UPDATED-OPEN: Carol Jiani Q & A Session

[Bernie]

This space is reserved for an upcoming Q & A session with the one and only Carol Jiani. Carol is best known for her 1980s hits such as Hit n Run Lover, Mercy, Touch n Go Lover, Vanity and many others.

The date this will occur has not been set, but should be around Halloween. Carol Jiani will answer your questions so start preparing what you would like to ask her. Because of time zone differences this Q & A session probably will not happen in "real-time", but throughout the day so be patient as Carol gets to your questions.

Big thanks to DiscoMusic.com forum member EnergyGuy for setting up this chat with Carol Jiani.

Countdown begins now...

While everyone waits for this event to go live please check out all of Carol Jiani's records in the RecordVault. Please add your comments on each page or you can even add a missing release or record cover/label scan.

Carol Jiani - Vanity (12")

Carol Jiani - Touch and Go Lover (Canadian 12")

Carol Jiani - Hit n' Run Lover (Moby 12")

Carol Jiani - Mercy [Remix] (12")

Carol Jiani - Touch And Go Lover (LP)

Carol Jiani - X-Rated (Ducth 12")

Carol Jiani - Hit N Run Lover (UK 12")

Carol Jiani - Ask Me (12")

Carol Jiani - Woman In Me B/W Mercy (12 Inch)

Carol Jiani - Vanity (UK 12")

Carol Jiani - Such A Joy Honey (UK 12")

Carol Jiani - Turning My Back and Walking Away (UK 12")

Carol Jiani - Hit 'n Run Lover b/w All the People of the World (12")

Carol Jiani - Hit 'N' Run Lover (12")

Montreal featuring Uchenna Ikejiani (aka Carol Jiani) - Montreal (LP)

[Bernie]

UPDATE:

Carol Jiani has tentatively agreed to join us for a Q & A session this Thursday, November 2, 2006. It will occur right within this thread and hopefully be between the hours of 1-4 PM New York (EST) time as that seems to work for almost everyone in different time zones.

I realize that that some won't be able to post that day because of work, time differences... so I will now open this topic to any questions you may want to post for Carol. This way when she arrives Thursday she will have a pool of questions ready for her to start on.

Please, questions only! Let's not get into any back and forth chit chat or discussions within this thread until Thursday. Start posting your questions now!

[Bernie]

I'll begin with the first question for Carol Jiani...

Carol, your real name is Uchenna Ikejiani. Could you tell us how the name Carol Jiani came about and was it Joe La Greca's idea?

[needlefingers]

Hi Carol,

I'm sure a lot of us (myself included) are somewhat unaware of what the music scene in Africa was during the heyday's of disco, as compared to the rest of the world.

I would like to know if your music/songs made it back to your homeland, Nigeria.

[Energyguy]

Hi Carol..
Many thanks for joining us !
You worked with Ian levine during the 1980`s.. any memories of those recording sessions & do you have any favourite tracks you recorded for him ?

[Say What?]

Hi Carol,
Did you ever perform at 'The Saint' in New York and if yes, what was the experience like for you?
It was such a special place in time for so many of us 8-)
Paul x

[Energyguy]

Hi Carol
Can you tell us if you are working on any new material at the moment ?

[JussiK]

Carol, hi!

Saw you perform at London's Heaven - that VOICE of yours sure sends shivers down my back. And shame on you teasing that poor gay guy like that up on the stage that night, being quite the dominatrix, getting him all confused...:-) Now - an earlier Disco Queen called D. Summer used to complain she never got to do enough retakes during her recording sessions with Giorgio Moroder. Are you at liberty to reveal how your sessons went in that respect with Ian Levine?

[neonlights]

Hello Carol,

It's great to see you back making music! I have a few questions..

I really enjoy your first album, the Montreal feat. Uchenna Ikejiani album on Salsoul.. How were you "discovered" and how did you end up on that album?

Also, aside from "Hit N' Run Lover," is there any one song or songs that you've done that are particularly special to you, if so which one(s)?

[remicks]

*****

Hi Carol Jiani !!!

HIT AND RUN LOVER .. a definitive record of 1981 ( although I'm partial to MERCY ) ....and thanks for being an artist who was also a performer ....bringing life to the music with your personal appearances in the clubs.

