SSML-51, 9 February 1997.
Hi everyone,
Quite a few submissions this time, so I'll shut up and just let you read them
Mike.
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Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 21:06:55 +0000
From: neilg@netmatters.co.uk (N.Goward)
Subject: Shakespears Sister Web page
Hi Everyone
I'd like to announce the re-posting of my Shakespears Sister Web
Site it's now at
http://www.netmatters.co.uk/users/neilg/
Please feel free to come along and have a look, I would appreciate your
opinions/comments...If anyone has any corrections or additions please tell me.
[It looks fantastic Neil. Congratulations on all your hard work. The concert dates
and TV appearances are particularly fascinating. I hope some of the fans outside the
UK will be able to provide additions to all these entries. I assume most people have
Web access, but if anyone can't get to this, or the other SS and Marcy web sites, let
me know and I'll email you the information that's on them. Mike]
I'm also after ideas for other things to add. I like the sound of Grant's idea of helping
to generate interest in the new album, but am at a loss as to what to do!!! Any ideas ??
[Chain your naked body to the front gates of the BBC? :-) First of all, I guess we
need to hassle Polygram in our own countries with the question "when is the new SS
single/album coming out?"; write to the music papers, ring up radio/tv stations; make
up our own flyers and stick them all over the place etc. Mike] Regards Neil
####################################################
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1997 04:55:29 -0800
From: Denny Garbuio
Subject: Hey kids
Well finally after some time I have decided to sit down and write this.
What the hell is Marcy doing releasing b-sides as singles? That seems silly. I don't
really care for her first two singles, but I would buy the album if it were available in
Canada (will it ever be?!). Anyways has anyone ever seen any of her videos? Current
or otherwise? I'd like to know what they're like. What's the album like? Anyone know
why she decided to break her contract with London records?
[So many questions Denny, so little time.... Marcy's videos have mostly been very
interesting. "I Believe" was filmed outdoors in a huge paddock/wheat field (?),
probably on film as it appears in a "letter box" format on TV. There are a lot of
crowd scenes with Marcy in the middle. "I'm No Angel" was filmed inside a old
army tank I think I read. It features a "kooky" Marcy playing a juvenile character
throwing paint and objects etc. around everywhere inside a "room" full of furniture
etc. I haven't seen videos for Ain't Nothing... and Perfect World. I Hate You Now
is a bright and fun video with Marcy tied up in a straight-jacket type thing at one
point. Haven't seen Boy yet...
Here is what Marcy had to say on her website back in July 1996 about leaving
London Records:
"Enough of that ! - HAPPY - the most exciting thing about this new album of mine
is a real sense of freedom. I'm no longer on London Records - my manager
managed to negotiate me off the label and suggested that we start our own label
without the corporation "beefcake" flexing it's all consuming muscle behind us. So
we are now independent ! ! ! risky, but very exciting, almost like bungee jumping ! !
Now - is great ! "
As for the albums, it took me a LONG time to get into Jewel, and I still can't stay
it's my favourite album, apart from I Believe and I'm No Angel which are both
classics. BUT, I love 5 out of the 7 tracks that I've heard so far of the new material,
so things are looking good. Mike.]
Her reviews were half-decent. Too bad she's doing so poorly...
Anyways, here are my latest reviews on SS remixes. At least SS know how to make a
great remix!! Marcy take note: no one wants to buy a cd single which features only b-
sides. Throw in some remixes and rare or non-album tracks!!
I CAN DRIVE (pull your pants down mix/dub) -brilliant as always!! I'll never
understand why these weren't released as a CD single. They would have fared very
well. Prodigy meets Shakespear's Sister! Great dance potential! The fuckers at
London...
[With the great SS tradition of padding out CD singles with old remixes, hopefully
these mixes will turn up on future singles...... M.]
I CAN DRIVE (Roger Weed)
-very bizarre, almost too strange even for me, but this remix really has grown on me
lately. I have always admired Siobhan for being experimental, and this remix proves
it...
BREAK MY HEART (yesterday, today mix)
-a mellow but very likeable mix. This is a great song, and I like this mix a lot. Where
is it from? Was this a dj release? SS never disappoints...
BREAK MY HEART (rhythm stick DJ mix)
-these dj mixes are generally quite similar to the original versions with the exception
of varying intros/outros and such. I do like this one though because it retains the
quality of the original. It's a good dance version and I like it...
BREAK MY HEART (copa mix)
-a mildly remixed version of the original. Where do these mixes come from? Why
have I never heard of them? Are they promo/dj only releases? It's a nice little remix
but it doesn't make me want to go out and buy it...
[This and the yesterday, today mix are both on the US 12" for BMH. Highly
recommended. M.]
BREAK MY HEART (razormaid DJ mix)
-all these dj mixes! Who pays them? Do they do it for fun, for money, for the love of
S Sister? This mix is good, but at this point I've heard so many mixes of BMH I'm
kinda sick of the song. Nah!! But this version does a good job of pumping up the
original...
HEROINE (heavenly mix)
-FANTASTIC!! An awesome mix. I wish this had been featured as a b-side to all
those Hormonally Yours singles. Really well done, and the best remix of this song.
Very BT featuring Tori Amos (another great track by the way--so check it out!)...
HEROINE (novella remix)
-is this a remix? I remember my friend found this mix at an import store but when he
brought it home you had to wonder whether it was any different from the regular
remix. Nothing stands out here. Anyone agree?
[this sounds exactly like the lp mix to me.......but I haven't done a side-by- side
comparison. M.]
RUN SILENT (revolution dub) / BREAK MY HEART (break my dub) -even the dub
versions by SS are great!! I LOVE THIS SONG--always have. This is a great dub
(like Black Sky) and it's wonderful. So many other groups release shit dub versions,
but this one stands on its own. Same goes for the latter track...
PRETTY BOY
-my friend really liked this track and thought it would have made a great single, but I
was a bit disappointed. I guess I was hoping it would sound more like Mr. Wrong or
You Made Me... It's an interesting little ditty, but doesn't really grab me. Who is the
songwriter?
[Marcy and Siobhan wrote this. This is the great lost SS b-side.....M.]
YOU'RE HISTORY (maximized)
-a great remix!! Brings back a lot of memories for me. SS hitting the charts and
breaking new ground for Siobhan. I must say I miss Marcy in the group. She played a
big part vocally, if nothing else...
I also wanted to add that I bought THE LAST SHOUT--The Ab Fab TV Movie and
Marcy is indeed featured as an angel at two points in the show. She looks great,
blonde steaks in her hair. She wrote a few tracks for the film. My friend said she saw
her in an ad in a Japanese magazine and that she just looked old and tired, wrinkly.
At the end of the part 1, Jennifer Saunders thinks she is Jesus Christ and puts red
lipstick smudgingly on her lips and paints rosey cheeks on her face. You can't help but
think it's meant to mock Siobhan! I swear, it's strange. Then she places a crown of
shells (thorns) on her head and voila! Siobhan! It looks like a cross between her in
The Face photo spread and Stay video. Weird that Marcy was in the show, then this.
Also, check the b-side for I DON'T CARE cd single and you'll see that YOU'RE
History is spelt incorrectly as YOUR HISTORY (yours not mine!). A proofreading
error!!
Finally, you should know that on the Dead or Alive mailing list, Siobhan was voted
by several people as the person they'd most want to see do a song with Pete Burns!!
That's fab, I didn't even consider it, but they would look wonderful together. Deborah
Harry also got a few votes.
Ta ta kids!! Any release news?
Denny
Is this mailing list being emailed to Siobhan and the people at London at the web site?
They should be, and if you're not doing so, please start! The record execs need to
know the opinions of the fans!! We count!! Because without us, they'd be out of a job!
################################################
Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 23:47:47 -0500
From: Chhavi Ghuliani
Subject: Great ideas
Hey Gang.
I think the trading post is a great idea. However, I live in New Jersey , USA and SS is
almost impossible to find out about here. I can find out about US release dates though
(no info yet). At any rate, I desperately need someone in the UK (or anywhere) to get
me copies of Feeler and Shakespear's Sister when both albums are finally released.
What can I offer? Well, not much. I have the "I Can Drive" and "I Hate You Now"
CD singles as well as some stuff people on the list have generously taped for me.
I hope this works out. Has there been any promotion for this mailing list? If you'd
like I can try and get more people interested. One obvious way would be to include a
link to this mailing list on the various SS pages that are around.
Chhavi
P.S. Washington D.C. is not in any state. :-)
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Date: Sun, 02 Feb 1997 13:59:23 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: SS trade Sweden
Hi everyone,
This is a preliminary list of what I have to trade:
- Some copies of 'somebody's mother'(plus Miss Anne Throp) left
- I hate you now CD single
-Bananarama -Preacher Man (Shep Mix)
-Plus some Dead or Alive stuff, for those interested.
- Marcy- I'm no Angel (4 track)
What I can easily get:
-Marcy's 'Feeler'
-Some 7" and 12"s from BANANARAMA (they are often floating around, you can
let me know)
-Bananarama CD single 'Only your love'
What I want:
SS- I don't care CD single (includes Henley mix)
SS- Any other unusual mixes
Any Dead or Alive CD singles/ or other stuff
Hope to hear from you soon. Grant
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Date: Mon, 03 Feb 1997 18:28:23 +1300
From: S M Mager
Subject: Re: SSML-50, 2 February 1997
Hi'yall
>I can get spare copies of [blah blah]
It's a great Idea and I think one worth pursuing, except of a few small catches: I'm
severely out of the loop of trying to find anything here for trades - as I am sure other
will be. Oh Mike, did you know the reissue of Sacred Heart has a different CD? Its a
different colour and may have a different emblem on it - I've only seen it once and
knew that it wasn't the same as my white one.
[Hmmmm, the recently reissued mid-price Australian version seems to have an all-
green disc; but the most recent copy I bought was still white/green. Perhaps it was old
stock. Mike]
> I, for example, as soon as the new SS single comes out, am going to hound >the
local and national radio stations, the local music TV channel and the >local music
press to write reviews, play the single, cause some commotion. If >we all do that, we
can generate more interest. Especially now that the CD >will be out so soon. We
have time to organise something.
