Grace (group)

Last updated

Grace
Genres Trance, pop, dance
Years active1993–1999
Labels Perfecto
Past members Dominique Atkins
Paul Oakenfold
Steve Osbourne

Grace was a 1990s British dance music act, consisting of the DJs Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne and the jazz singer Dominique Atkins. [1] The group's first single, "Not Over Yet" (originally released in 1993 and then again in 1995), had lead and backing vocals by the original frontwoman Patti Low. Atkins recorded her own lead vocals for "Not Over Yet" when it was included as the first track on the group's only album If I Could Fly . [2]

Contents

History

The group was initially named State of Grace, shortened to Grace following the discovery of another group of the same name. [3] In existence from 1993 to 1997, the group served mainly to showcase Oakenfold and Osborne's production talents. They had seven Top 40 hits, most notably the dance anthem "Not Over Yet", which peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart, [4] and topped the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the US. The original front-woman, Patti Low, also recorded one other track while involved with Grace called "Helpless", which was only released as the B-side on the tape cassette release of "Not Over Yet" in 1995. Low appeared in the 1995 promotional video for "Not Over Yet" and also performed live lead-vocals in Grace's appearance on Top of the Pops in early 1995. For reasons unknown, she was then replaced as the lead singer with Dominique Atkins, of whom Oakenfold had become aware through her vocals on the previous Perfecto release "Passion" by Jon of the Pleased Wimmin. Subsequent recordings and personal appearances would feature Atkins as lead singer. The September 1995 track "I Want To Live" (UK #30)/(UK Dance #6) [5] which was a cover of the song by Gavin Friday [6] (also covered by Naomi Campbell [7] ) had the "Not Over Yet" lead singer Low on backing vocals. Further singles by Grace were "Skin on Skin" (UK #21), "Down to Earth" (UK #20), "If I Could Fly" (UK #29), "Hand in Hand" (UK #38) and double A-side of "You're Not Mine" (renamed "Don't Call Me (You're Not Mine)") along with a re-release of "Down to Earth" (UK #29). The group released an album entitled If I Could Fly though this did not enter the chart.

"Skin on Skin" was a reworking of Oakenfold's "Perfecto Mix" of U2's "Lemon" that was released in 1993. Indeed, the Orange Mix of "Skin on Skin" is even closer to the original Perfecto Mix of "Lemon". The Orange Mix later appeared as the second track on Oakenfold's acclaimed Goa Mix (1994).

Atkins also recorded vocals for Tilt on their track "Rendezvous", which was retitled "Invisible", and was originally to be released as "Tilt feat. Grace", but the Grace title was dropped for the release.

The group was dissolved in 1997, when Oakenfold was touring more frequently as a performance DJ and could not commit to recording.

The group were on Oakenfold's Perfecto Records.

In 1999, "Not Over Yet" was re-released with new mixes by Planet Perfecto (another Oakenfold pseudonym) though the radio version was an edited version of the original 1995 Perfecto Radio Edit. All new versions and remixes on the re-release however, contained a combination of the original backing vocals by Low and lead vocals by Atkins. It again reached the UK Top 20, peaking at number 16. [4]

In 2007, "Not Over Yet" was reworked by the Klaxons and renamed "It's Not Over Yet", for their album Myths of the Near Future . In July 2011, new remixes of "Not Over Yet" were released by Perfecto. In December 2011, a new track for Grace (Dominique Atkins) was announced on Tilt's official Facebook page as being currently written. [8]

Grace singles

"Not Over Yet" (1995)

Charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) [9] 12
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [10] 31
Ireland (IRMA)4
Israel (IBA)5
Scotland (OCC) [11] 7
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [12] 33
UK Singles (OCC) [13] 6
UK Dance (OCC) [14] 1
US Hot Dance Club Play ( Billboard )1

"I Want to Live" (1995)

Critical reception

James Masterton for Dotmusic wrote, "Now Grace is back with her second hit single, this time a cover version of a Gavin Friday track which was released several times back in 1992 yet never once made the charts, an injustice which is now finally corrected by this new version." [15] A reviewer from Music Week rated the song four out of five adding, "Shades of It's All Over abound in this tuneful number which should echo the success of its predecessor." [16] An editor, Alan Jones, wrote that "a lightly synth-textured, almost ethereal delight, it has only just been released to the clubs, but watch it go." [17] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update deemed it an "hypnotic cooing throbber". [18]

Charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC) [19] 32
UK Singles (OCC)30
UK Dance (OCC) [20] 6

