Sisters With Voices H EATSEEKERS make down -to-

M.C. BREED "M.C. Breed & D.F.C." 25 on Top R &B Albums. (S.D.E.G./Ichiban) and "20 Below" First Rumblings: "From the day we got earth choices (Wrap /Ichiban). Entered Heatseekers at No. 3 the project, we could sense that this was ( "Breed ") on 10/26/91 and No. 30 ( "20 ") on something totally different," says EastWest's BY TERRY BARNES 5/23/92. Impact was 5/15/93, when the Bella. "They were streetwise, but more impor- album New Breed" debuted at No. 23 on Top tantly the music had a real edge to it. Getting "The first time I met them, I didn't believe R &B Albums. cut by Treach, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, they were the same group that sang on First Rumblings: With Breed's very first Marly Marl and others sure helped, but the the demo tape," recalls SWV manager single, 'Ain't No Future In Your Frontin',' streets have told us that Da Youngsta's were Maureen Singleton. "So I made them there was heavy street response," says Nina on it from day one." sing right there at the pizza parlor. And Easton, executive VP and co -owner of Breakthrough: "Radio now feels the surge that's when I knew they'd be a hit group Ichiban. "Within two weeks of the 12 -inch from the streets and is acting like it knows. if they got the chance. " What at first release, both national and regional one - New York, the Virginias and the Carolinas have posed a problem -that the teen trio stops began the buzz. Breed broke first on started a big fire. Texas and the West Coast are didn't sound as young as they looked- the street level in his home state of Michigan not far behind. Da Youngsta's will be poppin' ended up boosting their appeal. and in Texas." all summer long." "I felt that SWV could go after TLC's Breakthrough: We knew the act was audience, even though BMG thought breaking when they went on tour with Public TRACY BYRD "Tracy Byrd" (MCA). they sounded very mature for that rooted look. She recruited video direc- singing -I watched their mouths,'" Enemy. The now defunct KDAY [Los Angeles] Entered Heatseekers at No. 3 on 5/15/93. demographic," Singleton explains. "We tor Lionel C. Martin (Boyz II Men, Color Singleton recalls. "I knew that if they and KMEL [San Francisco] were instrumental Impact was 5/22, when it reached No. 24 on experimented with more sophisticated Me Badd), who worked within the went over with a hip -hop audience, an in helping Breed for the long- term." Top Country Albums. En Vogue -style clothes, but kept coming restrictions of a non -superstar video older demographic would accept them First Rumblings: "I was first introduced to back to what worked best: keeping it budget. Roland Edison, BMG's VP of just for their singing alone." THE PHARCYDE "Bizarre Ride II The Tracy Byrd through Patti Loveless, who casu- real. The girls started dressing them- Promotion /Black Music, masterminded Singleton's hunch was right on the Pharcyde" (Delicious Vinyl /AG). Entered ally referred to him as a star," says Walter selves again. They developed a very a promotional tour that put SWV in front money. The singles "I'm So Into You" Heatseekers at No. 33 on 3/20/93. Impact was Wilson, VP of marketing and sales for MCA natural, unaffected manner that kept of audiences of all ages. and "Weak" were both certified gold - 5/15, when it jumped from 128 to 99 on The Nashville. "In January, we put Byrd on a club them accessible to a younger audience. "I saw kids with their mouths wide and launched SWV's debut album, "It's Billboard 200. dance tour, where he sang live to track. There Singleton honed in on SWV's street- open, saying, 'Hey, they were really About Time, " past platinum. First Rumblings: Delicious Vinyl GM Rick was only a video out at the time -no single or Ross says the "Pass Me By" single "really album -and we had lines out the door. The struck the core rap audience. It was the com- women went crazy!" "The buzz started in the local clubs in the music and saw the video, we knew this was Breakthrough: "The video went Top 5 on bination of a great video and song. The video Breakthrough: "We put together a unique Augusta, Ga., then went to local radio and going to be a major- league record," says The Box. Once radio followed the club move- really introduced the group to a whole new fan marketing plan, utilizing [Country Music retail. When Camelot Music and Super Club PLG's Yeskel. "There was leftover goodwill ment on this song, we knew we had a hit." base -not just rap, but alternative, as well. Television]. Our first feedback in the showed interest in the record before we from their last album. Of course, it helps to BOYZ "Ghetto Dope" (Rap -A- The support in the college and hip -hop com- SoundScan numbers told us it was working. approached them, I knew that something was have MTV Buzz Bin. There was significant 5TH WARD munity has been intense. Once it was accept- We ran a series of teaser spots on CMT, with- happening." alternative and [Top 40] airplay." Lot/Priority). Entered Heatseekers at No. 35 on ed on the street level- including public praise out mentioning Tracy's name. In subsequent Breakthrough: "Our sales soon spread Breakthrough: "In one week, we had 17 5/22/93. Impact was 6/5, when it reached No. from Chuck D, Ice Cube and Mike D -we spots, we revealed Tracy and his music. This ahead of our work. The record had emerged spins on MTV, 2,500 plays on [Top 40] radio 19 on Top R &B Albums. knew the record was working." built considerable interest in Tracy -espe- from the club and college underground into and 10,000 units." First Rumblings: "The first week the Breakthrough: "On SoundScan, we cially at retail." the mainstream. When Power 106 in Los album was out, before I had gotten a chance noticed the record was blowing out of the Angeles put us on the Rap Attack Challenge in 95 SOUTH "Quad City Knock" (Wrap/ to contact retailers, I began receiving calls stores. We see the mainstream retail DUICE "Dazzey Duks" (TMR /Bellmark). December, we won for most of the month. Ichiban). Entered Heatseekers at No. 34 on from retailers in key areas, such as accounts responding heavily. The Entered Heatseekers at No. 22 on 1/30/93. Once the record broke in L.A., we were confi- 4/24/93. Impact was 5/29, when it reached Wisconsin, California and Boston, with pos- Heatseekers chart [showed] the growth, Impact was 5/29, when it jumped from 107 to dent it could break anywhere." No. 20 on Top R &B Albums. itive feedback about the album," says which retail accounts use to track new artists 100 on The Billboard 200. First Rumblings: "WHJX in Jack- Carlton Joshua, Rap -A -Lot national retail sales rep. week to week." First Rumblings: "When I first listened STEREO MC'S "Connected" (Gee sonville, Fla., was one of the first stations Breakthrough: "In reading the Billboard to the record, I knew that this was unique and Street/Island /PLG). Entered Heatseekers at on it," Ichiban's Easton recounts. "There DA YOUNGSTA'S "The Aftermath" special -a 'left -field' record with that No. 38 on 2/20/93. Impact was 5/29, when it was some big club interest in the South. It Top R &B Albums chart and seeing it jump (EastWest). Entered Heatseekers at No. 4 on 'magic' in lyrics, melody, rhythm and beat," jumped from 102 to 92 on The Billboard 200. went Top 30 on R &B in the first three from No. 42 to No. 19 in three weeks, it let me 5/8/93. Impact was 5/15, when it reached No. says Al Bell, president and CEO of Bellmark. First Rumblings: "As soon as we heard weeks." know the album is for real."

