NEW SOUNDS

BELINDA CARLISLE

It's been almost three years since The Go-Go's, the first commercially successful all-female rock band, were finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And its been almost twenty-seven years since the group's lead singer, Belinda Carlisle, who went on to have her own popular career as a solo artist after the Go-Go's broke-up for the first time, has released a collection of new pop music. Although she had previously recorded an album of classic French-language standards in 2007 and a collection of Sikh chants ten years later, Carlisle has teamed up with legendary songwriter, Diane Warren, who had written one of her early solo hits "I Get Weak", to work on this recent musical venture. The now sixty-four year old vocalist has previewed the first single from the upcoming EP, "Kismet" due out on May. "Big Big Love" is one of five songs written by Warren and produced by Carlisle's long time collaborator, Gabe Lopez. Carlisle had never planned on recording another pop album but a chance encounter lead to Warren proposing a song which lead to this album. This project went so well that Carlisle plans to record a new studio album.



ALISON GOLDFRAPP

Alison Goldfrapp first came together with Will Gregory to form a band way back in 1999. Taking on her surname as their group's name, Goldfrapp first found success by merging shimmering glam rock with throbbing electro beats. As time went on, the British duo shifted their sound, experimenting with ambient music and trip hop. Now after seven albums as part of a band, Alison Goldfrapp is branching out to release her very first solo album. "The Love Invention" (which will be out in May) began during the pandemic with Goldfrapp forced to think about creating music independently. With production assistance by Richard X and James Greenwood, the fifty-six year old musician has released the first single, "So Hard So Hot", a dynamic electronic track that moves us on to a different side of the dance floor yet doesn't stray too far from what she is best known for.

RANDOM SIGHTS + SOUNDS

Here are the latest videos of singles from P!nk, Miley Cyrus and Chlöe who all have new albums dropping in the next few weeks.







And there is the return of Everything But The Girl, a British electronic band who found their greatest fame in the '90's with the remix of the single, "Missing". After twenty-four years, the duo (that features Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt) have come back together to create some new music with an album, "Fuse" due out in April. The first single, "Nothing Left to Lose" reveals that this band has moved forward with a sound that fits perfectly well in today's musical landscape.

I love how Sam Smith now feels free to openly embrace a queer esthetic without having to fear that it might adversely effect their career. Following their worldwide smash single, "Unholy" with Kim Petras, Smith has released their fourth album, "Gloria". This collection features a myriad of personal expressions and musical textures. They have with returned with two singles from the record, "Gimme", a sexy, Caribbean flavored track that features Jessie Reyez and Jamaican musician, Koffee and "I'm Not Here To Make Friends", a new dance collaboration with Calvin Harris. Both videos for these songs express an unapologetic queer vibe; free-wheeling, decadent and fun.

"80 For Brady" is the upcoming campy comedy that has assembled a cast of legendary actresses; Oscar-winners, Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and nominee, Lily Tomlin. Based on a true story, these four longtime friends and big New England Patriots fans decide to travel to Houston in order to watch their hero, Tom Brady play in the Super Bowl and they're not going to let not having tickets stop them. And a theme song for the movie written by Diane Warren has put together an equally impressive line-up of veteran singers to sing on the track. Belinda Carlisle, Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper and Dolly Parton have come together on "Gonna Be You". While the song might not be considered that memorable, it is certainly fun to hear this unlikely round-up of ladies performing collectively.

And to close out, here are tributes to a couple of artists we have recently lost. Anita Pointer of the family singing group, The Pointer Sisters passed away on December 31st at the age of seventy-four. She had been struggling with cancer over the last couple of years. Born and raised in Oakland, CA., she and her sisters, June, Bonnie and Ruth, all began performing together professionally in 1972, signing to Blue Thumb Records and releasing their self-titled debut which featured their first hits, "Yes We Can Can" and "Wang Dang Doodle". This r&b group enjoyed further success together before Bonnie decided to leave to pursue a solo career.

Now as a trio, the Pointer Sisters changed musical directions, moving into a pop-rock sound and found even greater success first with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire". More high charting songs followed with "He's So Shy", "Jump (For My Love)", "Slow Hand" and "I'm So Excited". She recorded only one solo album, "Love For What It Is" in 1987. Pointer retired from the group in 2015 and co-wrote a memoir with her brother, Fritz, "Fairytale: The Pointer Sisters' Family Story" which chronicled their family history and career.

