"Hole in My Heart (All the Way to China)" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Cyndi Lauper for her 1988 film Vibes. It was written by Richard Orange, formerly of the band Zuider Zee. The track saw the light of day on an official CD, as of 2003, with the release of the 3-CD compilation, The Great Cyndi Lauper. It can be found on the following albums: Best Movie Album in the World...Ever! (3 CDs), True Colors: The Best of Cyndi Lauper (2 CDs), 36 All-time Favorites (3 CDs), Monster Hits 1988/Hits of 1988 and Cyndi Lauper Japanese Singles Collection Greatest Hits (audio track on CD and music video on DVD).
Robert "Shep" Pettibone is an American record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s.
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.
"Bizarre Love Triangle" is the thirteenth single by English rock band New Order, released as a single in November 1986 from their fourth studio album, Brotherhood (1986), which reached the top five on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart, and No. 5 on the Australian ARIA Charts in March 1987. It failed to enter the top 40 of both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100; however, a new mix included on The Best of New Order was released in 1994 and charted at No. 98 on the Hot 100. In 2004, the song was ranked No. 204 on Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
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.
"Chains of Love" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in May 1988 as their ninth single overall. It was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, and released by Mute Records as the second single from Erasure's third studio album, The Innocents (1988). In the United States, Sire Records released it as the first single. The chorus is memorable for Bell's use of falsetto. The album version was produced by Stephen Hague and was slightly remixed for its single release. The accompanying music video featured Clarke and Bell performing the song while being hoisted through the air by thick, metal chains.
"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. It was written by John Mitchell and produced by Jon St. James, William Walker and Jeff Fishman. 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. The song was released as the album's lead single on June 13, 1986.
"We Connect" is a song recorded by American singer Stacey Q for her debut studio album Better Than Heaven (1986). The song was released as the album's second single on November 28, 1986 by Atlantic Records. 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".
"I Don't Want Your Love" is a song by English rock band Duran Duran, released on 19 September 1988 as the first single from their fifth studio album, Big Thing (1988). As with the album, the band's name was rendered on the artwork as Duranduran.
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 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).
Playback is the first studio album by the American synthpop band SSQ, released in 1983 by Enigma and EMI America Records. It was the only album released by the band as SSQ until the release of their second album Jet Town Je t'aime in 2020, though the band members later worked on lead singer Stacey Q's debut album Better Than Heaven (1986) and follow-up album, Hard Machine (1988).
"I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" is a song by English musician Elton John from his 21st studio album Reg Strikes Back (1988), released as the lead single of the album. The track was written by John and his long-time songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin.
Poolside is the third studio album by the American pop–Latin freestyle–electronic dance music duo Nu Shooz. It was released on May 9, 1986 through Atlantic Recording Corporation. Recording sessions took place at Sunset Sound Factory and Lorber Studio in Los Angeles, Atlantic Studios in New York, Cascade Recording and Spectrum Studios in Portland. Production was handled by John Smith and Rick Waritz, with Jeff Lorber, Marlon McClain and Shep Pettibone serving as associate producers.
"Bad Boy" is a song by the American band Miami Sound Machine, led by Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan, and released as the second single from their second English language album, and ninth overall, Primitive Love (1985). The song enjoyed much success following up on the band's mainstream breakthrough single, "Conga". It also was featured in and opened the film Three Men and a Baby.
"In the Name of Love" is a 1982 single written and performed by British pop band Thompson Twins, at the time a septet. It was the first of twelve entries on the Billboard Dance chart for the group.
Skip Hahn is an American record producer, musician, singer and songwriter. Hahn is known for work with the American band SSQ (1982-1988), on Playback; and, with SSQ backing Stacey Q on their Better Than Heaven and Hard Machine albums. On a side project during the months recording the Better Than Heaven album, Hahn collaborated with Jon St. James on James's album, Fast Impressions, writing, performing and producing. Guest artists included guitarists Allan Holdsworth; Ray Gomez; and Scott Bowers. From 2005-2007, Hahn and St. James worked together as a duo named Echo Junkies, releasing the art-rock album, Echo Junkies, in 2007. This time special guest artists included their SSQ bandmate/singer/songwriter, Stacey Q, Jason Freese (saxophone), Danny Mantel on tabla.
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.