Great for those itinerant vagrants among us :-> but some are less temporally endowed.
> We should organise an on-line release party for the new album......
Better yet would be if someone could find a personal venue for telnet chatting (?)
>And finally, we should encourage the people doing the SS home-pages to add
>some new stuff. To create anticipation for the new album.....Work with me
>people.
What a personal dig? How harsh :->
If I can persuade my contacts, I'll try push to merge some of the Bananarama
material net sites to include more shakespears sister stuff .. right now I'm converging
the two discographies on the banana unofficial netsite - so that'll provide more
cyperspace venue for shakespears sister.
> [So is this a coincidence or not?? Mike.]
What? no, The personal Eddie Monsoon was first used in an early comic strip film
(Comic Strip was a platoon of UK comedians doing send-up films starring Rik
Mayall, Ade Edmonson, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Robbie Coltrane and others
over a period spanning the 80's)- Edward monsoon - played by Ade Edmonson (the
character was a gangster), the name was used in two different comic strip films, and
then it was pulled into a French & Saunders skit in 1993 Adriana Monsoon. This skit
was then developed into the Absolutely Fabulous programme that we should all love
and adore. The sheer fact that there is a photographer with the same name, is purely
coincidental, I believe, said photographer has worked with other bands apart from
Marcy, and at the time that Marcella was in Shakespears Sister - Abfab was still a
tinkle in Jennifer Saunders eyes.....Sorry you asked?
S
################################################
Apologies to Nico for "stealing" this from the Bananarama mailing list:
Subj: Can Charts
From: 103521.3636@CompuServe.COM (Nico Barrett)
[Bananarama chart positions]
..... The above stats come from 'The Record' Canada's chart guide. It also lists to SS
singles Stay (reached #2) and I Don't Care (#11).
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Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 18:01:06 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: Re: Re: SS Sweden-vinyl
....By the way I contacted the Irish Film Commission about Clean Break. They replied
today and said they'd get back to me, though Channel 4 would have more information.
Do you think the guy in the UK could check it out, that is, if it will be available on
video. I'd love to see Siobhan the actress. Grant
[Does anyone know where you can get an TV schedules for the UK Channel 4 on the
'net? The BBC have their own web site, but it naturally doesn't list their competitor
:-) Mike.]
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Date: Sun, 02 Feb 1997 18:22:57 -0500 (EST)
From: KennWalsh@aol.com
Subject: Re: Washington, DC
Hey Mike, it's Kenneth in DC. I saw your breakdown of list subscribers, so I though
I would give a little DC info to you and the list. As you know, Washington is the
capital city of the United States -- but what many people don't know (foreigners and
many -- blush -- Americans alike) is that it's not in any state. DC stands for the
District of Columbia, so Washington is actually a self-contained city with its own
mayor (a convicted drug user who served jail time) and government. It has many
problems -- but is a beautiful place nonetheless ...
Take care!
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Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 17:21:32 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Hey Mike !!
How about a survey for the mailing list??
I'd love to do one. If you want you can have the votes sent to my address
and I'll work out the results. I'd be glad to!! What do you think?
Here is what we could ask:
1) TOP 5 A-side singles
2) TOP 5 B-side singles
3) TOP 5 album-only tracks
4) TOP 5 remixes
5) Favourite Album
6) Favourite Album sleeve
7) TOP 5 single sleeves
8) TOP 3 videos
When Feeler is released everywhere, we could also do a Marcy survey, why not?
BYE FOR NOW,
MAX
[Ok, why not? Send the votes to Max at: scooter@webshuttle.ch ]
SSML-52, 14 February 1997
Hi,
Bye,
Mike. (yes, very short of time ;-))
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Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 12:14:50 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: SS SWEDEN
--------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone,
I'm sorry if I upset some people with my ideas, particularly concerning the
home-pages, but as I said they were just suggestions. I think you guys do a great job, I
was trying to encourage more of us to be involved. I hope we can throw ideas around
without people being offended.
About the Marcy videos somebody asked about. The video for 'Aint Nothing' with
Elton John, was a really expensive clip that mixed some computer graphics with live
shots. It was only played once on MTV Europe, and from what I remember, was
brightly coloured and at one point Marcy comes spinning out of a flower. It was quite
surreal. The I'm no Angel video was brilliant, but also only played once on MTV
Europe. As Mike said, it was in a tank and Marcy plays a woman, a man and a child.
The woman and the man(Marcy in full-beard and Elvis side-burns) have a huge fight.
The women ties the guy up(at one point he has a paper bag on his head). Then come
the kid totally pissed off and smashes the place with paint and everything. This, was a
brilliant video, but not seen by many. Was a video ever released for these clips. As
far as I know there was no video for Perfect World, though I could be wrong. The I
believe video on the other hand got huge airplay on MTV Europe. It is still often
played, and is beautifully done. ('I believe' was actually number one in Israel for ages,
and Jewel was huge there- does anyone know how Feeler is going there?)
For those who don't have Feeler yet, I think you will be surprised. It has quite a
different feel to the first two singles. I love this album.
