Contact (Platinum Blonde album)

Contact is the third studio album by the Canadian band Platinum Blonde, released in 1987.[1][2] It sold more than 150,000 copies in its first year of release.[3][4] The album reached a high of 20 on the Canadian charts. The first single was the title track; its video was shot at Lamport Stadium.[5]

Contact
Studio album by
Platinum Blonde
Released1987
LabelCBS Canada - 80105
ProducerMark Holmes, David Bendeth, Bernard Edwards, John Dexter
Platinum Blonde chronology
Alien Shores
(1985)		 Contact
(1987)		 Yeah Yeah Yeah
(1990)
Singles from Contact
  1. "Contact"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Connect Me"
    Released: 1987
  3. "Fire"
    Released: 1988
  4. "If You Go This Time"
    Released: 1988

The supporting tour was a disappointment, with the band forced to cancel dates due to low ticket sales; the band claimed that the cancellations were due to substance abuse issues.[6][7]

Production

CBS Canada pushed the band to adopt a style that would appeal to U.S. album-oriented rock radio stations; the company admitted its mistake when Canadian sales declined.[8] Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner sang on the cover version of "Fire".[9]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]

The Gazette wrote that "lead singer Mark Holmes has little or no vocal personality, but at least this time he keeps the whining to a minimum."[11] The Vancouver Sun determined that Platinum Blonde "do a pretty fair Duran Duran imitation, only their lyrics are a little dumber, their melodies aren't as catchy and ... they don't exactly measure up in the looks department, either."[12] The Ottawa Citizen called the album "reminiscent, although not imitative, of the metalized funk of Power Station."[13]

The Kingston Whig-Standard deemed the band "talented craftsman who do deserve respect if not superstardom."[1] The Toronto Star labeled Contact "an album rooted in the hot, street-tough funk of New York City, not in the fluff of snow-covered hockey arenas, suburban high school dances or video dreams."[14]

Track list
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Contact"Mark Holmes, Kenny MacLean, David BendethHolmes, Bendeth3:56
2."Connect Me"Sergio Galli, MacLeanHolmes, Bendeth3:46
3."Diamonds"HolmesHolmes, Bendeth3:11
4."If You Go This Time"Holmes, MacLean, Chris WardmanHolmes, John Dexter3:59
5."System"Holmes, Galli, MacLeanBernard Edwards3:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
6."Fire"Ohio PlayersHolmes, Bendeth3:51
7."Tough Enough"HolmesEdwards3:30
8."Automatic Drive"HolmesHolmes, Bendeth3:46
9."Chaperone Sally"Holmes, Galli, MacLeanHolmes3:33
10."I Might Have You"Holmes, MacLeanHolmes, Bendeth3:17
11."Beauty of the Beast"Holmes, MacLean, BendethHolmes, Bendeth3:46

Credits

Platinum Blonde:

  • Sergio Galli: guitar, backing vocals
  • Mark Holmes: lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Kenny MacLean: bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Sascha Tukatsch: drums, percussion

with:

  • David Bendeth: guitar
  • Jeff Bova: keyboards
  • Michelle Cobbs: backing vocals
  • Claude Desjardins: percussion, keyboards, drums
  • Bernard Edwards: bass
  • Peter Fredette: backing vocals
  • Eddie Martinez: guitar
  • B.J. Nelson: backing vocals
  • Lou Pomanti: bass, keyboards
  • Fonzi Thornton of Chic (band): backing vocals
  • Uptown Horns: horns
  • Tony Thompson: drums, percussion
  • Tom Weir: drums, percussion

Engineers:

  • Jay Mark, Scott Church, Don Wershba, Bruce Robbins, Randy Staub

References
  1. Burliuk, Greg (28 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde Loses Hair Color But Gains Respect". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Entertainment. p. 1.
  2. "Platinum Blonde Biography by Keith Pettipas". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  3. "Platinum Blonde cancels Maritime section of tour". Ottawa Citizen. 19 Jan 1988. p. D19.
  4. "Platinum Blonde". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  5. Gross, Jonathan (September 12, 1987). "Fast Forward". Toronto Star. p. S28.
  6. MacInnis, Craig (21 Jan 1988). "Platinum Blonde's eastern tour killed". Toronto Star. p. B1.
  7. O'Connor, Tim (9 Mar 1988). "Platinum Blonde cleaning up its act". Ottawa Citizen. p. E7.
  8. Quill, Greg (14 Feb 1988). "The bubble has popped for teen-oriented music". Toronto Star. p. D1.
  9. MacInnis, Craig (October 9, 1987). "Contact Platinum Blonde". Toronto Star. p. E4.
  10. AllMusic review
  11. Lepage, Mark (15 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde: Contact". The Gazette. p. E7.
  12. Mackie, John (17 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde: Contact". Vancouver Sun. p. C10.
  13. Erskine, Evelyn (23 Oct 1987). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. D5.
  14. Quill, Greg (7 June 1988). "Platinum Blonde a musical powerhouse". Toronto Star. p. F1.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.