Blaze – The Early Years (inkl. Produktionen)

Artist

19.12.23
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Die ersten Singles von Blaze und Produktionen aus den 80er Jahren. Inklusiv Phase II, Exit, Stardust.

Blaze wurde 1984 in New Jersey von Chris Herbert, Josh Milan und Kevin Hedge gegründet. Das Trio begann mit der Entwicklung von Demoaufnahmen im Stil der damals populären Clubmusik.

Before it was called ‘house’, it was called ‘club music’.
It was the music that our older siblings danced to in the clubs.
Kevin Hedge, Quelle: MAW Records

Clubs wie Zanzibar und The Paradise Garage eroberten die New Yorker Metropolregion mit einer besonderen Art von Disco. Diese Musik war etwas ‚deeper‘ und ausgefallener als Disco, die 1979 für „tot“ erklärt wurde. Sie war elektronischer und basierte im Wesentlichen auf R&B. Superstar-DJs wie Larry Levan und Tony Humphries präsentieren diesen NY-Sound.
Blaze hat den Modern-Dance-Sound mit ihren musikalischen Wurzeln vom Philadelphia Sound, Salsoul, Stevie Wonder und Marvin Gaye verbunden.

Blaze (Chris Herbert, Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge) — Blaze (Chris Herbert (front), Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge)

Mit „DJ“ Kevin, Josh „dem Pianisten“ am Synthesizer und dem „Lead Vocal“-Stil von Chris schufen sie zahlreiche Songs für Blaze und andere Projekte .
1985 unterzeichneten sie ihren ersten Plattenvertrag bei dem neu gegründeten Quark Records und produzierten drei große Clubhits der damaligen Zeit; „Whatcha Gonna Do“, „If You Should Need A Friend“ und „Can’t Win For Losing“.
1986 begann das Trio mit dem Schreiben, Produzieren und Remixen von eigenem Material und Songs auch für andere Gruppen und Projekten.

Hier die ersten Songs und Produktionen des Trios Blaze, bevor Chris Herbert Anfang der 90er die Band verließ.

youTube Playlist

Blaze Singles ’85-88

In den 80ern veröffentlichen Blaze unter eigenem Namen vier Maxi-Singles.

Blaze – Yearnin‘ ’85

Debüt Single von Blaze. Co-produziert von Ace Mungin auf seinem Label Ace Beat Records aus New Jersey.

Tracklist – Yearnin‘

Label: Ace Beat Records #AB-91112

Yearnin’ (Vocal I) 05:10
Yearnin’ (Vocal II) 05:11
Yearnin’ (Instrumental) 04:49

Written: Blaze (K. Hedge, C. Herbert & J. Milan)
Produced by Blaze for Desert Winds Productions
Co-Produced by Ace Mungin
Associate Producer: Kelton Cooper & Shedrick Guy
Exec. Producer: Deec Herbert
Recorded at 4-Bits & Power Play.
Special thanx to: God, Meek, Abigal, Wang & God.
Veröffentlicht am 05.04.1985

Blaze – Whatcha Gonna Do ’86

Zweite Single von Blaze und die erste Release auf dem neuen New Yorker House Label Quark von Curtis Urbina.

Tracklist – Whatcha Gonna Do

Label: Quark #QK 001

Whatcha Gonna Do (Vocal) 05:42
Whatcha Gonna Do (Acadub) 06:57
Whatcha Gonna Do (Radio Mix) 05:47
Whatcha Gonna Do (Bonus Mix) 05:15

Written: Blaze & Terry Edwards
Produced by Blaze for Last Minute Productions
Assistant Producer Ace Mungin
#1,2,4 Mixed by Freddy Bastone | #4 Edited by David Morales
P&C 1986 Quark Records
Veröffentlicht am 01.08.1986

Blaze – If You Should Need A Friend ’87

Dritte Single von Blaze. Aufgenommen in den Stardust Recording Studio von George Louvis in Montclair, New Jersey.

