Mœnia "Mœnia"

Moenia (estilizado Mœnia) es un grupo mexicano de música synth pop. Fue creado por Alfonso Pichardo, Juan Carlos Lozano (ex vocalista) y Jorge Soto. Después de la salida de Pichardo, años más tarde se integraría Alex "Midi" Ortega, quedando Lozano como vocalista principal. Más adelante en 1996 lanzarían su primer álbum homónimo y dándose a conocer por su gran éxito "No puedo estar sin ti", recibiendo numerosas aceptaciones en la industria de la música y el público en general. Juan Carlos Lozano abandonaría la agrupación después del éxito de su primer álbum. Optaron por regresar a sus orígenes con reintegrar a Pichardo como vocalista principal. En 1999 lanzan su segundo álbum titulado Adición+ con Alfonso Pichardo como vocalista permanente de la banda.

Han logrado éxito nacional con uno de sus sencillo más exitosos "Manto estelar", donde la aceptación del público creció recibiendo a la agrupación en su primera participación en el Auditorio Nacional y una gira por Centroamérica en 1999; han logrado el éxito internacional en Estados Unidos, Sudamérica y en su país de origen, México.

El grupo es caracterizado por incursionar diversos subgéneros de la música electrónica en general en sus canciones con letras en su mayoría escritas por Alfonso Pichardo. Moenia es considerado uno de los precursores del género synth pop en Hispanoamérica.

En 1996 y después de algún tiempo sin encontrar a alguien que realmente encajara en el estilo del grupo, Juan Carlos Lozano decide ser el vocal del grupo; poco tiempo después conocen a Alejandro "Midi" Ortega, y con ésta nueva alineación empiezan a trabajar primero sobre el material ya formado y posteriormente con otras canciones, escritas muchas de ellas por Alfonso Pichardo. Como resultado de este trabajo, en 1996 se desprendió su segundo material discográfico llamado Moenia. bajo la compañía MCA (posteriormente Universal México), incluyendo canciones como No Puedo Estar Sin Ti, Estabas Ahí, Terminales, Déjame Entrar, Color Melancolía (rescatada del disco perdido de 1992) y No Importa Que El Sol Se Muera.

En México y en Estados Unidos recibe Disco de Oro por las ventas de éste álbum. Después en 1998 se grabaría un disco de Remixes llamado 067.86.M.Mixes.

Mick Jagger "She's The Boss"

She's the Boss is the solo album debut by The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger released in 1985. When the Stones signed with CBS Records in 1983, one of the options available to them was for individual projects, and Jagger eagerly began working on She's the Boss.

Following the release of Undercover, Jagger began composing material for his first solo project, sanctioning the help of various musician friends in the studio when recording began in May 1984. Of those involved were Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Carlos Alomar, Herbie Hancock and the Compass Point Allstars, while Jagger would share production duties with Bill Laswell and Nile Rodgers.

Keith Richards, Jagger's longtime musical partner in the Rolling Stones, was not pleased that Jagger was pursuing solo work, feeling that their band should be each other's first priority; in particular Richards was upset that in 1983 Jagger had piggy-backed a three album solo deal with CBS on the multi-million Stones deal without informing any of the Stones. The growing friction between both musicians would erupt publicly in 1986 before they resolved their differences a couple of years later. In his 2010 memoir Life Richards commented "It's like Mein Kampf. Everybody had a copy, but nobody listened to it."

She's the Boss was released in February 1985 – preceded by its lead song "Just Another Night". Both the album and its first single became worldwide hits, with "Just Another Night" reaching No. 1 on the US Mainstream Rock chart and No. 12 on the US pop chart, and She's the Boss going to No. 6 in the UK and No. 13 in the US, where it went platinum. Follow-up single "Lucky in Love" would be a Top 40 US hit.

The video for "Hard Woman" extensively utilised a Cray X-MP supercomputer for its animation, making it one of the most expensive music videos made to that point in time.

The success of the album – impacted by Jagger's solo appearance at Live Aid that July and his rush-recorded duet hit cover of "Dancing in the Street" with David Bowie — influenced Jagger to record a successor, Primitive Cool, which would be released in 1987.

Although originally released by CBS, She's the Boss was acquired and reissued by Atlantic Records in 1993 following the release of Jagger's third album, Wandering Spirit.

In 1986, Jamaican reggae singer Patrick Alley attempted to sue Jagger over the song "Just Another Night," which Alley claims he had recorded in 1979 and released on his 1982 album, A Touch of Patrick Alley. Alley claimed that Sly Dunbar (who played drums on She's the Boss) also played on his recording. The case was cleared in 1988, with Jagger stating "My reputation is really cleared. If you're well known, people stand up and take shots at you."

