#nick martinelli

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A-T-5 032 Nick Martinelli Sophisticated-Soul

Philadelphian Nick Martinelli either working solo or with David Todd produced, mixed, wrote, and arranged many many classics of the boogie era. 'Do It To The Music' (Raw Silk), 'You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It Too' (BT), 'Heat You Up (Melt You Down)' (Shirley Lites), 'Love Town' (Booker Newberry III), 'What I Got Is What You Need' (Unique)

Martinelli had developed new talent in Philadelphia as A&R for WMOT. 'Zoom' which he co-produced for Fat Larry's Band was a number 2 hit in the UK in 1982. Brit-funk trio Loose Ends choose Martinelli produce their debut album A Little Spice which hovers just outside the top 50 in 1984. The same year Billy Ocean begins his run of global hits with 'Caribbean Queen' (written and produced by Keith Diamond who also wrote 'Thanks To You' (Sinnamon)). Sade's sophisticated-pop had also evolved from Brit-funk and in 1984 their debut album Diamond Life was topping charts around the world. Loose Ends also presented an air of London chic, especially singer (and writer/arranger) Jane Eugene, but when they return in 1985 the boys have ditched the t-shirts for classy jackets and shirts. Even though they present aspiration in the video for the 1984 single 'Emergency (Dial 999)', they are the glamorous product being advertised on a billboard, the billboard is in a less elegant location and has an everyday feel about it. Now their videos are more upmarket and exclusive, the video for 'Hanging On A String' is mysterious, 'Magic Touch' inside the world of fashion

Loose Ends refined their sound as well as their wardrobe (and their logo). Key to this was the Roland TR-808 drum machine. What they did is copy the drum pattern from the S.O.S. Band's 'No One's Gonna Love You' which was written and produced by Jam & Lewis. They had their song 'Hanging On A String' and stuck the Jam & Lewis drum track underneath

'Hanging On A String (Contemplating)' became a pop hit all around the world, it outsold S.O.S. Band's 'No One's Gonna Love You', and everyone wanted a piece of the Nick Martinelli/Loose Ends sophisticated synth-soul sound

Everyone know's 'Hanging On A String (Contemplating)' so here are some other tracks from 1985 that Nick Martinelli applies that sound too

52nd Street - Tell Me (How It Feels)

P.P. Arnold - A Little Pain (Instrumental) remixed by Nick Martinelli

Five Star - Let Me Be The One (Philadelphia Remix) Nick Martinelli collaborates with Loose Ends again on a few Five Star tracks. It also features CTI/Motown legend Grover Washington Jr. 

Change - Mutual Attraction (Nick Martinelli Version) remix version for the UK. Nick Martinelli was also asked to remix Haywoode's 1983 single 'A Time Like This' for her 1985 debut album Arrival

Mikki - Dance Lover (Dub) Nick Martinelli was also a DJ, he knew the dance floor. So here's a club cut of his from 1985. It was reissued in 2019. This is the only track primarily for the US market on the list. Martinelli was also working with Philly World Records and Stephanie Mills at the time

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A-T-4 088 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Today's Your Lucky Day (Dub Mix)

Included on Isle of Jura's second Instrumental Dubs compilation that came out a few months ago. We have Nick Martinelli to thank for such a lovely dub

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A-T-3 199 Shirley Lites - Heat You Up (Melt You Down)  

It's been uncomfortably warm - I recommend sacking everything off, travelling to the coast for the breeze and doing nothing (but dance)

Shirley Lites - Heat You Up (Melt You Down) was the first track to go on my 1983 master list. It's a Philadelphia affair. I can't tell you if Shirley Lites is a Philadelphia native but it's certainly when her career is. Heat You Up (Melt You Down) was written and co-produced by Philadelphia stalwarts Frank Fioravanti (who produced William DeVaughn, including Be Thankful For What You Got) and his regular collaborators the Parente brothers, it was mixed by Philly legends Nick Martinelli And David Todd who had began working with West End Records in 1982

(Melt Down Mix) - instrumental

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A-T-2 355 Nick Martinelli & David Todd Pt.2

Part 1 covered West End Records releases (A-T-2 191) in part 2 we have other labels and solo work...