Tracklist – If You Should Need A Friend

Label: Quark #QK 006

If You Should Need A Friend (Friendship Mix) 06:04
If You Should Need A Friend (Stardust Mix) 04:42
If You Should Need A Friend (Movin Mix) 08:43
If You Should Need A Friend (Paradise Mix) 05:47

Written: Blaze (K. Hedge, C. Herbert & J. Milan)
Produced, Mixed by Blaze for Last Minute Productions
Vocals: Chris Herbert | Keyboards: Josh Milan
Drums & Computer: Kevin Hedge
Guitar: Scott Lea | Horns: George Louvis
Engineered by Kevin Hedge & George Louvis
Recorded at Stardust Recording Studio
Veröffentlicht am 03.04.1987

Blaze If you should need a friend Label A

George Louvis (Engineer) über den Song

Dies war der erste von vielen Songs, die Blaze im Stardust Recording Studio in Montclair, New Jersey, aufgenommen hat.
Stardust-Besitzer und Toningenieur George Louvis spielte am Ende des Liedes das Trompetensolo. Scott Lea (der mit George in einer Rockband war) spielte Gitarre. Alle anderen Instrumente des Songs wurden von Josh Milan gespielt, wobei Chris Herbert alle Gesangsparts übernahm und Kevin Hedge das Schlagzeug produzierte und programmierte.
Das Lied wurde auf einem Soundcraft 760 MKIII 24-Spur-Tonbandgerät über eine Trident Series 24-Konsole aufgenommen. Diese Kombination trug zur Wärme des Klangs bei.

George Louvis, Engineer im Interview:

Later in 1987 I worked on a song called If U Should Need a Friend for a band called Blaze.
Kevin Hedge, Josh Milan and Chris Herbery were in the group. They came here and recorded it, and I engineered it.
But it was House music. I came from a Rock ‘n Roll background. These guys came from a background of club records, and deejays, and scratching records, and things like that. They had one idea for production and I had another. So I started to share with them some of the things I was hearing in my head.
We ended up bringing in Scott Lea to play guitar on the record, and I played the trumpet solo at the end of the record. When their record came out it made it to number 23 on the dance charts in the United States, and to number 3 in England. That solidified my career full-time in the music business, because from that point on, everybody wanted to work with me.
After that I ended up working on project by Al Green, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind, and Fire, CeCe Penniston, Deborah Cox, The Winans, and more. I wrote and produced a song called „Love Me True“ for Kimiesha Holmes.
The song went platinum in the United Kingdom. I wrote the words and the music, and I played every instrument (except for the guitar and flute). I hired Scott Lea to play guitar and Carrion Marring to play the flute, but I played everything else: the drums, the bass, and the full five-piece horn section.
Then I got a phone call one afternoon from James Mute. I knew him because I had done a remix for him for a CBS project. Mute said: ‚George–Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart of Sly the Family Stone) wants to meet you‘ and I replied sarcastically, yeah, right-give me a break. Mute insisted he wasn’t joking. seriously,’ he said ‚Sly wants to meet you tonight–he wants you to do his comeback album.‘ Mute told me that Sly had heard „If You Should Need a Friend“ and loved the sound of it and wanted to record with me.
December 2007, Magazine Interview

Blaze – Can’t Win For Losin‘ ’88

Vierte Single von Blaze. Die nächsten Singles sind 1990 erschienen und waren Auskopplungen aus dem Debüt Album „25 Years Later„.

Tracklist – Can’t Win For Losin‘

Label: Quark #QK 010

Can’t Win For Losin‘ (Kevin Hedge Mix) 05:57
Can’t Win For Losin‘ (Josh Milan Mix) 05:44
Can’t Win For Losin‘ (Chris Herbert Mix) 07:04
Can’t Win For Losin‘ (Chris, Josh & Kevin Mix) 05:55
Can’t Win For Losin‘ (Winners Radio Mix) 04:00

Written: Blaze (K. Hedge, C. Herbert & J. Milan)
Produced & Arranged by Blaze for Last Minute Productions
Lead Vocals: Chris Herbert
Background Vocals: Chris Herbert, LaChandra, Kevin Hedge
Keyboards: Josh Milan | Guitar: Kelton Cooper
Engineer: George Louvis & Otis Vick at Stardust Studios
Edited by The Black Rascals
Published by Blazin‘ Music
Veröffentlicht am 10.06.1988

Die Release auf Republic Records enthält diese Mixe exklusiv:

Can’t Win For Losin‘ (Overseas Mix) 07:22
Can’t Win For Losin‘ (Cross Cultural Dub) 06:21

Blaze Produktionen ’85-89

Hier einige Produktionen von Blaze:

Blaze Productions: Exit, Phase II, Michelle Ayers, In-Sync

Exit – Let’s Work it Out ’87

Einzige Release von dem Projekt Exit, bestehend aus den drei Blaze Mitgliedern.

