| The Polyester Embassy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 2 October 2000 |
| Genre | House |
| Length | 63:53 |
| Label |
|
| Producer | |
| Singles from The Polyester Embassy | |
| |
The Polyester Embassy is the only album by Australian band Madison Avenue, released in Australia on 2 October 2000 by Vicious Grooves.
Before joining Madison Avenue, Cheyne Coates was working as a choreographer and singer in Melbourne. Coates met producer and writer Andy Van Dorsselaer (aka Andy Van) in a dance club. Van was the founder of the Vicious Vinyl record label and had remix credits for Tina Arena and CDB. Van Dorsselaer had won an ARIA Award for his production work on "Coma" by Pendulum. [1]
The duo started working together mainly as writers and producers in 1998. Madison Avenue recorded their first song, "Fly", featuring Kellie Wolfgram as the vocalist. However, Coates sang on the group's breakthrough single "Don't Call Me Baby", as Van Dorsselaer preferred her version, even though the song was initially used as the guide track for Wolfgram. [1]
The duo continued to work on their debut album through 2000, which was eventually released on 2 October 2000, eleven months after "Don't Call Me Baby". Coates spoke out about her time in the band and the process of making The Polyester Embassy, as well as their unreleased second album, after the band's split in 2003, saying that the duo was poorly organised and late in delivering material, blaming it on them being quickly thrust into the spotlight after the success of "Don't Call Me Baby". [2]
"I think the problem was that no one was in control, it was just a mess. We were always on the back foot, we were always late in delivering everything. When it's your first time around, you don't have a clue. But it was a good learning curve. We didn't even have a manager in the beginning so we were dealing with record companies ourselves, which is a bad idea." [2]
A fourth single was released by the band, a cover of "Reminiscing", originally by Little River Band. The song was included only on the Japanese edition of the album, therefore elsewhere it was a single-only release. In Australia, the song was released on 5 March 2001 and continued the band's top 10 streak, peaking at number 9 and achieving Gold certification. [10] [11]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [12] |
Tim Sheridan from AllMusic gave the album an average review, saying "While it offers some decent dance grooves, this slick production does little more than rehash disco clichés without the sense of fun applied by bands like Deee-lite. Perhaps if the duo of Cheyne Coates and Andy Van didn't take itself so seriously, the project might not seem quite so empty." He highlighted "Who the Hell Are You" as an album pick. [12]
The Polyester Embassy was a success in the band's native Australia, peaking at number 4 and was certified Platinum. [13] However, the album failed to match its success internationally, peaking at number 74 on the UK Albums Chart, and number 63 on the Japanese Albums Chart. [14] [15]
All tracks are written by Andrew Van Dorsselaer and Cheyne Coates, except for "Reminiscing" written by Graeham Goble
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "This Is Your Introduction" | 2:18 |
| 2. | "Who the Hell Are You" (Original Mix – Edit) | 3:35 |
| 3. | "Don't Call Me Baby" (Original Mix – Edit) | 3:47 |
| 4. | "Do You Like What You See" (Album Mix) | 3:47 |
| 5. | "Edible French Chic" | 1:51 |
| 6. | "Everything You Need" (Original Mix – Edit) | 3:42 |
| 7. | "She" | 1:38 |
| 8. | "It's Alright" (Album Mix) | 5:12 |
| 9. | "It's Very Alright" | 1:43 |
| 10. | "What Can I Do" (Album Mix) | 6:12 |
| 11. | "Fly" (Album Mix) | 5:08 |
| 12. | "'78" (Album Mix) | 4:39 |
| 13. | "Don't Call Me Baby" (The Dronez Old School Mix) | 5:52 |
| 14. | "Everything You Need" (Mobin Master 12" Remix) | 7:07 |
| 15. | "Who the Hell Are You" (John Course & Andy Van Remix) | 7:22 |
| Total length: | 63:53 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Reminiscing" (Original Mix – Edit) | 3:23 |
| 17. | "Reminiscing" (Da Classic Remix – Edit) | 3:31 |
| Total length: | 70:47 | |
Notes
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [13] | 4 |
| Australian Dance Albums (ARIA) [17] | 2 |
| Japanese Albums Chart [15] | 63 |
| UK Albums Chart [14] | 74 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [13] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Don't Bore Us - Get to the Chorus! Roxette's Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 30 October 1995 by EMI. The record contains the duo's four number ones from the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: "The Look", "Listen to Your Heart", "It Must Have Been Love" and "Joyride", and a further two which reached number two on the chart: "Dangerous" and "Fading Like a Flower ". It also includes four newly recorded tracks, three of which were released as singles: "You Don't Understand Me", "June Afternoon" and "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore". The album's title is based on a quote from Motown-founder Berry Gordy.
