Edsel Packages Patrice Rushen Albums to Help You to Remember
Looking for a primer on jazz-turned R&B singer Patrice Rushen‘s most commercial recordings for Elektra Records? Edsel will send U.K. audiences and beyond a pair of “Forget Me Nots” in the form of two double-disc sets that collect all five of her albums for the label, plus a clutch of choice bonus material.
After a trio of acclaimed (but modest-selling) fusion-influenced albums for Prestige Records in the mid-1970s, Rushen, an accomplished pianist/vocalist, joined the Elektra roster in 1978. Working with her Prestige producer Reggie Andrews, Rushen also bought in producer Charles Mims, Jr., who would be credited on all her albums for the label. All of her albums charted on Billboard‘s Top 100, and her singles began to cross over into the R&B charts, as well.
While “Hang It Up,” “Haven’t You Heart” and “Look It Up” were all respectable hits in the late ’70s and early ’80s, it was Straight from the Heart, released in 1982, that served up her biggest hit, the funky “Forget Me Nots.” That single peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 4 on the R&B chart and No. 2 on the dance charts, and remains a staple of late-period disco. (“Forget Me Nots” enjoyed a second life in 1997, when it was sampled in the worldwide hit theme song to the sci-fi comedy Men in Black, as performed by the film’s star, actor-rapper Will Smith.)
All five of Rushen’s Elektra albums have been reissued on CD; Straight from the Heart got an expanded remaster from Rhino in 1996 while the others were released by Wounded Bird in 2003. But these double-disc sets – combining her first three albums (Patrice (1978), Pizzazz (1979) and Posh (1980) one one set and Straight from the Heart and Now (1984) on another – feature between them 13 bonus tracks, including just about all the rare 12″ mixes released by the label. (Rhino’s version of Straight from the Heart had one track this reissue does not – the single edit of “Breakdown” – but lacked the dance version of “I Was Tired of Being Alone,” mixed by F. Byron Clark.)
Both sets feature full lyrics, albums credits and new annotations by Tony Rounce, producer/compiler for Ace Records. (With any luck, they’ll avoid the intense audio scrutiny that’s befallen Edsel’s Robert Palmer Island-era two-fers.) They’re out this Monday, September 30 in the U.K. and will ship to the U.S. within a week or so. Hit the jump for full track lists and Amazon U.K. links.
Patrice + Pizzazz + Posh (Edsel (U.K.), 2013)
Disc 1
- Music of the Earth
- When I Found You
- Changes (in Your Life)
- Wishful Thinking
- Let’s Sing a Song of Love
- Hang It Up
- Cha-Cha
- It’s Just a Natural Thing
- Didn’t You Know?
- Play!
- Hang It Up (12″ Version)
- Play! (12″ Version)
- Let the Music Take Me
- Keepin’ Faith in Love
- Settle for My Love
- Message in the Music
Disc 2
- Haven’t You Heard
- Givin’ It Up is Givin’ Up
- Call on Me
- Reprise (Message in the Music)
- Never Gonna Give You Up (Won’t You Let Go)
- Don’t Blame Me
- Look Up!
- I Need Your Love
- Time Will Tell
- The Dream
- The Funk Won’t Let You Down
- This is All I Really Know
- Look Up! (Long Version)
- Never Gonna Give You Up (Short Version)
Disc 1, Tracks 1-10 released as Patrice (Elektra 6E-160, 1978)
Disc 1, Tracks 11-12 released as Elektra 12″ single AS-11404, 1978
Disc 1, Tracks 13-16 and Disc 2, Tracks 1-4 released as Pizzazz (Elektra 6E-243, 1979)
DIsc 2, Tracks 5-12 released as Posh (Elektra 6E-302, 1980)
Disc 2, Track 13 released as Elektra 12″ A-side AS-11469, 1980
Disc 2, Track 14 released as Elektra single A-side E-47113, 1980
Straight from the Heart + Now (Edsel (U.K.), 2013)
Disc 1: Straight from the Heart (released as Elektra E1-60015, 1982) and bonus tracks
- Forget Me Nots
- I Was Tired of Being Alone
- All We Need
- Number One
- Where There is Love
- Breakout!
- If Only
- Remind Me
- (She Will) Take You Down to Love
- Forget Me Nots (Special Dance Mix) (12″ A-side – Elektra AS-11555, 1982)
- Breakout! (12″ Version) (12″ A-side – Elektra 0-67999, 1982)
- Number One (12″ Version) (12″ B-side – Elektra 0-67999, 1982)
- Forget Me Nots (Single Version) (single A-side – Elektra E-47427, 1982)
- I Was Tired of Being Alone (Byron Clark Remix) (12″ promo A-side – Elektra 0-67959, 1982)
Disc 2: Now (released as Elektra 60360, 1984) and bonus tracks
- Feels So Real (Won’t Let Go)
- Gone with the Night
- Gotta Find It
- Superstar
- Heartache Heartbreak
- Get Off (You Fascinate Me)
- My Love’s Not Going Anywhere
- Perfect Love
- High in Me
- To Each His Own
- Get Off (You Fascinate Me) (Dance Mix) (12″ promo A-side – Elektra ED 5003, 1984)
- Get Off (You Fascinate Me) (Instrumental) (12″ B-side – Elektra E 9702T (U.K.), 1984)
- Feels So Real (Won’t Let Go) (Instrumental) (12″ B-side – Elektra E 9742T (U.K.), 1984)
- Feels So Real (Won’t Let Go) (Dub Version) (12″ B-side – Elektra 0-66970, 1984)
You Might Also Like
1 thought on “Edsel Packages Patrice Rushen Albums to Help You to Remember”
Leave a Comment
Even though I’m not a huge Patrice fan, I really did love “Forget Me Nots,” “Feels So Real” and a few others from their club play in the early ’80’s. The fans will love this stuff, and I love that you guys are here to tell them about it! If the youngsters want to know how it all got real, look to ladies like this, so creatively talented!