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As ‘The First Lady Of Solar (Sound Of Los Angeles Records)’, California-born Carrie Lucas forged a recording career starting in 1977 that helped establish the Los Angeles-based company formed by her husband, pioneering music industry executive Dick Griffey, into a world-renowned label that launched internationally successful artists such as Shalamar, The Whispers, Klymaxx, Midnight Star, Lakeside, The Deele and Dynasty. With a stellar cadre of top musicians, a growing stable of songwriters and emergent producers, the distinctive sound that became associated with the company was in full effect on the six albums that Carrie recorded between 1977-1984.
Carrie’s success as a chartmaker began when husband Griffey and Don Cornelius, the renowned creator and host of the popular US television series, ‘Soul Train’, started Soul Train Records in 1977: her first single, ‘I Gotta Keep Dancin’’ became a US R&B, pop and dance hit and paved the way for a further six charted singles including ‘Dance With You’, also a UK Top 40 entry; 1982’s ‘Show Me Where You’re Coming From’, and her 1984 revival of the Barbara Lewis classic, ‘Hello Stranger’, featuring label- mates The Whispers, with whom Carrie toured alongside other Solar artists in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Producers including Leon Sylvers III, members of The Whispers and Lakeside, Klymaxx’ Fenderella and Dick Griffey himself contributed to the 47 tracks featured here (including the almost-eight minute long 12” version of 1980’s ‘Keep Smiling’).
This first-of-its-kind 3-CD collection of Carrie’s six albums showcases not only her status as one of the prominent dance music purveyors (via tracks such as ‘Career Girl’, ‘Fashion’ and ‘It’s Not What You Got (It’s How You Use It)’ during a time period when the ‘disco’ movement was in its ascendancy but her interpretative skills as a balladeer on songs such as ‘Tender’, ‘Still In Love’, ‘Lovin’ Is On My Mind’, ‘I’ll Close The Door’ and ‘Just A Memory’, and as an accomplished songwriter, penning and collaborating on a number of key tracks including ‘Simpler Days’, ‘What’s The Question’ and ‘Reflections’.
Liner notes by SoulMusic Records and SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan include commentary by Carrie herself along with a special quote from her daughter Carolyn Griffey (who now tours globally with Shalamar); first class mastering by Nick Robbins; and stellar artwork from Roger Williams.
This 2018 reissue is particularly timely given the release of Carrie’s first new recording in many years on the UK-relaunched Solar label.
Tracklist
DISC ONE:
SIMPLY CARRIE /
STREET CORNER SYMPHONY
1. I GOTTA KEEP DANCIN'
2. ME FOR YOU
3. PLAY BY YOUR RULE
4. TENDER INTERLUDE
5. TENDER
6. JAMMIN' TENDERLY (TENDER PART 2)
7. I GOTTA GET AWAY FROM YOUR LOVE
8. I'LL CLOSE LOVE’S DOOR
9. WHAT'S THE QUESTION
10. MEN KISS AND TELL
11. STREET CORNER SYMPHONY
12. BUT MY HEART SAYS NO
13. TIC TOC
14. THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL
15. THE EDGE OF NIGHT
16. QUESTIONS
17. SIMPLER DAYS
18. REFLECTIONS
DISC TWO:
CARRIE LUCAS...IN DANCELAND / PORTRAIT OF CARRIE
1. DANCELAND
2. SOMETIMES A LOVE GOES WRONG
3. ARE YOU DANCING
4. DANCE WITH YOU
5. I'M GONNA MAKE YOU HAPPY
6. SOUTHERN STAR
7. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GOT (IT'S HOW YOU USE IT)
8. LOVIN' IS ON MY MIND
9. CAREER GIRL
10.USE IT OR LOSE IT
11. FASHION
12.JUST A MEMORY
13.KEEP SMILIN’ (12" VERSION)
DISC THREE:
STILL IN LOVE / HORSIN’ AROUND
1. SHOW ME WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM
2. SWEET LOVE
3. MEN
4. IS IT A DREAM
5. ROCKIN' FOR YOUR LOVE 6. DREAMER
7. I JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT YOUR LOVE
8. STILL IN LOVE
9. SUMMER IN THE STREET
10. CHARLIE
11.GOIN' IN CIRCLES 12.HORSIN' AROUND
13.HELLO STRANGER (Featuring The Whispers)
14.LET'S KEEP DANCING
15.SOMEBODY SAID
16. SUPERSTAR