| Jewel | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 22, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1993–1994 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Chris Thomas | |||
| Marcella Detroit chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Jewel | ||||
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Jewel is the second studio album by American singer Marcella Detroit, and her first since leaving band Shakespears Sister. It was released in March 1994 under London Records to moderate commercial success.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Cash Box | (favorable) [2] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B− [3] |
| Knoxville News Sentinel |  [4] |
Aaron Badgley from AllMusic gave the album a retrospective mixed review, saying "The CD sounds formulaic and overproduced by Chris Thomas. He seems to steer Marcella into mid-'90s dance grooves, which does not always fit her own distinctive sound ... When she is left alone and not "produced," the results are stunning." [1] Johnny Huston of Entertainment Weekly also gave Jewel a mixed review, stating "Branching away from her work with Shakespear's Sister, her solo debut Jewel suffers from drab Motown and Sly Stone covers and from a Godfather of Soul impression that's more embarrassing than subversive. [3]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jewel" | Marcella Detroit | 4:13 |
| 2. | "I Believe" | Detroit | 4:52 |
| 3. | "Perfect World" | Detroit | 4:52 |
| 4. | "Art of Melancholy" | Detroit | 4:27 |
| 5. | "James Brown" | Detroit | 4:46 |
| 6. | "Detroit" | Detroit | 3:55 |
| 7. | "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (with Elton John) | Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson | 3:55 |
| 8. | "I'm No Angel" | Detroit | 4:14 |
| 9. | "I Want to Take You Higher" | Sly Stone | 3:31 |
| 10. | "You Don't Tell Me Everything" | Detroit | 3:37 |
| 11. | "Cool People" | Detroit | 3:32 |
| 12. | "Out of My Mind" | Lance Aston | 4:23 |
| 13. | "Prima Donna" | Detroit | 1:56 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Shadow" | Detroit | 3:44 |
with:
"I Believe" was released as the lead single in February 1994, and reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. [5] The song also found similar success internationally, peaking at No. 10 in Australia, and No. 24 in Ireland. [6] [7] In 2005, the song was covered by German singer Joana Zimmer as her debut single, and was more successful in some territories than the original. The second single, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", a duet with Elton John, was originally included on John's album Duets , and was released as a single in May 1994. The song peaked at No. 24 in the UK. The third single "I'm No Angel" peaked at No. 33, and the fourth, "Perfect World", at No. 100.
In 2014, Detroit independently released a compilation of the original demos recorded for the album. The 15 tracks comprise the demos for 9 of the 13 album tracks, demos for 4 B-sides, and two unreleased songs: "Second Class Citizen" and "Love and Destruction". The version of "Prima Donna" is an extended version with additional lyrics.
Track listing
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart [8] | 53 |
| Swedish Albums Chart [9] | 32 |
| Swiss Albums Chart [10] | 18 |
| UK Albums Chart [5] | 15 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [11] | 24 |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [11] | 39 |
| UK Album Sales Chart(OCC) [12] | 47 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [13] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Siobhan Maire Fahey is an Irish singer whose vocal range is a light contralto. She was a founding member of the British girl group Bananarama, who have had ten top-10 hits including the US number one hit single "Venus". She later formed the musical act Shakespears Sister, who had a UK number one hit with the 1992 single "Stay". Fahey joined the other original members of Bananarama for a 2017 UK tour, and, in 2018, a North America and Europe tour.
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, professionally known as Tammi Terrell, was an American singer-songwriter, widely known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye.
Marcella Levy, known professionally as Marcy Levy and Marcella Detroit, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She co-wrote the 1977 Eric Clapton hit "Lay Down Sally" and released her debut studio album Marcella in 1982. She joined Shakespears Sister in 1988 with ex-Bananarama member Siobhan Fahey. Their first two studio albums, Sacred Heart (1989), and Hormonally Yours (1992), both reached the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart. Detroit sang the lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay", which spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1992. Detroit left the band in 1993 and had a UK top 20 hit with "I Believe" in 1994. She formed the Marcy Levy Band in 2002, and finished third in the 2010 ITV series Popstar to Operastar.
