Today, we're looking at three recent releases from Cherry Red and Cherry Pop!

With 1990's World Clique, Deee-Lite proved that "Groove is in the Heart."  The lead-off single from the house/club group's debut record became an international hit, reaching the top 5 in the United States and United Kingdom, and topping the U.S. Dance chart.  Cherry Pop has expanded World Clique, a top 20 entry on the Billboard 200, into a 2-CD set with a bonus disc of remixes.

Vocalist Lady Miss Kier from Youngstown, Ohio joined with Super DJ Dimitri of Kiev in the then-USSR and DJ Towa Tei from Tokyo, Japan as Deee-Lite; Lady Miss Kier and Dimitri had formed the group in 1985, and Towa joined them in 1988.  They took their cues from inspirations as diverse as Parliament-Funkadelic and Kraftwerk, and built "Groove is in the Heart" over a sample from Herbie Hancock's score to the film Blow-Up.  Bootsy Collins and Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest contributed to the track.  "Groove" became a top 10 hit in numerous countries, befitting the trio's international background, and was assuredly no fluke.  Three more singles from the album also hit the top ten on the U.S. Dance chart, including "E.S.P.," "Power of Love," and "Good Beat."  The latter two tracks also reached No. 1.

The second disc of Cherry Pop's deluxe edition collects up fourteen remixes issued concurrently with the original album, and packages it all with a 16-page, bright and colorful booklet.  Michael Silvester's  liner notes interview with Lady Miss Kier is candid, as she reveals that Deee-Lite's label "told us we were too gay-sounding and too black-sounding to get tour support," and asserts that "I was never paid for one Deee-Lite concert and was grossly underpaid royalties by both management and the bandmates."  Deee-Lite broke up after three albums, the final one of which featured DJ Ani in place of DJ Towa Tei.  Cherry Pop's reissue of World Clique, remastered by Alan Wilson, captures the group's techno-dance fusion at its peak.

Another 2-CD set comes from Jermaine Stewart (1957-1997).  Having previously reissued Stewart's 1986 sophomore LP and breakthrough Frantic Romantic (featuring the U.S. top ten single "You Don't Have to Take Your Clothes Off"), the label has turned to his third album, 1988's Say It Again.  The Columbus, Ohio native first rose to prominence as a dancer on Soul Train.  He then danced on tour with Shalamar and while in London, met Mikey Craig of Culture Club.  Soon, Stewart had the opportunity to sing on the group's "Miss Me Blind," and before too long, he was signed as a vocalist by Arista Records.  For territories other than the U.S., Virgin Records' 10 subsidiary would be his label.  "The Word is Out" from his debut record earned him a minor chart entry, but Frantic Romantic brought him to a new level of success.

For Say It Again, Stewart was joined by producer and Prince associate Andre Cymone, and the team of Jerry Knight and Aaron Zigman, for a set of pop-flavored, dance-centric R&B with a modern sheen.  Stewart's longtime friend Jody Watley appeared on the album and co-wrote a couple of songs ("Is It Really Love?" and "My House").  Philadelphia soul great Bunny Sigler co-authored the title cut.  A host of luminaries joined Stewart on background vocals, too, including Deniece Williams, James Ingram, The Emotions, and Josie James of Burt Bacharach's band.

The title song became the artist's second top 40 hit and also made it to the U.S. R&B top ten.  In the U.K., it was even more successful, peaking at No. 7.  Three more songs from the album - "Get Lucky," "Don't Talk Dirty to Me," and "Is It Really Love?" - all fared better in Europe than in the United States, though the LP charted respectably at home (No. 98 Pop/No. 45 R&B).  Cherry Pop's deluxe edition features new liner notes from Michael Silvester plus an introduction by Jermaine's musical director Michael Licata.  It adds 20 bonus tracks across both discs of this 2-CD set, including remixes of all four singles and non-LP sides.  (There are no remastering credits.)  Before his untimely death in 1997 at the age of 39 from AIDS-related liver cancer, Jermaine Stewart left behind a legacy of effervescent dance-pop as vibrantly captured on this reissue.

Cherry Red also has an expanded edition of the 1988 sophomore album from Northern Ireland's The Adventures.   Their second of four LPs, The Sea of Love was the band's most successful effort, peaking at No. 30 on the U.K. Albums Chart and becoming The Adventures' only LP to reach the Billboard 200 (No. 144).  The Sea of Love, entirely written by guitarist Pat Gribben, also featured Terry Sharpe (lead vocals), Paul Crowder (drums), Tony Ayre (bass), and Eileen Gribben and Spud Murphy (vocals).

On the LP, The Adventures struck a balance between the sounds of pop past and present.  Though the production style by Pete Smith was unmistakably contemporary, Gribben's songwriting owed a debt to the widescreen lushness of Jimmy Webb.  The Sea of Love featured harmonies as layered as the synthesizers, with arrangements incorporating string quartet, tin whistle and pipes.  "Broken Land," the mournful plea for peace, became a top 20 hit in the U.K. and dented the U.S. Hot 100 at No. 95.

Cherry Red's expanded edition adds eight bonus cuts including single and acoustic versions of "Broken Land" as well as the single of "Drowning in the Sea of Love" (not to be confused with the Joe Simon song), an extended remix of "One Step from Heaven," and various non-LP sides including a cover of John Lennon's "Instant Karma."  Andy Davis' detailed interview with Pat Gribben is featured in the booklet, and all tracks have been remastered at Fluid Mastering.

All three titles are available now at the links below!

