CANADA'S COLE SHOWCASES POP SIDE ON METRO BLUE /CAPITOL SET (Continued from page 15) stream pop tone. In the 18 months hesitant to tackle the song. A version units in Canada, while "Blame It On has a very meaty sound, a bit different Youth" in 1992 in an HMV outlet in San since its release, Cole has toured with a recorded in the sessions didn't My Youth" has sold 83,000 units; than what's out now. [In Canada] Holly Francisco and began playing "Calling full band, and, as a result, her music work out, because "it didn't fit with the "Don't Smoke In Bed," 120,000 units; has been attracting big audiences but You." The album was subsequently has shifted significantly toward a fuller general stylistic tenor of the rest of the "Temptation," 62,000 units; and "It has still been one of those artists con- released by Toshiba -EMI and has sold pop sound. record," Klein says. Happened One Night," 25,000 units. tinually under- ranked." 125,000 units. Besides the Lennon/McCartney "It's always a scary proposition to "Dark Dear Heart" marks Cole's While several Canadian retailers are According to Berry, "Dark Dear cover, "Dark Dear Heart" features cover a Beatles song," says Klein. After first album to be distributed by Poly- enthusiastic about Cole's new album, Heart" has sold 24,000 units in Japan pop -styled songs penned by Joni the sessions in Toronto, "I put my mind gram Group Canada after Berry ended they also emphasize that sales of such since its release there. Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, Mary Margaret to trying to figure out a fresh way to Alert Music's eight -year relationship a pop -based recording will be largely In July, Cole did eight days of O'Hara, Klein, John Cody, David Bat - approach the song before we started up with EMI Music Canada last month. governed by radio support. advance promotion for the new album teau, and Cole's support players, Piltch [recording] in L.A. I came back here, "We're all quite pumped about Holly's "We consistently sell her catalog, but in Japan. She returns for an eight -date and Davis. locked myself up in the studio, and album," says John Reid, chairman of sales have slowed down in the past tour Oct. 1-12. This is being followed in Says Steve Rosenblatt, VP of mar- began working on another version, PolyGram Group Canada. year," says Lou Bova, chief purchaser November by a German tour and a keting at Capitol Records (U.S.), which became the version we ended up Says Randy Wells, senior VP of at Sam the Record Man's flagship store London date. "Holly does have a base of fans, based with. I feel very good about it." A &M/Island/Motown, "We pulled in on Yonge Street in Toronto. "So it's Paddy Spinks, VP of international at on her tour and records, but it's most- about 20 radio stations the first week probably a wise decision for her to Capitol, says the label is seeking sig- ly in the traditional jazz world. What U.S. EXPOSURE [with `I've Just Seen A Face']. I antic- make a career change now and make a nificant breakthroughs with "Dark we're trying to do now is cross her into Recognizing that "I've Just Seen A ipate that all the major [stations] pop album." Dear Heart" in the U.K and Germany. the pop mainstream. She's certainly Face" could give many North Ameri- across the country will come in." Says Lane Orr, buyer with the 14- Additional releases of the album in fur- given us the record to do that. It's a can radio listeners the opportunity to "We started playing `I've Just Seen store A&B Sound chain based in Van- ther territories are expected in the first matter of not forcing the marketplace hear Cole for the first time, label exec- A Face' the first week [of release]," couver, "She hasn't been selling as well quarter of 1998. but [exposing the album] through tour- utives are enthusiastic about the says Wayne Webster, music director of as she used to. The early albums did "The thrust of our [international] ing, TV work, and in -stores in the right album's prospects. AC station CKFM Toronto. "It's a real- phenomenally well for us, but [her sales campaign is in Japan, where she has locations." "After hearing bed tracks of the ly cool cover version of a Beatles song." have] leveled off for us." consistently sold a lot of records, and While Cole, Piltch, and Davis had Sheryl Crow tune ['You Want More'], Adds Curtis Strange, music director Outside Canada, Japan has em- to concentrate on Germany and Eng- arranged many of the tracks prior to `Onion Girl,"`Hold On,' and `World of top 40 CKZZ Richmond, British braced Cole most wholeheartedly. A J- land first rather than trying to conquer the sessions for previous albums, Klein Seems To Come And Go' in the studio, Columbia, "[`I've Just Seen A Face'] Wave DJ discovered "Blame It On My [all of Europe] in one go," he says. took a substantial role in shaping this it hit me we had a record that opens up new album musically. doors for us [at radio]," says the "I knew going in that Larry's a real singer's manager, Tom Berry, also TWO ALBUMS STOKE GROWING FIRE FOR 'S SIZZLA hands -on producer, which has always president of Alert Music here. (Continued from page 16) scared me," says Cole. "I don't want a "I've Just Seen A Face" was serv- hands -on producer, usually. However, iced Sept. 18 to Canadian radio and to husky keenings