The Twelve Commandments of Dance

Last updated

The Twelve Commandments of Dance
The-London-Boys-The-Twelve-Comman.jpg
Studio album by
Released17 July 1989 [1]
Genre Dance
Label
Producer Ralf René Maué
London Boys chronology
The Twelve Commandments of Dance
(1989)
Sweet Soul Music
(1991)
Singles from The Twelve Commandments of Dance
  1. "I'm Gonna Give My Heart"
    Released: 1986
  2. "Harlem Desire"
    Released: 1987
  3. "Dance Dance Dance"
    Released: 1987
  4. "My Love"
    Released: 1987
  5. "Requiem"
    Released: 1988
  6. "London Nights"
    Released: 1989

The Twelve Commandments of Dance is the debut album by German-based English dance-pop duo London Boys, released in 1989. It reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart and stayed on the chart for 29 weeks. [2]

Contents

Other than the charting singles stated in the track listing, two other singles were released: "I'm Gonna Give My Heart" and "Dance Dance Dance".

Critical reception

A review published in Music Week presented the album as a "perfect, pimple-free, faceless pop music that attempts to be soulful but lacks any kind of charisma", reproached the fact that all the tracks "repeat the [same] formula ad nauseum", and concluded that "the album is a danger to youngsters everywhere". [3] Johnny Dee of Record Mirror stated that lyrically, the album is "all utter cack", but considered that the more important thing lies in the fact that every track "has a 132 bpm sequencer chugging away" and "a chorus so catchy" that listerners could not forget it and could perform "stupid dances" on it. [4]

Retrospectively, in a 2015 review, the Pop Rescue website gave the album four stars out of five, presented it as containing "wonderful early commercial dance/europop and light tracks" with elements from both disco and dance music and features recalling Pet Shop Boys, added "it is up-beat throughout and mostly up-lifting and cheerful", but considered "Wichitah Woman" and "El Matinero" as the weakest tracks. [5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ralf René Maué.

  1. "Requiem" – 4:19 (UK No. 4)
  2. "Kimbaley (My Ma-Mama Say)" – 4:17
  3. "Harlem Desire" – 3:48 (UK No. 17)
  4. "Chinese Radio" – 3:49
  5. "Wichitah Woman" – 3:58
  6. "My Love" – 3:05 (UK No. 46)
  7. "London Nights" – 4:02 (UK No. 2)
  8. "I'm Gonna Give My Heart" – 4:08
  9. "El Matinero" – 4:14
  10. "Dance Dance Dance" – 3:56
  11. "Sandra" – 4:51
  12. "The Midi Dance" – 3:14

Chart and certifications

Charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [6] 137
Europe (European Top 100 Albums) [7] 15
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [8] 4
UK Albums Chart [2] 2

Certifications

Certifications for The Twelve Commandments Of Dance
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [9] Gold 
United Kingdom (BPI) [10] Platinum300,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Very</i> (Pet Shop Boys album) 1993 studio album by Pet Shop Boys

Very is the fifth studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 27 September 1993 by Parlophone, nearly three years after the duo's previous studio album, Behaviour, and following the compilation album Discography: The Complete Singles Collection. Very exhibits one of many turning points the Pet Shop Boys would make to their music, shifting from the subdued electronic pop of Behaviour to richly instrumented dance arrangements. The content and lyrics led to Very being called their "coming-out" album, since it was during this time that Neil Tennant had publicly discussed his long-rumoured homosexuality.

<i>Introspective</i> 1988 studio album by Pet Shop Boys

Introspective is the third studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 10 October 1988 by Parlophone. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

<i>We Too Are One</i> 1989 studio album by Eurythmics

We Too Are One is the seventh studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 11 September 1989 by RCA Records. It would be the duo's last studio release until 1999's Peace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Especially for You</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan

"Especially for You" is a song performed by Australian recording artists Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan from Donovan's debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989). The song was released as his album's second single on 28 November 1988 and was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Gonna Give You Up</span> 1987 single by Rick Astley

"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a song by English singer Rick Astley, released on 27 July 1987. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, it was released by RCA Records as the first single from Astley's debut studio album, Whenever You Need Somebody (1987). The song became a worldwide hit, initially in the United Kingdom in 1987, where it stayed at the top of the chart for five weeks and was the best-selling single of that year. It eventually topped charts in 25 different countries, including the United States and West Germany, and winning Best British Single at the 1988 Brit Awards. The song is widely regarded as Astley's most popular, as well as his signature song, and it is often played at the end of his live concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Together Forever (Rick Astley song)</span> 1988 single by Rick Astley

"Together Forever" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley and released by RCA and BMG as the fourth single from his debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody (1987). The song reached number two in the United Kingdom, behind Neighbours star and fellow Stock Aitken Waterman artist Kylie Minogue's debut single "I Should Be So Lucky". The single was a worldwide hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 18 June 1988, becoming Astley's second US chart-topper. It also topped the charts in Canada, Ireland and Spain, and was a top ten hits in many European countries.

London Boys were a British dance-pop duo based in Germany whose members were Edem Ephraim and Dennis Fuller. They are best remembered for the UK top 5 hits "Requiem" and "London Nights".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Respectable (Mel and Kim song)</span> 1987 single by Mel and Kim

"Respectable" is a song by English pop duo Mel and Kim from their only studio album, F.L.M. (1987). It was released on 18 February 1987 as the album's second single. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for one week in March 1987, becoming the second UK number-one single produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), following Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round " (1985), and the first UK number one that the trio had written themselves. The single also topped the charts in many European countries, as well as in Oceania.

