Lem Springsteen

Last updated

Lem Springsteen is an American songwriter [1] and dance and house music producer. [2] He is best known as part of house production duo Mood II Swing. [3] [4]

Contents

In 1997, he co-wrote and co-produced Ultra Naté's hit song "Free", [5] a dance-hop influenced disco track released on the Strictly Rhythm label. The song peaked at number 1 on both the US Hot Dance Club Songs and Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales charts [5] as well as placing on a number of charts in other countries. [6] [7] The song has appeared on a number of '90s Music compilation albums, [8] [9] [10] and was featured on soundtracks for Chasing Liberty and I Know What You Did Last Summer .

Biography

Springsteen was signed to EMI Music Publishing in London for several years after co-writing and co-producing the hit recording "Free" by Ultra Nate in 1997. He entered the music business at the age of 16 years old, after manager, at the time Vaughan Mason, who had hit recordings, procured a single deal with the now defunct label Chrysalis Records UK, after Lem and younger brother won a talent contest at New York City's Apollo Theatre. Vaughan taught Lem, songwriting, analog sythns and analog recording, before the digital era. Lem's style incorporates the music he grew up on from soul/R&B to pop to disco/dance. Lem even has some rock influences but does not claim to be a rock'n roll musician or producer.

Springsteen formed the house production duo Mood II Swing [11] with John Ciafone in 1993 after the pair began to work with Little Louie Vega of Masters At Work. In addition to productions with Masters At Work and Nuyorican Soul, [12] Mood II Swing was hired by major and independent labels globally to remix dance versions of songs signed to labels from 1993 – 2003. Their notable remixes include BT's "Remember", King Britt's "The Reason", and Ultra Naté's Found A Cure , which they also wrote and produced originally. [13]

Mood II Swing produced many remixes in the 1990s and early 2000s, [14] [15] remixing about 300 tracks and producing about 100 original songs. Their music was included in the Strictly Rhythm 25 Year Anniversary compilation, Strictly DJ T: 25 Years Of Strictly Rhythm, released in March 2015. Their original productions as Mood II Swing include "Closer" and "All Night Long". Their original track "Do It Your Way" and their original production "Closer" featuring Carol Sylvan were included on For The Love Of House Volume 2, released by Defected Records in 2013.

1993, under the name Urbanized, was the year Lem & John entered the world of dance music producing the song titled "Helpless" featuring vocalist Silvano, which Mercury Records picked up from the NY independent label, Maxi records. The late manager Jazz Summers, who represented Lisa Stansfield, at the time, became interested in developing an Urbanized album which never became finalized.

In 1995 Lem Springsteen produced The Wall of Sound featuring Gerald Lethan single Run to Me. [16] and a live band album called Storybook, featuring Gerald Lethan. However the label wasn't interested in pushing a live band neo-soul type album.

In 1995 Springsteen was listed in the production credits for a track on Janet Jackson's remix album, Janet Remixed , playing keyboards for David Morales remix to Janet's song Throb . The album went platinum in the UK. He also played and sang backgrounds for Satoshie Tomii's remix of "Romantic Call" by: Queen Latifah and Patra. He played experimental keys for KRS-One's production for Mad Lion recorded at Bass Hit recording studios, New York city. He's done dance remixes for major and independent artists in America and Europe. The most noteworthy vocal remix by Mood II Swing is "Don't Mess With My Man" by: Lucy Pearl for Virgin UK.

The Mood II Swing dissolved in 2008 in order for Springsteen and Ciafone to pursue individual interests. In 2010 Springsteen set up an indie imprint Urban Lounge Music, and has released a number of solo tracks and remixes, including Joi Cardwell's "Feels Like Heaven", Vanessa Daou's "Trouble Comes", and Information Society's "Running 2K14".

Related Research Articles

Marie-Claire Cremers known professionally as Amber is a Dutch-born singer, songwriter, label owner, and executive producer. She is best known for her hits "This Is Your Night", "If You Could Read My Mind", and "Sexual ". In December 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 34th-most successful dance artist of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra Naté</span> American singer-songwriter

Ultra Naté Wyche is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ and promoter who has achieved success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free", "If You Could Read My Mind", and "Automatic".