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label, a division of Motown. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and became a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes frontwoman Diana Ross. The song became Ross's first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's United LP. The first release off the duo's second album: You're All I Need, the song—written and produced by regular Gaye/Terrell collaborators Ashford & Simpson—became a hit within weeks of release eventually peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart, the first of the duo's two number-one R&B hits. In the UK "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached number 34.
Hormonally Yours is the second studio album by British pop-rock act Shakespears Sister, released on 17 February 1992 by London Records. The album went on to become a critical and commercial success, and is their best-selling album to date. Hormonally Yours peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified double platinum by the BPI, spending 55 weeks on the chart. The album spawned five singles, three of which reached the UK top 20. The album's second single, "Stay" became the group's best-selling single, topping the UK Singles Chart for eight consecutive weeks. It also peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Stay" is a song by UK-based pop act Shakespears Sister, released in January 1992 by London Records as the second single from their second album, Hormonally Yours (1992). The single was written by Siobhan Fahey, Marcella Detroit, and Dave Stewart, and became a massive hit. It is the duo's first and only number-one single in numerous territories, including the UK, where it topped the UK Singles Chart for eight consecutive weeks and was the fourth-biggest-selling single of 1992. "Stay" also reached No. 1 in Sweden and in band member Siobhan Fahey's birthplace, Ireland. It was a transatlantic hit as well, reaching No. 4 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. Its music video was directed by Sophie Muller and drew inspirations from the 1953 film Cat-Women of the Moon. At the 1993 Brit Awards "Stay" won the award for British Video of the Year.
"I Believe" is a song by American singer-songwriter Marcella Detroit, released on February 28, 1994, via London Records as the lead single from her second studio album, Jewel (1994). Written by Detroit and produced by Chris Thomas, the song went on to become Detroit's most successful single, peaking at number 11 in the United Kingdom, and achieved similar success internationally. Its highest peak on a national chart was in Australia, where it reached number 10.
Sacred Heart is the debut studio album by British pop-rock act Shakespear's Sister, released on 21 August 1989 by FFRR Records. The album was recorded after Siobhan Fahey decided to leave the girl group Bananarama. Initially intended as a solo act for Fahey, Shakespear's Sister became a partnership of Fahey and Marcella Detroit during the making of the album. The album spawned four singles, including "You're History", released in July 1989, which reached No. 7 on the UK singles chart and was the first release to present the act as a duo. The album peaked at No. 9 on the UK albums chart, and was certificated gold by the BPI.
#3 is the third studio album released by British pop-rock music project Shakespears Sister, and the first to be released since the departure of Marcella Detroit in 1993. Originally scheduled for release in 1996, the album was shelved after the project's sole member, Siobhan Fahey, was dropped by London Records. London Records eventually gave the full rights of the album to Fahey in 2004, and the album was released through her website. Musically, #3 is a departure from the project's more pop-oriented previous albums, featuring a more rock and alternative-influenced sound. The album artwork was designed by Sarah Lucas, and in 2011, a two-disc expanded edition was released through major retailers. The album spawned the top 30 single, "I Can Drive".
Leather and Lace is a duet album by Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, released on RCA Records in 1981.
"I'm No Angel" is a song by American singer Marcella Detroit, released in July 1994 through London Records as the third UK single and second Australian single from her album Jewel. The two-part CD single release contains five B-sides, with only one track, "Cool People", appearing on Jewel.
The discography of UK-based pop-rock act Shakespears Sister consists of four studio albums, five compilation albums, one EP, and seventeen singles. Originally a solo act consisting of ex-Bananarama member Siobhan Fahey, it eventually evolved into a duo between Fahey and Marcella Detroit. They released their debut studio album Sacred Heart in 1989, which reached number 9 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold by the BPI. The album's lead single, double A Side "Break My Heart / Heroine" did not chart, the second single however, "You're History", reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart, and managed similar top 20 success internationally. Their next three singles, "Run Silent", "Dirty Mind", and "Goodbye Cruel World", all failed to peak within the UK top 50. The second single from Hormonally Yours, "Stay" was the group's first and only number 1, staying at the top position for 8 weeks. The song also reached number 1 in Ireland and Sweden, and peaked within the top 5 in several other territories. Hormonally Yours peaked at number 3 in the UK and was certified double platinum, and reached similar success in international territories. The fifth and final single from the album, "My 16th Apology", was not a commercial success due to both members being on hiatus at the time.