GEAR, A N D O T H E R F I N E L I S T E N I N G A P P A R E L . r In IS LI

ta .411..,1e". Green on Red - Scapegoats Loud - Psyche 21 - FON Mixes Art of Noise - In Visible Silence OBR 1001 -2 OBR 1023 -2 OBR 1O2ì-2 OBR 1016 -2 Prey. unavailable as a US re -mix album. The long awaited US release by Classic dance Available for the first time on release, this album is a return Available first time in indie Rockers "Loud ". A defi- for the the disc as a US release. Feat. to the more pleasurable rhyth- nite for anyore craving more US. Feat. "Instruments of "Opus 4 ". "Peter Gunn" (fea- mic, bluesy and terminal works ear candy anc divine spiritual Darkness ", "Peter Gunn" and turing Duane Eddy), of Chuck Prophet and Dan from leading guidance in the Def lane "" Britain's "Instruments of Darkness" and Steuart. Feat. Al Kooper. dance artists including 808 " ". Recomm. tracks - "A Guy Like State and Prodigy. Me ". "Two Lovers" (Waiting to Rel. Date 8/93 Die), Gold in the Graveyard.

John Martyn - The Apprentice John Martyn - Cooltide T -Bone Walker - Rare T -Bone Sid and Nancy OST OBR 001 -2 OBR 004 -2 OBR 22053 -2 OBR 22'03-2 John's first studio album since John's last studio album feat. Orig. masters from the Cult Film OS -. Available for the the Island years. Feat. The the single "Jack The Lad" and ABC /Bluesway label. this classic first time on CD. Feat. prey. T- Apprentice. The River and hit "Annie Says". Cooltide marks album features classic Bone unreleased tracks by Joe single, "Deny This Love". John's turn in music style Walker tracks Feat. "Stormy Strummer (Clash), The Circle towards a mixture of , Monday " Jerks, The Rogues. John Cale, blues and fusion. Steve Jones (Sex Pistols). Gary Oldman and Pray for Rain. Member of Off-Beat Records is distributed by the following fine distributors: Recommended tracks- Joe Titus Oaks Distribution Caroline Records East Caroline Records West Off-Beat Records Strummer "Love Kills ", Steve Jones "Pleasure and Pain ". NAIRID (800) 388 -8889 (800) 275 -2250 (800) 767 -4639 (800) 395 -BEAT Off-Beat Records 360 Cold Spring Ave. West Springfield, MA 01089 (413) 781 -2208. 1- 800 -395 -BEAT Fax (413) 781- 2057

BILLBOARD JULY 24, 1993 A BILLBOARD EXPANDED SECTION 25 www.americanradiohistory.com