<i>You Can Dance</i> 1987 remix album by Madonna

You Can Dance is the first remix album by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on November 17, 1987, by Sire Records. The album contains remixes of tracks from her first three studio albums—Madonna (1983), Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986)—and a new track, "Spotlight". In the 1980s, remixing was still a new concept and technology, by which a particular vocal phrase could be endlessly copied, repeated, chopped up, transposed up and down in pitch and give them more echo, reverberation, treble or bass. Madonna became interested in the concept, noting that she hated when others remixed her songs and wanted to do it by herself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juke Joint Jezebel</span> 1995 single by KMFDM

"Juke Joint Jezebel" is a song by industrial rock group KMFDM from their 1995 album Nihil. It is KMFDM's most widely known song to date, with around three million copies of the song sold across various releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stupid Girl (Garbage song)</span> 1996 single by Garbage

"Stupid Girl" is a song by American rock band Garbage from their self-titled debut studio album (1995). The song was written and produced by band members Duke Erikson, Shirley Manson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig. "Stupid Girl" features lyrics about a young woman's ambivalence and is a musical arrangement centered on a repetitive bassline and a drum sample from the Clash's 1980 song "Train in Vain".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotlight (Madonna song)</span> 1988 single by Madonna

"Spotlight" is a song by American singer Madonna from her first remix album You Can Dance (1987). It was released as a single in Japan on April 25, 1988 by Sire Records and Warner-Pioneer Japan. Initially rejected during her True Blue album recording sessions, the song was written by Madonna, Stephen Bray and Curtis Hudson who had presented the original to the singer. It was inspired by the song "Everybody Is a Star" (1970) by American rock band Sly and the Family Stone. The song was remixed by Shep Pettibone, with additional mixing done by John "Jellybean" Benitez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)</span> 2002 single by Jennifer Lopez

"Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" is a song by American singer Jennifer Lopez for her remix album J to tha L–O! The Remixes (2002). The song was marketed as a remix of "Ain't It Funny", but is actually an entirely different song with the same title. It features guest vocals from Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins) and Caddillac Tah (Tiheem Crocker). It was written by Lopez, Atkins, Tah, Cory Rooney, Irving Lorenzo, and Ashanti. Over a reworking of the beat to Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear" (produced by Easy Mo Bee), Lopez sings about "dropping a boyfriend who keeps messing up".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And Then We Kiss</span> 2005 promotional single by Britney Spears

"And Then We Kiss" is a song by American singer Britney Spears. It was written by Spears, Mark Taylor and Paul Barry, while production was handled by Taylor. The song did not make the final track listing of Spears' fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003), and was later remixed by Junkie XL for inclusion on Spears' first remix album, B in the Mix: The Remixes (2005). It was also included on the extended play released to promote the remix album, titled Key Cuts from Remixed (2005). The Junkie XL remix of "And Then We Kiss" was released as a promotional single in Australia and New Zealand on October 31, 2005. The original version produced only by Taylor leaked online in September 2011.

<i>Thalías Hits Remixed</i> 2003 remix album by Thalía

Thalía's Hits Remixed is a remix album by Latin pop singer Thalía released on 25 February 2003 in North America. It contains remixes of many of her hits, such as "Amor a la Mexicana", "Piel Morena", "No Me Enseñaste" and "Tú y Yo." It also contains the English version of "Arrasando", called "It's My Party" that was released only on CD single back in 2001 and the previously unreleased medley that Thalía recorded especially for her the 2001 Latin Grammy Awards performance. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In the Japanese version, the remix of "The Mexican "' used was the "Hex Hector-Mac Qualye Radio Remix".

<i>Thalía</i> (English-language album) 2003 studio album by Thalía

Thalía is the ninth studio album and third eponymous album by Mexican recording artist Thalía, released on July 8, 2003 by Virgin Records and EMI Latin. It is her first English-language album, and shares a title with Thalía's 1990 and 2002 Spanish-language albums. The album had a moderate success selling 750,000 in three months of release.

The Boomtang Boys are Canadian dance-remix musicians and music producers. They are known for both their remix work and pop-dance music, in particular their singles "Squeeze Toy" and "Movin' On", which both topped the Canadian Singles Chart.

