Dance ARTISTS & MUSIC

9 liquid Groove Keeps Up the Flow With H20's `You Can Run .. HIGHER: Over the course of five 965,000 copies, according to East Side Records U.K. will issue international club community that years, New York -based indepen- SoundScan. Not bad, eh? "Was That All It Was," the new embraced the singer's "You Only dent Liquid Groove Records has But there's more. Last week, single from Hannah Jones. One of Have To Say You Love Me," which transformed itself from a little Cher's follow -up single -the an- clubland's fiercest ruling divas, peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Dance label that could to the little label themic "Strong Enough " -entered Jones effortlessly takes on this Music /Club Play chart the week of that did. In doubt? Consider the the Hot Dance Music /Club Play Jean Carne classic, rework- Feb. 28, 1998. label's strong, focused discogra- by Michael Paoletta chart at No. 37, making it the Hot ing it into her own peak -hour Speaking of remakes, Abba- phy, which includes "Find A Way" Shot Debut. Furthering our Cher floor -packer. cadabra is at it again. On March by Manix!, "Beautiful Dreams" by high is her confirmation to per- Of the mixes provided, we can't 22, Almighty U.K. released the Massflow, and "Satisfied"/ "Take pointed. form (along with Whitney Hous- seem to get enough of the Love To act's kicky cover version of Abba's Me Higher," "Livin' For The With a variety of tempos, beats, ton and Tina Turner) April 13 on Infinity master mix and the "Mamma Mia" -and the timing Future," "Nobody's Business," and and featured singers (Paul VH1's "Divas Live '99" special, as Rhythm Masters mix. Culled couldn't be better! On April 6, the "You Can Run ..." by H2O. Alexander, Billie, Gianni well as her North American tour, from the singer's forthcoming Abba revival goes full speed ahead While the majority of these Gabriel, Henry Casper, Bettina which begins in mid -June. We can ( "Coming Back For More," (again) with the world premiere of never left the borders of the Koester, and Cleon), the 11 -song hardly wait for this one! scheduled for a June release), "Mamma Mia," a new musical fea- underground club scene, "Satis- collection is reminiscent of the "Was That All It Was" will surely turing songs made famous by our fied"/ "Take Me Higher" and way club DJs once programmed SINGLES FILE: On April 19, please the same contingent of the (Continued on next page) "Nobody's Business" managed to their music: starting at a slower cross over into the pop main- beats -per- minute rate and gradu- stream in the U.K. when they ally building from there. It's about were licensed by London -based creating a mood. And nobody's AM:PM. Not bad for a label run more ready than Stumm. React Inks Veteran Vocalists Staten, Martin out of a 300 -square -foot office "I liked not having to create (with an adjoining 300- square- tracks solely for the dancefloor," BY PAUL SEXTON David Gresham Records in South also collaborated with such revered foot studio) in downtown Manhat- Stumm admits. "I liked being able LONDON -Two of the most indi- Africa. U.K. producers as K Klass on the tan. to branch out and show all the col- vidual voices in dance music are Foley says React will look to se- album. The guiding light behind the ors of clubland. I like experiment- being heard again thanks to an ex- cure international licensing for its Staton is managed by Simon label is 34- year -old Swiss DJ /pro- ing and using different inspira- panding U.K. indie. individual artist material. "We're Napier -Bell, best known for his ducer Oliver Stumm. Having tions. I don't like to stick to one The London -based React completely open to working with broad managerial experience with sharpened his musical craft since particular formula, because I imprint, which has built its reputa- anybody," he says. "We're speaking acts like the Yardbirds, Marc the early '80s, Stumm was one of don't want to be bored. I want the tion on such club compilation series to both major labels and indepen- Bolan, and T. Rex. the first DJs in Switzerland to music to be interesting and stim- as "Dope On Plastic" and "Real dents." "For a long time, I didn't feel I program . Since mov- ulating." Ibiza," has signed U.S. soul /gospel had anything to offer," admits Sta- ing to New York in 1991, Stumm Stumm is managed and booked queen Candi Staton and German ton. "I thought my day was over. I has concentrated on establishing by Zurich -based Nadia Rosasco. siren Billie Ray Martin to new U.K. know how frustrating it is trying to himself as a producer in the club deals. With new material forth -` eREACT® make a hit record. But this was like community. Of course, that doesn't REJOICING: Cher's "Believe" coming from both singers, React is a push into the mainstream, and I mean he no longer finds time to be single and its namesake album well poised to extend its reach in said, 'As long as I can sing good a DJ. On the contrary, most week- continue to astound and amaze. European and worldwide markets. React was formed in late 1990 lyrics, I'm fine with it.'" ends will find him manning the The Warner Bros. single has "What's different about React is and, after a recent restructuring, Born in , Martin mi- turntables at clubs in New York, logged 17 weeks atop the Hot that we operate as an EC [Euro- has a full -time London staff of 12, grated to London, where she be- Switzerland, or the U.K. Dance Music /Maxi -Singles Sales pean Community] label that hap- headed by Foley and A &R director came the lead singer for club - But these days, the young entre- chart, making it the longest -run- pens to be James Horrock- friendly preneur is looking toward the April ning No. 1 uptempo song on the based in the s. Far from the Anglo- German 20 release of "You Can Run ...," chart; it has also spent three U.K.," says label usual industry outfit Electribe the stunning debut album by his weeks at No. 1 on The Billboard co -owner background, 101. Later, as a alter ego, H2O, which was issued Hot 100. The album of the same Thomas Foley. Foley came to solo artist, she last May in Switzerland (on Sony name is firmly ensconced in the "The U.K. tends the dance com- signed to East- Switzerland) and Austria (on top 10 of The Billboard 200. Addi- to have an munity from a West. Recently, Sony Austria). The stateside Liq- tionally, the single and album have island mentality, job as an insur- the singer/song- uid Groove version has been sold, respectively, 571,000 and STATON but we try to FOLEY ance broker in MARTIN writer moved slightly altered from the previous model ourselves the City of Lon- back to Ham- releases. more on the Benelux labels, which don. burg after having spent 18 months "Basically, I used Switzerland are pan -European and have a small "I decided I didn't want to in the U.S. as a test market," says Stumm. "I Billboard. domestic market, so they have to go remain a gray man of [London's She describes "Honey" as "lean- saw what worked and what didn't beyond their borders. That to me is business district] for the rest of my ing toward `,' " and made changes based on that. 1- what the EC is all about." life," says Foley. referring to her 1994 solo release, I I it be IOiy Staton's single "Love On Love," - React's relationship with Staton which became a top 10 British pop discovered that wanted to more homogenous. which has received upfront club and goes back to its earliest days and to hit when it was reissued one year "Actually," he continues, "it was radio support, is scheduled for U.K. its spectacular debut in the U.K. later. more a issue. I in April 5. The singles market. Martin is self-managed at of deadline was li APRIL 3, 1999 commercial release -who a big hurry to finish the album song club hit for E -Zee Possee In February 1991, British pro- the moment -says the album she CLUB PLAY -a and have it released [in Switzer- on Boy George's More Protein label ducer John Truelove used a sample has been working on is "mainly mid - land]. I already knew there would 1. SHE WANTS YOU BILLIE VIRGIN in 1990 -precedes Staton's album by the veteran Alabama -born tempo and ballads, with some Mem- 2. MARIA BLONDIE LOGIC be changes made for other mar- 3. JOY & PAIN (DON'T YOU BELIEVE ME) "Outside In," tentatively scheduled singer on "," phis soul- inspired stuff." She lived kets." MOA TOMMY BOY for release in May. Also expected in which he recorded under the in Memphis for a spell and says, "I 4. IT'S OVER NOW DEBORAH COX All of this said, "Dee Jay" and ARISTA May is "Honey," the label debut moniker the Source. Releasing feel my musical roots are there." "Falling By Faith" replace "Keep 5. TURN ME ON DANNY TENAGLIA from Martin. "You Got The Love" on his own She also co -wrote a song for Sta- FEAT. LIZ TORRES TWISTED Me Satisfied" and "Keep On Additionally, the label is develop- label (Truelove), it peaked at No. 4 ton's album and retains her pub- Searching," while the act's remake ing the trip -hop outfit Kitachi, on the pop chart. Proving the dura- lishing deal with Warner/Chappell. of Ronnie Dyson's Paradise MAXI-SINGLES SALES which Foley describes as "a black bility of the track, a 1997 remix did Foley is optimistic that both Sta-

