Sugar Cane (musical group)

Last updated
Sugar Cane
OriginGermany
GenresDisco, pop
Years active(c) 1977 - 1979
Labels Ariola, Hansa, EMI, Sonopresse
Past members Reggie Tsiboe
Linda Taylor

Sugar Cane was a Eurodisco group with Latin disco and Caribbean musical style. They had several singles released in the late 1970s. They found greater success with their version of the Bobby Bloom hit "Montego Bay" which is what the group is more likely to be remembered for.

Contents

Background

The lineup included Reggie Tsiboe and Linda Taylor. [1] [2] Tsiboe was already a recording artist and had composed both sides of his 1974 single, "Please Don't Bring Your Sister" which was credited to Reggie Seeboe and released on Cube Records. [3] [4] The single was actually reviewed by Ron McCreight for the April 27, 1974 issue of Record World . Calling it a most interesting single for many weeks, he also said that it deserved to be a world-wide smash. [5] Taylor, a former housewife had been in a funk band called Sox for a period of time. [6]

Carroll Thompson auditioned for the group at one stage and was a backing singer. [7] In an interview for the Record Collector magazine, Thompson said that frank Farian had put the group together. At the audtion she met a girl who turned out to be the niece of the legendary Jamaican producer, Leonard Chin. [8]

Visually in performance and on record covers, the group was composed of three males and two females. [9] [10]

The group had good success with "Montego Bay" and followed up with their Caribbean-disco version of the Loggins and Messina song "Valhevala". [11] This was also the first success that Linda Taylor encountered in her career. [12]

Career

A single "Coconut-Party" bw "Chilly Chilly Boo Boo" credited to the group was released on EMI 006-32 426 in October 1977. [13] Both sides were composed by Ben Juris and Benny Lux. Juris handled the arrangements of both sides. [14] [15]

"Montego Bay"

The group recorded their version of the Bobby Bloom hit, "Montego Bay". It was produced by P. Bellotte and released on Ariola 7716. [16] John Wishart gave the song a very good review in the August 12 issue of Record Mirror with Wishart saying that "Montego Bay" was such a good song that it could withstand any treatment. He said that in some ways it was an improvement on Bobby Bloom's 1970 hit and it was nice to hear men and women sharing vocals for a change. [17] Their single was also reviewed in the August 19 issue of Record World . A Single Pick, the Latin disco element was called a perfect fit and the fitting together of the harmony vocals with the smooth instrumentation were noted. [18] The August 19 issue of Music Week showed that the single was an ad on at Radio Orwell in Ipswich and Pat Gibson of Radio Blackburn had it as a hit pick. [19]

According to the September 2 issue of Music Week , the single was now a breaker. [20] It was also an add on at Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton. [21] It was getting played in the US. It was shown by Cash Box in the September 9 issue that it was an add on at KDKO in Denver. [22]

Sugar Cane appeared on Top of the Pops which was aired on 28 September. Other acts to appear on that same episode included Third World with "Now That We've Found Love", Lindisfarne with "Juke Box Gypsy" and Frankie Miller with "Darlin’". [23]

Now in the charts and a hit, it had moved from no. 43 to no. 32 on the UK Disco Top 90 for the week of September 30, 1978. [24] On the week of October 13 it debuted at no. 75 in the Radio & Record News National Top Singles chart. [25] It also did the same in the Independent Record National Top 100 Singles chart. [26] It was also on the Swansea Sound 257 playlist, [27] the 208 Top 40 playlist, the Big L Disco Dozen playlist, the Radio Tees playlist, [28] the Capital Radio 194 playlist, the Piccadilly 261 playlist, the Radio Clyde playlist, the Radio Trent playlist, and the 194 Radio Forth playlst. [29] The following week it had dropped down to no 77 on both the Radio & Record News National Top Singles and Independent Record National Top 100 Singles charts. [30] [31]