Considered one of the greatest guitar players in rock, Jeff Beck died on January 10th from complications of bacterial meningitis. He was seventy-eight. This British musician began his career playing with several bands and was a session guitarist before being offered to join The Yardbirds to replace Eric Clapton based on a reccomendation from Jimmy Page in 1965. Beck didn't stay long yet was a part of the band during their biggest commercial success. He was eventually fired from The Yardbirds due to excessive absences and his firery temper.

In 1967, Beck went on to form his own band, The Jeff Beck Group which included Ronnie Wood on bass and Rod Stewart on vocals. This blues-rock group was another short-lived venture for Beck that produced two successful albums before this line-up disbanded two years later. He would revive the band later with different musicians in the 1970's, recording two more albums. Beck soon began recording as a solo artist, moving into jazz-rock fusion. He had continued to work over the years on his own albums and with other artists, recently collaborating with friend, actor and part-time musician Johnny Depp last year on what would be Beck's final album, "18". During his accomplished career, Beck recorded fourteen studio albums and won eight Grammy awards.

TAKE TWO: BELINDA CARLISLE

Belinda Carlisle was the lead vocalist for the all-female, new-wave-rock group, The Go-Go's who burned brightly immediately after the release of their debut, "Beauty and the Beat" in 1981 before self-extinguishing shortly after their third 1984 album, "Talk Show". But the L.A. born and raised singer went on to have even wider acclaim as a solo artist with several charting pop singles that made a phenomenal impact worldwide.

During her time with the band, Carlisle was suffering from drug addiction and an eating disorder which was just one factor to the initial demise of The Go-Go's in 1985. After completing a rehab stint, she decided to continue her career in music as a solo performer. With former Go-Go's member, Charlotte Caffey on board to help contribute to the project, Carlisle's debut, "Belinda" was released in 1986. The collection featured a sunny 60's California vibe and was an immediate hit with the first single, "Mad About You".

Carlisle's follow-up, "Heaven On Earth" in 1987 featured a slicker power-pop sound and would become the biggest success of her career.  With the number one U.S. hit, "Heaven Is a Place On Earth", the Diane Warren penned, "I Get Weak" and "Circle In The Sand" reaching the top-ten in several countries, the album went on to sell over four million copies.

"Runaway Horses", Carlisle's 1989 third album, was more modestly received compared to her previous release and the record did best internationally with "Leave a Light On", "Summer Rain" and the title track becoming top-forty singles throughout Europe.

In 1990, Carlisle and The Go-Go's reunited to tour to promote their greatest hits record while Carlisle released her fourth solo album, "Live Your Life Be Free"  the following year. The record was another moderate success in Europe yet failed to chart in the U.S. Carlisle released a few more albums, including a set of French-language songs, "Voila" in 2007 and her last record-to-date, "Wilder Shores", a 2017 collection of Sikh chants, but none have reached the heights of her previous pop success.

The now sixty year old singer finally became completely sober in 2005 and began to practice Nichiren Buddhism, vegetarianism and yoga. She had continued to go on the road with The Go-Go's over the years and the group made their apparent final tour together in 2016. Carlisle has been married to film producer, Morgan Mason (son of actor, James Mason) since 1986 and they have a son, James Duke. Here are a couple of my favorite songs from this iconic pop vocalist:

THE GO-GO'S: GIRLS GONE WILD TOUR

The Go-Go's are on the road promoting the thirtieth anniversary of their 1981 debut album, "Beauty And The Beat". I saw them on their stop in Los Angeles on August 17th at the Greek Theater.

The ladies marched out to the sound of Foreigner's "Hot Blooded" and looking not much different from when they first came on to the scene. With the original line-up still intact; Kathy Valentine on bass, drummer Gina Schock, Charlotte Caffey on keyboards/lead guitar, the newly, bleached blonde, Jane Wiedlin on guitar and lead vocalist, Belinda Carlisle who came out barefoot and ready to rock.

I have seen the Go-Go's many times over the years and they still put on a high-energy, good time show, doing not only most of the songs from their first album but a few tunes from their other two albums, "Vacation" and "Talk Show".

This time the girls ventured out to do other artist's songs as well as some of the member's solo efforts such as Carlisle's "Mad About You", Jane's hit song with Sparks, "Cool Places" and the Rolling Stones tune, "Mother's Little Helper" in which Belinda got to sarcastically sing the line "What a drag it is getting old" as today just happened to be her birthday. During the encore, a cake was brought out and the audience sang "happy birthday" to her and she looked visibly touched by the moment.