Garage classic "All Over My Face" 1. BAD GIRL DJ RAP HIGHER GROUND Chemical Brothers." even better, reaching No. 3. Foley ton and Martin are ripe for re- has been remixed. 2. PUSH UPSTAIRS UNDERWORLD BO React has a series of internation- estimates that, combined, the two emergence. "You Can Run is 3. B -BOY STANCE FREESTYLERS al partnerships for its versions have sold some 400,000 "A lot of artists today have not Although ..." MAMMOTH distribution steeped in rhythms of the dance - 4. MUTUAL DAUBY WHIRLING compilation material, including copies in the U.K. paid their dues. With people like floor, it's not a typical dance 5. MAMA SWEET DA HOOL LOGIC 3000 Rough Trade in Germany, Austria, Known more recently for her Debbie Harry and Cher doing so album. In fact, those expecting an and the Benelux territories, as well gospel recordings, Staton has rere- well, there's never been a better album overflowing with peak Breakouts: Titles with future chart potential, as Media Sept in France; its one corded her anthem "Young Hearts time for older women to be pop housers in the style of "Take Me based on club play or sales reported this week. blanket deal for all product is with Run Free" for "Outside In." She stars." Higher" may be slightly disap-

BILLBOARD APRIL 3, 1999 43 www.americanradiohistory.com