"Skin on Skin" (1996)

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard praised the track. He wrote, "Oh-so-charming Perfecto U.K. ingenue Grace continues her rapid ascension into international pop consciousness with "Skin On Skin", a trance/NRG anthem inspired by producer (and Perfecto founder) Paul Oakenfold's 1995 underground hit "Orange". Her wispy, ethereal voice has a sharper edge here, no doubt urged on by the track's forceful bassline and racing synths. The double pack of remixes succeeds in giving DJs several shades of keyboard drama to work with, though the beat never goes below the wind-knocking pace of the primary A-side vocal version. For those who want to monitor the track's progression from "Orange" to "Skin On Skin", the original jam is also included. A winning single that leaves you wanting to hear more and more of this intriguing young performer." [21]

Charts

Chart (1996)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC) [22] 24
UK Singles (OCC)21
UK Dance (OCC) [23] 3

"Down to Earth" (1996)

Critical reception

J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun felt that "instead of riding the surging hook of "Down to Earth", her voice floats blithely atop it, swept away by the beats as completely as a dancer would be." [24] A reviewer from Music Week rated the song three out of five, adding, "The hook doesn't really hammer home but superb production ensures this track still has impact. Likely to be a moderate success." [25] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update described it as a "Dominique Atkins cooed scurrying sweet soundscaper". [26] Also another editor, Tim Jeffery, gave it three out of five, declaring it as "another sweetly-sung melody from Grace over a succession of remixes" and a "commercial trancer". [27] In 1997, Music Week rated the song four out of five. A reviewer wrote, "Singer Dominique Atkins looks set to repeat the success of Not Over Yet with this sweet slice of dancefloor pop with a chirruping vocal hookline." [28]

Charts

Chart (1996)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC) [29] 16
UK Singles (OCC)20
UK Dance (OCC) [30] 8

"If I Could Fly" (1996)

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard praised the song, writing, "Once again, angelic Perfecto singer Grace hits the mark with yet another brilliantly crafted single, "If I Could Fly". Dreamy as can be, the track has been properly tweaked by Smith & Mighty and LTJ Bukem." [31]

Charts

Chart (1996)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC) [32] 35
UK Singles (OCC)29
UK Dance (OCC) [33] 5

"Hand in Hand" (1997)

Charts

Chart (1997)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) [34] 85
Scotland (OCC) [35] 32
UK Singles (OCC)38
UK Dance (OCC) [36] 8

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Oakenfold</span> British record producer and trance music DJ

Paul Mark Oakenfold, formerly known mononymously as Oakenfold, is an English record producer, remixer and trance DJ. He has provided over 100 remixes for over 100 artists including U2, Moby, Madonna, Britney Spears, Massive Attack, the Cure, New Order, the Rolling Stones, the Stone Roses and Michael Jackson. Oakenfold was voted the No. 1 DJ in the World twice in 1998 and 1999 by DJ Magazine.

Mystica is a Goa trance project from Israel, and consists of Avi Peer, Joseph Master and Charlie Ben-moha.

Jan Johnston is an English professional singer & songwriter, best known for collaborating with some of the world's top trance music DJs and producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilt (British band)</span> British electronic music duo

Tilt is an English group of electronic record producers, composed of Mick Park and Nic Britton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Over Yet (Grace song)</span> 1993 single by Grace

"Not Over Yet" is a song by British dance act Grace. Originally released in 1993 under the band name State of Grace, it was re-released in March 1995 as the first single from their only album, If I Could Fly (1996). It received critical acclaim from music critics, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart and number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Lead vocals and backing vocals were performed by singer Patti Low. In 1995, the lead vocals were replaced by new frontwoman and singer, Dominique Atkins for the album release, although Low's backing vocals remained in place. This Atkins/Low combination appeared on all subsequent re-releases and remixes of the track. The woman who appears in the accompanying music video is Low.