<i>Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992</i> 1992 greatest hits album by Olivia Newton-John

Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971–1992 is the third greatest hits album by English-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John, released on 9 June 1992 by Geffen Records. It is the first compilation to contain both her country and pop hits. The album contained four new tracks: lead single "I Need Love", US Adult Contemporary top-20 single "Deeper Than a River", "Not Gonna Be the One" and a cover version of Brenda Lee's 1960 US number one "I Want to Be Wanted". A tour was planned to promote the album, but had to be cancelled when Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Left to My Own Devices</span> 1988 single by Pet Shop Boys

"Left to My Own Devices" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in November 1988 by Parlophone as the second single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). It was also the first track of the album. The song fared better than the album's lead single, "Domino Dancing", charting three positions higher on the UK Singles Chart, at number four. It became the first track that Pet Shop Boys recorded with an orchestra, arranged by Richard Niles. Since its release, it has become a staple of Pet Shop Boys live performances. Eric Watson directed its music video.

<i>Close</i> (Kim Wilde album) 1988 studio album by Kim Wilde

Close is the sixth studio album by Kim Wilde, released in June 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Don't Have the Heart</span> 1989 single by Cliff Richard

"I Just Don't Have the Heart" is a song by British singer Cliff Richard, released as the second single from his 1989 album Stronger. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) and became another UK top ten hit for him, peaking at number three.

<i>Ten Good Reasons</i> 1989 studio album by Jason Donovan

Ten Good Reasons is the debut studio album by Australian pop star and actor Jason Donovan. It was released on 1 May 1989 by PWL (UK) and Mushroom Records (Australia). It became the biggest selling album in the UK that year, and yielded three number-one singles, "Too Many Broken Hearts", "Sealed with a Kiss" and a duet with Kylie Minogue, "Especially for You". The album was reissued in 2010 as an expanded deluxe edition featuring B-sides and remixes. In 2016, the first CD of the 2010 reissue was reissued again as part of promotion for Donovan's Ten Good Reasons live shows. The album's title comes from a line in "Too Many Broken Hearts".

<i>Everybody Knows</i> (Sonia album) 1990 studio album by Sonia

Everybody Knows is the debut album by English dance-pop singer Sonia, released in April 1990. The album was predominantly written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and includes the UK and Irish number one single "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" and the UK top 20 hits "Can't Forget You", "Listen to Your Heart", "Counting Every Minute", and "End of the World". At the time of release, Sonia became the first female UK artist to achieve five top 20 hit singles from one album. Everybody Knows was re-issued by Cherry Red Records in October 2010 in remastered and expanded form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross My Broken Heart (Sinitta song)</span> 1988 single by Sinitta

"Cross My Broken Heart" is a song by American-born pop singer Sinitta. It was released in March 1988 by Fanfare Records as the sixth and final single from her self-titled debut album (1987). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, and was successful in the UK where it was a top 10 hit, peaking at number six. It was certified silver by the BPI. The B-side contains a remix of her 1987 hit, "Toy Boy".

<i>The Ultimate Collection</i> (Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music album) 1988 greatest hits album by Bryan Ferry with Roxy Music

The Ultimate Collection is a greatest hits album by Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, released on 7 November 1988 by E'G Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Nights</span> 1989 single by London Boys

"London Nights" is a song by British Europop duo London Boys, released in 1989 from their debut album, The Twelve Commandments of Dance. The single was written and produced by Ralf René Maué, and its cover artwork features photography from Andy Knight. It was a hit in the United Kingdom, Finland and Ireland where it was a top five hit, thus becoming the band's biggest hit single. Several formats of the single include an instrumental version of "London Nights", titled "London Days".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Requiem (London Boys song)</span> 1988 single by London Boys

"Requiem" is British Europop duo London Boys' first hit single, released on 28 November 1988 from their debut album, The Twelve Commandments of Dance (1989). The single was written and produced by Ralf René Maué. The single peaked at No. 4 in the United Kingdom, No. 8 in Ireland, and No. 11 in Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem Desire</span> 1987 single by London Boys

"Harlem Desire" is a single by Europop duo London Boys. It was originally released in 1987 to limited success. As a result of the success of "Requiem" and "London Nights", the single was released again in 1989 and featured on the album The Twelve Commandments of Dance. It was written and produced by Ralf René Maué, and its cover artwork features photography from Julian Barton. The single peaked at number 17 in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Love (London Boys song)</span> 1987 single by London Boys

"My Love" is a song by Europop duo London Boys, originally released in 1987 as a single in Germany. It was given another single release in the UK and Germany in 1989, following the song's inclusion on the duo's 1988 debut album The Twelve Commandments of Dance. "My Love" was written and produced by Ralf René Maué. The song reached number 46 in the UK, but was a bigger success in Ireland where it reached number 15.

References

  1. "BPI".
  2. 1 2 "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  3. "LP Reviews" (PDF). Music Week . 5 August 1989. p. 22. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  4. Smith, Robin (22 July 1989). "33 edited by Tim Nicholson" (PDF). Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 32. ISSN   0144-5804 . Retrieved 24 October 2021 via World Radio History.
  5. "REVIEW: "THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS OF DANCE" BY LONDON BOYS (CD, 1989)". Pop Rescue. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  6. "London BoysARIA chart history". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2024 via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 6, no. 31. 5 August 1989. p. VIII. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved 1 August 2023 via World Radio History.
  8. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "London Boys". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 151. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  9. "Germany & Austria & Switzerland" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 6, no. 43. 28 October 1989. p. 14. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved 31 July 2023 via World Radio History.
  10. "British album certifications – London Boys – The Twelve Commandments Of Dance". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 22 November 2018.Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Twelve Commandments Of Dance in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.