Track listing

Side one

1. "Lonely at the Top" Mick Jagger, Keith Richards 3:47
2. "1/2 a Loaf" Jagger 4:59
3. "Running Out of Luck" Jagger 4:15
4. "Turn the Girl Loose" Jagger 3:53
5. "Hard Woman" Jagger 4:24

Side two

1. "Just Another Night" Jagger 5:15
2. "Lucky in Love" Jagger, Carlos Alomar 6:13
3. "Secrets" Jagger 5:02
4. "She's the Boss" Jagger, Alomar 5:15

Total length: 43:09

Michael Bolton "Soul Provider (USA, Columbia Records, CK 45012)"

Soul Provider is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The album was released on June 19, 1989 by Columbia Records.

Supported by five top 40 hits (including three that reached the top 10), Soul Provider achieved longevity on the charts. The album spent almost four years on the Billboard 200 and peaked at #3 It was awarded 6× Platinum in the US and sold over 12,500,000 copies worldwide.

For the single version of "Georgia on My Mind", CBS edited out Michael Brecker's saxophone solo and replaced it with one by Kenny G.

Cher covered "You Wouldn't Know Love" on her 1989 album Heart of Stone. Sunstorm also did a cover of the song for their 2012 album Emotional Fire.

Track listing

Soul Provider track listing

1. "Soul Provider" Michael Bolton, Andrew Goldmark Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff 4:28
2. "Georgia on My Mind" Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell Bolton and Susan Hamilton 4:58
3. "It's Only My Heart" Bolton, Diane Warren Michael Omartian 4:33
4. "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" Bolton, Doug James Omartian 4:48
5. "How Can We Be Lovers?" Bolton, Warren, Desmond Child Bolton and Desmond Child 3:55
6. "You Wouldn't Know Love" Bolton, Warren Bolton 3:54
7. "When I'm Back on My Feet Again" Warren Bolton, Guy Roche, Walter Afanasieff 3:47
8. "From Now On" (featuring Suzie Benson) Bolton, Dean Pitchford, Eric Kaz Bolton 4:07
9. "Love Cuts Deep" Bolton, Warren, Child Bunetta and Chudacoff 3:49
10. "Stand Up for Love" Bolton, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil Bolton, Barry Mann, Omartian 4:44
11. "Forever Eyes" (bonus track) Bolton, Bob Halligan Jr. 4:23

Total length: 47:04

Recording information:

Producers – Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff (Tracks 1 & 9); Michael Bolton (Tracks 2, 6-8 & 10); Susan Hamilton (Track 2); Michael Omartian (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Desmond Child (Track 5); Guy Roche (Track 7); Barry Mann (Track 10)

Assistant producer on Track 7 – Walter Afanasieff

Production coordination on Tracks 3 & 4 – Janet Hinde

Production manager on Track 5 – Steve Savitt

Production coordination on Track 7 – Doreen Dorian

Engineers – Daren Klien (Tracks 1 & 9); Rick Kerr (Track 2); David Albert (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Terry Christian (Track 3, 4, 6-8 & 10); Doug Carlton (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Kevin Becka (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Sir Arthur Payson (Track 5); Jay Healy (Tracks 6 & 8); Guy Roche (Track 7); Richard Piatt (Track 7)

Additional recording – Jeff Balding, Gerry E. Brown, Mark Ettel and Gary Wagner (Tracks 1 & 9); Kevin Becka (Track 8)

Assistant engineers – Bryant Arnett (Tracks 1 & 9), Laura Livingston (Tracks 1 & 9), Richard McKernon (Tracks 1 & 9), Marnie Riley (Tracks 1, 8 & 9), Steve Satkowski (Tracks 1 & 9); Tim Leitner, Paul Logus, Tony Van Horn and Michaek White (Track 2); Keith Goldstein, Roy Hendrickson, John Herman, Mike Krowiak, Danny Mormando and Joe Pirrera (Track 5); Kevin Becka (Tracks 6 & 7), Dary Sulich (Tracks 6 & 8), Rich Travali (Tracks 6 & 8), Tony Friedman (Track 7)

Mixing – Mick Guzauski (Tracks 1, 7 & 8); Rick Kerr (Track 2); Terry Christian (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Sir Arthur Payson (Track 5); David Thoener (Track 6); Gerry E. Brown (Track 9)

Remix – Mick Guzauski (Track 4); David Frazer (Track 5); Arne Frager (Track 7)

Mixed at Conway Studios (Hollywood, CA); Right Track Recording, The Hit Factory and Record Plant (New York City, New York)

Remixed at The Plant (Sausalito, California)

Mastered by Vlado Meller at CBS Records Studio (New York City, New York)

Art direction and design – Christopher Austopchuk

Photography – Glen Erler

Laura Branigan "Hold Me (USA, Atlantic Records, 7 81265-2)"

Hold Me is the fourth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on July 15, 1985, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard 200, though it fared better internationally, reaching the top 10 in Sweden and Switzerland, and the top 15 in Norway.

