When In Rome – The Promise (1988)

“The Promise” is a song by British band When in Rome. It was released in 1988 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album. The song was written by all three band members Clive Farrington, Andrew Mann and Michael Floreale. The song made the top 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and is the band’s biggest commercial hit.

William Cooper of AllMusic spoke of the song in a review of the When in Rome album, writing, “The 1988 hit “The Promise” was essentially a carbon copy of New Order’s radio-friendly dance-rock. Dark yet catchy, boasting a throbbing dance rhythm, a singalong chorus, and a hypnotic melody, ‘The Promise’ certainly deserved the success.”Cooper also highlighted “The Promise” as a standout on the album by labeling it an AMG Pick Track.

On January 22, 1989, a review of the album was published in the daily issue of the Daily Union. The review mentioned the song, saying, “‘The Promise’, a hit in Great Britain, is typical. Starting with a piano that picks out the melody, the song throbs along electronically with clear harmonies of Mann and Farrington piercing through the catchy melody.”

“The Promise” was initially released as a 12″ record and reached the top of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. After the release of the group’s self-titled debut album, the song was re-released and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the single was less successful in the band’s native Britain, reaching number 58.

The US Promo featured two mixes by Michael H. Brauer on the A side and two mixes by Freddy Bastone on the B side.

The Promise (O.N. Mix)                                      6:25

The Promise (O.N. Dub)                                     3:45

The Promise (Coliseum Mix)                               6:26

The Promise (Vatican Dub)                                 4:49

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Ten City ‎– Suspicious (1989)

Ten City (derived from intensity) was a Chicago, Illinois-based R&B and house-music act that enjoyed a number of club hits and Urban radio hits in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was one of the first exponents of deep house.Formerly known as Ragtyme, the group comprised vocalist Byron Stingily, guitarist Herb Lawson and keyboardist Byron Burke and were augmented by producer Marshall Jefferson.The group was signed by Atlantic Records and released the album Foundation in 1989, which became the group’s only album to cross over, peaking at No. 49 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Ten City is best known for the singles “Right Back to You” and “That’s the Way Love Is,”which hit No. 1 on the US dance chart and No. 8 on the UK Top 40 in 1989. Stingily, who left the group and became a successful solo artist, re-recorded the song and brought it back to No. 1 on the US dance chart in 1999.

“Suspicious” was produced by Marshall Jefferson and was remixed by Ten City for the US 12″ single and included a UK remix of “Devotion” by The Fon Force.

Suspicious (Extended Version)                                 5:07

Suspicious (Dub Mix)                                               7:52

Devotion (Paradise Revisited UK Mix)                        7:13

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Robert Palmer ‎– I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On (1986)

“I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and originally performed by Cherrelle in 1984. The single was Cherrelle’s first hit peaked at number eight on the soul chart and number seventy-nine on the Hot 100.On the US dance chart, “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On” went to number six.

Robert Palmer recorded a cover one year later, and it was released as the fifth single from his 1985 album Riptide. The single hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986, only behind “Amanda” by Boston, and the music video, which featured women much like the ones from “Addicted to Love”, hit No. 1 on MTV on October 17, 1986.

Bruce Forest provided the remixes for the 12″ single.

I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On (Extended Dance Mix)                                   6:37

I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On (Instrumental / A Cappella Beats)                   2:04

I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On (Instrumental / Remix / Dub)                          4:28

Addicted To Love (LP Version)                                                                   6:01

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