<i>The Goa Mix</i> 1994 remix album (DJ mix) by Paul Oakenfold

The Goa Mix is a two-hour DJ mix by British musician and DJ Paul Oakenfold. It was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 1 as an Essential Mix on 18 December 1994 after the producer of the show, Eddie Gordon, chose Oakenfold to produce an eclectic DJ mix for the show which featured a burgeoning variation of electronic styles, having begun the previous year. Oakenfold had, at this point, developed his own unique Goa trance sound, influenced by his time at hippy gatherings on beaches in Goa, and employed it heavily into the mix, which also made pioneering use of film score samples. Oakenfold used the mix as an experiment in which he tried to fuse electronic music, especially trance music, with film score music, and then to overlay the result with vocal parts, samples and additional production. The mix was split into two parts, later referred to as the Silver Mix and the Gold Mix respectively. Reflecting the Goa influence, the album title did not evolve beyond its simplistic working name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faster Kill Pussycat</span> 2006 single by Paul Oakenfold

"Faster Kill Pussycat" is the first single from British producer Oakenfold's second studio album, A Lively Mind (2006). The song features American actress Brittany Murphy's vocals and was co-written by singer-songwriter Kelli Ali. The title of the track is a play on the title of the movie Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.

Dominique Atkins is a British jazz and dance singer from London. She has been a member of such groups as Grace and The Space Brothers, among others. Her hit singles include "Not Over Yet", "Skin On Skin", "If I Could Fly", "Down To Earth", and "I Want To Live". She co-wrote and sang on Tilt's 1999 hit single "Invisible". Atkins also performed concerts in jazz clubs, as well as in China.

Planet Perfecto was a dance supergroup, formed in 1997 by Paul Oakenfold, Ian Masterson and Jake Williams. They were signed to Oakenfold's record label, Perfecto Records.

<i>Perfecto Presents: Another World</i> 2000 remix album by Paul Oakenfold

Perfecto Presents: Another World is the twelfth DJ mix album by British electronic music producer Paul Oakenfold, released in 2000. It is the second instalment in his Perfecto Presents series, a series of DJ mix albums themed around Oakenfold's label Perfecto Records. The album employs Oakenfold's progressive trance sound and sees a return to the Goa trance sound he had helped popularise with Goa Mix (1994) and Perfecto Fluoro (1996). Similar to those albums, it also features a more eclectic array of music genres, featuring music from film soundtracks, the ethereal wave band Dead Can Dance and a remix of a Led Zeppelin song. Although the album received mixed reviews from critics, at the time of release, it became the biggest-selling DJ mix album in the United States, where it reached the Top 50 of the Top Electronic Albums chart.

<i>Perfecto Fluoro</i> 1996 remix album (DJ mix) by Paul Oakenfold

Perfecto Fluoro is the fifth DJ mix album by British electronic producer and disc jockey Paul Oakenfold, released in 1996 on Oakenfold's label Perfecto Records, then a subsidiary of Warner Music UK who are also credited. Recorded eighteen months after the Oakenfold's ground breaking Goa Mix (1994), notable for its pioneering of goa trance and usage of film music, Perfecto Fluoro utilizes the same "epic" approach and feel, with liberal use of excerpts from film soundtracks, which is referred to in the album's liner notes track listing which lists not only track, artist and label, but also which film a song appears in, where relevant. There are also several excerpts of film dialogue sampled on some of the tracks; for instance, "Teleport" by Man With No Name contains some of Jeff Goldblum's dialogue extolling the virtues of teleportation from The Fly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starry Eyed Surprise</span> 2002 single by Paul Oakenfold

"Starry Eyed Surprise" is a song by English record producer Oakenfold featuring vocals from Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town. The song was released on 19 August 2002 as the second single from Oakenfold's debut album, Bunkka (2002), reaching number six in the United Kingdom, number 19 in the Netherlands and New Zealand, number 21 in Ireland, and number 37 in Australia. It also reached the top 50 in Italy and the United States. It was later included on Shifty Shellshock's 2004 album Happy Love Sick and Oakenfold's 2007 album Greatest Hits & Remixes, Vol. 1.

Jake Williams is a British electronic music producer and remixer, who currently records as Rex the Dog. Rex the Dog currently releases on Kompakt Records. As Rex the Dog, Williams is a proponent of DIY electronics and performs live with a self-built modular synthesizer. Williams first came to public attention as JX in 1994 following a recording contract with Hooj Choons, a United Kingdom dance independent record label. Williams has also recorded as Mekka and wrote the song "Bullet in the Gun" as part of Paul Oakenfold's collective Planet Perfecto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Space Brothers</span> British trance music duo

The Space Brothers are a British trance music duo comprising Richard 'Ricky' Louis Simmonds and Stephen Christopher Jones, noted for producing under a variety of pseudonyms such as Chakra, Lustral, Ascension, Essence, Ultra High, Lamai and The Realm.

