Change (band)
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| Change | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Bologna, Italy |
| Genre(s) | R&B, disco |
| Years active | 1979–1986 |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros., Atlantic, London |
| Associated acts | Luther Vandross |
| Former members | |
| Luther Vandross Jocelyn Brown Timmy Allen Diva Gray Deborah Cooper James Robinson Mike Cambell Vince Henry Jeff Bova Rick Gallwey Rick Brennan Toby Johnson |
|
Change was an American Disco/R&B group formed in Bologna, Italy in 1979 by the creative genius of businessman and executive producer Jacques Fred Petrus (1949-1986) and Mauro Malavasi (1958-). They were heavily influenced by legendary disco band Chic.
Contents |
[edit] Career
The band's debut album, The Glow Of Love, was released in 1980 and featured the million seller "A Lover's Holiday". The follow-up hits from the album, "Searching" and the title song feature lead vocals by the then unknown Luther Vandross. The three songs combined spent 9 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Disco charts, enough to make it the #1 Disco album of the year and a million seller in the U.S. The success of "Searching" and "The Glow Of Love" exposed Luther's voice to mainstream and eventually led to a successful solo career starting in 1981. The follow-up album, Miracles, featured the hits "Paradise", "Hold Tight," and "Heaven Of My Life," which, combined, spent 6 weeks at the number one spot in 1981 on Billboard's Disco chart. Due to contractual differences, Luther refused to sing lead on any of the album's tracks and was only featured on backing vocals on selected songs. By now, James Robinson and Diva Gray had replaced Vandross. After Miracles, Luther continued to provide backup vocals for the group until 1981, when heleft Change to pursue his solo career in 1981. Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi wrote and produced Luther Vandross' first solo single, "Never Too Much".
Following Vandross' departure, Petrus and Malavasi sought out a similar-sounding vocalist. They didn't have to look far when they discovered that back-up singer James Robinson had a similar vocal style as Luther. Change's third album, Sharing Your Love, featured the R&B-ish "The Very Best In You." The single was a departure from the group's usual disco sound. The groups fourth album, This Is Your Time, failed to chart a major hit, and afterwards lead singer James Robinson left to pursue a solo career. Producers David Romani and Mauro Malavasi also left to do other projects. With the future of Change in jeopardy, Petrus hired the help of up and rising producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The result led to the group having their first top ten R&B hit in three years with the title song from their Change Of Heart album in 1984. The following year the band released their final album, Turn On Your Radio, which featured the minor hit "Let's Go Together." From 1982 through 1985 Deborah Cooper, later famous of C+C Music Factory was recruited as the primary female lead vocalist.[1] Change was dissolved in 1986 after the death of Petrus that year.
In 2001, American R&B/pop singer Janet Jackson featured a sample of Change's The Glow Of Love in her number 1 single "All for You".
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1980: The Glow Of Love (Warner Bros.) - US #29, R&B #10
- 1981: Miracles (Atlantic) - US #46, R&B #9
- 1982: Sharing Your Love (London) - US #66, R&B #14
- 1983: This Is Your Time (Atlantic) - US #161, R&B #34
- 1984: Change Of Heart (Atlantic) - US #102
- 1985: Turn On Your Radio (Atlantic) - R&B #64
- 1998: The Very Best of Change (Rhino)
[edit] Singles
- 1980: "A Lover's Holiday" - US #40, R&B #5
- 1980: "Searching" - R&B #22
- 1980: "The Glow Of Love" - R&B #49
- 1981: "Paradise" - US #80, R&B #7
- 1981: "Hold Tight" - US #89, R&B #40
- 1982: "The Very Best In You" - US #84, R&B #16
- 1982: "Hard Times (It's Gonna Be Alright)" - R&B #71
- 1983: "This Is Your Time" - R&B #33
- 1983: "Don't Wait Another Night" - R&B #89
- 1984: "Change of Heart" - R&B #7
- 1984: "It Burns Me Up" - R&B #61
- 1985: "Let's Go Together" - R&B #56
[edit] Sources
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
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