Dare to Be Stupid is the third studio album by American musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 18, 1985. The album was one of many Yankovic records produced by former McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer. Recorded between August 1984 and March 1985, the album was Yankovic's first studio album released following the success of 1984's In 3-D, which included the Top 40 single "Eat It".
Stacey Lynn Swain, known by her stage name Stacey Q, is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. Her best-known single, John Mitchell's "Two of Hearts", released in 1986, reached number one in Canada, number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten in five other countries.
Rainbow is the fifth studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, released on 18 December 2002 by Avex Trax. Production of Rainbow had commenced after the release of Hamasaki's fourth studio album I Am... that January; All lyrics were written by Hamasaki, and Japanese producer Max Matsuura returned to produce the album. The album was Hamasaki's first to feature conversational English lyrics, where in her previous works she had only used single words.
"Confide in Me" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her self-titled fifth studio album (1994). It was released as the album's lead single on 29 August 1994 by Deconstruction, Imago, and Mushroom Records. The track was written by Steve Anderson, Dave Seaman, and Owain Barton, whilst production was handled by British trio Brothers in Rhythm. It was recorded in London, United Kingdom at DMC and Sarm West Studios. Musically, it is a pop song that incorporates elements of indie music, dance-pop, and Middle Eastern instrumentation such as strings and percussion, whilst the lyrical content talks about Minogue's earnest of seduction and manipulating people to confide into her.
"Put Yourself in My Place" is a song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, taken from her fifth and eponymous studio album (1994). It was released as the record's second single on 14 November 1994, and was distributed by Deconstruction and Mushroom as a CD single, cassette tape and 12-inch vinyl. The track was written, arranged, and produced by Jimmy Harry, and was recorded in New York City with the parent album's engineer Doug Deangelis. A ballad that discusses themes of ending a relationship and moving on, the song's sound incorporates musical elements of trip hop and pop music.
"Where Is the Feeling?" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue from her fifth studio album, Kylie Minogue (1994). The song was written by Wilf Smarties and Jayn Hanna, while production was handled by Brothers in Rhythm. It was released on 10 July 1995 as the third and final single from the album, by Deconstruction and Mushroom Records, seven months after the release of the second single. A new version was recorded for the single release, featuring spoken vocals by Minogue.
Call of the West is the second studio album by Los Angeles rock band Wall of Voodoo, released in September 1982. The album contains "Mexican Radio", the group's most well-known song, which was released as a single and whose video received moderate airplay on MTV.
SSQ is a synthpop outfit consisting of Stacey Swain, Jon St. James, and past members include Dan Van Patten and John Van Tongeren, Rich West, Karl Moët and Skip Hahn. Their debut album Playback received praise from critics when released in 1983. As of 2020, Jon St. James and Stacey Swain resurfaced as SSQ, releasing a full length album of new material titled Jet Town Je t’aime. As Stacey Q, Swain had a solo hit with her single “Two of Hearts” in 1986. SSQ members stayed on as her band for television and concert performances.
"Two of Hearts" is a song by American singer Stacey Q, first issued as an independent 12-inch dance club single by On the Spot Records, then picked up by Atlantic after achieving regional sales. Written by John Mitchell, the song was Stacey Q's biggest hit; its global sales success fueled the recording of her debut album Better Than Heaven (1986), which included the song.
"We Connect" is a song recorded by American singer Stacey Q for her debut studio album Better Than Heaven (1986). Written by Willie Wilcox and produced by Jon St. James and Wilcox, the song was the follow-up to her hit single "Two of Hearts".
Hard Machine is the second studio album by American singer Stacey Q, released in February 1988 by Atlantic Records. After the international success of her song "Two of Hearts" and debut album Better Than Heaven (1986), Swain began working on her sophomore record. She again collaborated with her bandmates from SSQ. Produced by Jon St. James, Hard Machine is a dance-pop album, which is influenced by new wave, contemporary R&B and rock music.
Nights Like This is the third studio album by American singer Stacey Q, released on June 8, 1989 by Atlantic Records. It was her last album to be released on the Atlantic label before she went on a hiatus from making music until the release of her album Boomerang (1997). After the moderate commercial success of her album Hard Machine (1988), Swain decided to pursue a new musical direction. She again worked with Jon St. James but also invited other producers, such as Clivillés & Cole, Robert Gordon or Bruce Gaitsch, to achieve a different sound. Nights Like This is predominantly influenced by freestyle and house music, making it a musical departure from her previous work. The album is, like her album Hard Machine, dedicated to her friend and hair stylist, Danny Medellin, who died in 1988.
Stacey Q's Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American singer Stacey Q, released on May 16, 1995 by Thump Records. It was re-released on February 6, 2007 under the title Queen of the 80's with a slightly different track listing. Although it is a greatest hits album, the compilation includes only songs from her studio album Better Than Heaven (1986) and her early career with the bands Q and SSQ. Some of the album's material was re-recorded, giving the originally dance-pop and synthpop songs house and eurodance music to achieve more commercial sound.
Stacey Q is the first extended play by American singer Stacey Q, released in 1985 by On the Spot Records. It was only released in cassette format limited to 500 copies. Produced by Jon St. James, the EP features an early version of her hit song "Two of Hearts", which would later peak at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and become one of the highest-selling singles of 1986. Other songs on the EP include "Dancing Nowhere," later featured, along with the updated version of "Two of Hearts," on her debut album Better Than Heaven (1986) and "Dancing in the Dark", a cover version of Kim Wilde's song. "Shy Girl" was released as a single.
Better Than Heaven is the debut studio album by American singer Stacey Q, released on October 17, 1987 by Atlantic Records. Produced by Jon St. James, Better Than Heaven is predominantly a dance-pop album with elements of Hi-NRG, freestyle and new wave music. She collaborated with the same line-up of musicians with whom she had previously performed in the band SSQ. They later continued to work on her other solo albums, Hard Machine (1988) and Nights Like This (1989).
"Lullaby" is a song by American rock singer Shawn Mullins from his fourth studio album, Soul's Core (1998). It was released in August 1998 and is Mullins' most successful song to date, reaching number one on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also found success abroad, reaching number nine on the UK Singles Chart, number five in Australia, and number two in Canada.
Jon St. James is an American guitarist, songwriter–composer, producer and recording engineer. His Casbah Recording Studio was a part of Orange County, California's new music scene in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. St. James' first album was as leader–frontman–songwriter of the progressive rock group French Lick. St James was a pioneer of techno pop and dance music, using Moog synthesizers, electronic effects, and tape loops. St. James lived in France for two years, studying Musique concrète with French composers.
"Don't Make a Fool of Yourself" is a song by American recording artist Stacey Q. It was taken from her second studio album, Hard Machine (1988). The song was written by Stacey Swain, Jon St. James and Skip Hahn and was produced by Jon St. James. The song was mixed by musician Shep Pettibone, who collaborated with artists like Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, Janet Jackson and others. It was released as the album's first single on March 25, 1988 by Atlantic Records. The song peaked at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Billboard Dance charts.
"Give You All My Love" is a song by American singer Stacey Q. It was released on May 25, 1989 as the lead single from her third studio album, Nights Like This, in 1989 by Atlantic Records. Written by Stacey Swain and David Cole and produced by Cole and Robert Clivillés, "Give You All My Love" is primarily a dance-pop song. Two versions of the song were released, the album version that appears on Nights Like This and the Crossover house mix.
American singer Stacey Q has released five studio albums, one compilation album, one extended play, thirteen singles, four promotional singles, and six music videos. Born Stacey Swain, she first served as the lead singer of the band SSQ put together by producer Jon St. James.