Which leads me to this question ......for some reason I picture you being good friends with other artists at the time .... or at least familiar with some as your paths crossed .... Claudja Barry comes to mind .....(? )... Were there those amongst you that became friends ??

Also it's 1981 and you're in the middle of making some of the most exciting and innovative music of the day ....what are you all calling this music you are making ?
Did you use the word "disco" ? Did you think of it as such ??
( Sorry .... but this is the kind of stuff we often concern ourselves about around here !! :roll::roll: )

Thanks !! ....danced to your music often !!!

remicks

*****

[Videoskooter]

Miss Jiani, such an honour to have you on board!

I'm a big fan of you and your records and I'm also a great admirer of Joe La Greca and Denis Lepage. How was it working with those people? They sure created an unique and very rhytmic sound.

[markydefad]

Dear Carol,

Your records were very popular at Trocadero Transfer in San Francisco; I'm thinking you may have made an appearance there in the 1981-82 era...if so, any memories? Bobby Viteritti might have been the dj the night you performed; Dick Collier was the club owner....ring any bells???? ;););)


I see the Moby Dick Remix of "Hit 'n" Run" lover was credited to Bill Motley/ Craig Morey/ Mike Lewis/ Trip Ringwald (the latter 2 also dj-ed at Trocadero)....any memories of them???? I listened to this last night---they seemed to wanna add that Roni Griffith "Best Part Of Breakin' Up" sound thing (what was it?) to your record. Did you like their remix?

[nrgbeat]

Ms Jiani,

I've heard you were the actual vocalist on Suzy Q's "Get On Up and Do It Again". Can you confirm if you did the vocals on that record and did you record other songs under the Suzy Q moniker?

[Carol-Jiani]

Hello everybody
This is Carol Jiani saying thank you for the support

Lots Of Diva Love
Carol Jiani

[Carol-Jiani]

[quote=Carol-Jiani;108233]Hello everybody
This is Carol Jiani saying thank you for the support, l am looking forward to many more classics bringing back the good old days, thanks guys for being there.


Lots and Lots of Diva Love
Carol Jiani

[Bernie]

Carol,

Thank you so much for making it despite your hectic schedule. As others have said, it is an honor to have you here and everyone is thrilled to have you.

As you see above the questions for you have already begun. To answer a particular post/question simply click on the far right button within the post labeled "quote" and you can respond to that individual question.

As the day progresses we will have more people joining us as it is now just before 9am New York time, but things should be in full swing in Europe.

[Carol-Jiani]

I'll begin with the first question for Carol Jiani...

Carol, your real name is Uchenna Ikejiani. Could you tell us how the name Carol Jiani came about and was it Joe La Greca's idea?

MY CHRISTIAN NAME IS CAROL WE TOOK THE IKE OUT OF IKEJIANI AS IN IKE AND TINA TURNER PEOPLE COULD'NT PRONOUNCE UCHENNA MY AFRICAN NAME SO MR GLENN LARUSSO FROM SALAOUL CAME UP WITH THE IDEA THEY ARE ALL MY REAL NAMES.

THANKS

[Carol-Jiani]

Hi Carol,

I'm sure a lot of us (myself included) are somewhat unaware of what the music scene in Africa was during the heyday's of disco, as compared to the rest of the world.

I would like to know if your music/songs made it back to your homeland, Nigeria.

MY ALBUM MADE IT TO NIGERIA BUT I NEVER PERFORMED IN NIGERIA I PLAN TO VISIT SOON

[Carol-Jiani]

Ms Jiani,

I've heard you were the actual vocalist on Suzy Q's "Get On Up and Do It Again". Can you confirm if you did the vocals on that record and did you record other songs under the Suzy Q moniker?

YES I RECORDED THE VOCALS FOR SUZI Q
TRACK "GET ON UP AND DO IT AGAIN"
THAT WAS THE ONLY SONG I RECORDED FOR SUZI Q

[Carol-Jiani]

Dear Carol,

Your records were very popular at Trocadero Transfer in San Francisco; I'm thinking you may have made an appearance there in the 1981-82 era...if so, any memories? Bobby Viteritti might have been the dj the night you performed; Dick Collier was the club owner....ring any bells???? ;););)


I see the Moby Dick Remix of "Hit 'n" Run" lover was credited to Bill Motley/ Craig Morey/ Mike Lewis/ Trip Ringwald (the latter 2 also dj-ed at Trocadero)....any memories of them???? I listened to this last night---they seemed to wanna add that Roni Griffith "Best Part Of Breakin' Up" sound thing (what was it?) to your record. Did you like their remix?