Jermaine Stewart, Say It Again: Deluxe Edition (Cherry Pop/Cherry Red, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1

1. Don't Talk Dirty to Me
2. Say It Again
3. Get Lucky
4. Got to Be Love
5. Dress It Up
6. Don't Have Sex with Your Ex
7. Is It Really Love?
8. Call It a Miracle
9. Eyes
10. My House
11. She's a Teaser
12. My Body
13. Say It Again (Single Version)
14. You Promise
15. Get Lucky (Single Version)
16. Imagine
17. Don't Talk Dirty to Me (Single Version)

Disc 2

1. Is It Really Love? (Single Version)
2. Say It Again (Extended John Robie Remix)
3. Get Lucky (Extended Remix)
4. Don't Talk Dirty to Me (Extended Remix)
5. Is It Really Love? (Extended Mix)
6. Say It Again (Extended Remix)
7. Don't Talk Dirty to Me (Remix Edit)
8. Places
9. Search
10. Say It Again (The Jingle Mix)
11. Get Lucky (New York Mix)
12. Don't Talk Dirty to Me (Radio Edit)
13. Get Lucky (Dub)
14. Don't Talk Dirty to Me (Dub)
15. Is It Really Love? (Dub)

Disc 1 Tracks 1-12 from Say It Again, Siren Records CD CDSRN14, 1987
Disc 1, Tracks 13-14 from Ten Records Single TEN 188, 1988
Disc 1, Tracks 15-16 from Siren Records Single SRNZ 82, 1988
Disc 1, Track 17 and Disc 2, Track 7 from Siren Records Single SRN 86, 1988
Disc 1, Track 18 and Disc 2, Track 8 from Ten Records Single 111 999, 1989
Disc 2, Track 1 from Ten Records 12" Single TENT 188, 1988
Disc 2, Tracks 2, 12 from Siren Records 12" Single SRNT 82, 1988
Disc 2, Tracks 3, 13 from Siren Records 12" Single SRNT 86, 1988
Disc 2, Tracks 4, 14 from Ten Records 12" Single TEN X 266, 1989
Disc 2, Track 5 from Ten Record Promo 12" Single TENR 188 DJ, 1988
Disc 2, Tracks 6, 10 from Siren Records Single CD SRNCD 86, 1988
Disc 2, Track 9 from Ten Records Single TENM 188, 1988
Disc 2, Track 11 from Siren Records Promo Single SRNDJ 86, 1988

The Adventures, The Sea of Love: Expanded Edition (Cherry Red Records, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Drowning in the Sea of Love
2. Broken Land
3. You Don't Have to Cry Anymore
4. The Trip to Bountiful (When the Rain Comes Down)
5. Heaven Knows Which Way
6. Hold Me Now
7. The Sound of Summer
8. When Your Heart Was Young
9. One Step from Heaven
10. Broken Land (Acoustic Version)
11. Don't Stand on Me
12. Stay Away
13. The Curragh of Kildare
14. Drowning in the Sea of Love (Single Version)
15. One Step from Heaven (Extended Remix)
16. Instant Karma
17. Broken Land (Single Version)

Tracks 1-9 from The Sea of Love, Elektra CD 7559-60772-2, 1988
Track 10 from Elektra UK 12" Single EKR 69T, 1988
Tracks 11, 17 from Elektra UK Single EKR 69, 1988
Tracks 12, 14 from Elektra UK Single EKR 76, 1988
Track 13 from Elektra UK CD Single EKR 76CD, 1988
Tracks 15-16 Elektra UK 12" Single EKR 80T, 1988

Deee-Lite, World Clique: Expanded Album and Remixes (Cherry Red Records, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1 - The Original Album (Originally released on Elektra CD 9 60957-2, 1990)

1. Deee-Lite Theme
2. Good Beat
3. Power of Love
4. Try Me on... I'm Very You
5. Smile on
6. What Is Love?
7. World Clique
8. E.S.P
9. Groove Is in the Heart
10. Who Was That?
11. Deep Ending
12. Build the Bridge

Disc 2 - The Remixes

1. Groove Is in the Heart (Peanut Butter Radio Mix)
2. Good Beat (Turn Up the Radio Mix)
3. Power of Love (Turn Up the Radio Mix)
4. Riding on Through!
5. Groove Is in the Heart (Meeting of the Minds Mix)
6. How Do You Say... Love (A Delicious Joey Pal Dub)
7. E.S.P. (Ouijee Extended Mix)
8. What Is Love? (Rainbow Beard Mix)
9. Good Beat (Extend the Beat Mix)
10. Power of Love (Sampladelic Remix)
11. Build the Bridge (Holographic House Groove Mix)
12. What Is Love? (Holographic Goatee Mix)
13. Good Beat (Pal Joey's Shake Your Body to the Beat Mix)
14. Groove Is in the Heart (Jelly Jam Beats)

Disc 2, Tracks 1, 5, 8, 12, 14 from Elektra 12" Single 0-66622, 1990
Disc 2, Track 2 from Elektra Cassette Single 4-64880, 1990
Disc 2, Tracks 3, 10 from Elektra 12" Single 0-66592, 1990
Disc 2, Track 4 from Elektra UK Single EKR 122, 1991
Disc 2, Track 6 from Elektra UK 12" Single EKR 118 T, 1991
Disc 2, Track 7 from Elektra 12" Single 0-66550, 1991
Disc 2, Tracks 9, 13 from Elektra UK 12" Single 122 T, 1990
Disc 2, Track 11 from Elektra UK 12" Single EKR 117 TX, 1990