(re) Disco-very # 010: Gayle Adams

[fabio]

Who is she?
I discovered Gayle Adams only recently. How wonderful to still find unknown artists from “the past”.
First I heard the single “Love Fever” on a Prelude compilation (the single was # 6 in the Billboard Disco Chart in 1981), then I found her first (?) Album released in 1980 called simply “Gayle Adams” and the track “Baby Don't Make Me Do It” on another Prelude compilation (Rare Prelude Vol 1), incidently I don’t know when that single was released. Can anybody help?

Here’s her story so far (from All Music Guide):
A Washington, D.C., vocalist who also worked as a comedian and even briefly raced cars, disco diva Gayle Adams enjoyed sporadic success in the early and mid-'80s. She signed with Prelude in 1980, and her subsequent (?) Album, Gayle Adams, included the single "Stretch'in Out" (was # 12 in BDC 1980).
She gained more attention in 1981 for the songs "Love Fever" and a remake of "Baby I Need Your Loving." Her last significant single was 1984's "I'm Warning You" for Mainline.

1980
I say: A rather unfair review of her first album:
Producers Willie Lester and Rodney Brown give Gayle Adams little to work with on this disco set. Only a remake of Theola Kilgore's "The Love of My Man" shows any vocal pipes. The best of the dancers, "Stretch'in Out" and "You Brought It on Yourself," are like Chinese meals -- after you've heard them, you're still empty and hungry for something else. Two movers and shakers, "Plain Out of Luck" and "I Don't Want to Hear It," sound like you've heard them before -- probably because the producers borrowed so much from other songs, especially on the latter, which sounds like Sister Sledge's "We Are Family”.(AMG)

Willie Lester and Rodney Brown went on to produce "I’m In Love" by Evelyn King in 1981 and Sharon Reed.

Thanks to Billboard, All Music Guide and Prelude.:icon_razz::icon_razz:

[needlefingers]

This is one of the best by Gayle Adams. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned.


Gayle Adams - Your Love Is A Life Saver

YouTube - Gayle Adams - Your Love Is A Lifesaver

[SandraDee]

Willie Lester and Rodney Brown went on to produce "I’m In Love" by Evelyn King in 1981 and Sharon Reed.

Willie & Rodney only produced half of Evelyn's 'Im In Love' LP; the other (more successful IMO) half (including the fabulous title track) was produced by Morrie Brown, Kashif & Paul Lawrence Jones.
On the subject of Gayle Adams, I'm afraid I find her one of the least appealing acts from that fabulous Prelude early 80s era; Lester & Brown (IMO) seemed to give her their weakest material while Sharon Redd & Bobby Thurston got the goodies; just my opinion.:icon_confused::icon_smile:

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

This is one of the best by Gayle Adams. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned.

Gayle Adams - Your Love Is A Life Saver

I'm quite suprised, too. In my neck-of-the-woods it was her biggest hit. Hands-in-the-air, and everythang!
So much so, that I included it in the "Attack Of The Disco Queens / Best of the 80's Hi-NRG" medley.

[markydefad]

I'm quite suprised, too. In my neck-of-the-woods it was her biggest hit. Hands-in-the-air, and everythang!
So much so, that I included it in the "Attack Of The Disco Queens / Best of the 80's Hi-NRG" medley.

Stephen, did you edit that? Remicks, of all people, sent me that!!! I named all the tunes in one sitting!!!

Oh and yes, "Your Love Is A Lifesaver" is one of my faves, also.

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Stephen, did you edit that? Remicks, of all people, sent me that!!! I named all the tunes in one sitting!!!

Oh and yes, "Your Love Is A Lifesaver" is one of my faves, also.

Edited and mixed in 1 night. It was an "inspired" project.

The idea was to make a medley that you could actually dance to. It worked. It was the only non-commercial medley (at that point), ever to achieve a National Chart position. Made it to #13 (I believe), on the DMR/DMA Hi-NRG chart.

The CD releases have some changes, that pissed me off!:icon_evil:
The producer, at that time, decided he was going to "clean it up" and changed a couple of the transitions!!! The original vinyl version is the best. It starts with the 32-beat synth-climb of "High Energy". The CD releases start with 32 beats, then the synth-climb.

The follow-ups were, "Return Of The Disco Queens / 80's Hi-NRG medley part 2" and "Reign Of The Disco Queens / 70's Hi-NRG medley".

[markydefad]

Good job...I'm sure I have the "Attack" version---didn't know it charted....I'll pull it to play tonight!!!