The album's lead single, "Spanish Eddie", earned Branigan her sixth top-40 entry in two and a half years, peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was moderately successful outside the United States. Subsequent singles "Hold Me" and "I Found Someone" failed to make an impact, peaking at numbers 82 and 90 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Nevertheless, "Hold Me" reached number 39 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart, while "I Found Someone" reached number 25 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

The track "When the Heat Hits the Streets" was used in a television advertising campaign for the Chrysler Laser, with Chrysler serving as a sponsor for Branigan's 1985–1986 Hold Me tour (a Chrysler Laser was prominently displayed in the "Spanish Eddie" music video).

According to Branigan, she said "the album is such a growth from my other albums. I really feel it’s the direction I want to go. My voice is definitely stronger and the material is just incredible. I honestly don't feel there are any fillers."

In their review of the album, Billboard commented that "Branigan's latest includes several tracks by co-producer Harold Faltermeyer, giving the collection an added edge beyond the mainstream ballads and rockers that have characterized her earlier recordings. First single is "Spanish Eddie," but the album should produce several other successful tracks, most notably "Hold Me" and "When I'm With You." 

Cashbox noted that "Laura Branigan's fourth LP for Atlantic combines all of the elements that have brought her a handful of hit singles, from uptempo dance oriented tunes such as this album’s first single, the melodic and colorful “Spanish Eddie,” to beautiful ballads like “Forever Young.” Producer Jack White and other contributors like Harold Faltermeyer have chosen some excellent material here and Branigan shines on every cut."

Allmusic were more mixed in their review, stating that "Laura Branigan began to falter in her quest to be the white, '80s Donna Summer with her fourth album, which failed to scale the sales heights of her first three, despite another clutch of dramatic, heavily produced Eurodisco tracks, three of which found their way onto the singles charts. The closest thing to a hit was "Spanish Eddie" (this album's remake of her first smash, "Gloria"), a song with an odd street-life lyric that made reference to Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row"...Elsewhere, Branigan again turned to songwriter Michael Bolton for "I Found Someone," and as she had with "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You," did it much better than its author, for what it's worth. But on the whole, Hold Me found The Branigan formula growing stale."

Track listing

1. "Hold Me" 4:43
2. "Maybe Tonight" 3:37
3. "Foolish Lullaby" 4:18
4. "Spanish Eddie" 4:08
5. "Forever Young" 3:52
6. "When I'm with You" 4:12
7. "I Found Someone" 4:00
8. "Sanctuary" 3:32
9. "Tenderness" 3:42
10. "When the Heat Hits the Streets" 3:43

Total length: 39:47

MANUFACTURED BY VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LTD. MADE IN JAPAN

Recording information:

Recorded at Image Recording, Hollywood / CAN AM Recorders, Taranza / Westlake Studios, Los Angeles / Bodifications Inc., Los Angeles / Preferred Sound, Woodland Hills.

Mixed at Image Recording, Hollywood.

Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood.

Jürgen Koppers, Brian Malouf, John Kovarek, Brian Reeves, John Van Nest, Ed Thacker, Dave Concors, Tom Whitlock, David Devore – engineering

Steve Krause, Rick Butz, Peggy McAffee, Samii Taylor – engineering assistance

Jürgen Koppers – mixing

Brian Gardner – mastering

Jack White – production (tracks 1–9)

Harold Faltermeyer – production (tracks 1, 7)

Mark Spiro – associate production (tracks 2, 3, 6, 9); production (track 10)

Aaron Rapoport – photography

Bob Defrin – art direction

Laura Branigan "Self Control (Single & Video)"

American singer Laura Branigan covered "Self Control" in 1984. It was released as the lead single from her third studio album of the same name, released the same year.

Branigan's first major hit had also been co-written by Bigazzi: "Gloria" (1982) was an English cover of the 1979 original Italian song recorded by Umberto Tozzi. The following year Branigan recorded another English song written over a Tozzi and Bigazzi song, "Mama", which was part of the 1983 album Branigan 2. Branigan chose two more Italian songs for her third album: the first one, "Ti Amo" with lyrics by Diane Warren once again based on the original by Tozzi and Bigazzi that had been a 1977 single for Tozzi. The second one, "Self Control" became the title track to the album and her biggest international hit. "Self Control" was the only one of the four Italian songs recorded by Branigan that was originally composed in English, and Branigan chose to record the song as written. Also unlike the other songs, Branigan's version was contemporaneous with that of its co-writer.

