- Newcleus
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Newcleus Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Genres Electro, Boogie, Old school hip hop Years active 1977–1989 Labels Mayhew
Sunnyview/RhinoAssociated acts Jam-On Productions Members Lady E
Cozmo DPast members Nique D
Chilly BNewcleus is an American electro and old school hip hop group that gained popularity in the early 1980s. They are primarily known for their 12-inch singles "Jam-On's Revenge", re-released as "Jam on Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)" (1983), and "Jam on It" (1984).
Contents
Formation
A precursor to the group, known as Jam-On Productions, formed in 1977 in Brooklyn, New York, which included teenagers Ben "Cozmo D" Cenac and his cousins Monique and Pierre (Pete) Angevin.[1] The group's popularity grew as it played block parties in Brooklyn. By 1979, the primary group's members were Cenac, Yvette "Lady E" Cook (who would later marry Cozmo D), Monique Angevin, and Bob "Chilly B" Crafton (who would later marry Angevin).[1] The coming together of families inspired the name change to Newcleus.[1]
Chilly B died of a stroke on February 23, 2010.[2]
Singles
Newcleus recorded "Jam-On's Revenge", a block party favorite that featured vocals that were sped up to resemble Alvin and the Chipmunks.[1] The track impressed record producer Joe Webb, and it became the group's first single in 1983 on Mayhew Records.[1] It was re-released later that year on Sunnyview Records as "Jam On Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)", and it made the Top 40 on the U.S. R&B chart.[1][3]
The follow-up, "Jam on It", did well on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #56.[1][3] "Computer Age (Push the Button)" was a more mature single with accomplished rapping and better synthesizer effects, and it also hit the R&B Top 40.[1] Though the Cenacs and the Craftons continued to record sporadically until 1989, they did not hit the R&B charts after 1986.[1]
Albums
The first Newcleus album, Jam on Revenge, was not a great sales success on its release, and their second album, Space Is the Place, did even more poorly upon release in 1984.[1] The out of print Jam on Revenge album is now regarded as a classic, not only because of the well-known singles, but also because of album cuts like "Destination Earth".
In 2005, Cozmo D released an album, Destination Earth: The Definitive Newcleus Recordings, a collection of hip-hop tracks from their entire catalog. This collection supersedes the Rhino Records compilation, Jam On This! The Best Of Newcleus. The majority of the songs on this release have been restored and remastered from the original master tapes. The 'definitive versions' of the songs "Destination Earth" and "Why" taken from this CD were also released on 12 inch vinyl on the German record label, Dominance Electricity. Together with remixes by Sbassship and Reeno, the cover illustration are by Bill Wray (known for his work on the 1990s cult TV cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show).
Newcleus is working on a second collection entitled Returned to Earth, a companion volume to Destination Earth, which will collect all of their electro works onto one disc, restored and remastered from the original tapes. Returned to Earth will also include two new songs.[citation needed]
Although both of Newcleus' albums Jam on Revenge and Space Is the Place have been remastered and reissued on CD, the song "Where's the Beat" from Jam on Revenge has been deleted from the track listing. These albums were previously available in the United States only on vinyl and audio cassette. However both albums, original track listing and cover art were also available on CD, manufactured and distributed by Bellaphon Germany through Sunnyview Records in 1988.
Discography
Albums
- 1984: Jam on Revenge (Sunnyview Records SUN 4901) - #84 UK[4]
- 1985: Space Is the Place (Sunnyview Records SUN 4903)
- 1990: Jam on This (Bellaphon Records 260-07-158)
- 1994: Next Generation (Unidisc Records SPLK-7230)
- 1997: Jam on This! – The Best of Newcleus (Rhino Entertainment Company R2 72840)
- 1997: The Next Generation (Home Base, Hot Productions HTCD 66144-2, HTCD 66144-2)
- 2004: Destination: Earth – The Definitive Newcleus Recordings (Jam On Productions JORCD 011)
- 2006: Newcleus Classic Double Pack (Deeplay Soultec D-TEC LP 1)
Singles
- 1983: "Jam-On's Revenge" (May Hew Records M-553)
- 1984: "Automan" / "Where's the Beat" (Sunnyview Records SUN 420)
- 1984: "Computer Age (Push the Button)" (Sunnyview Records SUN 416)
- 1984: "Jam on It" (Sunnyview Records SUN 411) - #56 U.S.
- 1984: "Two Slices of Jam" (Sunnyview Records SUNYL 103)
- 1985: "I Wanna Be a B-Boy" (Sunnyview Records SUN 425)
- 1985: "Let's Jam" (Sunnyview Records SUN 427)
- 1985: "Space Is the Place" / "Cyborg Dance" (Sunnyview Records SUN 429)
- 1996: "Jam on Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)" (Powderworks POWT 0321) - #44 UK[4]
- 1986: "Na Na Beat" (Sunnyview Records SUN 436)
- 1987: "Huxtable House Party" (Super Power Records HSE 1232)
- 1988: "Mega Mix" (12" mixed) (Bellaphon Records 120.07.271)
- 1988: "She's Bad" (Super Power Records HAL 1253)
- 1988: "We're So Hyped!" (Super Power Records HAL 1277)
- 1990: "50 Ways to Get Funky" / "Jam for the '90's" (May Hew Records 101, 102)
- 1990: "Jam on This" (Bellaphon 120-07-383)
- 1992: "Jam on It" / "Ex'tra T's Boogie" (with the Extra T's) (Hot Classics HCL 2229)
- 1993: "Baby I Love You" (Home Base HB 5073) (as Newcleus and The Next Generation)
- 1994: "Wikki Wikki" / "Jam on It" / "Jam on This" (Unidisc SP5-1714)
- 1999: "Jam on Revenge" / "E. T. Boogie" (Regal Recordings REG35)
Remixes
- 2006: "Destination Earth" (Definitive version) - remixes by Sbassship and Reeno; released on Dominance Electricity Records, Germany
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Biography by John Bush". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p19565. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
- ^ http://pitchfork.com/news/38035-chilly-b-of-newcleus-rip/
- ^ a b Allmusic.com - Charts & Awards (singles)
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 393. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
Categories:- American hip hop groups
- Boogie musicians
- Electro musicians
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