[thommy2458]

Stephen-Is that the Diva medley that starts off with
Lilly Tomlin? Or am I confused? that was a GREAT medley if I remember correctly.

I think the first Gayle Adams is a classic-it's one of
the few LP's I bought on CD that I love every track.
"Lifesaver" was just enormous out here,and her
dissing in the middle of "Plain Out of Luck" is worthy
of Linda Clifford(but edgier) The track that has just
stayed with me though is "You Brought it On Yourself"
-if only there was a secret Francois K mix somewhere
that hasn't been discovered...

Thom

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Stephen-Is that the Diva medley that starts off with
Lilly Tomlin? Or am I confused? that was a GREAT medley if I remember correctly.

The part 2 medley, "Return Of The Disco Queens" starts with Lilly Tomlin.
"Attack Of The Disco Queens" includes "Your Love Is A Lifesaver" (sandwiched between "Feels Like I'm In Love" and "Mercy") and starts with Evelyn Thomas' "High Energy".

And you do remember correctly... It was "a GREAT medley".:icon_lol:

[remicks]

*****

Yes ..... excellent medleys both, those DISCO QUEEN ATTACKS .....:icon_cool: ...doesn't one contain a wild GLORIA remix ????

now, Mr. Defad , jes' what do you mean by , "Remicks , of all people" ......hmmmm??? :icon_confused: :icon_razz:


*****

[markydefad]

*****

Yes ..... excellent medleys both, those DISCO QUEEN ATTACKS .....:icon_cool: ...doesn't one contain a wild GLORIA remix ????

now, Mr. Defad , jes' what do you mean by , "Remicks , of all people" ......hmmmm??? :icon_confused: :icon_razz:


*****

Oh Sensitiva stop it. I just meant ain't it a co-inky-dink that you ---who also posts here--sent it to me--and it was the work of SLF--who also posts here!!! That's all.

I'm still looking for it---I know you put a Donna Summer photo on the cover, dint' cha?---but it's here somewhere!!!

[remicks]

Oh Sensitiva stop it. I just meant ain't it a co-inky-dink that you ---who also posts here--sent it to me--and it was the work of SLF--who also posts here!!! That's all.

I'm still looking for it---I know you put a Donna Summer photo on the cover, dint' cha?---but it's here somewhere!!!

Shoot , you mean I'm not going to be able to make something more out of this :icon_mad: . The board hasn't had a flare up in weeks !! :icon_mrgreen::icon_razz:

Well , I would've put a photo of Stephen on the cover if I'd known at the time.... and if I'd had one ......:icon_cool:

*****

[markydefad]

Shoot , you mean I'm not going to be able to make something more out of this :icon_mad: . The board hasn't had a flare up in weeks !! :icon_mrgreen::icon_razz:

*****

If I said it was "lush"-- would that stir up the ****??? :icon_question::icon_lol:

[remicks]

*****

:icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:

I think this is my cue to go to bed !!!! :icon_mrgreen::icon_mrgreen:


*****

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

[FONT=Verdana] Shoot , you mean I'm not going to be able to make something more out of this :icon_mad: . The board hasn't had a flare up in weeks !! :icon_mrgreen::icon_razz:

Well, I'm not touching that with my... er... um... uh..., A 10-foot pole!

[needlefingers]

Every flare up needs a flame to get it started.

(Kids, don't try this at home.)

[Zef]

The track that has just
stayed with me though is "You Brought it On Yourself"
-if only there was a secret Francois K mix somewhere
that hasn't been discovered...

Thom

Me too, me too!
I really liked Gayle Adams stuff and recently re-purchased both LP's on CD. "Lifesaver" is one of my favourite Disco records of all time and tracks like the F.K mix of stretchin' out and Love Fever are also brilliant. I even liked the later tracks Warning you and the slower Love Triangle (with Tyrone Brunson) and in fact I think one of my very first posts on here was a 'whatever happend to Gayle Adams' question.
:icon_smile:

[needlefingers]

I have Gayle Adams on two other megamixes.

They are on the lp Prelude Records presents Mastermixes Vol. II.

This two album set is from 1989 and put out by Unidisc Productions.

It is not to be confused with the CD with a similar title.

There are two megamixes on here with Gayle Adams and both mixes were by Dimitri.

I cannot find any info on this lp online, but here are some pics.

[disco1999]

Your Love Is A Lifesaver

Agree!!! it's such a huge disco success,
I get chills down my spine every time I hear it
IMHO, the 12" intro is the best part of the track, the guitar, drums, brass, etc