Belouis Some (album)

Last updated

Belouis Some
Belouis Some Self-Titled album 1987 cover.jpeg
Studio album by
Released1987
Genre
Length40:15
Label Parlophone, Capitol, EMI
Producer Gary Langan
Guy Fletcher (associate producer)
Belouis Some chronology
Some People
(1985)
Belouis Some
(1987)
Living Your Life
(1993)

Belouis Some is the second studio album by the British new wave musician Belouis Some, which was released in 1987. [1]

Contents

Background

The release of Some's first album in 1985 led to two hits in the following year, "Imagination" and "Some People", both of which were Top 40 UK hits and Top 10 American Hot Dance Club Play hits. [2] [3] After his initial chart success and extensive touring, he appeared at the Knebworth Festival on a bill supporting Queen, with Big Country and Status Quo in August 1986. The late 1986 single, "Jerusalem", also peaked at #98 in the UK. Soon after, Some recorded his second album, Belouis Some, in New York, which was produced by Gary Langan and Guy Fletcher. Pete Townshend and Julian Lennon made guest appearances on the record, while Phil Harding mixed "Let It Be with You". [4] Of the nine tracks, Some solely wrote five of the songs and co-wrote the rest, three of which were co-written with producer Guy Fletcher. "Some Girls" was co-written by Carlos Alomar. [5]

The album was recorded at Right Track in New York City, and mixed at both the Eel Pie in Twickenham and Maison Rouge studios in London. Additional recording was at Counterpoint, Hit Factory, Roundhouse & Beat Factory. [6]

Like his first album, Belouis Some did not make a chart appearance in the UK or the United States. "Let It Be with You" was the lead single from the album, [7] and reached #53 in the UK chart. [2] It fared better in the United States on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it reached #13. [3] The second single, "Animal Magic", failed to make an appearance on the UK chart, but a remix version reached #6 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. [8] [3] The third and final single, "Some Girls", was released exclusively in the UK during early 1988, [9] and peaked at #76. This was the last chart entry Some made in the UK. [2]

Some did not release his next and final studio album, Living Your Life , until 1993, although in 1989 he formed the band The Big Broadcast which toured the UK playing small venues and clubs.

Release

Belouis Some was released by Parlophone/EMI Records in the UK, Europe, Australia and South Africa, and by Capitol Records in the US and Canada. It was released on vinyl LP, cassette and CD. The album remains out-of-print. [1] The CD version of the album had a bonus track, the 12" extended remix of "Let It Be with You". [10]

Critical reception

On its release in the US, Billboard felt several of the songs on the album had "pop potential", including "My Body". [11] Cash Box wrote, "Passionate, assured work from the blond soulster, who steps out smartly on his second LP. Full of fat brass, moody keys, Carlos Alomar's razor-thin guitar and the pouty vocals of Belouis Some, this wax packs some punch. Smooth with fangs, circa Simply Red or the Blow Monkeys." [12] Scott Benarde of The Palm Beach Post commented, "It took Some doing but Belouis has improved his songwriting and followed up his debut with an album of polished, hook-filled romantic pop songs that commercial radio should find tempting. Y-NOT will add the breezy, hopping 'Stranger than Fiction', the somber ballad 'Some Girls' and the dreamy 'Animal Magic'." [13]

Tim Blangger of The Morning Call wroye, "This LP is considerably toned down from his debut, which was filled with muscular rock and brassy funk. 'Let It Be with You' and 'Stranger than Fiction' are sensuous R&B cuts which retain a funky, jazzy feel while 'Dream Girl' and the remainder of Side 2 are 'dreamy' slower songs. This is a decent effort and worth a listen." [14] Jeff Bunch of the Spokane Chronicle commented, "This effort is more consistent than his 1985 debut effort. But the limited range of his Billy Idol-like voice and overall weakness of his material makes one wonder whether he'll ever make it big." [15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Belouis Some except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let It Be with You" 3:30
2."Stranger than Fiction" 3:34
3."Some Girls"Belouis Some, Carlos Alomar 4:41
4."Passion Play"Belouis Some, Guy Fletcher 4:13
5."Animal Magic"Belouis Some, Fletcher4:33
6."Dream Girl"Belouis Some, Fletcher5:03
7."My Body" 4:09
8."Wind of Change" 4:48
9."What I See" 5:44
CD version bonus track
No.TitleLength
10."Let It Be With You 12""6:55

Personnel

Technical

Related Research Articles

<i>Who Are You</i> 1978 studio album by the Who

Who Are You is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 18 August 1978 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and on 21 August 1978 by MCA Records in the United States. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the US charts and number 6 on the UK charts.

<i>Lets Dance</i> (David Bowie album) 1983 studio album by David Bowie

Let's Dance is the fifteenth studio album by the English singer-songwriter David Bowie, released on 14 April 1983 through EMI America Records. Co-produced by Bowie and Nile Rodgers, the album was recorded in December 1982 at the Power Station in New York City. The sessions featured players from Rodgers' band Chic and the then-unknown Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan on lead guitar. For the first time ever, Bowie only sang and played no instruments.

<i>Odds & Sods</i> 1974 compilation album by The Who

Odds & Sods is an album of studio outtakes by British rock band the Who. It was released by Track Records in the UK on September 28, 1974, and by Track/MCA in the US on October 12, 1974. Ten of the recordings on the original eleven-song album were previously unreleased. The album reached No. 10 on the UK charts and No. 15 in the US.

