THEY SAY IT'S GONNA RAIN by HAZELL DEAN a zulu remix

They Say it's Gonna Rain was originally recorded by Kerry Delius but it flopped.  It was later re-recorded and in my opinion improved upon by Hazell Dean.  Her version produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman became a big hit around Europe.  THEY SAY IT'S GONNA RAIN

Hazell unfortunately never had a hit single in the U.S.  She was played in clubs where Searhin' (I gotta find a man) was a gay anthem hitting #8 on the dance charts as well as it's follow-up Jealous Love/Evergreen the latter being her interpretation of the Barbara Streisand gem.  It peaked  in 1984.  Her next dance Top 10 wasn't until 1987 with Always Doesn't Mean Forever which peaked at #10.

So in other words her best song, They Say it's Gonna Rain didn't even chart on the U.S. dance charts but did get play as an import.  She also changed the lyrics a bit from the Kerry Delius version,  she substituted the line on the chorus though you can break my heart with they say it's gonna rain; the title of the song not being present on the chorus on Delius' version but was instead ad-libbed over the chorus at the end of the song. The song was also reworked at a faster tempo than the original.  Strangely enough though it was only a club hit in the U.K. in South Africa it went to #1 and in #6 in both Sweden and Norway.  Maybe the African style chanting was a bit much for a pop record but it's certainly what made it sound so incredible on a dancefloor.

Hazell Dean really came more into my consciousness when the East Enders character Heather mentioned that it was her favorite singer several times.  Then later she was murdered and a Hazell Dean song was played at her memorial.

ALIVE by BAZOOKA ultra rare synthy italo disco

A one-off italo disco release from 1984 on Hiss records.  What can I say?  I love it. NOT BUBBLEGUM

ANY LOVE Rufus & Chaka Khan

 THE PAUL GOODYEAR EDIT






The most coveted Chaka Khan 12" is the U.S. white label promo of Any Love released as Rufus & Chaka in 1979 on MCA Records. In the U.K. a commercial release for this 12" was once available and is therefore less interesting to collectors.

The album version is from Master Jam which also includes Do You Love What You Feel and some other solid tracks. Do You Love What You Feel holds a special place in my memory because it was the first 12" I sold on Ebay, six years ago this August. I remember being disappointed that it didn't do that well. But at the time I didn't realize that August is the worst month to sell and the best month to buy on Ebay. Furthermore is the fact that having feedback counts a lot, so my coming out right off with tons of great things all at once but not having a shred of feedback hurt me.

But this blog is not only about my Ebay store now is it?

I'm featuring a little comparison here between the original Promo 12" of Any Love and Turkish D.J. Dmitri of Paris' super capable edit. Which clocks in at 5:27 a bit longer then the l.p. version but still shorter then the original Promo 12".

Dmitri from Paris is probably the most important d.j. in the world for helping to fuel the mania for great disco. Especially the obscure kind. His compilation from 2000 Disco Forever is a classic in the genre. Featuring such gems as Brainstorm's disco holy grail We're on our Way Home, Chameleon by La Pregunta, Universal Robot Bands Barely Breaking Even, and Pat Lundy's Work Song to name a few. There is also one of his edits the Salsoul classic Just as Long as I've Got You by Love Committee.

Dmitri's edits are not to be missed because he respects disco. He is able to make improvements on originals without feeling the need to house it up or adapt it to the sounds of today. He schools his audience. Now if that isn't reason alone to give the man props, I don't know what is.

A letter from my heart Steve Allen another italo disco classic

A letter from my Heart is Steve Allen's first solo single.  It was a huge italo disco hit that penetrated many parts of Europe.  It's an adaptation of an Italian record called Lei Balla Solo by Fabio Vanni.
Here's a copy in my ebay store my steve allen dance mix