Lydia Murdock

Last updated
Lydia Murdock
Also known asLydia Murdoch
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVoice
LabelsTeam Entertainment Records, WEA, Unidisc

Lydia Murdock is an American singer who had at least two dance hits. Her best known one was "Superstar" which was a hit in the UK and Canada. She also charted in the UK with "Love on the Line".

Contents

Background

Lydia Murdock is an American pop singer. [1] She is best known for her answer song to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", known as "Superstar", where she portrayed Billie Jean saying that she's "mad as hell" in the song's lyrics. The song was a hit, peaking at #14 in the UK in October 1983. [1]

Career

Superstar

On the week of 7 October, 1983, "Superstar" made its debut at no. 36 on the Radio & Records National Airplay / 40 chart. [2]

On the week of 8 October, her single was a breakout in Canada and was at 5-15 on radio CKOI-FM in Montreal. [3] [4] It had also made its debut at no. 50 on the RPM Weekly Top 50 Singles chart. [5] It peaked at no. 26 on the RPM chart on week seven on the week of 19 November. It held that position for another week. [6] [7] [8]

On the main UK chart, the single made its debut on 17 September [9] and spending ten weeks in the charts, it peaked at no. 14. [10]

Murdock's single won her an award. She came fourth in the Cash Box 1983 Black Contemporary Singles Awards New Female section with Diane Richards, Madonna, Alfie Silas and Pamela Nivens at 1, 2, 3 and 5 respectively. [11]

Superstar also made the Euro Tip Sheet European Top 100 Singles chart. On the week of 30 April, it had moved up from 86 to 62. [12]

Further activities

Murdock recorded the Michael Burton composition, "Life in America" which was produced by Jerry Gabinelli and Burton. A club mix by D.J. Raphael Negron was released in 1984 in 12" format on Team Entertainment TRS 3003. [13]

Love on the Line

Murdock recorded the single "Love on the Line" which was released in 12" format in the US on Team Entertainment TRS3006. It was written by Michael Burton and produced by Gerry Gabinelli, Bobby Eli, and Tony Bongiovi. [14] It was released in the UK on WEA YZ17T. It was reviewed by James Hamilton who confirmed that it was selling well in the UK. However Hamilton said her lamenting about her man's phone line being busy was a bit nagging. [15] It was also reviewed that same week by Jerry Smith in Music Week . He said that it was a strong dance single and noted the catchy vocal harmonies and sweeping strings. And even though he said that it was another song about telephones, he said that the chorus was memorable, and it should do well. [16]

Murdock's song lyrics for "Love on the Line" and her photo was featured in the 25 August 1984 issue of Number One magazine. [17] That week the single debuted on the UK Disco Top 85 chart at number 55. [18]

It was reported by Music Week in the magazine's 8 September issue that "Love on the Line" had debuted at no. 49 on the Music Week Top Disco & Dance Singles chart. [19]

"Love on the Line" was a recommended single in the 13 October issue of Billboard . [20]

In Montreal, Canada, "Love on the Line" debuted at no. 40 on the Radio CKGM 98 chart on the week of 1 February, 1985. [21]

Further activities

In 1985 her single "Tonight Tonight" was released in Canada on Unidisc 7UN-190. [22]

Discography

US

US singles 7" & 12"
ActReleaseCatalogueYearNotes
Lydia Murdock"Superstar" (Vocal & rap) / Superstar (Vocal only)Team Entertainment TRS3001J1983(7" juke box release)
Lydia Murdock"Superstar" (Long version) / "Superstar" (Instrumental version)Team Entertainment TRS 30011983(12" 33⅓ RPM)
Hauppauge Pressing
Lydia Murdock"Life in America" (Long version), "Life in America" (Instrumental) / "Life in America" (Club mix)Team Entertainment TRS30031984(12", 33⅓ RPM)
Lydia Murdock"Love On The Line" (Edited for radio), "Love On The Line" (Instrumental version) / Love on the Line (Club mix)Team Entertainment TRS30061984(12", 33⅓ RPM)

Canada

Album
ActReleaseCatalogueYearNotes
Lydia MurdockSuperstarUndidisc SPLK-71071993CD

[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 384. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  2. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue Number 504 October 7, 1983 - Page 60 R&R NATIONAL AIPLAY/ 40, DEBUT> 36
  3. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 6 October 8, 1983 - Page 13 BREAKOUT SINGLES
  4. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 6 October 8, 1983 - Page 13 GUY BROUILLARD, CKOI-FM - Montreal
  5. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 6 October 8, 1983 - Page 6 RPM 50 Singles, 50 New (1)
  6. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 12 November 19, 1983 - Page 6 50 Singles TW 36, LW 37, WKs (7)
  7. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 13 November 26, 1983 - Page 5 RPM 50 Singles, TW 36, LW 36, WKs (8)
  8. ↑ RPM Weekly, Volume 39 No. 14 December 3, 1983 - Page 6 RPM 50 Singles
  9. ↑ Official Charts - SUPERSTAR by LYDIA MURDOCK, CHART FACTS
  10. ↑ Official Charts - SUPERSTAR by LYDIA MURDOCK, CHART RUN
  11. ↑ Cash Box, December 31, 1983 - Page 58 SINGLES AWARDS, NEW FEMALE
  12. ↑ '"Euro Tip Sheet, No. 5 Week of April 30th, 1984 - Pages 8-9 European Top 100 Singles 7 & 12 Inch, This Week 62, Last Week 86, Wks on Chart 3
  13. ↑ Amazon - Life In America (12")
  14. ↑ Billboard, October 13, 1984 - Page 70 Billboard Singles Reviews, Disco / Dance, recommended, LYDIA MURDOCK -Love On The Line; Team TRS3006
  15. ↑ James Hamilton's Disco Page - ODDS ‘N’ BODS, LYDIA MURDOCK: ‘Love On The Line’ (WEA YZ17T)
  16. ↑ Music Week, August 25, 1984 - Page 23 SINGLES Reviewed by JERRY SMITH LYDIA MURDOCK: Love On The Line (WEA YZ17 (T), WEA)
  17. ↑ No 1, August 25, 1984 - Page 18 LOVE ON THE LINE, LYDIA murdoch
  18. ↑ James Hamilton's Disco Page - ODDS ‘N’ BODS, DISCO TOP 85 – August 25, 1984, 55 — LOVE ON THE LINE, Lydia Murdock, WEA 12in
  19. ↑ Music Week, September 8, 1984 - Page 24 MUSIC WEEK DISCO and dance TOP SINGLES, THIS WEEK 49, NEW
  20. ↑ Billboard, October 13, 1984 - Page 70 Billboard Singles Reviews, Disco / Dance, recommended, LYDIA MURDOCK -Love On The Line; Team TRS3006
  21. ↑ Radio & Records, Issue Number 568 February 1, 1985 - Page 93 CHR PARALLEL ONE PLAYLISTS, ckgm 98 Montreal, PD: Stephen Anthony, D 40 LYDIA MURDOCK/Love On The Line
  22. ↑ Discogs - Lydia Murdock – Tonight Tonight
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