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Reissue Theory: Martika

May 3, 2010 By Mike Duquette 4 Comments

The recent realization that Cherry Pop has been remastering and expanding the Kim Wilde catalogue to considerable reaction (enough to warrant two waves of reissues, at least), it makes you wonder what other female pop acts might get the same treatment someday. If you’re an ’80s fan and you’re wondering the same thing, there’s little doubt that Martika is probably near the top of your list of must-haves.

To many, Martika is at best a footnote in pop history. Her simple yet powerful “Toy Soldiers,” a No. 1 hit in the U.S., shot her to international fame, but after two albums in 1988 and 1991, she faded mostly into obscurity until her signature song was sampled for Eminem’s “Like Toy Soldiers” in 2004.

But that glossy history overlooks a few important factors. For one, her bubblegum pop was quite catchy in a Latin-Madonna sort of way (“Toy Soldiers” in fact kept “Express Yourself” from topping the charts). And although her vocal range didn’t expand much past Madonna’s herself, Martika could carry a tune quite well.

Then there are her other pop hits; despite being considered a one-hit wonder, she had a few other hits to her name, including the peppy “More Than You Know,” a house-ready cover of Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move” and – perhaps best of all – the gorgeous “Love…Thy Will Be Done,” a Top 10 hit from her second LP, Martika’s Kitchen, and one of the tracks on that album written and produced by none other than Prince.

With just those two LPs on Columbia, it’s quite a surprise that no label has sought them out for reissue. Granted, Legacy put out quite a nice compilation – Toy Soldiers: The Best of Martika – after Eminem sampled her, and it actually included a few 12″ mixes and non-LP tracks (including a rare version of “Toy Soldiers” in Japanese!). But if a label took on the original records, Reissue Theory-style, they might look like what you’ll see after the jump.

Martika – Martika (CBS C 44290, 1988)

  1. If You’re Tarzan, I’m Jane
  2. Cross My Heart
  3. More Than You Know
  4. Toy Soldiers
  5. You Got Me Into This
  6. I Feel the Earth Move
  7. Water
  8. It’s Not What You’re Doing
  9. See If I Care
  10. Alibis
  11. We Are Music (Martika’s first recording, from a rare Japanese CD single, 1985)
  12. Exchange of Hearts (B-side to “Toy Soldiers” – Columbia 38 68747, 1988)
  13. Como Un Juguete (from Special Touch Japanese EP – CBS CSCS 5074, 1989)
  14. Siento Temblar La Tierra (from Special Touch Japanese EP – CBS CSCS 5074, 1989)
  15. Quiero Entregarte Mi Amor (B-side to “More Than You Know” – Columbia 38 08103, 1988)
  16. More Than You Know (Dance Mix – Part I) (12” A-side – Columbia 44 08135, 1988)
  17. More Than You Know (Dub Mix – Part II) (12” A-side – Columbia 44 08135, 1988)
  18. I Feel the Earth Move (Seismic Rhythm Mix) (12” A-side – Columbia 44 68847, 1989)
  19. Toy Soldiers (Special Version) (U.K. 12” A-side – CBS 655049 8, 1989)

 Martika – Martika’s Kitchen (Columbia CK 46827, 1991)

  1.  Martika’s Kitchen
  2. Spirit
  3. Love…Thy Will Be Done
  4. A Magical Place
  5. Coloured Kisses
  6. Safe in the Arms of Love
  7. Pride & Prejudice
  8. Take Me to Forever
  9. Temptation
  10. Don’t Say U Love Me
  11. Broken Heart
  12. Mi Tierra
  13. Beautiful Fabulous (previously unreleased outtake produced by Prince)
  14. Rub U Down (previously unreleased outtake produced by Prince)
  15. Love…Thy Will Be Done (Prince Mix) (U.K. CD single B-side to “Martika’s Kitchen” – Columbia 657568 2, 1991)
  16. Martika’s Kitchen (Alternate Dub Version) (U.K. CD single B-side – Columbia 657568 2, 1991)
  17. Coloured Kisses (Remix) (U.K. CD single B-side – Columbia 657709 2, 1992)
  18. Spirit (House Mix) (U.K. 12” promo A-side – Columbia XPR 1773, 1992)

Categories: News Tags: Martika, Reissue Theory

Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette

Michael Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he discovered there was more than one version of John Williams' soundtrack to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his intended profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small, from vintage soul to stirring film scores. His passion for reissues turned into a profession in 2014 with co-producing credits on two best-selling vinyl singles for Sony's Legacy Recordings: a 30th anniversary "ecto-green" pressing of Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" and a celebratory pressing of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" on red and green vinyl. Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with an ever-expanding collection of box sets and vinyl.

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Comments

  1. Kym says

    May 5, 2010 at 12:22 am

    Hmmm. What about the 7″ single mix of “More Than You Know”?

    Reply
  2. Amy Green says

    June 2, 2010 at 5:35 pm

    I like the “Love…Thy Will Be Done” compilation, because of the different versions of certain songs (“Water, etc.). My only complaint was the exclusion of the FULL-length version of “Toy Soldiers”.

    Reply
  3. soundboy says

    July 1, 2012 at 7:54 pm

    i found someone who i believe found for me an original martika self titled cd. i looked about the web the most i seen are sony lables this one cbc 1988 analog recording the other ones had stereo this cd sound has clear and present sound (better sound then normal) it has a price code (y) and ck-44290 all over cover the man that found this cd said he had trouble getting it so i suspect most i see selling for low price’s are not original i piad $27 can

    Reply
  4. errant says

    March 9, 2013 at 11:12 pm

    FYI, Beautiful Fabulous and Rub U Down are not related to Prince in any way, shape, or form, and were from several years later, apparently.

    Reply

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