Quality Records was a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels. They also released recordings by Canadian artists.

<i>Personal</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Men of Vizion

Personal is the debut studio album by the American vocal group Men of Vizion. It was released on June 18, 1996, via Michael Jackson's record label, MJJ Music, after a demo tape was played to him by producer Teddy Riley. The album has been described as a "sumptuous blend" of vocal R&B and "90s production techniques", that alternates between smooth ballads and new jack swing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gracias a Ti</span> 2009 single by Wisin & Yandel featuring Enrique Iglesias

"Gracias a Ti" is a song by Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin & Yandel from their album, La Revolución (2009). The track was released as the third single from the album. A remixed version, featuring pop singer Enrique Iglesias was released on November 10, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free (Ultra Naté song)</span> 1997 single by Ultra Naté

"Free" is a song by American recording artist Ultra Naté, released on March 31, 1997, through record label Strictly Rhythm. It was co-written by Naté, Lem Springsteen and John Ciafone, while production was held by both Springsteen and Ciafone. "Free" was served as the lead single from her third studio album, Situation: Critical (1997). Musically, the song is a house-influenced song that incorporates strong 1990s soul, dance-pop, garage and disco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Found a Cure (Ultra Naté song)</span> 1998 single by Ultra Naté

"Found a Cure" is a 1998 song by American recording artist Ultra Naté, released as the second single from her third album, Situation: Critical (1998). The radio mix of the song was remixed by English house music duo Full Intention. It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart, number two on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Additionally, the song was a top 10 hit also in Finland, Hungary and Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here We Go Again (Ray Charles song)</span> 1967 song by Ray Charles

"Here We Go Again" is a country music standard written by Don Lanier and Red Steagall that first became notable as a rhythm and blues single by Ray Charles from his 1967 album Ray Charles Invites You to Listen. It was produced by Joe Adams for ABC Records/Tangerine Records. To date, this version of the song has been the biggest commercial success, spending twelve consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 15.

Barry Fasman is an American music producer, songwriter, arranger, composer and orchestral conductor.

Mood II Swing was an American house music production duo, consisting of producers John Ciafone and Lem Springsteen, based in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workin' Overtime (song)</span> 1989 single by Diana Ross

"Workin' Overtime" is a song recorded by American singer Diana Ross for her seventeenth studio album of the same name (1989). The song was written by Christopher Max and Nile Rodgers and produced by Rodgers. It was released as the album's lead single on April 24, 1989, by Motown Records.

References

  1. ↑ "The Essential… Mood II Swing". Ripple Magazine, 24 May 2016
  2. ↑ "The Walls of convention com down on 'Storybook'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 28 May 1994. pp. 22–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  3. ↑ "Mood II Swing". BBC Music.
  4. ↑ "Mood II Swing works to avoid remix trap". Larry Flix (22 May 1993). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 33–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  5. 1 2 "Ultra Naté: Situation: Critical". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ "Ultra Naté". Billboard Charts
  7. ↑ http://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/db0/Ultra-Nate-Free "Ultra Naté - Free"] 1997 Charts.
  8. ↑ "Now That's What I Call 90s Dance". AllMusic.
  9. ↑ "90s Anthems: The Ultimate Collection". AllMusic.
  10. ↑ "RA Reviews: Ultra Nate - Free (Remixes) (Single)". Resident Advisor.
  11. ↑ Frank Owen (August 1994). Disk O Tech: Eightball. Vibe. Vibe Media Group. pp. 113–. ISSN   1070-4701.
  12. ↑ Tim Haslett (April 1996). Dance: On the Flip Sideurl=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ii0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA30 . CMJ New Music Monthly. CMJ Network, Inc. pp. 1–. ISSN   1074-6978.
  13. ↑ Jason Birchmeier. "Mood II Swing". AllMusic.
  14. ↑ Larry Flix (13 March 1993). "Dance Trax". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 42–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  15. ↑ "FACT mix 534: Mood II Swing". FACT Magazine, February 10, 201
  16. ↑ "Reviews & Previews: Dance". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 4 November 1995. pp.  1–. ISSN   0006-2510.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.