Contact (Platinum Blonde album)
| Contact | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Label | CBS Canada - 80105 | |||
| Producer | Mark Holmes, David Bendeth, Bernard Edwards, John Dexter | |||
| Platinum Blonde chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Contact | ||||
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Contact is the third studio album by the Canadian band Platinum Blonde, released in 1987.[1][2] It sold more than 150,000 copies in its first year of release.[3][4] The album reached a high of 20 on the Canadian charts. The first single was the title track; its video was shot at Lamport Stadium.[5]
The supporting tour was a disappointment, with the band forced to cancel dates due to low ticket sales; the band claimed that the cancellations were due to substance abuse issues.[6][7]
Production[edit]
CBS Canada pushed the band to adopt a style that would appeal to U.S. album-oriented rock radio stations; the company admitted its mistake when Canadian sales declined.[8] Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner sang on the cover version of "Fire".[9]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
The Gazette wrote that "lead singer Mark Holmes has little or no vocal personality, but at least this time he keeps the whining to a minimum."[11] The Vancouver Sun determined that Platinum Blonde "do a pretty fair Duran Duran imitation, only their lyrics are a little dumber, their melodies aren't as catchy and ... they don't exactly measure up in the looks department, either."[12] The Ottawa Citizen called the album "reminiscent, although not imitative, of the metalized funk of Power Station."[13]
The Kingston Whig-Standard deemed the band "talented craftsman who do deserve respect if not superstardom."[1] The Toronto Star labeled Contact "an album rooted in the hot, street-tough funk of New York City, not in the fluff of snow-covered hockey arenas, suburban high school dances or video dreams."[14]
Track list[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Contact" | Mark Holmes, Kenny MacLean, David Bendeth | Holmes, Bendeth | 3:56 |
| 2. | "Connect Me" | Sergio Galli, MacLean | Holmes, Bendeth | 3:46 |
| 3. | "Diamonds" | Holmes | Holmes, Bendeth | 3:11 |
| 4. | "If You Go This Time" | Holmes, MacLean, Chris Wardman | Holmes, John Dexter | 3:59 |
| 5. | "System" | Holmes, Galli, MacLean | Bernard Edwards | 3:25 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Fire" | Ohio Players | Holmes, Bendeth | 3:51 |
| 7. | "Tough Enough" | Holmes | Edwards | 3:30 |
| 8. | "Automatic Drive" | Holmes | Holmes, Bendeth | 3:46 |
| 9. | "Chaperone Sally" | Holmes, Galli, MacLean | Holmes | 3:33 |
| 10. | "I Might Have You" | Holmes, MacLean | Holmes, Bendeth | 3:17 |
| 11. | "Beauty of the Beast" | Holmes, MacLean, Bendeth | Holmes, Bendeth | 3:46 |
Credits[edit]
Platinum Blonde:
- Sergio Galli: guitar, backing vocals
- Mark Holmes: lead and backing vocals, guitar
- Kenny MacLean: bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Sascha Tukatsch: drums, percussion
with:
- David Bendeth: guitar
- Jeff Bova: keyboards
- Michelle Cobbs: backing vocals
- Claude Desjardins: percussion, keyboards, drums
- Bernard Edwards: bass
- Peter Fredette: backing vocals
- Eddie Martinez: guitar
- B.J. Nelson: backing vocals
- Lou Pomanti: bass, keyboards
- Fonzi Thornton of Chic (band): backing vocals
- Uptown Horns: horns
- Tony Thompson: drums, percussion
- Tom Weir: drums, percussion
Engineers:
- Jay Mark, Scott Church, Don Wershba, Bruce Robbins, Randy Staub
References[edit]
- ^ a b Burliuk, Greg (28 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde Loses Hair Color But Gains Respect". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Entertainment. p. 1.
- ^ "Platinum Blonde Biography by Keith Pettipas". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Platinum Blonde cancels Maritime section of tour". Ottawa Citizen. 19 Jan 1988. p. D19.
- ^ "Platinum Blonde". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
- ^ Gross, Jonathan (September 12, 1987). "Fast Forward". Toronto Star. p. S28.
- ^ MacInnis, Craig (21 Jan 1988). "Platinum Blonde's eastern tour killed". Toronto Star. p. B1.
- ^ O'Connor, Tim (9 Mar 1988). "Platinum Blonde cleaning up its act". Ottawa Citizen. p. E7.
- ^ Quill, Greg (14 Feb 1988). "The bubble has popped for teen-oriented music". Toronto Star. p. D1.
- ^ MacInnis, Craig (October 9, 1987). "Contact Platinum Blonde". Toronto Star. p. E4.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Lepage, Mark (15 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde: Contact". The Gazette. p. E7.
- ^ Mackie, John (17 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde: Contact". Vancouver Sun. p. C10.
- ^ Erskine, Evelyn (23 Oct 1987). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. D5.
- ^ Quill, Greg (7 June 1988). "Platinum Blonde a musical powerhouse". Toronto Star. p. F1.