The original version of this song, "Fan The Flame" was Barbara Pennington's first hit on Record Shack, after a few years of inactivity between our days together with United Artists in the 1970s, then followed by "On A Crowded Street", both being released in 1984 on Record Shack Records. Now this fabulous classic from the mid-80s is interpreted anew in 2008 by one of the sassiest sultriest Divas I have ever had the pleasure to work with, Fay Jones. I first met Fay on the same day as Tahira Jumah, because they were both friends of Angelo Starr, and he brought them along to meet me. I decided to pair them up initially to make a song which I wrote with Angelo, "It's An Ill Wind". They had never met each other before that day. But as I got to know them both, I realised they each had all the attributes of real Ian Levine long term stars, which is why I have since recorded them both solo, as well as also cutting them as a duet, on Carol Woods' "I'm In Wonderland". Fay has quite simply done the most amazing job with my classic Barbara Pennington hit, and I'm very proud, as it's such a major important track for my new album for so so many reasons. And yes the album is now ready - it's finally ready. It's TRULY ready. And I'm breathless with anticipation. After weeks of non stop work and my two video editors staying up night after night without sleep, it's actually honestly ready. This is the premiere of my oh so important new project. My brand new album, "Yesterday And Tomorrow", is probably the most dear to my heart project that I have ever undertaken. I decided after thirty three years since I made my very first record, "Reaching For The Best" by The Exciters, to take a trip back down memory lane and recut thirty of my classics on artists who I am currently working with, reinterpreting them in 2008 without losing the magic that made them special in the first place. It's a totally self indulgent project, but one which already has my fans salivating with delight. I first got the idea when I recut Evelyn Thomas's wonderful classic "Have A Little Faith In Me" with Ebony Alleyne, last year. So I'm doing thirty in total, twenty four for the CD and six more extra ones for the DVD, picking either my biggest hits, my most beloved tracks, or the songs which people most requested to see a video. As I must clearly explain, these are not the original versions. And that's what makes the project exciting and new.These are brand spanking new interpretations of the classics, by Centre City's current roster of artists , built up over a thirty three year career of making records.
REACHING FOR THE BEST - WEAK SPOT - YOUR MAGIC PUT A SPELL ON ME - BABY I'M STILL THE SAME MAN - HE'S SO IRREPLACEABLE - MY HEAD'S IN THE STARS - NO WAY OUT - LOOKS LIKE LOVE IS HERE TO STAY - I'M IN WONDERLAND- TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY - MY CLAIM TO FAME - TRUE LOVE IS MY DESTINY - NEVER LET GO - NEW YORK'S ON FIRE - SO MANY MEN SO LITTLE TIME - HIGH ENERGY - HE'S A SAINT HE'S A SINNER - ON A CROWDED STREET - CLOSE TO PERFECTION - ALL OVER THE WORLD - MY HEART KEEPS BEATING FASTER - TECHNICOLOUR - FOOTSTEPS FOLLOWING ME - I FOUND HEAVEN - MORE TO THIS WORLD - FAN THE FLAME - I CAN'T ERASE THE THOUGHTS OF YOU - DANCING ON THE EDGE OF A DREAM - RUNNING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION - WALKING ON AIR.
I want this album to have you dancing in the streets. I want this album to have you dancing in the aisles. I want this album to have you dancing on the ceiling. This album, "Yesterday And Tomorrow" was released on March 3rd on Centre City Records, exclusively through the new website, http://www.ianlevine.co.uk - and I hope you will all consider supporting it.
Fay's new song, "You Threw A lucky Punch" has reduced me to a melted puddle on the floor.
Unbelievable !!!!!!!!!!!!
Track one on the new album.
IanLevine 3 years ago