Rogue Traders is an Australian electronic rock band formed in Melbourne, Victoria in 2002 by mainstay James Ash on keyboards. In 1989, Ash met fellow original member Steve Davis in London while both were working as DJs. Before forming Rogue Traders, the pair had worked together on many projects, including the dance music act Union State, which relocated to Melbourne in 1992. The group's name comes from the 1999 drama film, Rogue Trader. They were joined in 2004 by soap opera actress, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, on lead vocals, Cameron McGlinchey on drums and Tim Henwood on guitar. Davis continued as a behind-the-scenes member, contributing to the songwriting process but not making any public appearances with the group.
April M. Coates is an Australian singer, songwriter and producer who performs as Cheyne Coates or Cheyne. Coates and Andrew Van Dorsselaer comprised the duo Madison Avenue (1998–2003). Their song "Don't Call Me Baby" peaked at number two on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Singles Chart in 1999 and topped the charts in New Zealand and the United Kingdom in 2000, as well as the Billboard dance charts the United States. Since the break-up of Madison Avenue in 2003, Cheyne recorded an album, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and its first single "I've Got Your Number" which reached No. 26 in 2004.
Madison Avenue was an Australian electronic music duo consisting of writer-producer Andy Van Dorsselaer and singer-lyricist Cheyne Coates. Madison Avenue is best known for the song "Don't Call Me Baby", which peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart in 1999 and topped the charts in New Zealand and the United Kingdom in 2000. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2000 they won Single of the Year, Highest Selling Single and Breakthrough Artist – Single for "Don't Call Me Baby" as well as Best Video for Mark Hartley's direction of "Who the Hell Are You".
Bardot is the debut album by Australian female pop group of the same name, released in May 2000. They had been formed during a TV talent quest, Popstars.
Shakaya are an Australian girl group formed in Cairns, Queensland in 2002 by Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong. The two met in 1999 while studying an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music course and they had both been writing individually before they met each other. The girls were initially discovered in Cairns by Reno Nicastro and Michael Pearson-Adams. Nicastro produced most of the girls' songs and gave them free studio time for two years.
Reflector is the debut album by Australian band Killing Heidi, released in 2000 by Roadshow Music. It won the 2000 ARIA Music Award for Best Rock Album.
This is a discography of the American pop punk and rock band Blink-182. They have released nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, three video albums, two extended plays (EPs), twenty-four singles, six promotional singles, and twenty-two music videos. Their recording material was distributed mainly by subdivisions of Universal Music Group, including Geffen Records, Interscope Records, and DGC Records. They have also released material under MCA Records, Cargo Music and its subdivision Grilled Cheese, Kung Fu Records, and BMG. The band currently consists of bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, drummer Travis Barker, and guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge. Founded by Hoppus, guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Scott Raynor, the band emerged from the Southern California punk scene of the early 1990s and first gained notoriety for high-energy live shows and irreverent lyrical toilet humor. Blink-182 has sold 15.3 million albums in the United States, and over 50 million albums worldwide. The band is known for bringing the genre of pop punk into the mainstream.
"Don't Call Me Baby" is a song by Australian house music duo Madison Avenue, released as the first single from their only studio album, The Polyester Embassy (2000). Written by Cheyne Coates, Andy Van Dorsselaer, Duane Morrison, and Giuseppe Chierchia, the song includes a bassline sample from "Ma Quale Idea" by Italo disco artist Pino D'Angiò, which in turn is based on "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead.
"Poison" is a pop song by Australian female group Bardot and was the first single released from their self-titled debut album (2000). It was written by Darryl Sims and Michael Szumowski, who also produced the track. The single attracted much attention due to its inclusion on the high-rating Popstars program.
