Paul Sabu Productions

**adonis1960** · January 24th, 2005, 04:55 PM

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** · January 24th, 2005, 04:57 PM

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

**adonis1960** · January 24th, 2005, 05:03 PM

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** · January 24th, 2005, 07:07 PM

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** · January 24th, 2005, 08:52 PM

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** · January 25th, 2005, 08:04 AM

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** · January 25th, 2005, 11:21 AM

Originally Written 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** · January 25th, 2005, 12:42 PM

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** · January 25th, 2005, 06:14 PM

Originally Written 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** · January 27th, 2005, 05:04 PM

Originally Written 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** · February 8th, 2005, 06:37 AM

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** · April 18th, 2005, 12:52 PM

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** · April 18th, 2005, 01:08 PM

[quote="Noman"]

Originally Written 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** · April 18th, 2005, 01:19 PM

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** · October 1st, 2005, 08:41 PM

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

**Charlie Windle** · October 2nd, 2005, 03:10 PM

Have been searching for years for Sabu album with Rockin Rollin and We gonna rock.Every shop had never heard of it, found it on Gemm last year.An excellent album,also has fold out sleeve with photos of the man (PAUL).

**NickNack** · February 7th, 2006, 07:33 PM

Originally Written by adonis1960

For me, though, the ticket is the groovy flipside, "Hold Me, Squeeze Me," one of Sabu's greatest productions.

:o What label is your version on? I have two copies --- one on RAM and the other on FIRST AMERICAN --- each with 3 versions of "Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes":

Side A: Part 1 3:48
Side B: Part 2 6:36; Instrumental 6:50

**stevieboy32808** · February 8th, 2006, 08:11 PM

Personally Paul Sabu's best songs are:

We're Gonna Rock
Rockin' Rollin' Disco King

**ol'skinflint** · February 8th, 2006, 09:37 PM

a local record store has Debbie Jacobs' "Undercover Lover" on CD. God, it sounded great when they played it in the store. Sure would like to hear this Chic-y Ann Margret record everyone's raving about. How about if somebody puts a clip of it online? Also, is no one here aware of the 1980 album on MCA called "Sabu"? The songs are: "Rock Me Slowly"/"Wet and Wild"/"Turn Back"/"Shakin' Loose"/"Streetheart"/ and "For Lovers Only". I always thought Sabu was a fantastic writer and producer. Hope "We're Gonna Rock" and "Rockin' Rollin"" are released on CD someday, but if not, I'll just make my own CD from my album. My favorite Sabu composition of all time is the ballad "I Can Never Forget A Friend". Stunning. But on the subject of the Sabu produced Ann Margret album, I don't feel the passion that others have expressed for it. The couple of times I've played it in its entirety, I was always left wondering what a better job Debbie Jacobs would have done with the songs, especially "What I Do To Men."

**disco1999** · January 29th, 2007, 12:14 AM

Paul Sabu also deserves credit on
Aneka - Japanese boy 1981
as he was involved in engineering and mastering this track.

**adonis1960** · April 14th, 2007, 01:04 PM

Please read my new article about Paul Sabu's Disco productions, posted 4/13/07 at THE POP CULTURE CANTINA

It's called "Red Light Rocker: The Legend Of Paul Sabu".

**neonlights** · April 14th, 2007, 01:28 PM

That was a great article, thanks for that link! Despite some of the great disco records he did, not someone who seems to be written about very often, so thanks for putting that together.

It's too bad he no longer enjoys his disco work though.. The things he did for Debbie Jacobs and Ann-Margret are some of the best from that time!

**PierreConstantin** · October 13th, 2008, 03:17 PM

Originally Written by 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)..

The music for the Gwen Jonae album was recorded but given to Sylvester («All I need» album) because Jonae wanted a 5000$ gown the label couldn't afford.

**Mr.Ree** · October 14th, 2008, 06:57 PM

but isn't there more than one Paul Sabu? An article I read mentions a Paul Sabu who's recorded with Shania Twain, Madonna, and several other artists and I assumed there was more than one.

**STEPHEN L FREEMAN** · October 14th, 2008, 11:35 PM

Originally Written by Mr.Ree

but isn't there more than one Paul Sabu? An article I read mentions a Paul Sabu who's recorded with Shania Twain, Madonna, and several other artists and I assumed there was more than one.

Not that I've ever heard of. And I don't doubt that Paul Sabu had continued to work, low these many years. He's a VERY talented Man, who (if you read enough labels, closely) never stopped working. He's done considerably more than just writing and/or producing.

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