<i>Never Let Me Down</i> 1987 studio album by David Bowie

Never Let Me Down is the seventeenth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 21 April 1987 through EMI America Records. Co-produced by Bowie and David Richards and featuring guitarist Peter Frampton, the album was recorded in Switzerland and New York City from September to November 1986. Bowie's goal for the project was to record it differently following his disappointment with 1984's Tonight. Musically, Never Let Me Down has been characterised as pop rock, art rock and hard rock; Bowie himself considered the record a return to rock and roll music. The cover artwork features Bowie surrounded by numerous elements from the songs.

Gary Michael Langan is an English engineer, record producer, mixer and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Alomar</span> Puerto Rican guitarist

Carlos Alomar is a Puerto Rican guitarist. He is best known for his work with David Bowie from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician.

<i>Press to Play</i> 1986 studio album by Paul McCartney

Press to Play is the sixth solo studio album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 25 August 1986. It was McCartney's first album of entirely new music since Pipes of Peace in 1983, and his first solo album to be issued internationally by EMI following a six-year alliance with Columbia Records in the United States and Canada. Keen to re-establish himself after his poorly received 1984 musical film Give My Regards to Broad Street, McCartney enlisted producer Hugh Padgham to give the album a contemporary sound.

<i>Stage</i> (David Bowie album) 1978 live album by David Bowie

Stage is the second live album by the English musician David Bowie, recorded on the Isolar II Tour, and released through RCA Records in 1978. Stage has been reissued numerous times, each with expanded track listings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Fletcher</span> British musician

Guy Edward Fletcher is an English musician, best known for his position as one of the two keyboard players in the rock band Dire Straits from 1984 until the group's dissolution, and his subsequent work with Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler for his many solo releases. Fletcher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Let Me Down (David Bowie song)</span> Song by David Bowie

"Never Let Me Down" is a song recorded by the English singer David Bowie, serving as the title track for his 1987 studio album Never Let Me Down. It was released as the third and final single from the record in 1987 and served as his last original solo single until 1992's "Real Cool World"; a remix of "Fame" was released in 1990. "Never Let Me Down" was a writing collaboration between the artist himself and Carlos Alomar, while production was handled by Bowie along with David Richards. The lyrics are about Bowie's relationship with his longtime personal assistant, Coco Schwab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belouis Some</span> British singer, songwriter and musician (born 1959)

Belouis Some is a British singer, songwriter and musician. He had UK and worldwide hits in the 1980s with "Some People", "Imagination" and "Round, Round", the latter being featured on the soundtrack for the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink. "Some People" and "Imagination" charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let My Love Open the Door</span> 1980 single by Pete Townshend

"Let My Love Open the Door" is a song written and performed by Pete Townshend from his 1980 album Empty Glass. That year, it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number five on RPM's Top 100 singles chart.

<i>Rage</i> (TPau album) 1988 studio album by TPau

Rage is the second album by British pop group T'Pau, released in 1988. It reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and gave the group three hit singles—"Secret Garden", "Road to Our Dream" and "Only the Lonely". It was not issued in the U.S.

<i>Sugar and Spice</i> (The Searchers album) 1963 studio album by The Searchers

Sugar and Spice is the second studio album by the British rock band The Searchers released in 1963. This album features the band's second big hit single "Sugar and Spice". With two successful Top 5 albums in three months, and two other Top 3 hit singles at the time, the group proved to be the strongest to emerge from Liverpool next to the Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. They solidified their position further with another album track, "Ain't That Just Like Me", which was later released in the US and hit #61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imagination (Belouis Some song)</span> 1985 single by Belouis Some

"Imagination" is a song by British musician Belouis Some, from his 1985 debut album Some People. Upon its first release as a single in the UK in 1985, the song only managed to chart at No. 50, but a re-release proved more successful, hitting the top 20 and peaking at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1986. In the U.S., the song reached No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Dugmore</span> Musical artist

Geoff Dugmore is a Scottish drummer, musical director and producer. He was a member of the bands the Europeans, and Wildlife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Be with You</span> 1987 single by Belouis Some

"Let It Be with You" is a song by British musician Belouis Some, released as a single from his 1987 self-titled second album. The song reached No. 53 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 13 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.

<i>Living Your Life</i> 1993 studio album by Belouis Some

Living Your Life is the third studio album from British new wave musician Belouis Some. It was released in Germany in 1993.

<i>Some People</i> (Belouis Some album) 1985 studio album by Belouis Some

Some People is the debut studio album from British musician Belouis Some, released in August 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Some Girls (Belouis Some song)</span> 1988 single by Belouis Some

"Some Girls" is a song by British singer and songwriter Belouis Some, released in 1988 as the third and final single from his second studio album Belouis Some. It was written by Belouis Some and Carlos Alomar, and produced by Gary Langan and Guy Fletcher. "Some Girls" reached No. 76 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks. A music video, filmed in Milan, was produced to promote the video.

References

  1. 1 2 "Belouis Some - Belouis Some". Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Belouis Some (album)". The Official Charts Company. 21 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Michael Sutton. "Belouis Some – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  4. Michael Sutton. "Belouis Some – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  5. "Images for Belouis Some - Belouis Some". Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  6. "Belouis Some – Belouis Some (1987, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  7. "Belouis Some - Let It Be With You". Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  8. "Belouis Some - Animal Magic". Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  9. "Belouis Some - Some Girls (+Imagination)". Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  10. "Belouis Some – Belouis Some (1987, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  11. "Album reviews". Billboard. 29 August 1987. p. 80.
  12. "Album Releases". Cash Box. 29 August 1987. p. 9.
  13. "Enz of an era never too old to hit Y-NOT". The Palm Beach Post. 11 October 1987. p. 176.
  14. Tim Blangger (28 November 1987). "Records". The Morning Call. p. A64.
  15. Bunch, Jeff (20 November 1987). "Is there room for art rock in the '80s? Answer: Yes". Spokane Chronicle.