"Hand in Hand (Looking for Sweet Inspiration)" is a song by English electronic music group Opus III, released in 1994 as the second single from their second album Guru Mother. It peaked at No. 79 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 14 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wide Open Space</span> 1996 single by Mansun

"Wide Open Space" is a song by Chester rock band Mansun, released as a single on 25 November 1996. The song was the lead track of Four EP. The single's success led to alternative versions appearing on four of the next five Mansun singles. These versions were one live, one acoustic, and two remixes, the first and most popular by Perfecto, and a NRG version by The Trouser Enthusiasts. A completely different version credited to longtime engineer Mike Hunter was included as a hidden bonus track on their compilation Kleptomania. The song also appears on The Sound of Gran Turismo, a soundtrack album based on Gran Turismo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Oakenfold discography</span>

This is the discography of the trance DJ and record producer Paul Oakenfold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag</span> 1981 single by Pigbag

"Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" is an instrumental performed by British dance-punk band Pigbag. The instrumental was written by Chris Hamlin and James Johnstone before Pigbag was formed and produced by Dave Hunt and Dick O'Dell. In the United States, the instrumental was released as an import on the Rough Trade label, where it made it to number 56 on the US dance chart. A 1982 re-release of "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" went to number three in the United Kingdom. Several covers of the instrumental have been released, including popular versions by Perfecto Allstarz and Thunderpuss.

<i>Big Brother</i> UK TV Theme Opening theme song for the British reality TV series

The Big Brother UK TV Theme, also known as "Element Four" in Belgium or as "Tast-E" in Australia and Greece, is the opening theme for the British reality TV series Big Brother, written and produced by music duo Elementfour in 2000.

<i>If I Could Fly</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Grace

If I Could Fly is the debut album by British dance music act Grace, consisting of DJs Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne, and jazz singer Dominique Atkins. It was released in 1996 and features their six hit singles; "Not Over Yet", "I Want to Live", "Skin on Skin", "Down to Earth", "If I Could Fly" and "Hand in Hand". Despite each of the singles reaching the UK top 40 between 1995 and 1997, the album failed to chart.

References

  1. ↑ "elements of GRACE - BIOGRAPHY". Webpages.charter.net. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "elements of GRACE - PRESS". Webpages.charter.net. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Grace
  4. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 232. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  5. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (17 September 1995 – 23 September 1995)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Grace - I Want To Live (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Naomi Campbell - I Want To Live at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Trance Fix - Latest trance news, reviews, downloads, music and more!". Trancefix.nl. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . 22 April 1995. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 06.05.1995 - 12.05.1995" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart 09 April 1995 - 15 April 1995". officialcharts.com.
  12. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "swedishcharts.com - Grace - Not Over Yet".
  13. ↑ "not+over+yet - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Official Charts .
  14. ↑ "UK Dance Singles Chart Top 40 02 April 1995 - 08 April 1995". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  15. ↑ Masterton, James (17 September 1995). "Week Ending September 23rd 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 2 September 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  17. ↑ Alan, Jones. "Talking Music". Music Week . 12 August 1995. p. 15.
  18. ↑ Hamilton, James (2 September 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart 17 September 1995 - 23 September 1995". officialcharts.com.
  20. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (17 September 1995 – 23 September 1995)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  21. ↑ Flick, Larry (20 January 1996). "Dance Trax: Rejuvenating With Dick Clark; Our House On Film" (PDF). Billboard . p. 23. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  22. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart (18 February 1996 – 24 February 1996)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  23. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (18 February 1996 – 24 February 1996)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  24. ↑ Considine, J.D. (13 June 1997). "New On Record". The Baltimore Sun . p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2023– via Gainesville Sun.
  25. ↑ "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week . 20 April 1996. p. 10. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  26. ↑ Hamilton, James (18 May 1996). "DJ Directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  27. ↑ Jeffery, Tim (28 June 1997). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 10. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  28. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 5 July 1997. p. 30. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  29. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart 26 May 1996 - 01 June 1996". officialcharts.com.
  30. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (26 May 1996 – 01 June 1996)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  31. ↑ Flick, Larry (2 November 1996). "Dance Trax: DJ 'Jinx' Zanbito Puts His 'Best' Beat Forward" (PDF). Billboard . p. 30. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  32. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart 22 September 1996 - 28 September 1996". officialcharts.com.
  33. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (22 September 1996 – 28 September 1996)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  34. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media . 10 May 1997. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  35. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart 27 April 1997 - 03 May 1997". officialcharts.com.
  36. ↑ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (27 April 1997 – 03 May 1997)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
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.