Here are a few songs from The Go-Go's first album, which were performed that night:

"We Got The Beat" - The Go-Go's (1981)

"This Town" - The Go-Go's (1981)

"How Much More" - The Go-Go's (1981)

Enjoy the music video of The Go-Go's first hit song as they were one of first bands to have MTV help break them out:

THE FIRST TIME: PART FOUR

This latest installment is dedicated to the first time we heard these ladies who rock:

THE GO-GO'S - "BEAUTY AND THE BEAT" - (1981)

This all-girl group started as a punk-rock band in 1978 that included Belinda Carlisle on vocals and Jane Wiedlin on guitar and vocals. Later, Charlotte Caffey joined the band on lead guitar and keyboards. Drummer, Gina Schock and bassist, Kathy Valentine soon followed, replacing original band members.

This current line-up moved to a new wave rock sound and signed with I.R.S. Records in 1981 where they released their debut album. "Beauty & The Beat" was a surprise hit and it topped the U.S. charts for six weeks and sold over two million copies. The Go-Go's were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

The band went on to record two more albums, "Vacation" (1982) and "Talk Show" (1984) before breaking up due to personality conflicts, creative differences and drug addiction.

The Go-Go's reunited in 1990, released one more studio album, "God Bless The Go-Go's" (2001) and has continued to tour together many times over the years.

The Go-Go's are considered to one of the most successful all-female bands of all time.

This was the song that kicked things off:

Our Lips Are Sealed.mp3

THE BANGLES - "DIFFERENT LIGHT" - (1986)

The Bangles were the other successful all-female band in the 1980's. The group formed in 1981 and was called The Bangs with Susanna Hoffs on vocals and guitar, Annette Zilinskas on bass and sisters, Vicki and Debbie Peterson on guitar and drums respectively.

A legal issue forced the band to change their name and they became The Bangles and released an EP in 1982. Shortly after, Ms Zilinskas left to focus on her own project and was replaced by Michael Steele.

In 1984, the band signed with Columbia Records and released, "All Over the Place". It featured the singles, "Hero Takes the Fall" and "Going Down To Liverpool" which got good reviews and created some buzz but not a lot of radio play.

It did catch the attention of another artist, Prince who was inspired to give them a song for their next album, "Different Light". That song took them to number two on the U.S. charts but their next single, "Walk Like An Egyptian" took them to number one around the world.

Despite all four band members equally contributing songs and singing lead on their albums, it was perceived that Ms Hoffs was the lead singer of the band. This was the direct result of the choice of singles released by the record label and it did cause friction amongst the group. They released one more hit album, "Everything" (1988) before putting an end to the Bangles and going their separate ways.

The Bangles got back to together in 1999 for a song on the soundtrack of "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" which was directed by Jay Roach, who was now Ms Hoffs's husband. The band went on tour and later released another album, "Doll Revolution (W/Dvd)" (2003). Ms Steele left the group in 2005 but the Bangles still continue to tour with an unofficial band replacement, Abby Travis.

This was the song that the Purple One gave the group under the pseudonym, "Christopher":

Manic Monday.mp3

BELINDA CARLISLE - "BELINDA" - (1986)

Belinda Carlisle was born in Hollywood, California and raised in Thousand Oaks. She was a cheerleader in high school and at the age of nineteen, she left home determined to become a star.

She started off as drummer in the punk band, The Germs and calling herself, "Dottie Danger" before leaving to form her own band, The Go-Go's.

After leaving The Go-Go's in 1985, Belinda Carlisle decided to embark on a solo career. With the assistance of Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles and former Go-Go's member, Charlotte Caffey, she released her debut album. "Belinda" was successful, selling over a half a million copies in the U.S. and the first single went to number three on the charts.

Ms Carlisle had many more top ten hits and went on to releasing a total of seven albums which includes her last, "Voila (Bonus CD)" (2007). It has the very American artist singing French chansons and pop standards.

She has been married to Morgan Mason, son of the actor, James Mason, since 1986 and they have a son. Ms Carlisle has just written her autobiography," Lips Unsealed: A Memoir"  that came out this June.

This was her first hit song as a solo artist:

Mad About You.mp3

Here is the music video for the song: