Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: A La Carte

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole:

A La Carte

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the brief history of the marvelous girl group A La Carte.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

Based in Germany, A La Carte was a pop-disco girl group formed in 1978. Producers Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann helped with the start up of the group. The trio originally included three British girls: Patsy Fuller, Julia and Elaine. Their first song was When the Boys Come Home, released in March of 1979.

Female disco groups like A La Carte were very popular in Europe at the time. With a performance in the Musikladen television show, the group gained immense popularity in Germany. They maintained a loyal following thanks to their lovely vocals/harmonies, simple, tasteful presentation, and ABBA-influenced pop tunes. The group would enjoy four Top-30 hits in Germany and make numerous television appearances.

For unknown reasons, the line-up changed often, typically with the release of each new single. Jenny Renshaw became the only permanent member when she joined the group in October 1979. By 1981, the group consisted of Jenny Renshaw, Linda Daniels and Joy Martin. Together, they released the album Viva. 

The group continued to undergo many more line-up changes. In 1982, they recorded their Rockin' Oldies album, which included covers of songs from the 1960s. 

The final line-up featured Jenny Renshaw, Joy Martin and Katie Humble. Popularity for the disco music genre as a whole declined with the development of newer music styles, which ultimately led to the group disbanding in 1984.

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When The Boys Come Home - A La Carte

Doctor, Doctor (Help Me Please) - A La Carte

Do Wah Diddy Diddy - A La Carte

Ring Me Honey - A La Carte

River Blue - A La Carte

Ahé Tamouré - A La Carte

On Top Of Old Smokie - A La Carte

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Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Fox The Fox

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole:

Fox The Fox

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the brief history of the electric R&B pop group Fox The Fox

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

 
Fox the Fox, was a Dutch funk band founded in 1981 by Berth Tamaëla and Sylvia Musmin (AKA: Silhouette Musmin). Among the members were bassist Gino Jansen, guitarist Kier van der Werf, keyboardist Roy Kuschel, and drummers Robbie Brans, Tjalling Bos and Han Langkamp. Musmin wrote all the lyrics, while and Tamaëla composed the music.

After working together for two years, the band finally released their first single, Flirting and Showing, which reached #40 in the Netherlands and Germany. A year later they released the single Precious Little Diamond. It snagged the #5 slot in Germany, #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, #11 in the Netherlands, #15 in France, #38 in Belgium and #86 in the UK.  

Two albums and six subsequent singles followed, but to little success.

With the departure of Tamaëla in 1990, the band split up.

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Flirting And Showing - Fox The Fox

Precious Little Diamonds - Fox The Fox

She Don't Mind - Fox The Fox

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Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Toto Coelo

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole:

Toto Coelo

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the brief history of the girl group Toto Coelo.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

Toto Coelo (Total Coelo in the US) was a 1980s British new wave pop group, founded by producer Barry Blue. The original members were singers Anita Mahadevan, Lacey Bond, Lindsey Danvers, Ros Holness and Sheen Doran. The group's name is Latin and means "by the whole extent of the heavens" or "heaven-wide". Sheen Doran said, "It has a number of meanings, such as 'heart and soul', 'root and branch' and 'totally different'. It seemed to describe what we were. Plus, it's strange-sounding and hard to pronounce, so it sticks in your mind".

Formed in 1981, the group's first recordings, Videotheque (a Buggles song which became a hit for Dollar in 1982) and World of Automation  remain unreleased.

Then, in 1982, the group released the  hit single, I Eat Cannibals, which reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart and was a Top 5 hit in Australia, South Africa, and Sweden. It also charted in the US, where it peaked at #66 in April of 1983, thanks in part to a video featuring the five ladies in dresses made of what appears to be black trash bags.

(You're my kind of meat, indeed!)

The follow-up single, Dracula's Tango (Sucker For Your Love), reached the Top 20 in Australia and Top 10 in Sweden. The group's only studio album, 1983's Man o' War, was not a commercial success. A third single, Milk from the Coconut, was released from the album and peaked at #4 in South Africa. Following the album's release, Anita Mahadevan and Sheen Doran left the group.

In 1985, the remaining three members released two more singles, Girls Night Out and Gimme Some Lovin', neither of which charted. A compilation album followed and that was all they wrote.

Until 2020...

Back in 1982, the band was briefly featured in a then-unreleased horror film Grizzly II: The Predator, performing Milk from the Coconut in a few scenes during a rock concert. In 2020, the film was completed and released under the title Grizzly II: Revenge, with scenes featuring the band performing four songs: Milk from the Coconut, Man of War, Automation and Calories - a marvelous little coda; a time capsule perfectly capturing the group's spirit.

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I Eat Cannibals - Toto Coelo

Dracula's Tango (Sucker For Your Love) - Toto Coelo

Milk From The Coconut - Toto Coelo

Mucho Macho - Toto Coelo

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Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Five Star

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole:

 Five Star

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the amazing success and history of the family group Five Star.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

Five Star (5 Star) was a British pop group, formed in 1983, comprising siblings Stedman, Lorraine, Denise, Doris, and Delroy Pearson. From 1985 to 1988, Five Star enjoyed four Top 20 albums (Multi-Platinum) and 15 Top 40 singles in the UK, thanks to their infectious,  Michael/Janet Jackson influenced pop. They were known for their extravagant costumes (all designed by Stedman) and also won the 1987 Brit Award for Best British Group.

Comprised of five members of the Pearson family from Romford, Greater London. Known for their flamboyant image, matching costumes and heavily choreographed dance routines. Masterminded by their father and manager, Buster Pearson in the style of Jackson 5. Buster Pearson set up the label Tent to release the group's records. Five Star Orchestra is the label's orchestra. During their heyday (1985-1988) the group collaborated with a series of top producers from the time.

Their debut single was released on Tent in 1983 and although it did not chart, it gave them TV exposure and a record deal with RCA Records. After two unsuccessful singles in 1984, their chart breakthrough came in 1985 with the release of All Fall Down which peaked at #15 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also enjoyed limited success in the US.

What followed was an astounding string of 14 more Top 40 hits in the UK, cementing their place as one of Britain's most popular recording acts in the second half of the 1980s. During this time, they also made continual in-roads on the US R&B and Dance Charts.

However, 1988 saw a swift drop-off in chart action for the group. An attempt to change their clean-cut image to a more adult-oriented leather-clad look, matched with a slightly harder-edged dance sound and a subsequent shift from RCA Records to Epic Records failed to correct course.

Then, in 1989, while promoting With Every Heartbeat, the group made an infamous appearance on the British children's TV show Going Live. During a live phone-in, a teenage caller verbally abused the group and asked why they were "so fucking crap".

In 1989, Stedman, on the verge of bankruptcy, was forced to move his family out of their mansion. To make matters worse, in October of 1990, Stedman Pearson pleaded guilty to a charge of public indecency, after being arrested in a public toilet in New Malden in London. 

After a second album on Epic failed to chart (although, to be fair, it was not released in the UK) the label cut ties with the group. Star Five soldiered on, releasing albums on their own label in 1995 and 2001. By then, the group was honed to a trio consisting of Stedman, Denise and Lorraine.

More family turmoil followed in 2007, Stedman called the cops after receiving threats from his father, Buster. 

In 2009, Denise went on to have a limited solo career and the group continues to make periodically live appearances.

All Fall Down - Five Star

Let Me Be The One - Five Star

Love Take Over - Five Star

System Addict - Five Star

Can't Wait Another Minute - Five Star

Find The Time - Five Star

Rain Or Shine - Five Star

Whenever You're Ready - Five Star

Another Weekend - Five Star

With Every Heartbeat - Five Star

Profile - Five Star

from the television program Going Live

Shine - Five Star

I Love You For Sentimental Reasons - Five Star

Hit Medley - Five Star

Performed on Celebrity Big Brother

(2012)

 

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Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: The Danse Society

Wonderland Burlesque's

 Down The Rabbit Hole:

 The Danse Society

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the early work and history of The Danse Society.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

The Danse Society (formerly known as Y? or Danse Crazy) are an English electronic gothic rock band, formed in Barnsley in 1980. They were originally active until 1986, reforming in 2011. Achieving moderate success during their career, their lineup included Steve Rawlings (vocals), Paul Nash (guitar), Lyndon Scarfe (keyboards), Tim Wright (bass guitar) and Paul Gilmartin (drums). Scarfe was replaced by David Whitaker (formerly of Music for Pleasure) after the Heaven Is Waiting album.

Danse Society recorded and released their first single, Clock, on their own newly formed record label Society in 1980. They released their debut studio album, Seduction, in 1982. It reached #3 on the UK Indie Chart.

Their second studio album, Heaven Is Waiting, was released in December of 1983 on record label Arista. It reached #39 in the UK albums chart. The album contained a cover of The Rolling Stones' song 2000 Light Years from Home, which was edited in 1984 as a 12" single and as a limited-edition double single. The band also recorded a single with producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman, Say It Again, on the insistence of Arista.

In an attempt to break the band in a big way, Arista release a one-off single Hold On (To What You've Got). It failed and the band was released from their contract.

In 1986, after releasing their final album, Looking Through, as The Danse Society International, all of the band members except lead singer Rawlings left to form Johnny in the Clouds.

Rawlings continued as Society, and in 1987, released a single, Saturn Girl, after which, The Danse Society name was retired.

A campaign titled The Danse Society Reformation Plot was started on Facebook at the end of 2009 and succeeded in bringing most of the band back together. A new album was begun, with Rawlings on vocals, but his stay was short-lived. With new vocalist Maethelyiah from the group Blooding Mask, The Danse Society released their fourth studio album, Change of Skin, in July of 2011. They released two singles from the album, God Cry and Vatican, with a live appearance - their first in 25 years - at a German music festival in 2012.

Their fifth studio album, Scarey Tales, was released in February of 2013. In February of 2014, the band announced the sudden departure of two key members, resulting in the cancellation of a series of tour dates. The remaining members regrouped and soldiered on with an ever-changing line-up, releasing three more albums. Their latest, The Loop, was released in 2024. 

It was announced on August 6, 2024 that original drummer Paul Gilmartin had died.

The Clock - The Danse Society

Heaven Is Waiting - The Danse Society

2000 Light Years From Home - The Danse Society

Say It Again - The Danse Society

Hold On (To What You've Got) - The Danse Society

Saturn Girl - The Danse Society

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Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Lene Lovich

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole: 

Lana Pellay

Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.

Today, we take a look at the work and history of the multi-talented performer Lana Pellay.

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From Wikipedia and other sources:

Lene Lovich is an American-British singer and animal rights activist known for her interesting stage fashion and unique vocals. She first gained attention in 1979 with the release of her hit single Lucky Number, which peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart and made her a leading figure of the new wave music scene. To this day, she continues to have a very devoted fanbase.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Lovich moved to England at the age of 13, where she met guitarist and songwriter Les Chappell, who later became her long-time music collaborator and life partner. She developed an interest in art and theater, enrolling at the Central School of Art and Design in the autumn of 1968, where she took saxophone lessons. She would spend the next seven years performing and writing in various capacities, more on the fringe of the entertainment world; she danced as both a go-go girl and an oriental dancer, visited Salvador Dali at his home in Spain, and dabbled in various theatrical productions. 

In 1975, she joined the band the Diversions and shortly afterwards wrote the lyrics to Cerrone's single Supernature. The Diversion released three singles and an album on Polydor Records without success. After the band broke up, Lovich started looking for another band to join and contacted the radio presenter Charlie Gillett, who got her to record a demo of Tommy James and the Shondells' song I Think We're Alone Now and played it to Dave Robinson of Stiff Records, who decided to sign Lovich. The song was released as a single and appeared on her debut studio album Stateless (1978), which produced the single Lucky Number.

Lovich's musical style combined her own quirky inventions with contemporary punk rock and new wave styles.

She released two more albums, Flex (1979) and No Man's Land (1982), on Stiff Records, as well as the EP New Toy, featuring the title song written by Thomas Dolby. 

Lovich co-wrote with Chappell and Chris Judge Smith and performed Mata Hari, a play/musical at the Lyric Hammersmith, London in October and November 1982. During this time she was having disputes with Stiff. The success of the show and pressure from Epic, her U.S. label, persuaded Stiff to release and promote No Man's Land.

After leaving Stiff, she independently released the sing Don't Kill The Animals with Nina Hagen and began making concert appearances on behalf of the organization PETA. 

In 1989, she independently released the album March - which contained the US dance hit Wonderland - before taking a 15-year recording hiatus. She completed several tours of the US and contributed to several projects. After having focused on her family, she came back in 2005 with the release of her album Shadows and Dust. In 2013, she established her own publishing label, Flex Music, and released a re-mastered version of all her previous albums in a limited edition box set. She continues to make occasional live appearances and as well as contributing to various music projects.

Lucky Number - Lene Lovich

Say When - Lene Lovich

Bird Song - Lene Lovich

New Toy - Lene Lovich

It's You, Only You (Mein Schmerz) - Lene Lovich

Don't Kill The Animals - Lene Lovich and Nina Hagen

Wonderland - Lene Lovich

(New York Extended Mix)

 

 

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