News

We’re continuing our Big Break Records Big Round-Up with a look at another three of the Cherry Red label’s recent deluxe reissues which you might have missed!  For this trio, BBR has chronicled the period 1986-1990 with an underrated group of albums and artists.  (You can catch up with Part One here!)

In 1991, Karyn White topped the Billboard Hot 100 with the single “Romantic” off her sophomore album.  But on the way to that crossover success, White established herself as a winning new voice in the R&B realm with her platinum-selling debut Karyn White.  The 1988 release on the Warner Bros. label spent seven weeks atop the U.S. R&B Albums survey and spawned four hit singles, three of which went to No. 1 on the R&B Singles chart.  White’s powerful debut has been expanded by BBR to two discs, with a more-than-generous array of 19 bonus tracks.

White’s entrée into major visibility as an artist came after years as both a background singer and a songwriter; in the latter capacity, she placed a song with Stephanie Mills on the Wiz star’s MCA debut in 1985.  Her big break came when fusion jazz artist Jeff Lorber, embracing the R&B sound of the 1980s, enlisted her as a co-billed vocalist for his Warner album Private Passion in 1986.  The label quickly ushered White into the studio for a solo project.   Lorber helmed a couple of titles, as did Steve Harvey, but the lion’s share of the production went to the team of producer-songwriters L.A. Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.  Writing with Daryl Simmons, Reid and Babyface supplied all four of the songs which became hit singles off Karyn White.  “Secret Rendezvous” went to No. 4 R&B/No. 6 Pop, while “Superwoman” (No. 8 Pop), “The Way You Love Me” (No. 7 Pop) and “Love Saw It” (a duet with Babyface) all topped the R&B chart.  Deftly blending new jack swing with touches of pop, dance and jazz, Karyn White set the stage for the artist’s ongoing success.

BBR’s impressive 2-CD reissue, remastered by producer Wayne A. Dickson and Nick Robbins, features a new essay by Christian John Wikane drawing on an interview with the artist.  Its lavish complement of bonus tracks includes three tracks performed with Jeff Lorber, the Michael Jefferies cut “Not Being Through with You” on which Karyn guested, and numerous B-sides and contemporaneous remixes.

Another double-disc set comes from the Scottish soul/dance/pop trio The Chimes (not to be confused with the doo-woppers of the same name!).  Bassist Mike Peden, drummer and keyboardist James Locke came together with the intention of fusing soul and dance in a contemporary style removed from the elaborate trappings of disco.  Once they were introduced to singer Pauline Henry, a Jamaican-born resident of London, their plans crystallized.  At first, it was planned that Henry would only contribute her vocals, but it soon became clear that she would be an integral part of the duo’s creative process – hence, The Chimes were born.

Every song on The Chimes was self-penned by the trio, ironically except for the one song which would become the group’s calling card: a cover of U2’s anthemic “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”  CBS Records, who had signed The Chimes on the strength of their live performances, urged them to record the song for their debut album.  After The Chimes’ first two singles had performed only moderately well, the soulful, gospel-inflected U2 cover was released.  It shot to No. 6 on the U.K. Singles chart in April 1990.  One month later, the full album followed, and it peaked within the Top 20 on the Albums countdown, reaching No. 17.  Further singles were released, but none matched the success of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and within a year, The Chimes broke up, but not before leaving behind a compelling collection of strong soul ballads and ebullient floor-fillers.  BBR’s 2-CD reissue boasts a full complement of 20 bonus tracks including demos, remixes, extended versions, and even a couple of new 2016 recordings from Pauline Henry.  Andrew Peterson has remastered, and Stewart Allan has supplied new liner notes.

The third 2-CD collection from BBR arrives on the label’s Hot Shot imprint from Scottish new wave/pop band Hipsway. Formed in Glasgow in 1984, the group only released two albums, but like The Chimes, Hipsway is still fondly remembered.  Hot Shot has expanded the 1986 self-titled debut album for its 30th anniversary.

Featuring Johnny McElhone of Altered Images on bass, Grahame Skinner on vocals, Ali McLeod and then Pim Jones on guitar and Harry Travers on drums, Hipsway first worked with producer Gary Langan (Art of Noise, Spandau Ballet) and then Paul Staveley O’Duffy (Swing Out Sister, Amy Winehouse) to craft their debut singles and eventual album in the slick, cool and contemporary sound that prevailed at the time.  Of the five singles off Hipsway, “The Honeythief” was the most successful with a No. 17 placement in the United Kingdom.  It repeated its success in America, issued not on Mercury as in the U.K. but on Columbia.  In the U.S., “The Honeythief” reached No. 19 on the Hot 100 and No. 9 on the Dance chart, while “Ask the Lord” (a U.K. No. 72 chart entry) peaked at No. 44 Dance.

Personnel changes impacted Hipsway’s second album Scratch the Surface, and soon after, the band dissolved.  In 2016, Hipsway reunited to celebrate their debut album.  This tie-in edition features liner notes by original member Grahame Skinner, who also co-produced this reissue with Wayne A. Dickson.  Nick Robbins has remastered, and the copious bonus material includes various remixes , extended and alternative versions.