"Everything You Need" is a song by Australian electronic music duo Madison Avenue, released on 18 September 2000. The single was a top-10 hit in Australia and Hungary, reaching number six in both nations, but did not continue the group's success in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 33. On the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, the song peaked at number 24.
"Who the Hell Are You" is a song by Australian house music band Madison Avenue, released as the second single from their only studio album, The Polyester Embassy (2000). The song was released in Australia on 5 June 2000 and was given a UK release on 9 October 2000. In the United States, the single was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio in January 2001. The song contains elements from Vernon Burch's 1979 song "Get Up".
"Hey! Baby" is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel, first recorded at Clifford Herring Studios in Ft. Worth Tx, and recorded by Channel in 1961, first released on LeCam Records, a local Fort Worth, Texas label. After it hit, it was released on Smash Records for national distribution. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith and released it on Mercury Records' Smash label. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting the week ending March 10, 1962.
Sam Littlemore, also known as Sam La More, is an Australian record producer, songwriter and recording artist working in Sydney and Los Angeles. Littlemore, a member of dance music trio Pnau, is best known for the international number one song Cold Heart by Elton John & Dua Lipa (2021) which he and fellow members of Pnau co-wrote and produced. He is also known for his involvement in the production of "What You Waiting For?" (2004) by Gwen Stefani, Pnau songs "Go Bang", "Chameleon" and "Changes" (2013) by Faul & Wad Ad vs. Pnau, "Can't Get Better Than This" (2012) by Parachute Youth, "High" (2013) and "Fire" (2018) by Peking Duk, "Don't Hold Back" (2007) by The Potbelleez and songs with Nellee Hooper, Rick Nowels, Nelly Furtado on Loose (2006), Arthur Baker, Pnau and Tonite Only. He has won multiple ARIA and APRA Awards.
The discography of Simply Red, a British soul band, consists of thirteen studio albums, six compilation albums, one extended play, fifty-three singles and a number of other appearances.
The discography of an Australian electropunk group Rogue Traders consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, and seventeen singles under Vicious Grooves and Sony BMG. Rogue Traders were formed in Melbourne, Australia in 2000 by DJs James Ash and Steve Davis. Their debut album We Know What You're Up To was released in May 2003, over a full year after the release of the original lead single "Need You to Show Me", which failed to chart and was not included on the released album. The following single, "Give in to Me" also failed to gain success, peaking at #67 on the ARIA Singles Chart, however the next single, "One of My Kind", a remix of "Need You Tonight" by INXS scored the band-then-duo their first top ten position, peaking at #10 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and won the award for "Best Dance Track" at the 2003 ARIA Music Awards. The following single, "Stay?", failed to reach the success of its preceding single, as did the album, We Know What You're Up To, peaking at #60 and failing to chart, respectively.
The 14th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 24 October 2000 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Presenters distributed 28 awards with the big winners for the year being Killing Heidi and Madison Avenue, each with four trophies. In addition to the annually presented awards, a "Special Achievement Award" was given to Daryl Somers; an "Outstanding Achievement Award" was received by Slim Dusty and another presented to Tina Arena. There were no ARIA Hall of Fame inductees.
Savage Garden were an Australian pop duo consisting of Darren Hayes on vocals and Daniel Jones on guitar, keyboards, and vocals; they formed in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1993. They were signed to John Woodruff's talent agency and achieved international success with their No. 1 hit singles "I Want You", "To the Moon and Back", "Truly Madly Deeply" (1997), and "I Knew I Loved You" (1999).
"She Looks So Perfect" is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, taken from their self-titled debut album, 5 Seconds of Summer (2014). The song was digitally released in Australia on 23 February 2014 and in Europe on 23 March 2014 through Capitol Records and Hi or Hey Records, as their debut single with a major record label. The accompanying music video was released on 24 February 2014. The song peaked at number one in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom. It was certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 210,000 copies. The song also won "Song of the Year" at the ARIA Music Awards in 2014. Ed Sheeran covered the song on Capital FM.
Andrew Alphonse Van Dorsselaer is an Australian disc jockey, record producer and co-founder of the record label Vicious Vinyl.