THANKS PLEASE DONT LAUGH I AM HONEST I WAS COMPLETELY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF WINE ON THE NIGHT I REMEMBER HAVING SO MUCH FUN THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS WE NEED TO BRING THAT ERA BACK MUSIC IS THE ANSWERE LOVED THE MOBY DICK MIX I COULD DO MY DIVA THING ON STAGE WITH THAT MIX

[Carol-Jiani]

Miss Jiani, such an honour to have you on board!

I'm a big fan of you and your records and I'm also a great admirer of Joe La Greca and Denis Lepage. How was it working with those people? They sure created an unique and very rhytmic sound.

THANK YOU IT WAS FUN TO WORK WITH THEM I AM STILL IN TOUCH WITH THEM WE ALL SHOULD ALL GET TOGETHER FOR A MAJOR EVENT TO BRING IT ALL BACK I LOVED EVRY MOMENT

[Bernie]

YES I RECORDED THE VOCALS FOR SUZI Q
TRACK "GET ON UP AND DO IT AGAIN"
THAT WAS THE ONLY SONG I RECORDED FOR SUZI Q

Now this is interesting... Why were you not credited for doing the vocals on this song? At this point you already had a huge hit with Hit n' Run Lover. Also, does it bother you that you were not credited?

[Carol-Jiani]

*****

Hi Carol Jiani !!!

HIT AND RUN LOVER .. a definitive record of 1981 ( although I'm partial to MERCY ) ....and thanks for being an artist who was also a performer ....bringing life to the music with your personal appearances in the clubs.

Which leads me to this question ......for some reason I picture you being good friends with other artists at the time .... or at least familiar with some as your paths crossed .... Claudja Barry comes to mind .....(? )... Were there those amongst you that became friends ??

Also it's 1981 and you're in the middle of making some of the most exciting and innovative music of the day ....what are you all calling this music you are making ?
Did you use the word "disco" ? Did you think of it as such ??
( Sorry .... but this is the kind of stuff we often concern ourselves about around here !! :roll::roll: )

Thanks !! ....danced to your music often !!!

remicks

*****

WE CALLED IT DISCO BABY . I BECAME FRIENDS WITH LIME. GERALDINE HUNT SYLVESTER. SO MANY SO MAY THANK YOU

[Carol-Jiani]

Hello Carol,

It's great to see you back making music! I have a few questions..

I really enjoy your first album, the Montreal feat. Uchenna Ikejiani album on Salsoul.. How were you "discovered" and how did you end up on that album?

Also, aside from "Hit N' Run Lover," is there any one song or songs that you've done that are particularly special to you, if so which one(s)?

IM MET JOE LA GRECA AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY THROUGH A STUDIO MUSICIAN THERE HE GAVE ME A CARD AND MEETINGS TOOK PLACE AND I ENDED UP RECORDING THAT ALBUM GOD I WAS SO YOUNG .MY FAVOURITE SONG THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME IS CALLED
"NO MATTER WHERE" I RECORDED THIS SONG AS MY FRIEND LAY DYING IN HOSPITAL HE DIED ON THE DAY THAT I RECORDED THIS SONG . IT IS SPEACIAL TO ME.

[Carol-Jiani]

Carol, hi!

Saw you perform at London's Heaven - that VOICE of yours sure sends shivers down my back. And shame on you teasing that poor gay guy like that up on the stage that night, being quite the dominatrix, getting him all confused...:-) Now - an earlier Disco Queen called D. Summer used to complain she never got to do enough retakes during her recording sessions with Giorgio Moroder. Are you at liberty to reveal how your sessons went in that respect with Ian Levine?

IAN WAS GREAT HE HAS EARS FOR GOOD STUFF BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DID MY DIVA BITCH TANTRUM TO DO IT AGAIN AND BETTER IT WAS FUN IAN IS FUNNY SO WE GOT ON BOTH OF US DOING OUR DIVA THING.