Paul Sabu Productions

[adonis1960]

Can anyone provide me with a complete list of disco productions by Paul Sabu? He scored on the dance charts in 1979-80 with hits by Debbie Jacobs, Sister Power, Ann-Margret and his own band, Sabu. (Warning: There are many productions by Paul Sabu from the 1980s and '90s that are not disco.)

[Bernie]

Not complete by any stretch, but worth a look for the info and record cover pics...
Paul Sabu entries

[adonis1960]

Hiya Bernie . . . no, it's not complete, but every one of those records I highly recommend. I know of others, but before posting them, I want to see what other people have to contribute . . . last year, I found two Sabu disco productions on eBay I had no idea existed. Chances are there are others out there!

It's been awhile since I posted this, and since no one's come up with any previously unknown Paul Sabu disco productions, let me list the ones I have:

Debbie Jacobs album (MCA Records) - High On Your Love
Debbie Jacobs album (MCA Records) - Undercover Lover
Debbie Jacobs 12-inch (Personal Records) - "Doctor Music"
Paul Sabu album (Ocean Records) - Sabu
Paul Sabu 12-inch (Arial Records) - "Shotgun"
Ann-Margret album (MCA Records) - Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret 12-inch (First-American Records) - "Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes"
Sister Power album (Ocean Records) - Sister Power
Gwen Jonae 12-inch (Moby Dick Records) - "Destiny"
Gwen Jonae 12-inch (Arial Records) - "Red Light Lover"

[Forrrce]

There's a later Ann Margaret song called 'Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes' which manages to out-Chic Chic. No date on the label but it sounds very '81. Worth looking out for - and it's a Sabu production.

[neonlights]

A while back, I bought this this Gwen Jonae 12" he did - It was called Destiny/Heavybreathin' (which reminds me, I should probably submit this to the main site :oops:).. It came with a pic sleeve and a back cover with full credits, thank you's and everything.. It was released 1983 on C&M Records (dist. by Moby Dick) The A-side is a real rock-disco record, kind of a mix of that electronic san francisco sound and an 80s rock sound, the B-side has more of a Smooth R&B style.. On the back it says the songs are "from forthcoming album," which (I assume) went unreleased, since I haven't been able to find a Gwen Jonae album (unless you count the Sister Power LP)..

[adonis1960]

Yes, I have the Ann-Margret single "Everybody Needs Somebody" and Gwen Jonae's "Destiny." Both were hits on the Billboard Disco/Dance charts. Forrrce, your assessment of the A-M disc is absolutely correct; you'd think it was Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards production if the label didn't say otherwise. For me, though, the ticket is the groovy flipside, "Hold Me, Squeeze Me," one of Sabu's greatest productions. I can't believe it never charted on its own. I remember seeing A-M perform it live on a George Burns TV special in the early 1980s - it was awesome! That woman can really shake her moneymaker! As for "Destiny," I always thought that the lyrics made it sound like it was written for the Olympics.

[Forrrce]

Originally Posted by adonis1960

For me, though, the ticket is the groovy flipside, "Hold Me, Squeeze Me," one of Sabu's greatest productions. I can't believe it never charted on its own.

That's something for me to look out for, as mine just has three versions of 'Everybody...'. 8)

[KayJayEm54]

Well that's me just ordered the 12" EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY SOMETIMES + 2 by ANN-MARGRET from Gemm this evening.

Waiting for it to arrive.

[neonlights]

Originally Posted by adonis1960

As for "Destiny," I always thought that the lyrics made it sound like it was written for the Olympics.

lol, now that you mention it, you're right.. I have to pull out the 12", haven't listened to it in a while..

Has anyone here heard the other Gwen Jonae 12" that Paul Sabu produced - called "Red Light Lover" (1983) on the Arial label. I haven't come across this one yet, but I've always wondered what it sounded like..

[Noman]

Originally Posted by neonlights

Has anyone here heard the other Gwen Jonae 12" that Paul Sabu produced - called "Red Light Lover" (1983) on the Arial label. I haven't come across this one yet, but I've always wondered what it sounded like..

I've got it. It's good "disco rock". Sounds typical for early 80's (128 bpm)

[KayJayEm54]

Just received Ann-Margret and without looking at the label, you'd think it was Chic all the way through.

Anymore of these Gems out there that can only serve to complement my Chic back catalogue and make a Chic fan very happy?

[adonis1960]

There is one other Sabu production that I'm aware of with a strong Chic influence - it's called "Heavybreathin'" and Gwen Jonae recorded it on the flipside of her club hit "Destiny," also recorded produced by Sabu.

Stuff

[adonis1960]

[quote="Noman"]

Originally Posted by neonlights

Has anyone here heard the other Gwen Jonae 12" that Paul Sabu produced - called "Red Light Lover" (1983) on the Arial label. I haven't come across this one yet, but I've always wondered what it sounded like..

It's good - kind of Eurodisco-flavored, with a strong message about sexual non-conformity. I recommend it, along with Paul Sabu's recording of "Shotgun" - NOT the Junior Walker tune. A hi-NRG production also issued on Arial Records, the lyrics seem to have Paul playing the role of a male prostitute! Unlike the Gwen Jonae record, it unfortunately wasn't a chart hit . . .

Stuff

[adonis1960]

I for one would like to see all the classic Paul Sabu disco productions assembled on CD. Debbie Jacobs, Ann-Margret, Gwen Jonae and Paul Sabu's hits all in one place! And a few remixes, too.

Stuff

[Videoskooter]

Now that "We're gonna rock" is frequently on my turntable I realised that I had never seen the guy himself:

http://www.song-haven.com/images/sabu2.jpg (far right, at the left is Steffen Presley, keyboardplayer for Annh-Margret)

http://www.rickbozzo.com/images/sabu2.jpg (Third from the left)

http://www.rickbozzo.com/images/sabu1.jpg (second from the left) and the man's still in da biz: www.paulsabu.com of course