Song of the Day: 'The Maximum Damage' by Mari Wilson

My devotion to the Queen of the Beehives is well-documented. ("Just What I Always Wanted" was without question the most delightful single of the 1980s!) But as was the case with the recent Blondie box set, I can only be so excited about the upcoming Mari Wilson collection, which feels at least 20 years late. Set for release on Nov. 25, Cherry Red's "Mari Wilson: The Neasden Queen of Soul, 3CD Box Set" brings together Mari's best-loved material from her time signed to the Compact Organization spanning her classic debut, "Showpeople," and 10 single releases over the period of 1980-85. 

According to the label, the set features a 24-page booklet with sleeve notes written by Mari and a U.K. discography, together with previously unseen photos. The newly designed front cover uses an iconic photograph taken by Adrian Boot. 

CD 1 is centered around the 12-track debut album "Showpeople," originally released in 1983 plus four bonus tracks: the 12” mixes of the singles "Just What I Always Wanted" her 1982 top 10 hit, "Cry Me a River" a top 30 hit in 1983, "Baby It’s True" and the soul classic "Ain’t That Peculiar," the latter two of which for the first time on CD. 

CD 2 features the single versions of eight A-sides, nine B-sides and five rarities, including seven non-album singles, "Love Man," "Dance Card," "Beat the Beat," "Baby It’s True," "Ain’t That Peculiar," "Let’s Make This Last" and the theme tune to the 1985 film "Dance With a Stranger": "Would You Dance With a Stranger?"

CD 3 includes eight new remixes by the original writer/producer Tot Taylor, ably assisted by Joe Dworniak using the original multi-track tapes. Tracks remixed include the A-sides "Beat the Beat" and "Baby It’s True" plus the B-sides "Glamourpuss," "Ecstasy," "Rave," "She’s Had Enough of You" and "You Look So Good." 

I already own nearly everything here, save for a remix or two I'm not particularly keen to acquire. But as with Blondie's "Against the Odds," the release may add the classic Mari catalog to streaming services, which will be handy for me, and perhaps, perhaps, perhaps help expose new people to her wonderful brand of music. 

Today's SOTD was the B-side to her cover of "Ain't That Peculiar," which I purchased in high school at the original Zia Records in Tempe when it was on Mill Avenue, a stone's throw from Roads to Moscow. Although Mari's cover of the classic Marvin Gaye song was a winner, I always thought the less-obvious "The Maximum Damage" had hit potential of its own. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Video was removed, so replacing with the other b-side called "Use Him," which was also a delight! 

Song of the Day: 'Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps' by Mari Wilson

Loved watching figure skater Donovan Carrillo in action this week -- and immediately thought of Mari Wilson when the Mexican cutie performed his free skate to Daniel Boaventura and Carlos Rivera's version of the classic song (originally "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás") that has been recorded by everyone from Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole to Doris Day and Celia Cruz. 

Did you know: The English lyrics for "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" were translated by Joe Davis and it was first recorded by Desi Arnaz in 1948?

Twitter reminds me that Mari's version was later used as the theme song to the hit TV series "Coupling." 

Song of the Day: 'In Private' by Mari Wilson

While there is no substitute for sizing up a musical artist based on what they compose, what a non-writing person chooses to cover is awfully telling as well. After one brilliant album of originals penned by Teddy Johns and two albums of her own originals, Mari Wilson has mostly recorded other people's works. And while some may seem obvious -- from standards "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "My Funny Valentine" to '60s classics "Be My Baby" and "I Only Want to Be With You" -- her decision to record a (widely under-appreciate) Dusty Springfield comeback song is about as close as you get to heaven on earth.

Featured on 2016's "Pop Deluxe." Hear the full version HERE.

P.S. And how about this ...

Of all the wonderful Pretenders songs she could choose, she nails it with a pared-down version of "Don't Get Me Wrong" on her "Cover Stories" (2012) album. :-)

Song of the Day: 'Baby It's True' by Mari Wilson

It's all I can do to not start packing -- can you imagine seeing Mari Wilson live?!!!!

Song of the Day: 'Are You There (With Another Guy)' by Luther Vandross

A fellow Dionne Warwick fan sent me this. Oh, Luther gurl!

P.S. 

I think I prefer Mari Wilson's take!

Song of the Day: 'Wonderful' by Mari Wilson

I've been having to make so many plays on the word "wonderful" that this '80s gem keeps popping into my head!

Song of the Day: 'Ain't That Peculiar' by Mari Wilson

I remember how excited I was back in high school when I found Mari Wilson's new 12-inch single at Zia Records, back when it was on Mill Avenue in Tempe, Arizona. I was still in high school, but my friend Greg and I would head over to the campus of Arizona State -- where all the cool kids were -- every chance we got, always looking for the latest imports from our favorite acts, from Bananarama and Marilyn to the Style Council and Mari. I already owned Japan's cover of "Ain't That Peculiar," which I knew from the radio as old Marvin Gaye song. But Mari's version instantly became my favorite, and the two b-sides -- "Use Him" and "The Maximum Damage" -- quickly became faves as well. Greg and I were heartbroken, though, when the album from which we expected them to come never materialized. (Never knew where she went.) Fortunately, Mari resurfaced in 1991, and finally released her follow-up to her classic "Showpeople" -- and she's been busy recording and touring ever since. These days, Mari even has a Facebook page, which you can like right HERE!

Two Things: (212) Edition

One of my favorite regular features on a blog is The WOW Report's "Two Things," which hilariously pairs, well, two things together -- sometimes obvious, sometimes completely unexpected. (See them all HERE.)

As I was reading THIS STORY in yesterday's New York Times about people obsessed with restoring midcentury homes ...


I had a Formica flashback to my Mari Wilson "Just What I Always Wanted" 45, which I bought at Roads to Moscow in Tempe, Arizona, back in 1982. Two things -- that go better together!

Music Box: Mari Wilson

Back in the day, nothing was more fun than killing time in the "imports" section at Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard. Yet there was something about earning just $23,000 a year in Los Angeles that made a $25 CD seem like quite the extravagant purchase, so you had to give your selections a lot of consideration. One trip to Tower that I've never regretted was when I splurged and bought two Mari Wilson compilations that came out in 1992. Back in high school I had Mari's debut, "Showpeople" ('80s Brit pop by way of Motown? I thought I'd died and gone to heaven!) and later the "Ain't That Peculiar" 12-inch single (b/w "The Maximum Damage" and "Use Him"). But by the time the '80s were coming to a close, turntable-less and all, I'd pretty much forgotten about my favorite beehived vocalist.

  So digging into the imports section and discovering the "Just What I Always Wanted" and "Beat the Beat" compilations -- which included everything from the vinyl I had plus all of her other singles and b-sides -- was like running into an old friend I hadn't seen in ages and whom I'd forgotten how much I loved hanging out with. The exquisite packaging, complete with all of the original artwork from her U.K. singles, was too irresistible no matter what the cost.

    Many years and many raises later, I would get my hands on Mari's Latin-influenced "The Rhythm Romance" from 1991, and a friend would buy me "Dolled Up" as a gift when it came out in 2005 (Mari's only two other full-length releases). But even after all this time, it's owning those instant classic Teddy Johns numbers -- like "Baby It's True," "One Day Is a Lifetime," "Wonderful to Be With" and the 1982 smash single, "Just What I Always Wanted" -- on compact disc that still makes me smile. And 50 bucks and barely being able to eat that week in the City of Angels still feels like a small price to pay.

  "Just What I Always Wanted": Not one Picasso, he'll give me a pair ...  

  "Beat the Beat": You're hyperactive, so attractive ...