Label: Quark #QK 002

Let’s Work It Out (Performance Mix) 5:44
Let’s Work It Out (Church Mix) 2:52
Let’s Work It Out (Children Mix*) 5:45
Let’s Work It Out (Plain Truth Mix) 4:04

Written: Blaze (K. Hedge, C. Herbert & J. Milan)
Produced & Mixed by Blaze for Last Minute Productions
Backing Vocals: Chris Herbert, Kamille
Keyboards: Josh Milan
#3 mixed by Michael Cameron, Roderick Goode
Engineer: Kevin Hedge | Mastered: Herb Powers Jr.
Veröffentlicht am 16.10.1987

Exit Lets Work it Out Label B — Label B (Quark)

In-Sync ft. Jerry Edwards – Sometimes Love ’87

Einzige Release von dem Projekt In-Sync, bestehend aus der Blaze Crew und Jerry Edwards (der auch Teil von Phase II war.)

Label: Easy Street Records #EZS-7531

Sometimes Love (Radio Version) 4:27
Sometimes Love (Gold Mix) 6:35
Sometimes Love (Ozone Club Mix*) 8:00
Sometimes Love (Def Dub Mix*) 6:28

Written: Blaze, Jerry Edwards
Producer: Blaze for Last Minute Productions
Vocals: Jerry Edwards
Keyboards: Josh Milan
Backing Vocals: Chris Herbert, Kamille
#3+4 remixed by David Morales, Keyboards: David Cole
Engineer: David Callahan, Jim Lyons, Kevin Hedge
Mastered By: José Rodriguez

In Sync ft. Jerry Edwards Sometimes Love Label A — Label A (Easy Street Rec.)

Phase II – Mystery ’88

Phase II war ein Projekt von Blaze und den weiteren Gruppenmitgliedern Abigail Adams von Movin‘ Records, Jerry Edwards, Kevin Washington und Sean Sims.

Label: Quark #QK007

Mystery (Mystery Mix) 4:53
Mystery (Power Mix) 4:58
Mystery (Zanz Mix) 1:58
Mystery (Downtown Mix) 7:18

Written: C. Conley, Blaze
Producer, Mixed: Blaze for Last Minute Productions
Performer [Phase II]: Kevin Washington, Sean Sims

Phase II Mystery Label A — Label A (Quark)

In der Promo Version lautete der Titel: „It’s A Mystery (Of Love)“

Phase II – Reachin‘ ’88

Label: Movin‘ Records #MR003

Reachin‘ (Brotherhood Mix) 5:53
Reachin‘ (Radio Edit) 3:30
Reachin‘ (Stand Firm Mix) 5:15
Reachin‘ (Redemption Mix) 5:18

Written: Blaze, Jerry Edwards, Kevin Washington, Sean Sims, Vincent Herbert
Produced by Blaze with Phase II
Guitar: Jimmy Odom
Mixed By: Blaze | Edited By: Black Rascals
Engineer: Ed Lotwis, George Louvis, Kevin Hedge, Otis Vick
Mixed at Stardust Recording Studio

Phase II Reachin Label A — Label A (Movin‘ Rec.)

Bei dem Song war Vincent Herbert mit als Songschreiber tätig – der Bruder von Chris Herbert (Blaze). Vincent war in den 90ern auch Produzent für Babyface, Toni Braxton ua.

