Madleen Kane

Madleen Kane is a model and singer born in Malmö,Sweden in 1958 to a Swedish father and American mother. A former Elite fashion model, she had five Top 10 hits on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, debuting in the late 70's and peaking in the early eighties.

During the heyday of international imports crashing North American shores, Madleen's debut album "Rough Diamond" (1978), started a bidding war. Originally released in France on CBS, it was soon after signed to Warner Brothers in North America. Buoyed by the title track, it became a huge club hit on the Billboard Dance Chart. Its North American release included a promo only remix done by engineer Jimmy Simpson. Other highlights of "Rough Diamond" included sultry covers of "C'est Si Bon" and "Fever", as well as the morning music classic "Touch My Heart".

Paris-based production team "Michaele, Lana & Paul Sebastian" produced the debut set. They are also known for their work on projects by the likes of Theo Vaness and one-off classic "Argentina Forever" by Pacific Blue both released on Prelude in the U.S.

"Cheri" (1979), Kane's 2nd "CBS France/Warner Brothers" release featured "Forbidden Love", a dramatic pop opus arranged by Munich Machine mainstay Thor Baldursson. In the tradition of classic sidelong medleys made famous by the likes of Donna Summer and Cerrone, Madleen's "A Side" suite of "Forbidden Love", the title track, its breakdown "Fire In My Heart" and "Secret Love Affair" gave her another blockbuster club hit running 15 minutes plus in length. Jim Burgess handled the remixes on the single, clocking in at just over eight minutes.

"You and I", a stunning ballad on the set, has become a wedding day classic in Canada, and was considered the best bet in an effort to cross Madleen over to the pop market.

Unlike the North American releases, both "Rough Diamond" and "Cheri" were released with gatefold covers in France, showcasing Madleen's obvious beauty. In addition, the mix on "Forbidden Love" is different on the American releases than their international counterparts. An additional song, "I Want You, Need You, Love You" was removed from North American releases.

At the beginning of the 80's, the production trio took Madleen to Chalet Records as part of the Prelude Records family, to release "Sounds Of Love" (1980), her 3rd album. Scoring with "Cherchez Pas", a decidedly more electronic outing that her usual symphonic disco works, the set also featured "Move Me With Your Love" and "Music Makes My Night". This album also marked the end of Madleen's work with the Paris-based production trio, who ironically signed another striking blonde international : Lenore O'Malley, who recorded "First, Be A Woman" with great success. The song was later covered by Gloria Gaynor.

After a brief hiatus, Madleen moved on to work with legendary producer Giorgio Moroder and longtime collaborator Pete Bellotte. "You Can" (1981), the 'Flashdance-esque' lead single from those sessions, became one of her biggest hits, along with "Fire In My Heart" and "Playing For Time". Highlighted by Moroder's trademark dizzying synthesizer arrangement and Kane's cooing vocals, both tracks became highlights of her "Don't Wanna Lose You" album. This album was released on "Chalet Records", a label owned by her then-husband Jean-"Claude Fredriech" and distributed by legendary dance promoter Tom Hayden and his TSR Record company, soon to be Madleen's next record label.

London's Ian Anthony Stephens and Megatone recording artist Paul Parker teamed up to give Madleen, "I'm No Angel", one of her biggest Billboard Dance Hits from her 1985 album, "Cover Girl".

A collection of her hits, "12 Inches And More" (1994), continues to be a strong seller for an artist who essentially retired from the music industry, commenting that she was bored with the recording process. "12 Inches And More" unfortunately does not feature any of the extended mixes from her early career, with album versions being used in place of the remixes most likely due to ownership and licensing issues.

While unconfirmed, it is believed that Madleen was the one of the first, if not THE first Swedish female vocalist to enjoy success in the dance pop market in North America. She remains a favourite of dance music lovers throughout the world.

Discography

Albums

*"Rough Diamond" (1978) Warner Bros.
*"Cheri" (1979) Warner Bros.
*"Sounds of Love" (1980) RCA Victor
*"Don't Wanna Lose You" (1981) Chalet
*"Cover Girl" (1985) TSR
*"12 Inches and More" (1994) TSR

ingles

* "Rough Diamond" (1978)
* "Fever" (1978)
* "Touch My Heart" (1979)
* "Forbidden Love" (1979)
* "You and I" (1979)
* "Secret Love Affair" (1979)
* "Cheri" (1979)
* "Cherchez Pas" (1980)
* "Boogie Talk" (1980)
* "You Can" (1981)
* "Fire In Your Heart" (1981)
* "Playing For Time" (1982)
* "On Fire" (1985)
* "Ecstasy" (1985)
* "I'm No Angel" (1985)

External links

* [http://www.mypage.bluewin.ch/ts/fc/madleen.htm photos]
* [http://www.discomuseum.com/MadleenKane.html biography]
* [http://www.disco-funk.co.uk/k/MADLEEN_.HTM discography]

ee also

*List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart