Don't say goodnight..

Haven't done a great deal of record shopping in the last little while, but while plumbing the depths of my hard drive(s), found something that I had ripped at the beginning of 2011 that I thought was well worth a little blog post.

Produced by Chicago's ever reliable Donald Burnside, who had also produced and/or arranged Air Power (previously featured here), Elaine & Ellen, and two of Captain Sky's albums, Burnside is one of those names that I haven't missed with yet.

A female quartet comprised of Denise Austin, Demetrice Henrae, Martha Jackson & Lisa Hudson (although there's some question as to whether this was the actual lineup for this release), First Love later released an album on Chycago International Records, also helmed by Burnside which featured the stunning "Party Lights" (featured on Beat Electric a while back). However, as as far as I can tell, this looks like their first single and lone release on Brunswick's Dakar imprint in the US.

Listen: First Love - Don't Say Goodnight (1980, Dakar/Brunswick)
Listen: First Love - Love Me Today (1980, Dakar/Brunswick)

The A-side, "Don't Say Goodnight," (which was included on on Strut's Horse Meat Disco II compilation) was also their lone chart entry on the Billboard Disco/Dance chart. Peaking at a modest #68 in early '81, this one nonetheless packs a nice swinging punch with its infectious staccato horns (reminiscent of yet another Burnside production from the same year, Elaine & Ellen's "Fill Me Up") and chirpy girlie vocals (which I love) and that intro, centred on a signature Donald Burnside percussion-hinged build-up.

And just when I thought I'd never find video, I come across some long-buried live lipsync, with the ladies surrounded (in true early 80's style) by dancers, neon and copious amounts of dry ice. Apparently this is from a TV show called Star Club (anyone have any idea which country this was from?).




First Love - Don't Say Goodnight
Uploaded by funkyvincent

Flipping things over, "Love Me Today" on the B-side doesn't disappoint either. While it doesn't have anything that quite stands up to the A-side's big brass hook; with some chucking guitar and string touches, it's one of those great breezy, sunny day, lovers holiday type of songs (and yes, that phrase is straight from the lyrics).

As far as this 12" goes, mark both sides down as another quality entry in Burnside's discography.

For a little change of pace, the blog Mellow Soul & Sensual Grooves posted one of First Love's final singles from 1984 "Things Are Not The Same."


PURCHASE:

VA - HORSE MEAT DISCO CD
AMAZON.CO.UK

FIRST LOVE - DON'T SAY GOODNIGHT/LOVE ME TODAY (DIGITAL SINGLE)
iTUNES UK

PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR HEART WILL FOLLOW.. (SUNDAY DECEMBER 2, 2007)

LINKS:
DISCOGS: FIRST LOVE - DON'T SAY GOODNIGHT/LOVE ME TODAY 12"
DISCOGS: DONALD BURNSIDE
SOULFUL DETROIT FORUM: FIRST LOVE
SOULFUL DETROIT FORUM: PHOTOS BY DVDMIKE (PICTURE OF DEMETRICE HENRAE c. 1985)
TOODARNSOULFUL.COM - DAKAR - PT. 2 (PDF DOCUMENT)

CATEGORIES: MINI DELIVERIES