See Ya! Grant
P.S Has anyone noticed the new band 'Alisha's Attic'- my God, they have moments
of sounding like SS. And it no surprise. Apparently the two girls lived in a flat in
London owned by Siobhan's sister. They ultimately met Dave Stewart who produced
their album called 'Alisha Rule the World'. Its not bad- definitely SS inspired. In an
interview they said they totally love SS, but don't think they sound like them. Sorry
girls...
[I thought they were a kind of rip-off of the group Shampoo at first (except _good_)
but the more I hear of them, the more interesting they become Mike]
******************************************************
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 21:19:53 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Subject: $$ Mailing List
CIAO !!!
I realised some time ago that the voice performing backing vocals on the chorus of "I
Can Drive" is very similar to Marcy's voice!!
Has anyone else noticed it?? Comments?
[Well, having such a different voice does provide a good balance to
Siobhan........Mike]
MAX
*****************************************************
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 22:51:03 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Subject: SS Mailing List
Hi Everyone !! !! !! !!
If we want more subscribers, we must get the Mailing List address (and the Web
Sites addresses) printed on the cover of the new $$ single/album/promo
poster/leaflet/print/press release/etc ... Maybe the Fan Club could be of help! ...
Opinions?
MAX
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Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 05:41:27 -0800
From: Denny Garbuio
Subject: Re:
A couple things which I will mention later as I am too pooped from my little trip to
Seattle. SS also appeared on the soundtrack for Nuns On the Run with the song
Sacred Heart. I noticed this the other day.
Also, you may want to mention the HY--The Remixes which is apparently out there.
[Has anyone heard of some release called Hormonally Yours -The Remixes? The
only thing I can think of is that the re-released album (with 7" remixes replacing the
original album versions of Goodbye Cruel World, Stay, I Don't Care and Hello) may
be referred to by some people as HY-The Remixes. Or was there a Japanese maxi-
single CD????
Mike.]
Denny
More later. I'm dead...
SSML-53, 28 February 1997
G'day!
The latest word from the official Fan Club is that Siobhan was mixing a few songs
with producer Steve Lironi in London during January. These sessions have been
taking place at both the Mayfair and Whitfield Street studios in London. A meeting
should have just taken place between Siobhan and the record company in which the
next single will be decided, which will be released shortly.
Some of the AlterSleaze articles I forwarded a while ago (in SSML45) have been
confirmed as true, i.e.:
31 May:
Siobhan says:
"What a struggle it has been for me as a woman to take control of my own life and my
own creative destiny. I don't think I'm a freak in that. It's exactly where most women
are today. At times I can be volatile. I'm a time bomb. I have a long gradual build up
before I explode. My bomb probably goes off more often than I think." Fahey and
Stewart have two children, SAM, five, and eight-year- old DJANGO. But their
relationship is anything but normal. Fahey adds, "Dave didn't expect a normal person.
Any relationship is like a battle. It's not true that our relationship is great, but we do
our best to muddle on. Most families these days can't function because of the way
society is crumbling."
26 June:
SHAKESPEARS SISTER star SIOBHAN FAHEY stands guard over her son's record
collection....
20 August:
[Siobhan] explains [about the marriage split], "It's not easy at all. For years and years
I didn't recognise there was a conflict in our household. We've got different
viewpoints and Dave works on such a huge canvas. It's also difficult to live with
someone who is so recognisable and so famous. It erodes your sense of self when
you're being venerated first and foremost as his wife."
The rest are completely rubbish according to the fan club (the ones where Marcy and
Siobhan supposedly have slanging matches). The club says that M & S have not
communicated at all with each other since the split.
Special thanks to Lisa LaDouceur for this information.
Now on with the rest.
Enjoy,
Mike.
P.S. Some back issues of the mailing list are now available at Neil Goward's web site.
Huge thanks, and three cheers to Neil! http://www.netmatters.co.uk/users/neilg/
******************************************************
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 13:49:57 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Subject: R: SSML-52, 14 February 1997
COMMENTS, COMMENTS, COMMENTS, COMMENTS, ...
> I'm sorry if I upset some people with my ideas, particularly concerning the home-
pages, but as I said they were just > suggestions.
In my opinion, you have no reasons to be sorry at all!! Your suggestions were great. If
we want to obtain something we must come up with all possible ideas and work
together.
> About the Marcy videos somebody asked about. The video for 'Aint > Nothing'
with Elton John, was a really expensive clip that mixed some > computer graphics
with live shots. It was only played once on MTV > Europe
NO, it was played more often! The single went to #24 in the UK, not a bad chart
placing. The song was also played several times on Swiss radios. It was in a Swiss
radio chart, too at thirty-something.
> For those who don't have Feeler yet, I think you will be surprised. It > has quite a
different feel to the first two singles. I love this album.
Yes, it's a wonderful album!! Buy it!! It's really worth the wait!!! I didn't find a song I
don't like on that album. It's very different from "Jewel", too ... it's better!!
> P.S Has anyone noticed the new band 'Alisha's Attic'- my God, they > have
moments of sounding like SS.
