Forgotten Hi-NRG

[shives]

Many of the hi-nrg songs from the 80s never got the attention they deserved, or, even if they were hits, got lost with the passage of time. I'd like to bring these songs back from obscurity so that they get their rightful due.

Here is my top 10 list, in no particular order, with a brief comment about each:

Just Another Broken Heart - Dorothy Moore
---heart-breaking hi-nrg (133 bpm, 1984)

Tonight - Marlene Ricci
---every bit as pretty as Keep On Rockin' or Only Music Survives (127 bpm, 1984)

Feels Like Heaven to Me -- Technique
---Saint-caliber morning music (131 bpm, 1984)

Breakout -- Kelly Marie
---guaranteed to get your feet moving (123 bpm, 1984)

Those First Impressions -- The Associates
---very pretty, very smooth (137 bpm, 1986)

Flight To Fantasy -- Linda G. Thompson
---dark and brooding hi-nrg (134 bpm, circa 1981)

So Cold the Night -- Communards
---dark and intense (137 bpm, 1987)

In Search of Love -- Kevin Powers
---very much overlooked, remake of the Barry Manilow song (123 bpm, 1987)

Reaching for the Best -- Xenia Rowe
---bouncy hi-nrg a la Ian Levine (130 bpm, 1984)

Love Me Tonight -- Karen Silver
---pretty la-la/hi-nrg (131 bpm, 1981)

I'll be interested in seeing others' lists.

Steve

[MiaBocca]

Please keep them them coming!

I'm only just getting into Hi-NRG, and I need all the recommendations I can get! :D

[K-Bee]

Oh yes - HI NRG is almost a forgotten musical genre today.
We are yet to see a revival.

Lots of HI NRG stuff sounds seriously dated today but that doesn't mean it's bad. Among my personal favorites are

"I'm So beautiful" & "You Think You're A Man" by Divine
(two of the first Stock Aitken Waterman productions ever)

Animal Magnetism by Daryl Pandy

Unexpected Lovers by Lime

And don't forget the stuff from Miquel Brown - especially "So Many Men So Little Time".

[Twirlessence]

Earthquake - The Flirtations
Thief Of Hearts - Melissa Manchester
Ocho Rios - Paul Jabara
Homosexuality - Modern Rocketry
Ending Up On A High - 7th Avenue
The Calling - Ken Heaven
ABCD - Radiorama
Up Above The Clouds - Michael Narada Walden

[SandraDee]

Here are just a few of my favourite 80's hi-nrg tracks-

'Primitive desire' - Eastbound expressway
'Alive With Love' - Tina Fabrique
'Somebody to Love' - Cafe society
'Happiness' - Christopher street
'Last Call' - Jolo
'In The Evening' - Sheryl Lee ralph
'Can The rhythm' - Girltalk
'Boys' - Leah Landis
'Let Me Feel It' - Samantha Gilles
'Eat You Up' - Angie Gold
'Big daddy of the rhythm - Dead or Alive
'Down & Counting' - Claudja Barry
'I Dont wanna Talk About It' - Pamela Stanley
'Stop' - Valerie Allington
'I'm No Angel' - Madleen Kane
'Rocket to Your heart' - Lisa
'Love Is On The Line' - Paul Parker
'Youre a winner' - Sharon Redd

Do any of these bring back memories for anyone?

[K-Bee]

I actually own a Sheryl Lee Ralph album called "In The Evening". It's from 1985 and came out on the Beat Box label (Europe).
Apart from the title track, Sheryl also covers the Porter/Hayes classic B.A.B.Y.

The album was produced by Trevor Lawrence.

[stuckinthe80s]

Does anyone remember these?

I Cry For You -- Shy Rose
Every Beat Of My Heart -- Jacqueline
For Your Sweet Information -- Marcus (I think)

[Bernie]

Originally Posted by stuckinthe80s

Does anyone remember these?

Every Beat Of My Heart -- Jacqueline

Finally, someone brings up this great song! I even included it in the Disco Vault, but no one has seemed to notice it. Does anyone know if she ever released anything else?

[DJ-Pir]

Steely Dan wrote :
'Down & Counting' - Claudja Barry " Bring back memories ?

Ah yes, always played this in a set with Earlene Bentley's The boys come to town, one of many good H.E. releases on Radio Shack records.

Another track i always considered High Energy despite it's year of release (79) : Lavelle - Playgirl

[shives]

As far as I know, that's the only song she released. It was originally an import, then picked up and remixed for the RJM label (Richie Jones Music). The remix is the better version.

The RJM label also remixed Tasha's Don't Let Go, speeding up the original from 140 to 147 bpm! Really gives the song some much-needed punch.

There were 5 remixes on this label:
Peppermint - Light A Light
Bondettes - 007
Jacqueline - Every Beat of My Heart
Tasha - Don't Let Go
Michael Bow - Love and Devotion

All of these are worth picking up if you can find them.

Steve

[Bernie]

Thanks for the info Steve.

I have a few of the ones you listed above, but on the European labels such as
Peppermint - Light A Light on the German Fellow lable
Michael Bow - Love and Devotion on the ARS label

I'll have to keep my eyes open for Tasha as I don't have it. Thanks again.

[nrgbeat]

Originally Posted by stuckinthe80s

Does anyone remember these?

I Cry For You -- Shy Rose
Every Beat Of My Heart -- Jacqueline
For Your Sweet Information -- Marcus (I think)

I know all of these.

"For Your Sweet Information" is by PJ Marcus.

I have a Unidisc cd that features Shy Rose. I think it has the original version of "I Cry For You" and a 90's remix.

[DJ-Pir]

stuckinthe80s wrote:
Does anyone remember these? Every Beat Of My Heart -- Jacqueline

Bernie wrote:
Finally, someone brings up this great song! I even included it in the Disco Vault, but no one has seemed to notice it. Does anyone know if she ever released anything else?

I found a US 12" here on LookOut titled Sweet talk, about 115 BPM so not HE but maybe the same artist, track is written by a Patrick [Musique ?] Adams.
No year on the label but sounds early 80's to me.

[Nitro]

Originally Posted by MiaBocca

Please keep them them coming!

I'm only just getting into Hi-NRG, and I need all the recommendations I can get! :D

Well MiaBocca here's another ten for you:

George Aaron - She's a devil (1984)
Easily one my all-time favorite Italo tracks, problem is that is extremely hard to find on vinyl.
Evelyn Barry - Take it as a game (1984)
Paul Sharada - Florida (move your feet) (1984)
Valerie Dore - The night (1984)
Valerie Dore - Get closer (1984)
Raff - Self Control (1984)
This is the ORIGINAL version; the one by Laura Branigan is not!
Ken Laszlo - Tonight (1985)
Hot Cold - Love is like a game (1985)
Peter Jacques Band - Going dancin' down the street (1985)
Koto - Visitors (1985)


Have fun
-Marc-

[SouthernSon01]

a lot of the songs that have been listed on this post are killer tracks, I always used to say had they been promoted just a little they would have definitly got huge accolades, I can only speak for living downunder, a lot of Hi-Nrg had this gay stigma attached which (wrongfully) made radio programmers a little wary.

My biggest gripe (Steely Dan will agree :-) ) was Lisa - Rocket to your heart, had that even got the slightest bit of attention BAM! instant HIT! how powerful and lifting are the instrumentation and lyrics

Look on the bright side everyone we have these in our hearts, was there ever another style of music that could take you to the stratosphere - naaaaaah