John Michael Stipe is an American singer, songwriter and artist, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.
Monster is the ninth studio album by American rock band R.E.M., released by Warner Bros. Records in the UK on September 26, 1994, and in the United States the following day. It was produced by the band and Scott Litt and recorded at four studios. The album was an intentional shift from the style of the band's previous two albums, Out of Time (1991) and Automatic for the People (1992), by introducing loud, distorted guitar tones and simpler lyrics.
The Hit Factory is a recording studio in New York City owned and operated by Troy Germano. Since 1969, The Hit Factory recording studios have existed in six different locations in New York City, as well as facilities in London and Miami.
"Crush with Eyeliner" is a song by American rock band R.E.M., released by Warner Bros. Records as the third single from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994). Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore provides background vocals. Michael Stipe claims the song was inspired by the band New York Dolls, who, in his opinion, "knew how to exaggerate a song, to make it sound really sleazy and over the top." This was also one of the first songs that surfaced from Stipe after the writer's block that hounded him after the death of his friend, actor River Phoenix.
Abigail is an English electronic music artist. She first came into the limelight with the song "I Feel You", released in 1992.
Garret "Jacknife" Lee is an Irish music producer and mixer. He has worked with a variety of artists, including the Cars, U2, R.E.M., the Killers, Robbie Williams, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, AFI, the Hives, Weezer, One Direction, Silversun Pickups, Editors, Modest Mouse, Lonnie Holley, and Taylor Swift.
"I Don't Wanna Take This Pain" is a single by Australian singer Dannii Minogue from her debut album, Love and Kisses (1991). A personal favourite of Minogue's, its original mix was released as the third single in Australia, where it peaked at number 92 on the ARIA Singles CHart December 1990. A re-recorded and remixed version of the song was released in the United Kingdom as the fifth and final single in December 1991 and received mostly positive reviews from music critics. "I Don't Wanna Take This Pain" reached number 40 in the UK.
"Paninaro" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, originally a B-side to the 1986 single "Suburbia". In 1995, a re-recording titled "Paninaro '95" was released to a wider market, to promote the duo's B-side compilation album Alternative, though only the original version was included on the compilation.
"Are You Ready to Fly" is a song by Zambian-born singer Rozalla, released in February 1992 by Pulse 8 as a single from her second album, Everybody's Free (1992). The song was written by Nigel Swanston and Tim Cox, and produced by Band of Gypsies. It achieved a certain success in many countries, including the United States, where it topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The single reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and was also a hit across continental Europe, peaking within the top five in Belgium, Denmark and Spain. New York City-based director Ed Steinberg directed its music video. The song won an award in the category "Best Single of the Year" on the 1993 Hi-NRG Music Awards in New York.
"I Love Music" is a song by American R&B group The O'Jays. It was written by production team Gamble and Huff. The song appeared on The O'Jays 1975 album, Family Reunion. The single reached number five on the US US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the soul singles chart. In the UK, the song peaked at number 13 in the Top 40 singles charts in March 1976. The single spent eight weeks at number one on the US Disco File Top 20 chart.
"This Time I Found Love" is a song by Zambian-born singer Rozalla, released in July 1994 as the second single from her second album, Look No Further (1995). It was produced by Grammy-nominated music producer/songwriter Stuart Crichton and later also included on her Best Of album. The song reached number 33 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed in the top-40 for two weeks. It was also released in some other countries, including Germany, with little success.
"You Never Love the Same Way Twice" is a song by Zambian-born singer Rozalla, released in October 1994 by Epic Records as the third single from her second album, Look No Further (1995), and later also included on her Best Of album. The song reached number 12 on the Scottish Singles Chart and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, during a five-week chart run. It was a minor hit in Germany and Iceland, and peaked at number 61 on the Eurochart Hot 100 in November 1994. The single was also released in the United States in 1995 as the attendant single of the US edition of her second album, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2005, Rozalla re-recorded and re-released the track for a German label.
"Chasing Pavements" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Adele for her debut studio album, 19 (2008). Written by Adele with her producer Francis "Eg" White, the song was released as the second single from the album on 14 January 2008. Its lyrics describe questioning whether or not to keep chasing something that is not going anywhere. Adele was inspired to write the song after a public argument and subsequent break up with an older man.
Rhythm of Love is the fifth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker, released in 1994. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop chart and was certified double platinum, giving Baker her fourth platinum selling album.
Tracy Ackerman is a British singer and songwriter. She works with several other British songwriters including Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson of Absolute and Mark Taylor. Ackerman has written for artists including Geri Halliwell, Cher, Boyzone, Tina Turner and Will Young.
Rozalla Miller, better known as simply Rozalla, is a Zimbabwean electronic music performer who was born in what was then Northern Rhodesia. She is best known for her three 1991/92 hit singles "Faith ", "Are You Ready to Fly", and particularly "Everybody's Free ", which has been remixed and re-issued several times. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 98th most successful dance artist of all-time.
"Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" is a song by Zambian-born Zimbabwean singer Rozalla, released in August 1991 by label Pulse-8 as the second single from her second album, Everybody's Free (1992). The song was written by Nigel Swanston and Tim Cox, and produced by Band of Gypsies. It had been a staple in the clubs in Ibiza and Mallorca in the summer of 1991, and hordes of recovering ravers were delighted to find "that tune about being free to feel good and stuff" was available to buy back home. Upon its release, the song reached number two in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, while entering the top 10 in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single reached number six, and in Zimbabwe, it peaked at number four. It also topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Several music videos have been made to promote the song. It is widely regarded as one of the biggest dance anthems of the 1990s and it has been remixed and re-released several times.
Complete Rarities: Warner Bros. 1988–2011 is a 2014 compilation album featuring live songs, singles' b-sides and non-album tracks recorded by alternative rock band R.E.M. during their tenure on Warner Bros. Records. All material has been previously released either physically or in digital-only formats.
Everybody's Free is the debut album by Zambian electronic music performer Rozalla, released in 1992. The album includes the worldwide hit single "Everybody's Free " along with three further singles: "Faith ", "Are You Ready to Fly" and "Love Breakdown". It also includes a remix of the single "Born to Luv Ya", originally released in 1990. There are two different album covers: the original shown here and an American version that was issued by Epic Records after Rozalla signed with the label in 1992. The album received an award for "Album of the Year" at the 1993 Hi-NRG Music Awards in New York.
"Why You Treat Me So Bad" is a song by Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy featuring American rapper and emcee Grand Puba. It was released in 1995 as the second single from his third studio album, Boombastic (1995), and contains elements from "Mr. Brown" by Bob Marley. It was a notable hit in several countries, including Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK, where it peaked at number 11.