Yeah!! I have 2 singles: "I Am, I Feel" (UK #15) and "Alisha Rules The World"
(UK#12). Not bad at all!! I read a review on a German magazine. It said that they're
the new Bangles and that their music also remind to Shakespears Sister. Both single
charted in Germany at around #60 - #70. A UK review said that the "Alisha Rules The
World" single was Fisher Price music.
:-(
> [I thought they were a kind of rip-off of the group Shampoo]
Don't mention Shampoo! Everytime I see a CD of theirs I think it's Bananarama and I
get a heart-attack!! They are so similar to Sarah & Keren! By the way, I don't think I
ever heard a song from that Shampoo, so does anyone know what their songs are like?
> The only thing I can think of is that the re-released > album (with 7" remixes
replacing the original album versions > of Goodbye Cruel World, Stay, I Don't Care
and Hello).
... and the New Version of "Are We In Love Yet", which is fabulous, far better that
the original LP Version! I have always wondered why they released "My 16th
Apology" instead of releasing this song!!
BYE, MAX
*******************************************
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 1997 10:40:04 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: SS SWEDEN 2
Just some SS trivia.
Any Dead or Alive fans out there might be surprised to hear that Dead or Alive
sampled a SS groove on the song 'Sleep with you'. The groove is found at the end of
Black Sky (the green eyed dub mix), and is opening sound of 'Sleep with you'.
Pete and Siobhan Forever
Grant
*******************************************
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 23:41:10 -0800
From: Denny Garbuio
Subject: High-pitched squeals
I think this pseudo-Marcy backup vocalist is more obvious in the song Suddenly. I
guess the record execs didn't want to disappoint the fans too much, so they have said
to Siobhan to produce a similar sound with a new backing vocalist.
So you're not the only one Max who noticed...
Denny
************************************
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 22:35:19 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Subject: $$
Hi everyone!!!
I am very unpleased to inform you that I have just received a fax from the UK,
confirming that there is no info yet on any release date for a $$ single/album. Another
delay? Probably!
The good news is that the release of Marcy's single "Flower" on CD single & cassette
single is confirmed for Monday 24th (February, of course).
If anyone would like to order a copy of this single, but don't know where to order it
from, E-mail me at: scooter@webshuttle.ch I'd be please to help!! §:-D
I will send to the list all the details of the single (tracks, sleeve) as soon as I get it.
... THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!!!
mAx
**********************************************
From: Ishihara Hideki 24003
Recently(About 2 months ago) I saw MTV Japan. It broadcasted Marcella Detroit's
live concert. It was good. Especially "Flower", "Kidd"," Boy" were good.
My favorite musicians are:
Aerosmith, Alanis Morissette, Alice In Chains, Bad Religion, Basia, China Drum, Foo
Fighters, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Gloria Estefan, Manic Street Preachers,
Marcella Detroit, Nirvana, Offspring, Pearl Jam, Pineforest Crunch, Screaming Trees,
Sheryl Crow, Silverchair, Skid Row, Soul Asylum, The Presidents of the United
States of America
Thanks for lyrics again
Hideki
************************************
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 1997 17:37:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Chhavi Ghuliani
Subject: Feeler!
Thanks to Grant in Sweden I finally got a copy of "Feeler." It's a fantastic record! I
think even those that were sorely disappointed with "Jewel" would like this album.
It's more alternative and really funky. Some of the killer tunes are "Without
Medication," "The Same Father," "Somebody's Mother" and "Flower." Go get this
CD guys!
And thanks Grant!
Chhavi
SSML-54, 14 March 1997.
Hi there,
On the Bananarama mailing list they are holding a poll on which song the fans
think B'rama should do a cover version of. I think it would be perversely interesting
for Sarah & Keren to do a Shakespears Sister song. Which one though? I could
imagine them doing "Pretty Boy". What else? What song would you like to see
Siobhan do?
Mike.
P.S. Marcella's new album "Feeler" is quite brilliant. I would just about put it on par
with "Hormonally Yours". I'll give you my impressions of each track in the next
mailing list issue.
****************************************************
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 23:34:46 -0800
From: Denny Garbuio
Subject: A Few Things...
Hello people!!
Firstly, where does this fan club info come from? London records? I hate waiting for
the new album and am getting a little impatient!! :(
[The fan club information is from the official Fan Club, Harmonally Yours. The
address is 5 Freda Corbett Close, London SE15 6UN. I write a letter to the club every
2 months or so. Janine and Lisa have kindly agreed for me to pass on the information
to this list. Mike]
Secondly, I think Siobhan gave Marcy the boot cause most people slagged her as
ruining the song "Stay" which many may have felt its success was strictly due to
Marcy's beautiful voice. Maybe Siobhan got sick of hearing this--SS is her project
first and foremost--and record execs may have been getting on her case to let Marcy
do lead vocals more often. These record people are always aiming for the hits, and
Siobhan probably said "Fuck this...things have taken a turn am I am losing control of
my own project."
Just a thought...
> > P.S Has anyone noticed the new band 'Alisha's Attic'- my God, they > > have
moments of sounding like SS.
I think Details magazine said they sound like Bananarama...? Couldn't find the CD
when I went to look for it the other day.
> Don't mention Shampoo! Everytime I see a CD of theirs I think it's > Bananarama
and I get a heart-attack!! They are so similar to Sarah & Keren!
