DIANA ROSS - LOVE HANGOVER

Publicació: 16 de març de 1976

Llistes: Regne Unit: #10   EUA: #1 (2 setmanes)

"Love Hangover" és una cançó de la cantant Diana Ross, gravada el 1975 i llançada com a senzill del seu àlbum de 1976 "Diana Ross". Aquest va ser el primer èxit de música disco de Motown Records. El segell va trigar a acceptar el so, que venia de llocs com Miami, Nova York i Suècia, no de la seva Detroit. Hal Davis, un productor del segell, va pensar que era hora de provar la música disco, així que va muntar aquest tema, que canvia de l'obertura relaxada, lenta i fresca a un groove ràpid d'uptempo. Els músics de suport incloïen el pianista de The Crusaders Joe Sample, el guitarrista Art Wright, el baixista Henry Davis i el bateria James Gadson. Segons Davis, la sessió va tenir lloc a les 2 de la matinada.

A Diana Ross no li agradava gravar una cançó de música disco, així que el productor Hal Davis va fer tot el possible per posar el to correcte quan va gravar la seva veu. Va programar la sessió a la nit, quan Ross era més agradable, i va fer que l'enginyer Russ Terrana instal·lés llums intermitents a l'estudi. Abans d'gravar-la, Davis va fer que Ross es relaxés amb una copa de vodka. Quan va arribar el moment de gravar, es va treure les sabates i s'hi va posar, improvisant i passant-s’ho bé. En un moment donat, Ross va deixar escapar una rialla que es va  quedar al disc. La veu era exactament el que estaven buscant.

Els pensaments de Ross sobre la sessió d'enregistrament es mostren a la biografia Diana del 2007 de J. Randy Taraborrelli: "Va ser una cosa espontània que vam gravar i si hagués de tornar-hi i fer-ho de nou, no ho podria fer. La música era jo i jo era la música. De la meva boca van sortir coses que ni tan sols esperava".

"Love Hangover" és una cançó molt sexual on Diana Ross canta sobre el sentiment després de fer l'amor i desitjant que no s'acabi. La cançó tracta d'estar tan consumit per l'amor i el desig que Diana no vol cap cura per als intensos sentiments que està experimentant. La lletra expressa un anhel per l'estat eufòric d'estar enamorat i la reticència a deixar anar aquelles emocions embriagadores.

El primer senzill de l'àlbum va ser "I Thought It Took A Little Time (But Today I Fell In Love)", una balada en la tradició de Ross. Aquesta va ser la decisió de Berry Gordy, ja que encara desconfiava de la música disco. Altres van considerar "Love Hangover" com un èxit, inclosos els DJ de clubs que van començar a posar-la. The 5th Dimension va gravar la cançó i la va publicar mentre "I Thought It Took A Little Time" pujava a les llistes. Això va cridar l'atenció de Gordy i ràpidament va publicar la versió de Ross de "Love Hangover" com a single. A la llista Hot 100 del 3 d'abril de 1976, van entrar ambdues versions, amb Ross al número 78 i The 5th Dimension al número 95. La mateixa setmana, "I Thought It Took A Little Time" va assolir el seu punt àlgid al número 47, sense pujar més, ja que Motown va treure la promoció per centrar-se en "Love Hangover". Amb la discogràfica darrere, la interpretació de Ross va assolir el número 1 al maig.

DIANA ROSS - LOVE HANGOVER

Released : March 16, 1976

Charted:  UK: #10    US: #1 (2 weeks)

"Love Hangover" is a song by the Motown singer Diana Ross, recorded in 1975 and released as a single from her 1976 album “Diana Ross”. This was the first disco hit for Motown Records. The label was slow to embrace the sound, which was coming out of places like Miami, New York and Sweden - not Detroit. Hal Davis, a producer at the label, thought it was time to try disco, so he put together this track, which changes from the relaxed, slow, cool opening to a rapid uptempo groove. The backing musicians included The Crusaders pianist Joe Sample, guitarist Art Wright (overdubbed later), bass player Henry Davis and drummer James Gadson. According to Davis, the session took place at 2 am.