It peaked at no. 13 on the Music Week Disco Top 40 chart on the week of October 21. [32] [33] It would spend five weeks on the main UK chart, peaking at no. 54. [34] It was still in the Music Week Disco Top 40 chart at no. 36 on the week of November 18. [35] The single had also been released in Italy on Dig It DG 1182. [36] It became a dance hit for them there and for the week of February 17, 1979, it was at no. 19. [37]

Further activities

They recorded the Loggins & Messina song "Vahevala" but the single was mis-spelt as "Valhevala". [38] [39] [40] Backed with the Geoff Bastow, Keith Forsey, Pete Bellotte composition "Too Bad It Ain't Good", [41] it was released on Ariola AHA 533 on February 2, 1979. [42] It was reviewed in the March 9 issue of Radio & Record News. The song had been covered by many artists but had never been a hit and it kept popping up from time to time. The reviewer said it could do the same as the previous record, but was guarded in predicting success. [43] There was to be expected interest following their previous hit. Tony Jasper commented in the February 24 issue of Music Week that the Caribbean disco number with its light and bright feel with the vocals and instrumentation, it should do well on afternoon programs and there could be a brief chart outing. [44]

It was reported by Music Week that "Valhevala" was added to the playlist of Radio Victory in Portsmouth. [45] Their single was now doing well on air. It was reported in the February 24, 1979 issue of Music Week that it was a hit pick on Radio Forth in Edinburgh, [46] Swansea Sound in Swansea, BBC Scotland [47] The record had been released in Australia that month on RCA Victor 103247. [48]

As of September, 1979, the group was still on the Ariola / Hansa artist roster. [49]

Later years

Linda Taylor would become a member of the disco group Gonzales, [50] and record as a solo artist having hits with "You and Me Just Started" [51] and "Every Waking Hour". [52] Reggie Tsiboe would later join Boney M in 1982. [53] [54] Later he would find work as an actor. [55]

Discography

Singles
ActReleaseCatalogueYearNotes
Sugar Cane"Coconut Party" / " Chilly Chilly Boo Boo" EMI 006-32 4261977 [56]
Sugar Cane"Montego Bay" / "Topsy Turvy" Hansa 15764 AT1978 [57]
Sugar Cane"Valhevala" / "Too Bad It Ain't Good"Hansa International 100 4451979 [58]
Various artists compilation appearances
TitleTrackCatalogueYearNotes
Super Disco Party 2"Montego Bay"Hansa 200 210–3201978album chart nl Peak: 18 / weeks: 7
Disco Night Fever"Montego Bay"Hallo RTL 38 141 81978
20 Giganten Vol. 2"Montego Bay"Hansa 200 257–3511978
Disco Disco"Montego Bay" K-Tel BLP 79011979
It's My Discothek Vol. 3"Montego Bay"Hansa 200 445–3511979 [59]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan (band)</span> English new wave band

Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn, joined the following year by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.

Hansa Records was a record label based in Berlin, Germany founded in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van McCoy</span> American musician, producer and songwriter (1940–1979)

Van Allen Clinton McCoy was an American record producer, arranger, songwriter and singer. He is known for his 1975 internationally successful hit "The Hustle". He has approximately 700 song copyrights to his credit, and produced songs by such recording artists as Brenda & the Tabulations, David Ruffin, The Stylistics, The Presidents, Faith, Hope & Charity, New Censation, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Aretha Franklin, Peaches & Herb, Lesley Gore, and Stacy Lattisaw.

Musique was a studio project by Patrick Adams, best known for the song "In the Bush". It consisted of five singers, Christine Wiltshire, Angela Howell, Gina Taylor Pickens, Mary Seymour and Jocelyn Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Bloom</span> American singer-songwriter (1946–1974)

Robert Bloom was an American singer-songwriter. He is known best for the upbeat 1970 hit, "Montego Bay", which was co-written with and produced by Jeff Barry. It may be that his success with "Montego Bay" has overshadowed other aspects of his career. There is some conflicting information surrounding the circumstances of his death.