ME TOO!! That's hilarious!! Very similar packaging styles. That's too funny...
[Hmmmmm. But the Narns NEVER looked that tacky! Even in the freako early days
there was at least a sense of style, and it was a product of the times. Shampoo seem
very manufactured to me, and not in control. Mike]
> > The only thing I can think of is that the re-released
> > album (with 7" remixes replacing the original album versions > > of Goodbye
Cruel World, Stay, I Don't Care and Hello). > > ... and the New Version of "Are We
In Love Yet", which is fabulous, far > better that the original LP Version! I have
always wondered why they > released "My 16th Apology" instead of releasing this
song!!
Excuse me Max darling, but what are you talking about?!! Does the CD actually list
the tracks as 7" mixes? The radio remix for Stay is barely noticeable... DETAILS
PLEASE!!
[There was a re-release of Hormonally Yours at about the time of the release of
Hello (or was it before that?). The standard catalogue number of the original was
828266, and 828375 for the re-release. The remix details are given in the booklet, but
not on the outer sleeve, which was a foolish mistake on London's behalf. This news
of the Are We... remix is all very sad. The Australian re-release of HY had the 7"
remixes of GCW, Stay, IDC and Hello, but NOT for AWILY. I guess this means I'll
need yet another copy of
HY... Mike.]
Cheers
Denny
"I don't need yesterday like you do...."--SS
*****************************************************
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 1997 18:07:32 +1300
From: Perry
Subject: Re: SSML-53, 28 February 1997
Hi All,
> The rest are completely rubbish according to the fan club (the ones >where Marcy
and Siobhan supposedly have slanging matches). The club >says that M & S have not
communicated at all with each other since >the split.
Well you *could* also read into that!!!
>A UK review said that the "Alisha Rules The World" single was Fisher Price
>music.
>:-(
Fisher Price! ROFL!!!!!!!!! that's classic...mind you simplicity is also a true artform...
>> [I thought they were a kind of rip-off of the group Shampoo] >By the way, I don't
think I ever heard a song from that Shampoo, so does >anyone know what their songs
are like?
Yeah I've heard two shampoo songs - "trouble" which is a brilliant piece of pop
trite...and a more recent track - which slams going to college etc in the lyrics (well it
*instantly* offended me!) and was complete rubbish...the b-side to the popular
"trouble" was "school is boring...watch neighbours and home and away...." and "we
don't care..." so they're the epitome of the bimbo-ism in the long-established tradition
of Bananarama,...
S
****************************************
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 1997 18:25:26 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: SS SWEDEN
Hi everyone,
Has anyone noticed that there are two images of Siobhan that keeps popping up in
her videos/performances. One is the black/glitter cat-suits that we have all love, the
other is the off-yellow frilly-type dresses that have shown up in at least 3 of SS
videos. Heroine, You're History & GCW. (And a blue type in IDC) I like to think of
it as two shades of Siobhan. One being the witchy vamp, the other the demure vestal.
Her new image in 'I can drive' is raunchy- the photo in January's Harmonally Yours,
was a really tough Siobhan, cig and all. Does anyone have any ideas what her next
video will be like? Will she continue the ICD less glam image?
Did anyone see her concert in Ireland, or any other recently? How was it?
[I was in contact with someone who was at the Gay Pride concert in London last
year (or was it T In The Park in Scotland?) , but unfortunately they were too drunk to
notice too much about Siobhan ;-) But the biggest cheer from the crowd went for a
short version of
Venus apparently.........Mike]
See ya, Grant
SSML-55, 18 March 1997.
Hi everyone,
The rumours of a March release for the Shakespears Sister single and/or album
appear less and less likely, with us halfway through March already......Still no news as
yet.
Here's a review for Marcella's album "Feeler", done by Shaun Carney for The Age
(an Australian newspaper) on 13th March 1997: "On her second solo album, Marcella
Detroit, late of the duo Shakespear's Sister and writing hits for MOR artists including
Elton John, Philip Bailey and Eric Clapton (Lay Down Sally), offers up a powerful
batch of strong contemporary pop songs. Producer Mark Saunders coats the 12 songs
on Feeler with an array of up-to-the-minute sonic patinas, feeding the ebullient rave
on modern masculinity Boy through a fuzz machine and studding the ethereal ballad
The Same Father with synthesizer washes, burping guitars and even harmonica
(echoes of Beck).
Detroit's breathy, high-pitched little-girl singing style, used to such stunning effect
on the monster Shakespear's Sister hit Stay really is a beautiful instrument and the
way it is used here is a joy. Her vocals are mixed so far forward that she often sounds
as though she is actually sitting right next to the listener and singing along with an
instrumental track.
And what tracks they are. There are retro outings such [as] the Motown- influenced
I Hate You Now and the gorgeous Penny Lane-era Beatles piece Flower, which urges
a female friend to be tougher on a lover ("He wouldn't be so tough without that thing
between his legs"). But Detroit is also a stylist in her own right, as evidenced by the
grinding hard rock essay on obsession Elaine's Addiction and the angry but gently
delivered protest at the effect of religious fundamentalism on women, Somebody's
Mother. A beautiful, interesting album."