Like Master Jam - Dancin’ All Night (Party Mix Instrumental) which is mixed by Nick Martinelli alone. Dancin' All Night is by D. W. Clayton who had co-produced Brenda Taylor's You Can't Have You Cake for West End

Big record popular with Frankie Knuckles that borrows a bassline from Help Is On The Way by The Whatnauts. On WMOT, Martinelli's previous employer, Martinelli co-wrote and co-produced this classic

Fat Larry's Band - Acts Like You Know

Bootsy's Rubber Band - Body Slam engineered by Bruce Weeden of Q (A-T-2 293)

Just David Todd mixing this one

Chris Thomas - Celebrity Funk (instrumental) 

[fivestarjamz]

“Ain’t You Had Enough Love” by Phyllis Hyman (1986)

Particularly in light of her 1995 death by suicide, Phyllis Hyman is somewhat miscast as a singer of torch songs. However, there was a lot more to Phyllis than sadness, which I guess you can say about anyone, singer or not, who grapples with depression.

The key word to use when describing the mood of 1986′s “Ain’t You Had Enough Love”, the third single from Hyman’s magnum opus Living All Alone, is sultry. There’s a very seductive quality to Phyllis’s vocal as well as Nick Martinelli’s production. Martinelli is one of the unsung geniuses of ‘80s soul, helming hits for Hyman, Stephanie Mills, Five Star and U.K. trio Loose Ends, members of which co-composed “Ain’t You Had Enough Love”.

Judging from the way this song is performed, she knows the answer is “no”. I don’t think she’s had enough, either.

(4-star song between “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” and “Ain’t You Had Enough Love”: “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now” by The Brothers Johnson.)

[fusilsapompe]

Nick Martinelli Presents : Philly Cheese Steak

TELECHARGER NICK MARTINELLI PRESENT : PHILLY CHEESE STEAK

Place incontestable de la musique Soul des années 1970, Philadelphie a enfanté quelques un des plus grands producteurs de la musique noire. Parmi eux, Kenny Gamble et Leon Huff dominent les charts de la fin des années 1960, jusqu'à l'arrivée du disco au milieu des années 1970. Un certain Nick Martinelli profite de l'émergence du Disco pour s'installer comme la nouvelle tête d'affiche de Philadelphie. Une caisse de résonance qui lui permet de travailler avec des groupes originaires de Pennsylvanie déjà installés comme Fat Larry's Band ou Frankie Smith. Une dizaine d'années plus tard, la carrière de Nick Martinelli prend un virage presque inattendu. Pendant un voyage à Londres pour Virgin Records, il rencontre Loose Ends, un groupe au succès retentissant en Europe. Avec le soutien de leur leader Carl McIntosh, il aide à finaliser So Where Are You? album mythique dont le single Hangin' A String devient un succès planétaire. Pendant plusieurs années, Nick Martinelli travaille presque exclusivement avec des Britanniques, (Five Star, 52nd Band), et le succès est systématiquement au rendez-vous. Après cette courte escapade européenne, le natif de Philadelphie s’attelle pendant de longues années à relancer la carrière de grandes divas des années 1970, telle que la légende Phyllis Hyman. Une fois de plus c'est un immense succès. Cette pleine réussite musicale et commerciale, s'accompagne d’une addiction à la drogue pour Nick Martinelli, et bien évidemment à la cocaïne, très à la mode au milieu des années 1980. Il passe trois ans de sa vie en prison à la fin des années 80 pour trafic de drogues. Cette peine de prison porte bien évidemment un coup à son ascension, mais il revient dès la fin de son incarcération pour finaliser Prime Of My Life, l'avant dernier album de Phyllis Hyman qui sera son dernier succès en date. Pendant plus d'une décennie, Nick Martinelli a produit d'innombrables albums cultes, installé un son maintes fois copié, et est sans aucun doute l'un des architectes du R&B moderne. Nick Martinelli restera dans l'histoire comme le producteur qui a permis au Funk Britannique de rentrer au plus haut dans les charts Américains, une chose pourtant inconcevable auparavant.

Une sélection de Damencio, mixée par Tomalone et illustrée par Zulu pour Fusils à Pompe, téléchargez et écoutez notre compilation de ses meilleures productions :

DOWNLOAD NICK MARTINELLI PRESENT : PHILLY CHEESE STEAK

[collectionofinspirations-blog]

TELLING TALES: Whilst the slick, atmospheric sound of 1980s R'n'B no doubt originated in the States, a small cohort of British bands who created tracks just as powerful and timeless as their American cohorts started to emerge early on in the decade.

One such group was 52nd Street, formed in Manchester. This track, 'Tell Me (How It Feels)' from 1985 is perhaps their most well-known number and this extended version certainly evidences why. A slinky nocturnal soundscape of jazzy club perfection, headed by up the dreamy vocals of Diane Charlemagne. You may not a similarity between this track and the works of Loose Ends; and for good reason. The group's both shared the same producer at the stage at which this single was produced, Nick Martinelli.

[carlmcintosh]

Mr. Nick Martinelli on the boards during the last cut on 'The Real Chuckeeboo"