Peter John Bellotte is a British songwriter and record producer most noted for his work in the 1970s with Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gruppo Sportivo</span> Dutch pop band

Gruppo Sportivo are a Dutch pop band from The Hague, formed in 1976, who enjoyed a measure of international success in the late 1970s and 1980s. They had hit songs with "Hey Girl", "Beep Beep Love", "Tokyo ", "Disco Really Made It" and "Rock 'n' Roll". The frontman and writer of the material is Hans Vandenburg. The band went on hiatus in 2013. Early 2018 a reunion was announced consisting of a tour and a new album called Great, which was released to critical acclaim in April 2018. In 2022 the band returned with their 25+ city The Spotify Tour, in which they performed their 25 most streamed songs in reverse order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montego Bay (song)</span> 1970 single by Bobby Bloom

"Montego Bay" is a song co-written and performed by Bobby Bloom about the city in Jamaica of the same name. The song was a top ten hit for Bloom in the Fall of 1970 on both sides of the Atlantic. It reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 5 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles Chart, No. 7 on the Australian Go-Set Singles Chart and No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was co-written and produced by Jeff Barry. In the master tape of the song, Bloom breaks into a chorus of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" at the end of the recording. The song features a whistler, as well as Jamaican instruments in a calypso style.

Reggie Tsiboe is a Ghanaian-British entertainer, dancer and one of the singers of the disco group Boney M. between 1982 and 1986 and later between 1989 and 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young, Free and Single</span> 1985 single by Boney M. featuring Bobby Farrell

"Young, Free and Single" is a single by German band Boney M., taken from their final album Eye Dance (1985). Only a modest hit, the single peaked at #49 in the German charts. Being a novelty record, the lyrics were about a radio talkshow for dating. Male dancer Bobby Farrell was featured in heavily disguised vocoder vocals in the verses while Reggie Tsiboe did the lead vocals on the chorus. The B-side Blue Beach was an instrumental dub version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life in Tokyo</span> 1979 single by Japan

"Life in Tokyo" is a song by the British band Japan. A collaboration with disco producer Giorgio Moroder, who also co-wrote the song with David Sylvian, it marked a change of direction from the band's previous sound. Originally released as a single in 1979, it was reissued twice before it finally became a hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quiet Life (song)</span> Single by Japan

"Quiet Life" is a song by the British new wave band Japan. It is the title track of their 1979 album Quiet Life. The lyrics to the song refer to the problems the band was going through at the time. They had lost their US record contract and Hansa Records had been pressuring them for a hit single in the UK.

Hilltak records was a Californian Independent record label that was formed in the late 1970s. Artists that produced hits for the label include 9th Creation, Patti Hendrix, Broadway, Dalton & Dubarri, and The Guess Who. The label started out as a subsidiary of Atlantic Records but terminated the relationship some time later.

"My Favorite Fantasy" was a 1978 hit single by American musician, composer and producer Van McCoy. It was from his album of the same name. Featuring McCoy himself on vocals, it charted in the United States, Canada and the UK. It registered in the Billboard Magazine, Cash Box, Record World, RPM Weekly and Record Mirror charts.

The Beck Family was a musical family group from Philadelphia. With their music in the disco-funk genre, they had success with their hit single, "Can't Shake the Feeling" which charted nationally in 1979, the peak of the disco era. It registered in the Cash Box, Billboard and Record World charts. It also made the disco chart in Canada. They released an album which made the Billboard Soul LPs chart. They also had another single released during that time.

"Can't Shake the Feeling" was a hit single in 1979 for the Philadelphia R&B disco group the Beck Family. It did well in the US on the Cash Box and Billboard charts.

"Make Me Happy" is a song by Bobby Bloom, released on MGM in 1970. It was written by Bloom and Jeff Barry. It became a hit for Bloom in early 1971.