In another review, this time for Alisha's Attic's single Alisha Rules The World, a
writer says: "Shit title. The oft-used Shakespears Sister comparison is even more legit
when you consider Dave Stewart produced this piece of 80s in the 90s..."
In another review, this time for English singer Louise's album Naked: "...If Louise
plays her cards right she could wind up as the 90s answer to the enduring Kim Wilde,
or possibly even Lisa Stansfield. Louise could also re-invent herself Shakespears
Sister-
style and become a new pop icon for eccentrics everywhere..."
Hmmmm. So does that make us a bunch of eccentrics?!
Mike.
*************************************************************
Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 10:05:03 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Subject: MARCELLA DETROIT'S FLOWER
Hi Everyone,
Max here with bad news!
Unfortunately it would appear that the release of Marcy's new single "Flower" in the
UK has been postponed (I begin to get used to this :->)!!
I don't know exactly what happened, however "Flower" doesn't seem to be out at the
moment. :-(
"Feeler" is now out in the UK, though there is no limited edition of the album
available or anything like that, just the standard UK issue.
As soon as I have some further details or another release date, I will let you know at
once!!
Take Care,
MAX
**********************************************************
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 1997 13:12:38 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Subject: MARCY !!!!!
Hi all,
Good news (I hope) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
According to Tower Records, the "Flower" CD single by Marcy will be out on March
24th. The previous release date was probably a print mistake.
Has anyone heard anything about the rumoured Japanese release of "Without
Medication".
GCW,
MAX
*********************************************************
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 1997 17:07:41 +0100
From: Massimiliano Gini
Subject: Marcella Detroit
Hi everyone,
there is a very nice & recent Marcy photo followed by a biography (though written in
German) on the Intercord page. The Internet address is:
http://www.intercord.com/
GCW,
MAX
*********************************************************
From: Denny Garbuio
Subject: Cover versions
I think had SS stayed together, Siobhan and Marcy would have had another #1 by
remaking "Blue Skies" by BT featuring Tori Amos. It is a brilliant track and I think
was meant for the two of them. It's perfect for them. I love that track. Check it out...
Denny
*********************************************************
The following questions were from new member James Foust
and I have given some quick replies. If anyone would like to add anything, please
feel free to do so (as always).
Mike.
>1)Did Siobhan and Dave Stewart get a divorce? In a back issue I noticed >people
talking about them like they had.
At this stage, they have separated. Dave has supposedly moved out to a flat, while
Siobhan is keeping the house and the kids, according to a tabloid news report.
>2)Has Marcy's CD "Feeler" been released in the US? If not, will it?
You can email Marcy and ask her if you like! Her address is: detroit@atlas.co.uk
Marcy is now on her own independent label, so each country will have distribution
from a different record company. The last I heard the details on the US release had
not been finalised, but it should happen eventually. Don't expect it on Polygram
though.
>3)Why, in Europe, do they leave out the apostrophe in Shakespear's
>(Shakespears)? I have both the US and UK singles for "I Don't Care" and >"Stay"
and noticed this. I also noticed it on the cover of HY that is on >some web pages.
Another difference in this cover is that the UK version >has the writing on the top
while the US version has "Shakespear's >Sister" going down one side and
"Hormonally Yours" going down the other side.
Well you Americans just have to be different don't you? :-) Actually, for most of
the releases for the first album, the apostrophe is there. For the second album, it got
dropped everywhere except in the US. There was no apparent reason for the dropping.
Siobhan has said it was left out through sheer apathy, and may resurface at some
stage. I guess the US record co. kept it in for the sake of consistency. I prefer the
spelling with it in, but I'm tending to use the no-apostrophe these days as all the UK
releases since Goodbye Cruel World haven't had it. Speaking of differences, the
album mixes of Could You Be Loved and Let Me Entertain You are different on the
UK and US versions. I don't know why this happened either. On the UK CYBL, the
first rapping session is omitted and the song is about 30 seconds shorter than the US
version. The UK LMEY is also shorter, and omits the final "huh" at the end.
>Okay, that's all of my questions. I hope maybe someone can answer them. >(and the
apostrophe question is one that has really bugged me because I >notice so many
picky little details about things and they really start to >get annoying.) I also hope the
new CD is out soon (and is available where >everyone on the list can get it without
having to get it as an import). >Take Care, >Jim
******************************************************
Also some questions from another new member, Danielle Pokorny
Since I haven't been on the mailing list until now, and live in the US where there is
never any news on SS, I was wondering if you could fill me in on a few things:
Did Siobhan have some kind of nervous breakdown?
[The tabloids reported it this way, but Siobhan actually went for some treatment at a
medical centre which also happened to have a psychiatric unit, hence the tabloid
headlines "Siobhan in mad house" etc. An old issue of the fan club magazine
"Harmonally Yours" has some more details on this that I'll dig up for next time.
Mike]
Why did Marcy leave the group?