Diana Ross was not keen on recording a disco song, so producer Hal Davis went out of his way to set the right tone when she recorded her vocals. He scheduled the session at night, when Ross was most agreeable, and had engineer Russ Terrana set up flashing lights in the studio. Before sending her in, Davis had Ross relax with a drink of vodka. When it came time to record, she kicked off her shoes and got into it, improvising and having a good time. At one point, Ross let out a laugh that made its way onto the record. The vocal was exactly what they were looking for.

Ross' thoughts on the recording session are noted in the 2007 biography Diana by J. Randy Taraborrelli: "It was a spontaneous thing that we captured on record and if I had to go back in and do it again, I couldn't have. The music was me and I was the music. Things came out of my mouth that I didn't even expect."

"Love Hangover" is a very sexual song where Diana Ross sings about the feeling after making love, and wishing it wouldn't end. The song is about being so consumed by love and desire that Diana doesn't want a cure for the intense feelings she is experiencing. The lyrics express a longing for the euphoric state of being in love and the reluctance to let go of those intoxicating emotions.

The first single from the album was "I Thought It Took A Little Time (But Today I Fell In Love)", a ballad in the tradition of Ross. This was Berry Gordy's call, as he was still leery of disco. Others pegged "Love Hangover" as a hit though, including club DJs that started playing it. The 5th Dimension recorded the song and released it while "I Thought It Took A Little Time" was climbing the charts. This got Gordy's attention, and he quickly put out Ross' version of "Love Hangover" as a single. On the Hot 100 chart dated April 3, 1976, both versions entered, with Ross at #78 and The 5th Dimension at #95. The same week, "I Thought It Took A Little Time" reached its peak of #47, going no higher as Motown pulled promotion for it to focus on "Love Hangover". With the label behind it, the Ross rendition climbed to #1 in May.

 

DEBARGE - RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT / ALL THIS LOVE

RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT

Released: February 23, 1985

Charted:  UK: #4    US: #3 

"Rhythm of the Night" is a song by American musical recording group DeBarge, written by Diane Warren and released on the Motown label as the first single from their 1985 fourth studio album “Rhythm of the Night”. The song jump-started the career of the prolific songwriter Warren. Richard Perry, the hit producer behind hit recordings for the Pointer Sisters, Harry Nilsson, and Carly Simon, among others, was appointed to produce the single.

Warren penned this song for the 1985 Motown-produced martial arts movie The Last Dragon, which starred the Prince ingenue Vanity in the female lead. Motown head Berry Gordy was the executive producer of the film, and DeBarge were signed to his Gordy label. Warren had the song in the works when she got the call to write a song for the film. She made a few tweaks, recorded a demo with a singer named Tommy Funderburk, and submitted "Rhythm Of The Night" for the soundtrack. It was accepted for the film and used in the trailer as well.

The song portrays a message of escapism and finding solace in music and dancing. The lyrics suggest that when the weight of the world becomes overwhelming and life feels chaotic, stepping out into the street and immersing oneself in the energy of the night can provide a much-needed reprise.

The street party sounds overdubbed onto the record included contributions from members of the DeBarge group. This idea was cribbed from the 1983 Lionel Richie song, "All Night Long (All Night)".

ALL THIS LOVE

Released: October 17, 1982

Charted:  US: #17 

"All This Love" is a single by DeBarge, released as the third and final single from their second studio album of the same title on the Gordy label. The single would help DeBarge rise to R&B stardom. The song was covered by Boyz II Men and released on their 2007 compilation album “Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA” of Motown hits.

The song is a heartfelt expression of love and gratitude towards a significant other. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist had faced some difficulties in life that seemed unsolvable until their partner came along. The partner's love and support transformed their perspective and offered them a solution. The singer acknowledges that their partner convinced them to take a chance on love and learn its ways. Through this experience, they discovered that love does not bring disappointment or pain but rather brings joy and fulfillment. The song emphasizes the immense love the singer feels for their partner, expressing that all their love is dedicated to them. They believe that their love is waiting patiently for their partner, emphasizing their commitment and devotion.

"All This Love" was immediately embraced by the R&B community while the group gained a pop fan base. In the US, the single reached number 5 on the Billboard R&B chart and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.