"Where Are We Going" is a song recorded by Bobby Bloom. Released on the Roulette label, Bloom had a chart hit with it in 1971. Bloom had no credited involvement in the composition or production of the song.

Linda Taylor is a performing singer, recording artist and songwriter. She had success with her hits with "(You're) in the Pocket", "You and Me Just Started" and "Every Waking Hour". She also sang lead on the hit "Roberto Who?" which was credited to Cayenne featuring Linda Taylor. She was once a member of Gonzalez. She is also one of the UK's top session singers. Her career has seen her working with acts such as Morrissey–Mullen.

"Vahevala" is a song that has been recorded by a multitude of artists over the years. It was originally a single by Loggins and Messina which became a hit for the duo in 1972.

References

  1. ↑ Futureworld Boney M - REGGIE TSIBOE
  2. ↑ Record Mirror, April 21, 1979 - Page 12 Gonzalez and the big freeze
  3. ↑ Future World Boney M - REGGIE TSIBOE
  4. ↑ Orchard Percussion Studio - Paul Francis's Discography, Singles
  5. ↑ Record World, April 27, 1974 - Page 40 RECORD WORLD ENGLAND By RON McCREIGHT
  6. ↑ Record Mirror, April 21, 1979 - Page 12 Gonzalez and the big freeze
  7. ↑ Apple Music - Carroll Thompson
  8. ↑ Record Collector, Christmas 2021 - Page 68 CHILLER QUEEN[
  9. ↑ 45Cat - Record Details, Sugar Cane (Disco), Montego Bay
  10. ↑ simon taylor channel, Nov 19, 2013 - Sugar Cane Montego Bay TOTP 28 9 78
  11. ↑ Billboard, March 3, 1979 - Page 120 International, From The Music Capitals Of The World, LONDON
  12. ↑ Record Mirror, April 21, 1979 - Page 12 Gonzalez and the big freeze
  13. ↑ Ultratop - Sugar Cane – Coconut-Party
  14. ↑ hitparade.ch - Sugar Cane – Coconut-Party
  15. ↑ 45Cat - Sugar Cane – Coconut-Party
  16. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 22 RECORD WORLD SINGLE PICKS, SUGAR CANE-Ariola 7716
  17. ↑ Record Mirror, August 12, 1978 - Page 8 SINGLES Reviewed by JOHN WISHART SUGAR CANE: 'Montego Bay'
  18. ↑ Record World, August 19, 1978 - Page 22 RECORD WORLD SINGLE PICKS, SUGAR CANE-Ariola 7716
  19. ↑ Music Week, August 19, 1978 - Page 26 AIRPLAY ACTION, Radio Orwell ADD ONS & BBC Blackburn, HIT PICKS
  20. ↑ Music Week, September 2, 1978 - Page 6 BREAKERS
  21. ↑ Music Week, September 2, 1978 - Page 27 DEALER GUIDE TO AIRPLAY ACTION, Beacon Radio
  22. ↑ Cash Box, September 9, 1978 - Page 48 BLACK RADIO HIGHLIGHTS, KDKO - DENVER, ADDS: Sugar Cane, Gino Vannelli, Little River Band, David Gates.
  23. ↑ tvdb - Top of the Pops / Aired Order / Season 15 / Episode 38, 28th September 1978
  24. ↑ James Hamilton's Disco Page, September 30, 1978 - UK Disco Top 90 – September 30, 1978, 2 43 Sugar Cane – Montego Bay – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
  25. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday October 13, 1978 - Page 41 W/E OCTOBER 13 1978 NATIONAL TOP 100 SINGLES, This Week 75, Last Week _
  26. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday October 13, 1978 - Page 23 THE INDEPENDENT RECORD CHART NATIONAL TOP 100 SINGLES, This Week 75, Last Week _