[It's probably fair to say that Marcy and Siobhan couldn't work together anymore as
they were just too dissimilar in their lives outside of music. This was the catalyst for
two great albums, but sadly it didn't last any longer. It should also be noted that
Siobhan had left Bananarama in 1988 because she wanted to have much more say in
what she was doing, and had not intended to form another group. The original
intention was for Marcy to provide back up to Siobhan's solo project, but it worked so
well that they formed a group. M.]
Are Siobhan and Dave Stewart still together?
[See above. Dave had produced most of the new Shakespears Sister album as it stood
in 1996, and his presence will probably still be strong on the finished album when it
eventually comes out. Recent recordings have not involved Dave as far as I know.
M.]
I've picked up little snippets of info here, but still haven't heard the actual stories. Is
any of this news on a website somewhere? I haven't heard anything since HY was
out!
[Some back issues of this mailing list are available at Neil Goward's web site:
http://www.netmatters.co.uk/users/neilg/
Another excellent site is: http://whig.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~ajg94/sha/spush.html
and: http://w3.one.net/~voyager/ssal.html
(oops, no, that one's gone now. How could you do this to us James!
;-)).
An official website is located at: http://www.shakespears-sister.com/
This will apparently be up and running when the album is out.
Marcy has her own official site at: http://www.marcelladetroit.com/ Mike.]
Also, looks like Siobhan dyed her hair blond? Is she done with the look she was
sporting during HY?
[I guess you're referring to the sleeve for I Can Drive. It just looks blonde on that
sleeve. It's hard to know if this was intentional or not. She still has long, straight dark
hair in the video clip. There are recent promo photos around where her hair looks
dark red, but that may be just the lighting...it's hard to tell..... M.]
Thanks for your help, and for including me on the list!
Danielle
SSML-55a
Hey everyone,
I forgot to include this in the mailout, so here's some supplementary reading for you
:-)
Mike.
*************************************************
From: Peter Eatroff (binkyq@interport.net)
Here's something for the list, unless you think it's getting too much like the Spice
Girls on the BML:
[The really scary thing about the Spice Girls is that they've just done a comic relief
video & single like the Narns did with Help:
"Subject: Dominator's UK Top 40 Chart Analysis (w/e March 22nd 1997)
From: The Dominator
1 (1) NON-MOVER : Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are *2nd Week
at No.1*
Both tracks are taken from their semi-eponymously titled album, "Spice". "Mama"
was released to cash in on Mother's Day (ie. March 9th this year), and "Who Do You
Think You Are?" was released as the official 1997 single for Comic Relief (last
Friday), the video being a collaboration with Spice Girls lookalikes, the Sugar Lumps,
played by Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Kathy Burke, Lulu, and one other who
I've never seen before."
This is frightening! Mike]
At the risk of replicating the Spice Girls thread on the Bananarama list, I have a
couple of comments about Shampoo. I think they are VERY similar to Bananarama
in a lot of ways. I will admit that when I first saw their stuff floating around, I
thought they were a cheesy 90's rip-off of Strawberry Switchblade, without the style
or talent, but then I saw the video for Trouble and had to re-think everything.
>>> They are so similar to Sarah & Keren!
>>
>>Very similar packaging styles. That's too funny...
>>
>> [Hmmmmm. But the Narns NEVER looked that tacky! Even in the >>freako
early days there was at least a sense of style, and it was a >>product of the times.
Shampoo seem very manufactured to me, >>and not in control. Mike]
I'm not sure I agree. I think the Narns were reacting to the trends in music and
fashion in the late 70's/early 80's, and Shampoo is reacting to>the trends of the mid
90's. The Shampoo are "girl-lads" who fit neatly with what the Britpop boys are
doing now, the same way Bananarama fit with the early New Wave movement. Both
bands are made up of trouble making GIRLS who are thrilled to be girls, but not
girlish. They're the most drinkin-est gals in pop.
>>>By the way, I don't think I ever heard a song from that Shampoo, so does
>>>anyone know what their songs are like?
>>
>>Yeah I've heard two shampoo songs - "trouble" which is a brilliant piece of >>pop
trite...and a more recent track - which slams going to college etc in >>the lyrics (well
it *instantly* offended me!) and was complete rubbish...the >>b-side to the popular
"trouble" was "school is boring...watch neighbours and >>home and away...." and "we
don't care..." so they're the epitome of the >>bimbo-ism in the long-established
tradition of Bananarama,...
The second song of which you speak is Girl Power, and it doesn't just slam college, it
slams pretty much everything... "I don't wanna go to college don't wanna get a job I
want to sit 'round the house, and act like a slob. I wanna be evil I wanna be bad I
wanna drive the nextdoor neighbors mad"
I won't even get into the playing with guns and knives part. They have loads of songs
about their make-up, and getting what they want because they are girls. Most of their
music is pretty funny. (I'm actually a big Shampoo fan/collector.) As far as being
manufactured and not in control of their own band, I really
can't say. I do know they get at least partial writing credit on most of their songs.
Bananarama was also slagged off as being pre-
fab, and a commercial gimmick, so I guess time will tell. All I can say is that I do
really like them, and I think .... [Sorry Peter, this last bit got lost. M.]
Peter.
(
geocities.com/sunsetstrip/pavilion/3545) (
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geocities.com/sunsetstrip)