 DEPECHE MODE - JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH

Publicació: 7 de setembre de 1981

Llistes: Regne Unit: #8

"Just Can't Get Enough" és una cançó de la banda anglesa Depeche Mode. Va ser el seu tercer senzill, llançat un mes abans del llançament del seu àlbum d'estudi debut, "Speak & Spell". Aquest va ser el primer senzill llançat als Estats Units, el 18 de febrer de 1982, i també va ser l'últim senzill escrit pel membre fundador Vince Clarke, que va deixar la banda el novembre de 1981. Acabava de fer 20 anys quan va escriure aquesta cançó. El vídeo "Just Can't Get Enough" és l'únic en el qual apareix.

Musicalment, es va inspirar en "To Cut a Long Story Short" de Spandau Ballet, llançat l'any 1980. Fins a aquest moment, a Clark no li agradava la música de ball, però la cançó de Spandau Ballet li va canviar el parer. "Va ser la primera vegada que em va impressionar un ritme 'boom-thwack, boom-thwack'", va dir a Rolling Stone l'any 2000. "Va ser la primera vegada que descobria la música de ball per a mi mateix i escriure una cançó al voltant d’aquest ritme va ser tota una revelació per a mi. "Just Can't Get Enough" va sortir gràcies a això".

"Just Can't Get Enough" és una cançó d'amor sobre una persona tan enamorada i consumit per la seva parella que mai en té prou. La cançó expressa els sentiments de passió i adoració que un té per l'altre, i parla de l'alegria d'estar junts i enamorats. També parla de la idea que no hi ha límit a les emocions fortes que sent per la seva parella i que cap quantitat de temps o esforç serà mai massa. La cançó subratlla que aquesta persona mai en tindrà prou del ser que estima, sense importar quin tipus d'obstacles es trobin al seu camí.

En una entrevista a la revista Q el febrer de 2008, el vocalista Dave Gahan va recordar la gravació de l'àlbum debut de Depeche Mode "Speak & Spell" i els seus inicis com a banda: "Vince Clarke era el líder en aquell moment. Quan vam entrar a l’estudi, en Vince ja s'havia avorrit. No li agradava la idea d'haver de tractar amb altres persones. Volia tenir el control. Aquest és l'únic disc on les cançons ja s'havien interpretat des de feia un any i mig abans. Vam entrar a l'estudi i les vam gravar com ho faríem en directe. Crec que Daniel Miller (el cap del segell discogràfic) ens va veure com un encreuament entre els Ramones i els Beach Boys, d'una manera electrònica, ràpida i curta amb riffs molt senzills. Ens volien les grans discogràfiques però vam desconfiar molt de signar un acord que significava gravar cinc àlbums. Veníem d'aquesta ètica punk: només volíem fer un single. En Daniel va venir i això és tot el que realment podia fer amb els diners que tenia, així que va funcionar. Volíem mantenir el control. Mai vam pensar molt més enllà del següent single i tocar alguns concerts. Aquells temps van ser genials".

DEPECHE MODE - JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH

Released: September 7, 1981

Charted:  UK: #8 

"Just Can't Get Enough" is a song by the English band Depeche Mode. It was their third single, released a month before the release of their debut studio album, “Speak & Spell”. This was the first single released in the United States, on February 18, 1982, and also was the last single written by founding member Vince Clarke, who left the band in November 1981. He just turned 20 when wrote this song. "Just Can't Get Enough" video is the only one he appears in.

Musically, it was inspired by "To Cut a Long Story Short" by Spandau Ballet, released in 1980. To that point, Clark wasn't into dance music, but the Spandau Ballet song turned him around.  "It was the first time I was actually impressed by a rhythm that went 'boom-thwack, boom-thwack,'" he told Rolling Stone in 2000. "It was the first time I discovered dance music for myself, and to write a song around the rhythm was quite a revelation for me. 'Just Can't Get Enough' came out of that."

This is a love song about the singer being so in love and consumed by his significant other that he just can't get enough of them. The song expresses the feelings of passion and adoration one has for the other, and speaks to the joy of being together and in love. It also speaks to the idea that there is no limit to the strong emotions felt for their partner and that no amount of time or effort will ever be too much. The song emphasizes that the singer just can't get enough of the person they love, no matter what kind of obstacles come their way.

