Secret Passion

Infobox Album
Name = Secret Passion
Type = studio
Artist = Amanda Lear


Released = 1987
Recorded = 1986
Genre = Pop, Rock, Disco, Euro Disco
Length =
Label = Carrere
66.408
Producer = Christian De Walden & Steve Singer
Reviews = Allmusic [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:w9fqxqlaldke] |
Last album = A L
This album = Secret Passion
Next album = Uomini Più Uomini

Secret Passion is an album by Amanda Lear, first released on label Carrere in early 1987. It included single releases "Wild Thing", a raunchy dance cover of The Troggs' 1965 classic, the romantic pop ditty "Aphrodisiac" and the howlingly vampire-esque rocker "She Wolf". During the album sessions Lear had also recorded two French language versions that were released as A-side singles in France, "Les Femmes" (She Wolf) and "Aphrodisiaque" (Aphrodisiac), as well as an updated single-only High Energy version of her signature tune "Follow Me", used to promote "Secret Passion", but not included on the actual album.
"Secret Passion" was Lear's first full-length album since 1983's disappointing "Tam-Tam" and her first for French Carrere, a major label in Francophone countries like France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in the 70's and 80's (Sacha Distel, Dalida, Nana Mouskouri, Sheila B. Devotion, Céline Dion etc.). "Secret Passion" was a contemporary new wave - dance production baring more than a fleeting resemblance to Madonna's "True Blue" album, mainly recorded in Los Angeles with American composers, musicians and arrangers, making it her first album to be recorded outside of Europe. With Carrere signing Lear and investing money in a project produced in the States it was most likely not only intended to be her European comeback, but also a serious attempt to launch the husky-voiced French disco diva in English-speaking countries like the USA, Canada and the United Kingdown as well.
During the years 1982 - 1986 Lear had spent most of her time working as a successful and appreciated TV-host in Italy, and had only released the occasional single on various labels on the French and Italian markets, most notably 1984's "Assasino" for WEA and 1986's "No Credit Card". Now she was ready to focus completely on her musical career again.
Sadly, fate had other plans for Lear, while she wanted her name on a billboard she became headline news for a completely different reason - just as she was getting ready to start promoting "Secret Passion" she was seriously injured in a near fatal car crash. She had to spend months in convalescence and was unable to push for the album or any of its singles in any way whatsoever.
"Secret Passion" was indeed released in a few countries like France, Italy, Canada and Greece but naturally with Lear not being available for either personal appearances or video recordings it didn't fare as well commercially as everybody had hoped and planned for. It is still generally considered to be Lear's best pop album of the 80's since having parted with label Ariola and producer Anthony Monn but due to the circumstances it was also to be her last attempt to resurrect her international recording career. It would also to be her last English language release until 1993's "Cadavrexquis".
While the album hasn't had a proper CD release as such, tracks have surfaced on a number of compilations licensed by Siebenpunkts Verlag Gmbh/ZYX Music/Mint Records over the years and all eight songs are now available on "Living Legend" and "I'm A Mistery - The Whole Story".

Track listing

Side A

#"Desire" (C. Roberts - F. Anselmo) - 4:18
#"Wild Thing" (Chip Taylor) - 3:36
#"I Want My Name On A Billboard" (S. Singer - M. Harris - P. Van Asten - R. DeBois) - 4:25
#"She Wolf" (M. Von Ritz - G. M. Johnson) - 4:17

Side B

#"Mannequin" (M.Price - A. Lear) - 3:32
#"I'm A Mistery" (Seraphim - A. Lear - R. Vincent) - 4:35 (note spelling of 'mystery')
#"Aphrodisiac" (M. Stepstone - S. Singer - A. Lear - L. Macaluso) - 3:44
#"Times Up" (M. Cubeddu - M. Bernard - B. Esty) - 4:55

Personnel

* Amanda Lear - vocals.
* Denny Fongheiser - drums.
* Tom Walsh - drums.
* Dean Parks - guitars.
* John C. Parr - guitars.
* Marco Manusso - - guitars.
* Bob Parr - bass.
* Steve Singer - synthesizers.
* Kim Bullard - synthesizers.
* Michael Price - synthesizers.
* Doug Norwine - saxophone.
* Rick Braun - trumpet
* Michael Fisher - percussion.
* Carol Parks - backing vocals.
* Debbie Rider - backing vocals.
* Victoria Miller - backing vocals.
* Stacey Dunne - backing vocals.
* Leslie Perkins - backing vocals.
* Denise Rosner - backing vocals.
* Charlie Cannon - backing vocals.
* Rosie D'Andrea - backing vocals.
* Annie Robert - backing vocals.
* Frank Castiglia - backing vocals.

Production

* Produced and arranged by Christian De Walden and Steve Singer for Zig Zag Productions, USA.
* Executive producers: Steve Singer, Carlo Mezzano & Christian De Walden.
* Vocals arranged by Carol Parks & Christian De Walden.
* Engineered by Greg Penny, Joe Seta & Kiko Fusco.
* Assisted by John Inglodsby, Maurizio Mariani & Eddiy Petrolati.
* Recorded at Stefana Studios, Los Angeles & Hollywood Studios, Rome.
* Mixed by Greg Penny & Christian De Walden.
* Cover photo by Roberto Rocchi.
* Album concept: Amanda Lear.
* Artwork by Claude Caudron.
* Dress by Rocco Barocco.
* Mastered by Brian Gardner at Bernie Grudman Mastering, Hollywood.

Release history

* 1987 France, Italy, Canada: Carrere-Ibach 66 408 (LP).
* 1987 France: Carrere-Ibach 76 508 (Cassette).
* 1987 Greece: Carrere 062-2407601. (LP)

ingle releases

7"

*1986: "Wild Thing" / "Aphrodisiac" (France, Carrere 14.152)
*1986: "Wild Thing" / "Aphrodisiac" (Italy, Carrere 72 014)
*1987: "Wild Thing" / "Aphrodisiac" (Canada, Power PX7-120)
*1987: "Follow Me´" (1987 Re-Recording - 7" Edit) / "I'm A Mistery" (West Germany, Carrere CAR 6.14811)
*1986: "Les Femmes" (She Wolf - French Version) / "She Wolf" (France, Merak MKNP 210)
*1986: "Les Femmes" (She Wolf - French Version) / "She Wolf" (France, Ibach 884 686-7)
*1987: "Aphrodisiaque" (Aphrodisiac - French Version) / "Desire" (France, Carrere 14.212)

12"

*1987: "Follow Me" (1987 re-recording - Extended) / "Follow Me" (1987 re-recording - Radio Mix) / "I'm A Mistery" (Remix) (West Germany, WEA 249 375-0)
*1987: "Follow Me" (1987 re-recording - Extended) / "Follow Me" (1987 re-recording - Radio Mix) / "I'm A Mistery" (Remix) (West Germany, Carrere CAR 6 20780)
*1987: "Wild Thing" (Extended) / "I'm A Mistery" (Remix) / "Aphrodisiac" (France, Carrere/Ibach 8731)
*1987: "Wild Thing" (Extended) / "Follow Me" (1987 Re-recording - Extended) (Canada, Power PXD-089)
*1987: "She Wolf" (Extended) / "Les Femmes" / "Time's Up" (Extended) (France, Carrere/Ibach 884686)
*1987: "Time's Up" / "Aphrodisiac" (12" - UK)

Russian compilation CD

N.B.: Sound quality: vinyl.
* "Tam-Tam" / "Secret Passion"

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