"My 16th Apology" is a song by UK pop duo Shakespears Sister, released in early 1993 by London Records as the fifth and final single from their second studio album, Hormonally Yours (1992). The song was written by the duo's Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit with Richard Feldman, and produced by Alan Moulder. Due to both members being on hiatus at the time, the single performed poorly, suffering from a lack of promotion. The three B-sides, live performances from their 1992 concert broadcast on BBC Radio, were later included on their 2011 album Live 1992. This was the group's last release until 2019 to feature Marcella Detroit.
Shakespears Sister is an alternative pop and rock musical duo that was formed in 1988 by Irish singer-songwriter Siobhan Fahey, a former member of Bananarama. Shakespears Sister was initially a solo act but became a duo by 1989, with the addition of American musician Marcella Detroit. Together they released two top-ten albums and a string of top-forty hits, including the 1992 single "Stay", which remained at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for eight weeks. Detroit was let go from the band in 1993, leaving Fahey as the sole member again, until the latter ended the project in 1996. After working under her own name for some years, Fahey revived the Shakespears Sister moniker in 2009. In 2019, Fahey and Detroit reunited as Shakespears Sister for a tour and released the singles "All the Queen's Horses" and "When She Finds You", and the EP Ride Again.
"Perfect World" is a song by US singer Marcella Detroit, released in March 1995 under London Records as the fourth and final single from her album Jewel. The song reached a meager #100 on the UK Singles Chart, and was Detroit's final release with the label.
"Dirty Mind" is a song by UK-based pop act Shakespears Sister, released as the fifth and final single from their debut studio album Sacred Heart by FFRR Records. The song, originally produced by Richard Feldman, was completely re-recorded and remixed by Duncan Bridgeman for its release as a single, and includes a rap by Marcella Detroit.
Feeler is the third studio album by British-based American musician Marcella Detroit. It was first released in the UK by AAA Records in September 1996, with the lead single "I Hate You Now..." coincidentally released in the same month as "I Can Drive", the lead single from Detroit's former band Shakespears Sister's third album #3.
The discography of American recording artist Marcella Detroit consists of seven studio albums, two compilation albums, sixteen singles, and ten other appearances. Detroit released her debut studio album Marcella in 1982 under her birth name Marcy Levy, which went largely unnoticed. She became a member of pop group Shakespears Sister in 1989, who released two studio albums in her time with the band, the second, Hormonally Yours, peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, and was certified double platinum by the BPI. After leaving the band in 1993, Detroit released her second studio album Jewel in March 1994, which peaked at No. 15 on the UK Albums Chart, and was certified silver. The album's lead single, "I Believe", peaked at No. 11 in the UK, and reached the top ten in Australia. Her following album Feeler, released in September 1996, was less successful, although it reached No. 82 in Japan. A live album, Without Medication Plus MTV "Buzz Live" was released promotionally in Japan the same year. Detroit's first EP, Abfab Songs, was released in 1999, consisting entirely of original songs featured on Absolutely Fabulous in 1996, when Detroit guest-starred in two episodes as an angel. The same year, she released Demoz, a double-CD collection of demos through her website. Her fourth studio album Dancing Madly Sideways was released in the same fashion, and thus did not chart in any territories.
Chuck Sabo is an American drummer, musical director, songwriter, and producer who has performed and recorded with prominent artists including XTC, Natalie Imbruglia, Elton John, Tom Jones, Chaka Khan, Bryan Adams, Cher, Tina Turner, Pet Shop Boys, Billy Preston, Roy Orbison, Terence Trent D'Arby, Seal, Right Said Fred, Shakespear's Sister, Take That, OMD, 808 State, Tashan, Belinda Carlisle, Kiki Dee, Étienne Daho, Axel Bauer and Michel Polnareff.