In an interview with Q magazine February 2008, vocalist Dave Gahan recalled recording Depeche Mode's debut album “Speak & Spell” and their early days as a band: "Vince (Clarke) was the leader at that point. By the time we got into the studio, Vince had got bored with it. He didn't like the idea of having to deal with other personalities. He wanted to be in control. That's the only album where the songs had already been performed for a year and a half beforehand, and we went into the studio and recorded them as we would live. I think Daniel Miller (their record label boss) saw us as a cross between the Ramones and the Beach Boys, in an electronic way, fast and short with really simple riffs. We were courted by major labels and were very suspicious of signing a deal that meant five albums. We'd come from that punk ethic: we just wanted to make a single. Daniel came along and that's all he really had the money to do, so it kind of worked. We wanted to keep in control. We never thought much beyond the next single and playing some gigs. That time was brilliant."

 

DEPECHE MODE - SEE YOU

Publicació: 29 de gener de 1982

Llistes: Regne Unit: #6

"See You" és el quart single de Depeche Mode i el primer escrit per Martin Gore. El senzill es va incloure al segon àlbum de la banda "A Broken Frame". Va ser el primer single que van llançar com a trio, a causa de la marxa de Vince Clarke l'any anterior, que havia deixat el grup per fundar Yazoo.

Vince Clarke volia deixar la banda amb un bon senzill, així que va escriure la cançó "Only you". Depeche Mode la va rebutjar i va llançar "See You", que Martin Gore va escriure quan només tenia 16 anys. "Only You" va ser un èxit per a Yazoo arribant al #2, però "See You" va demostrar que Depeche Mode se’n podria sortir sense Clarke. Recordant aquest moment crucial, Gore va dir a Mojo: "No ens vam espantar, només vam reservar una estona d'estudi. Aleshores 'See You', que vaig escriure quan tenia 16 anys, va ser la primera cançó que vam gravar i va ser un gran èxit; ens vam sentir invencibles.

Gore també va dir a la revista Kingsize el maig del 2001: "Sento afecte per coses com 'See You'? Realment no, no. Va ser la primera cançó que vaig escriure després que Vince se'n va anar, i crec que només estava intentant copiar el seu estil. Va ser una gravació de malson perquè encara viviem a Basildon i haviem d’agafar l'últim tren de tornada de Londres. Sempre era un tren ple de borratxos, i sempre ens barallavem, de vegades perquè ens reconeixien, però normalment només era pura violència d'Essex!"

Aquesta és una cançó d'enyorança, amb el cantant intentant convèncer el seu amor perdut perquè torni a intentar la seva relació. "Els temps canvien, però crec que la gent és bàsicament la mateixa", suplica.

Encara que el teclista Alan Wilder s'havia unit a la banda en aquest moment, no va ser inclòs a l'enregistrament de la cançó. Tanmateix, se’l pot veure breument al vídeo escrivint en una màquina d'escriure al fons.

DEPECHE MODE - SEE YOU

Released : January 29 1982

Charted:  UK: #6 

"See You" is the fourth UK single by Depeche Mode, and the first written by Martin Gore. The single was included on the band's second album “A Broken Frame”. It was the first single the band released as a trio, due to Vince Clarke's departure the previous year, who'd left the band for Yazoo. 

Vince Clarke wanted to leave the band with a good single, so he wrote the song "Only you”. Depeche Mode turned it down and instead released "See You," which Martin Gore wrote when he was only 16. "Only You" ended up being a #2 hit for Yazoo, but "See You" proved that Depeche Mode could have a go without Clarke. Recalling this pivotal time, Gore told Mojo, "We didn't panic, we just booked some studio time. Then 'See You,' which I wrote when I was 16, was the first song we recorded and it was a huge hit; we felt invincible.

Gore also told Kingsize magazine in May 2001: "Do I feel any affection for things like 'See You'? Not really, no. It was the first song I wrote after Vince left, and I think I was just trying to copy his style. It was a nightmare recording because we still lived in Basildon and caught the last train back from London. It was always a dodgy train, full of drunkards, and we always got into fights, sometimes because we were recognised, but usually it was just pure Essex violence!"

This is a song of longing, with the singer trying to convince his lost love to give their relationship another try. "Times change, but I think that you'll find people are basically the same," he pleads.

Though keyboardist Alan Wilder had joined the band by this time he was not included on the song's recording. However he can be briefly seen on the music video typing on a typewriter in the background.