The Branigan recording was arranged by Giorgio Moroder's protégé Harold Faltermeyer with Robbie Buchanan and produced by Buchanan with Jack White in Germany and Los Angeles. A keyboard hook in Raf's version was changed to a guitar riff for Branigan's version and a vocal break was paired with a sharper and repeated percussive element.

The song narrates the singer's slip into the world of nightlife, the allure of which has her "livin' only for the night" and deeming herself to "live among the creatures of the night". Rather than actually invoking more self-control, the singer addresses someone: "you take my self, you take my self-control".

Branigan was one of the first artists of the video era to work with an Academy Award-winning film director on a music video when William Friedkin (The French Connection, The Exorcist) directed the clip. Filmed in New Jersey and New York City, the video was produced by Fred Caruso and first aired in April 1984.

The video depicts Branigan, sitting in her bedroom while her lover sleeps. Tempted by the allure of the city at night, she gets dressed up and goes out. Brief encounters with a mysterious man in a full-face white mask lead Branigan from the dance floor of a night club to an underground room where the masked man stands in the midst of an orgiastic gathering that he beckons her to join. Branigan allows herself to be led into the group, but ultimately flees in fright. Returning home, Branigan finds that the masked man and some of his throng are, somehow, now in her bedroom. The masked man lowers Branigan to her couch and she surrenders herself to him. The masked man, standing over Branigan, now lying unconscious on the floor, turns and walks towards the bedroom window, fading away in the morning light. Branigan, consumed by guilt, gets up and turns out the light. The final scene shows Branigan lying awake in bed, when her lover turns to face her, his face hidden behind a familiar white mask.

The video ultimately drew controversy, as it was considered so shockingly sexy that MTV required some edits before it could air. Entertainment Tonight aired a segment on the network's reaction to the clip, which was being played in late-night slots on other networks. Though Branigan resisted at first, her record company convinced her to allow a minor alteration and the video was aired on MTV, though by this time the single had peaked on the charts. Branigan would go on to be nominated for a 1985 American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist. Branigan's fellow nominees were Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper, who won the award.

Laura Branigan "Branigan 2 (USA, Atlantic Records, 7 80052-2)"

Branigan 2 is the second album by singer Laura Branigan, released in March 1983. Two hit singles emerged from the album, the dramatic "Solitaire" and her introduction of the ballad "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". The album performed better in the charts than her first album in the U.S., Australia and Japan, and Allmusic later wrote that "Laura Branigan's full, expressive voice shows serious growth" on "a much more cohesive collection" than her debut, commenting that "this album doesn't waste a single track".

In addition to establishing Branigan as more than a one-hit wonder after the major success of "Gloria" months before, her second album's two big hits began the careers for two then-unknowns who themselves became industry legends. While "Solitaire" was originally a French song, its English version provided the first major hit for lyric writer Diane Warren, who co-wrote many of Branigan's early songs. Allmusic noted that the song, "with its quiet beginnings and pull-out-all-the-stops finale, shows off just what chops this singer has".

The second single from Branigan 2 was the ballad "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", which was the first major hit for its co-writer, Michael Bolton, beginning for him a successful sideline as a songwriter. He later wrote three more songs for Branigan. While "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" barely missed the Top Ten on the pop charts, it spent three weeks at Number One on the adult contemporary airplay charts. Allmusic called Branigan's version "far superior" to Bolton's own hit cover from 1989, "simpler, prettier, and (showing) shades of emotion at which Bolton could only hint".

Branigan 2 also included the ballad "Find Me", uptempo tracks "I'm Not The Only One" and "Don't Show Your Love", and a cover of The Who's "Squeeze Box". One of the album's tracks, "Deep In The Dark", was a newly written song to the music of Falco's "Der Kommissar". Allmusic called Branigan's version "sexy" and "welcome" despite a competing English-language remake of the German version the same year by After the Fire.

One of the tracks from the album, "Find Me", was used as the love theme of the 1983 Robert Hays film Touched.

The album was certified Gold in the United States.

Track listing

1. "Solitaire" 4:07
2. "Deep in the Dark"    3:50
3. "Close Enough" 3:41
4. "Lucky" 3:58
5. "Squeeze Box" 3:00
6. "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"  4:29
7. "I'm Not the Only One" 3:22
8. "Mama" 3:56
9. "Find Me" 3:22
10. "Don't Show Your Love" 3:30

Total length: 37:15

Recording information:

Jürgen Koppers – engineering, mixing

John Kovorek – engineering assistance

Jon Van Nest – engineering assistance

David Shire – rhythm track production on "Find Me"

Carol Connors – rhythm track production on "Find Me"

Brian Gardner – mastering

Robbie Buchanan – associate production

Jack White – production

Barry Levine – photography

Bob Defrin – art direction