Michele "Tumble Heat" Freeman

**discodjinn** · April 9th, 2003, 05:23 PM

I just acquired some new lps, and as I was listening, a question occurred to me. Does anyone know whether Michele Freeman, who released an album in 1979, is the same person as the Michele who released an album on West End Records in 1977? I noticed a vocal similarity, as well as the fact that they both recorded in Paris and spelled their names the same.

**billywho** · April 9th, 2003, 06:00 PM

Originally Written by discodjinn

I just acquired some new lps, and as I was listening, a question occurred to me. Does anyone know whether Michele Freeman, who released an album in 1979, is the same person as the Michele who released an album on West End Records in 1977? I noticed a vocal similarity, as well as the fact that they both recorded in Paris and spelled their names the same.

Michele's "Can You Feel It" is on "The West End Story Vol 1" CD. The sleeve notes for this track say:

"Taken from her 1977 'Magic Love' LP when disco was in its prime and it was all the vogue to find European porn stars/singers and turn them into recording sensations. This track was recorded in France and mixed in Philadelphia by another legend, Tom Moulton."

From the above, I would guess that Michele was French. What nationality was Michele Freeman?

Maybe she married a Brit or an American. Not sure that a female French porn star would ever marry an Englishman...

Anyway, another bit of maybe relevant evidence is on the following Chantal Curtis web page:

http://www.allthingsdeep.com/dge/chantal_curtis.htm

This web page has a lovely snippet:

"One interesting piece of information about Curtis is that she apparently recorded for West End under the pseudonym Michele. Information about Michele is difficult to trace, but a look at the credits for the Magic Love LP finds Jaubert as a major contributor to the project."

So maybe Michele = Chantal Curtis

Two of my all-time favourite songs happen to be Chantal Curtis's "Get Another Love", and Michele's "Disco Dance" (Tom Moulton megamix), so I'm prepared to believe the above!

**JussiK** · April 10th, 2003, 02:57 AM

The sleeve of the original French pressing of the Michele album shows a woman, presumably the singer, sitting on a chair. This could well be the actual image of the Michele who was used as the vocalist. Had they chosen to employ a model that model would of course look like one - the Michele shown on the sleeve is not really a looker at all.

Michele Freeman is also photographed in the sleeve of her Don Ray-produced album - a well-formed, impressive looking woman. Both Michele of the Disco Dance fame and Michele Freeman are black. Michele Freeman has a commanding voice while the other Miss M is definitely less accomplished in that department. I seriously doubt they are the same person. :-?

Chantal Curtis, also from France, is seen on her album cover and on the sleeves of her 12" hits, and she's white. Chantal did a lot of appearances on French tv during the late 70's.

**discodjinn** · April 11th, 2003, 03:24 PM

Well, the mystery deepens. So now I can basically forget the Michele/Michele Freeman connection and ponder the Michele/Chantal Curtis one. Many thanks for the information. It's interesting, by the way-- the porn-disco connection. My copy of the Michele lp shows a cartoon silhouette of the singer clutching a neon-tube phallus against her face! My favorite track on the lp is the one recorded with the Philadelphia musicians, the MFSB/Salsoul company.

**JussiK** · April 14th, 2003, 01:00 AM

Not that I'm that much of an authority on French porn but I doubt Michele the singer was originally a performer in adult films during the era when Claudine Beccarie and Brigitte Lahaie were in their prime and when the industry there was not yet forced to retreat to the ghetto it never escaped from. The only figure I know who was involved with French porn and who did record dance music - and still does! - is Catherine Ringer of the cult troupe Les Rita Mitsouko ( "Marcia Baila"). But still, maybe Michele DID do it! Anyone here from France who could inform us?

**Discovery** · April 21st, 2003, 02:22 AM

Yes, they are two different people.

John Swenson of Rolling Stone wrote this review of (the second) Michelle Freeman and her self-titled Polydor album:

"Ex-airline stewardess began her musical career when she was discovered by Dick Clark, and if we're lucky, finished it after making this LP under the direction of 'premier disco composer' Don Ray"