All three titles, housed in Super Jewel Boxes, are available now from Big Break Records and Cherry Red Group at the links below!

Karyn White, Karyn White: Deluxe Edition (Warner Bros. LP 925 637-1, 1988 – reissued Big Break/Cherry Red WCDBBRD0359, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. The Way You Love Me
2. Secret Rendezvous
3. Slow Down
4. Superwoman
5. Family Man
6. Love Saw It – with Babyface
7. Don’t Mess with Me
8. Tell Me Tomorrow
9. One Wish
10. Love on the Line (Warner Bros. single 7-27773-B, 1988)
11. Language of Love (Warner Bros. single 7-27783-B, 1988)
12. Facts of Love – Jeff Lorber featuring Karyn White
13. True Confessions – Jeff Lorber featuring Karyn White
14. Back in Love – Jeff Lorber featuring Michael Jeffries & Karyn White
15. Not Thru Being with You – Michael Jeffries & Karyn White
16. The Way You Love Me (Hype Mix)

Tracks 12-14 from Jeff Lorber, Private Passion, Warner Bros. 9-25492-1, 1986
Track 15 from Michael Jeffries, Michael Jeffries, Warner Bros. 9-25925-1, 1989

CD 2

1. Facts of Love (Actuality Mix) – Jeff Lorber featuring Karyn White
2. True Confessions (The Left Bank Mix) – Jeff Lorber featuring Karyn White
3. The Way You Love Me (Club Mix)
4. Secret Rendezvous (Extended Remix)
5. Superwoman (Long Mix)
6. Not Thru Being with You (The Club Fire Mix) – Michael Jeffries & Karyn White
7. Facts of Love (Passion Mix) – Jeff Lorber featuring Karyn White
8. The Way You Love Me (Paul Simpson Remix)
9. Secret Rendezvous (White House Remix)
10. Facts of Love (Fact # 1) – Jeff Lorber featuring Karyn White
11. The Way You Love Me (New York Groove Edit)
12. Secret Rendezvous (Secret Drive Time Radio Edit)

The Chimes, The Chimes: Deluxe Edition (CBS LP 466481-1, 1990 – reissued Big Break/Cherry Red, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. Love So Tender
2. Heaven
3. True Love
4. 1-2-3
5. Underestimate
6. Love Comes to Mind
7. Don’t Make Me Wait
8. Stronger Together
9. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
10. Stay
11. Bodyrock (Demo) (Columbia 44-73136, 1989)
12. So Much in Love (Extended Demo Version) (CBS 655432-6, 1989)
13. Ready for Love (CBS CHIM-2, 1990)
14. No Need to Pretend (CBS CHIM-1, 1990)
15. Heaven (The Chimes Remix) (Columbia 44-73131, 1990)
16. True Love (Extended Version) (CBS CHIM T2, 1990)
17. Love Comes to Mind (Remix) (CBS CHIM-4, 1990)
18. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (U.S. Mix) (Columbia single 73310, 1990)

CD 2

1. Heaven (Stonebridge Classic Mix) – Pauline Henry (previously unreleased new recording)
2. 1-2-3 (Philly Mix) (CBS 655166-8, 1989)
3. Love Comes to Mind (Extended Version) (CBS CHIM T4, 1990)
4. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (Street Mix) (CBS 655980-8, 1990)
5. True Love (Louie Louie Mix) (CBS CHIM T2, 1990)
6. Underestimate (Special Extended Version) (Columbia 44-73136, 1989)
7. Stay (Extended Version) (CBS CHIM-4, 1990)
8. Stronger Together (Red Zone Mix) (CBS CHIM T2, 1990)
9. Heaven (Heavy Club Mix) (Columbia 44-73131, 1990)
10. 1-2-3 (U.K. Raw Mix) (Columbia 44-73136, 1989)
11. Love Comes to Mind (Manasseh Mix) (CBS CHIM-4, 1990)
12. Heaven 2016 (DJ Spen Radio Mix) – Pauline Henry (previously unreleased new recording)

Hipsway, Hipsway: 30th Anniversary Edition (Mercury LP MERH85, 1986 – reissued Big Break/Cherry Red, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. The Honeythief
2. Ask the Lord
3. Bad Thing Longing
4. Upon a Thread
5. Long White Car
6. The Broken Years
7. Tinder
8. Forbidden
9. Set This Day Apart
10. Ask the Lord (A New Version/U.S. Album Version)

CD 2

1. Ask the Lord (12-Inch Extended Version)
2. The Honeythief (12-Inch Extended Version)
3. The Broken Years (12-Inch Extended Version)
4. Forbidden (12-Inch Alternative Version)
5. Long White Car (U.S. Re-Recorded Version)
6. Ask the Lord (12-Inch New Extended Version)
7. Pain Machine
8. Wild Sorrow
9. Are You Ready to Listen
10. Ring Out the Bell
11. Ask the Lord (U.S. 12-Inch Francoise K Dance Mix)
12. The Honeythief (12-Inch Galus Mix)
13. The Broken Years (12-Inch Dub Mix)
14. Ask the Lord (U.S. 12-Inch François K Dub Mix)
15. End Titles Sequence (from the film Ask the Lord)