front and center, spin- for it," says New York -based Earl fixed. "They're doing a great promo- -I also knew Larry's jazz background triple -A formats in the U.S. ning off pared -down computer tracks Guthrie, who handles Brickwall pro- tion of the `Black Woman' single with and respected what he'd done, and I " `I've Just Seen A Face' is the best that interlace 's drum ma- motions for the U.S. `Love Is Divine' on the B -side in the thought it might be a perfect marriage. song on the album, period," says Phil chine beats with snippets of roots "I'm trying to make some more U.K.," says Dixon, who plans to pro- Larry understood where I came from, Costello, senior VP of promotion at melodies. ( "Black Woman's" slightly songs that the American people can duce a "Black Woman" video. Infor- and he also [understood] the head Capitol (U.S.). "The way [the track is] denser tracks, however, include more relate to, that they can understand eas- mation on the international release of space [my music is] in now: not being produced and the approach she takes extended melodic lines and visceral ily," says "Black Woman" producer "Praise Ye Jah" was not available at as much jazz as it once was." on it, we've got a shot of getting it Nyabinghi -style drumming.) Dixon. 'We just want to keep it on the press time. In the first days of recording, Cole played on triple-A." "It's music, how I live," says Sizzla, level so Sizzla doesn't stray from what "The Xterminator LP is a very seri- says, she was concerned about what Costello emphasizes that Capitol is clearly conflicted over the fact of music he's set out to do. What he's doing now ous album," says Earl Moodie, owner direction Klein would take the album. treating Cole as a new artist with U.S. as both mission and business. "The is purely himself; he's not trying to be of Moodies Records in the Bronx, N.Y., "It was really hard for me to let Larry radio. "Holly has no real radio base in lyrics are from the earth, flourishing what he's not. What he's giving off is where "Black Woman" sold 50 units in to do his job because I always want to the U.S.," he says. "Her [previous] with love and joy. You can't stop that just him. Sizzla seems like a simple a single day-the store's entire stock be in control," she says. "I let [control] records got NAC and jazz and some from flowing. Is Babylon that make it young man, so you're amazed by the of the album on vinyl and CD. "Ethnic - go after awhile because I fully trusted AC airplay. They were serviced at into a business." type of lyrics he puts together: How did wise, `Black Woman' will sell more, but, him by the time we got to L.A. [after triple -A, which played them in special- Born Miguel Orlando Collins in a you come up with that? Sizzla has a internationally, the Xterminator album earlier dates in Toronto]." ty shows, but she's never really been Kingston ghetto, this second of six chil- unique voice; he knows how and when should go beyond it. Sizzla is a great Klein laughs at the suggestion of a worked at the format." dren raised by a single mother initial- to use it. His imagination works with artist. However, I've seen some of studio power struggle with Cole. While. Cole's 1990 debut album, "Girl ly planned on a career in mechanical what he reads, and he delivers it in the these artists come up and light up the "[Recording with Holly] was a com- Talk," was not released in the U.S., engineering. But he began DJ'ing as music. But he just needs a sense of place for a while, and in the long run, plete joy," he says. "There was no 1992's "Blame It On My Youth" has Sizzla on the Caveman International direction and maturity in the business. they falter. head -butting in terms of the way she sold 26,000 units stateside, according sound system and was spotted by leg- You don't want an artist who people "I'm not saying he's one of them," and I saw the record once we under- to SoundScan; 1993's "Don't Smoke In endary Jamaican saxophonist Dean don't want to deal with." Moodie adds. "But then again, it de- stood each other. We shared a kindred Bed" has sold 54,000 units, and "Temp- Frazier, whose arrangements are key Digital licensed "Black Woman" to pends on where he wants to take him- aesthetic. I've rarely seen a singer who tation" has sold 35,000 units. Accord- to the Xterminator sound. More than Greensleeves for distribution in the self. He has to make sure he remains knows more about how to use their ing to SoundScan, the 1996 enhanced three years ago, Frazier brought Siz- U.K., Europe, and Japan. The set was focused in the same direction as these voice as effectively as she could. I EP "It Happened One Night" has sold zla to Burrell. From his first record- issued Sept. 17 in the U.K.; release two albums. He could be the next big, would say over half of the vocals [on the 12,000 units. ings, Sizzla's unique gifts shone in such dates for other territories are not yet big artist from that little island." album] were guide vocals, unpatched. Berry says a decision has yet to be hit tunes as "True God" and "Black One take, boom. Unbelievable." reached on whether there will be a video And Comely," an inspired "combina- For the most part, before contacting for "I've Just Seen A Face." Instead, a tion" with General. E -PROP, VI LINK FOR GAME, MUSIC PROMO