The Flirts

The Flirts were a project concept group formed by Bobby "O" Orlando to front his performances as an artist, musician and songwriter. The group consisted of Orlando and featured a revolving roster of female session singers and models. Under The Flirts name, Orlando churned out hits "Passion", "Danger", "Helpless" and "Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)".

The Flirts
OriginUnited States
GenresHi-NRG, synth-pop
Years active1981–present
Labels"O" Records, Rams Horn Records, Sony Music Entertainment

Concept and first chart success

Orlando conceived the idea for the Flirts, wrote the songs, played the instruments, and produced the tracks. He then auditioned girls to be the faces of the group. Orlando often called in the services of professional session singers to sing the female vocals for the tracks because most of the performers were trained as dancers, models or actresses. The Flirts went through numerous lineup changes, and with every album release and tour, some girls left while others stayed. Orlando released six studio albums under The Flirts name from 1982 to 1992 and numerous singles.

"Jukebox" received significant airplay on MTV in 1982. The song rose to number 28 on the Billboard US Dance Chart. The follow-up single "Passion" peaked the same year at number 21 and became a huge success in Europe, reaching number 22 in the Netherlands[1] and number 4 in Germany.[2]

"Helpless (You Took My Love)" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard US Dance Chart, and reached number 13 on the German Top 75. Members of The Flirts performed in the German feature film Feel the Motion.[3]

In 1985, "You and Me", which Orlando co-wrote with influential hip hop producer Clifton "Jiggs" Chase, topped the US dance chart.[4][5]

Members

1982 "10C a Dance" era:

  • Andrea Del Conte
  • Sandra D'Key
  • Hope Rayman
  • Holly Kerr
  • Rebecca Sullivan

1983 "Born to Flirt" era:

1984 "Made in America" era:

  • Christina Criscione
  • Debby Gaynor
  • Christie Angelica Muhaw

1985 "Blondes, Brunettes & Redheads" era:

  • Christina Criscione
  • Debby Gaynor
  • Tricia Wygal

1986 "Questions of the Heart" era:

  • Christina Criscione
  • Geri McKeon
  • Tricia Wygal

Plus many session singers who sang lead and background vocals on tracks that were released under the name The Flirts.

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
SWE
[6]
10¢ a Dance
  • Released: September 1982
  • Label: "O"
  • Formats: LP, cassette tape
 38
Born to Flirt —
Made in America
  • Released: June 1984
  • Label: Telefon
  • Formats: LP, cassette tape
 —
Blondes Brunettes & Redheads
  • Released: October 1985
  • Label: CBS
  • Formats: LP, cassette tape
 —
Questions of the Heart
  • Released: October 1986
  • Label: CBS
  • Formats: LP, cassette tape
 —
Take a Chance on Me
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Vono Disc
  • Formats: CD
  • Switzerland-only release
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums
Title Album details
Flirt with the Flirts
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: Rams Horn
  • Formats: 2xLP
  • Netherlands-only release
Passion of Disco – The Remix Album
  • Released: 14 November 2014
  • Label: Hargent New Media
  • Formats: CD
  • Hungary-only release

Compilation albums
Title Album details
The Best of the Flirts
  • Released: September 1991
  • Label: "O"
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, cassette tape
Greatest Hits
  • Released: March 1994
  • Label: Unidisc
  • Formats: CD
  • Canada-only release
Physical Attraction
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Trilogie
  • Formats: 3xCD

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions
US Dance
[7]		 BE (FL)
[8]		 DEN
[9]		 GER
[10]		 NL
[11]		 SWI
[12]
"Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)" 1982 28 — 1 — — —
"Passion" 21 36 14 4 23 4
"On the Beach" 1983 — — — — — —
"We Just Want to Dance" — — — — — —
"Calling All Boys" 21 — — 57 — —
"Danger" — — — — — 30
"Helpless (You Took My Love)" 1984 12 — — 13 — 15
"Telephone" — — — — — —
"Dancin' Madly Backwards" 1985 47 — — 46 — —
"Voulez Vous" — — — — — —
"You & Me" 1 — — — — —
"New Toy" 1986 5 — — — — —
"Miss You" 15 — — — — —
"All You Ever Think About Is (Sex)" — — — — — —
"A Thing Called Love" 1988 — — — — — —
"After School" (featuring Full Force) 1989 — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
  • "Danger" - Disco Discharge: Pink Pounders (2010)
  • "Passion" - Disco Discharge: Gay Disco & Hi-NRG (2009)
  • "Passion" - Grand 12 Inches 4 (2007, Sony)
  • "Helpless (You Took My Love)" - I Love Bobby O (2006)
  • "Passion" - Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys (2005)
  • "Passion" - I Love Disco Energy (2003)

See also

References
  1. Dutch Top 40
  2. German charts
  3. 'Feel the Motion' on IMDb
  4. US Chart Singles Discography
  5. "The rush to ride the rap tide". The Washington Post. 1987-01-29. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  6. "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  7. "The Flirts". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  8. "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  9. "Danish Chart Archive - Singles 1979 - ____ (B.T./IFPI DK)". UKMIX Forums. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  10. "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  11. "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  12. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
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