivia Newton-John (Herself, music video)
Guest Stars: Sister Sledge (Themselves, hosts) , David Naughton (Himself) , Narada Michael Walden (Guest) , The Raes (Themselves) , Dream Express (Guests) , Al Stewart (Himself, music videos)

Opening credits
--Sister Sledge (guest hosts) - "He's the Greatest Dancer"
--The Village People - "In the Navy" (music video, taped aboard an aircraft carrier)
Commercial break
--Narada Michael Walden - "I Don't Want Nobody Else (to Dance with You)"
--Sister Sledge - "We Are Family"
Commercial break
--David Naughton - "Makin' It"
--Olivia Newton-John - "A Little More Love" (music video, filmed in a recording studio)
Commercial break
--Sister Sledge - "Lost in Music"
--The Raes - "A Little Lovin' (Keeps The Doctor Away)"
Commercial break
--Al Stewart - "Time Passages" (music video, concert footage filmed at the Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ)
Commercial break
--Dream Express - "Midnight Dream" (the new "Midnight Special" theme)
Commercial break
--Sister Sledge - "Thinking of You"
--Narada Michael Walden - "Give Your Love a Chance" (or "Love Me Only")
Commercial break
--Al Stewart - "Time Passages" (music video, concert footage from Passaic, NJ)
Commercial break
--The Raes - "Get Up and Dance"
Commercial break
--Sister Sledge thank their guests and reprise "We Are Family" (with closing credits)

[loopyloops]

very interesting