Klein, Cole had figured out what songs key component in furthering Cole's U.S. "He is one of the most versatile (Continued from page 12) she wanted to record. Klein, however, profile will be increased touring for the artists out right now," says V.P. mar- came up with "Hold On," co-written singer in the market, beginning in early keting director Randy Chin. "He While the vast majority of albums will the box and give something a little with Batteau and Cody, and, at his 1998. "If we do a video that doesn't land brings a new generation of conscious- come from E -Prop, a handful of Angel, more rewarding to the consumer," says request, Crow submitted "You Want on VH1, it's throwing $100,000 out the ness to that transcends the Virgin, and Capitol catalog items will Jeffery. "We wanted to put something More," a song she never recorded. window," he says. dancehall and speaks to the needs of also be available through the promotion. together to promote our fall lineup that As an arranger, Klein's authority According to Marty Diamond at Lit- the people." Another "buy two, get one free" offer was targeted to a more mainstream can be heard particularly on "I've Just tle Big Man, which books her in the Previously, Xterminator sold a lim- directs consumers to retail stores, consumer and would make the games Seen A Face" and "River," a song U.S., Cole has yet to reach her poten- ited number of "Praise Ye Jah" units where, after purchasing two of the 49 more appealing to an audience beyond penned by Mitchell, Klein's ex -wife, tial audience in America. "The interest to RAS Records' one -stop; RAS had li- listed music titles, they can send in the typical gamer." and first recorded on her classic 1971 [in Cole] live in the U.S. is far deeper censed Sizzla's 1996 "Burning Up" proofs of purchase and a coupon to a Sale of the Century follows an Reprise album, "Blue." Both were than what we've toured so far," he says. debut release. But V.P. has not licensed fulfillment house to receive a free disc aggressive promotional strategy for songs Cole had been performing in her "So far, we have only taken focused "Praise Ya Jah "; the label is distribut- from the list. EMI's centennial, which began Sept. 15 live show for some time. strikes in such border markets as ing it. "We're working with Xtermina- According to E -Prop VP of product (Billboard, Sept. 6). E -Prop president While Cole's earlier interpretation of Detroit and Buffalo [N.Y.] and in places tor right now in setting up print ads in development Briggs Ferguson, the pro- Bruce Kirkland told attendees at the "River" had been a concert crowd - like Chicago, Los Angeles, San Fran- all the reggae magazines, like Reggae motion is a natural. August EMI Music Distribution con- pleaser, Klein suggested a more subtle cisco, and New York, which have been Report and The Reggae and African "What we're trying to do with this vention in Vancouver that the compa- approach to the song. "It's one of my encouraging with 500- to 1,000 -seat Beat," says Chin.' We're hitting all the particular promotion is introduce our ny is hoping to nearly double its holi- favorite songs of Joni's, and [her ver- [halls]. I expect her touring base to reggae radio people with the CD and, artists to younger and younger demo- day catalog sales this year. sion] is such a definitive recording," he expand with this album, because where necessary, with the vinyl LP. graphics," he says. "Game consumers To that end, all print, radio, and tele- explains. "I didn't feel the way Holly there's a whiff it has something which We're also doing selected retail pro- and music consumers are already an vision ads, as well as in -store displays approached it live would lend itself well will open doors for her." motions, such as endcaps." automatically good fit, but we're hop- for VI's software, will be flagged with a to record, so I set about trying to re- While V.P.'s marketing machine is ing to introduce [the former] to a notice of the promotion. direct things in a darker, more con- CANADIAN STRONGHOLD far bigger, ranges further, and is much broader range of our catalog." "We're trying to move up the mar- templative direction." In Canada, Cole is already well more established than Brickwall's, de- Similarly, VI is hoping to expand its keting bar and try a bunch of things to Although Cole's concert audiences established as a major concert draw termined Sizzla fans will have no prob- consumer base, says Simon Jeffery, VP see what works and what doesn't," says had also responded enthusiastically to and a strong record seller. Her Cana- lem finding "Black Woman" in mom - of marketing for the company. Ferguson. "The object is to test con- an earlier arrangement of "I've Just dian bookings are handled by S.L. and -pops and independent shops or "There's very little imagination in cepts and ideas to gather a better Seen A Face" and she was adamant Feldman & Associates. According to ordering it from catalogs like Outerna- most of the gaming industry's promo- understanding about the effectiveness about recording it, Klein was initially Berry, "Girl Talk" has sold 100,000 tional. "Virgin Megastore in L.A. asked tions, and we're trying to break out of of different types of promotions."

BILLBOARD OCTOBER 11, 1997 99

www.americanradiohistory.com