  27. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday October 13, 1978 - PLAYLIST, Swansea sound 257 Week commencing 8 October Swansea Sound Playlist
  28. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday October 13, 1978 - Page 42 PLAYLISTS
  29. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday October 13, 1978 - Page 46 PLAYLISTS
  30. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday October 20, 1978 - Page 73 W/E OCTOBER 20 1978 NATIONAL TOP 100 SINGLES, This Week 77, Last Week 75
  31. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday October 20, 1978 - THE INDEPENDENT RECORD CHART NATIONAL TOP 100 SINGLES, This Week 77, Last Week 75
  32. ↑ Music Week, October 21, 1978 - Page 51 CHARTS, DISCO TOP 40, 13, (19)
  33. ↑ Music Week, October 28, 1978 - Page 49 CHARTS, DISCO TOP 40, 22, (13)
  34. ↑ Official Charts - MONTEGO BAY SUGAR CANE
  35. ↑ Music Week, November 18, 1978 - Page 46 CHARTS PERFORMANCE, DISCO TOP 40, 36, (28)
  36. ↑ 45Cat - Sugar Cane (Disco) - Discography, Italy
  37. ↑ Hit Parade Italia - Dance Chart, Settimana del 17 Febbraio 1979, ( da Discoteche dell'Associazione Italiana Disck Jockey ), 19
  38. ↑ Music Week, February 24, 1979 - Page 31 MUSIC WEEK FACT SHEETS COMPILED BY TONY JASPER, SINGLES
  39. ↑ Song Facts - Vahevala by Loggins and Messina
  40. ↑ Dutch Charts - SUGAR CANE - VALHEVALA
  41. ↑ Celebri - Sugar Cane, Valhevala / Too Bad It Ain't Good
  42. ↑ Music Week, February 24, 1979 - Page 31 MUSIC WEEK FACT SHEETS COMPILED BY TONY JASPER, SINGLES
  43. ↑ Radio & Record News, Friday March 9, 1979 - Page 32 SINGLE REVIEWS, SUGAR CANE Valhevala
  44. ↑ Music Week, February 24, 1979 - Page 31 MUSIC WEEK FACT SHEETS COMPILED BY TONY JASPER, SINGLES
  45. ↑ Music Week, February 17, 1979 - Page 26 AIRPLAY ACTION, Radio Victory PORTSMOUTH, ADD ONS
  46. ↑ Music Week, February 24, 1979 - Page 25 DEALER GUIDE TO AIRPLASY ACTION, Radio Forth EDINBURGH, HIT PICKS
  47. ↑ Music Week, February 24, 1979 - Page 28 Swansea Sound, SWANSEA, HIT PICKS, BBC Scotland, HIT PICKS
  48. ↑ 45Cat - Sugar Cane (Disco) - Discography
  49. ↑ Music Week, September 15, 1979 - Page 12 ARIOLA ADVERTORIAL, ARTIST ROSTER, Ariola/Hansa
  50. ↑ Record World, September 6, 1980 - Page 12 Record WorldSingle Picks, B.O.S./Pop, GONZALEZ-Capitol 4921 FELL IN LOVE (prod. by G. & R. Jones)
  51. ↑ Billboard, September 4, 1982 - Page 48 Billboard Dance/ Disco Top 80, This Week 20, Last Week 13, Weeks on Chart 12
  52. ↑ Music Week, 31 January, 1987 - Page 11 TOP Dance SINGLES, This Week 71, NEW
  53. ↑ Who Sampled - Reggie Tsiboe
  54. ↑ Dr Who Guide - Reginald Tsiboe
  55. ↑ ShowBizz Site.be - Bio Reggie Tsiboe
  56. ↑ Ultratop - Sugar Cane – Coconut-Party
  57. ↑ Amazon.de - Montego bay / Topsy Turvy / 15764 AT
  58. ↑ Amazon.de - Sugar Cane - Valhevala / Too Bad It Ain't Good - Hansa International - 100 445, Hansa International - 100 445-100
  59. ↑ Italian Charts - SUGAR CANE - MONTEGO BAY (SONG), AVAILABLE ON FOLLOWING MEDIA
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.