Songtext Phase II – Reachin‘

[Strophe 1]
There may come times in your life
when things don’t seem to go so right
don’t worry, the sun is gonna shine
one day
people all over the world, lift your heads up high
and keep on tryin’, it’s gonna be alright
someday

[Chorus]
The stars will shine on you
if you just believe in what you do
you got to keep on (reachin’, reachin’)
you’ve got to keep on (reachin’, reachin’)
never givin’ up (reachin’, reachin’)
you got to keep on (reachin’, reachin’)
oh yeah

[Strophe 2]
Sometimes, you want to call it quits
and then you say that this is it
keep pressin’ ’cause your time will come
one day, mmm
sometimes, when you’re down
and there’s no one else around
i hear you cryin’, there will be no more tears
someday

[Chorus]
Just believe in what you do
and your dreams will come true
mmhmm, oh yeah
but you got to keep on (reachin’, reachin’)
you’ve got to keep on (reachin’, reachin’)
never givin’ up (reachin’, reachin’)
you’ve got to keep on (reachin’, reachin’)
oh yeah

[Bridge]
Love is love and life is life
the goodness and the bad that we once all shared
but don’t give up, leave it all behind
keep on reachin’ behind your grounds
never lookin’ back, always keepin’ on
forward, stronger, forever and ever
keep on reachin’
you’ve got to keep on reachin’

[Strophe 3]
Oh, sometimes, when you’re down
and there’s no one else around
i hear you cryin’, there will be no more tears
one day
you got to keep on, keep on, keep on
[chorus]
keep on reachin’ (reachin’, reachin’)
never givin’ up (reachin’, reachin’)
no, no, no, no, no, no (reachin’, reachin’)
i’m gonna keep on reachin’ (reachin’, reachin’)
i’m gonna keep on reachin’
oh yeah

[Outro]
(reachin’)
When love has let you down
and there’s no one around
keep on reachin’
Lyrics: Phase II – Reachin‘ 1988

Single Cover von Republic Records.

LaChandra – Just Started ’88

LaChandra Just Started Cover front BCM Cut

Lachandra Aarons war Background Sängerin bei Blaze Produktionen (z. B. „Can’t Win for Losin‘).
Ihre zweite Single „Just Started“ wurde von Blaze geschrieben und produziert.

Aufgenommen in dem Stardust Recording Studio mit Engineer George Louvis.

Label: Movin‘ Records #MR005

Just Started (Start It Up Mix) 5:36
Just Started (Musical Mix) 5:36
Just Started (Radio 7″ Mix) 3:51
Just Started (Just Break Mix) 6:40
Just Started (Just Joshing) 5:30

Written: Blaze (K. Hedge, C. Herbert & J. Milan)
Producer: Blaze
Backing Vocals: Chris Herbert
Engineer: George Louvis, Kevin Hedge, Otis Vick
Mastered: Carlton Batts
Recorded & Mixed at Stardust Recording Studio
Special Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Aarons & K. Hedge

LaChandra Just Started Label A — Label A (Movin‘ Rec.)

Michelle Ayers – Another Lover ’88

Die Debüt-Single von Michelle Ayers wurde von Blaze geschrieben und produziert. Erschienen auf dem New Yorker Label Jump Street Records.

Label: Jump Street Records #JS-1015

Another Lover (Mad As Hell Mix) 5:57
Another Lover (The Revenge Dub) 5:28
Another Lover (Blaze Mix) 6:10
Another Lover (Vocal Dub Piece) 2:30
Another Lover (Basseapella) 3:57

Written: Blaze (K. Hedge, C. Herbert & J. Milan)
Producer: Blaze
Backing Vocals: Blaze
Mixed By [Mix Consultant]: Jonathan Doncker
Engineer [Mixdown]: Mike Rogers

Michelle Ayers Another Lover Label A — Label A (Jump Street)

Der Sampler The Garage Sound Of Deepest New York Vol. 2 des UK Labels Republic Records enthält Blaze Produktionen. Einige Songs sind nur auf diesem Sampler enthalten: On Top, Sense of Vision, Cynthia ‚Cookie‘ Abrams und Breed of Motion.

exklusive Tracks Vol.2

On Top – Wake Up 5:12
Producer: Backroom Productions, Blaze | Guitar: Kelton Cooper
Sense Of Vision – All Of My Love 5:12
Producer: Blaze | Backing Vocals: KC Flightt, Kelton Cooper
Cynthia ‚Cookie‘ Abrams – Best Part Of Me 4:57
Producer: Blaze
Breed Of Motion – Gotta Dance 5:03
Producer: Blaze

Paradise Regained The Garage Sound Of Deepest New York Vol. 2 Cover front — Vol. 2 Cover front

Drei Songs wurden aus dem Sampler ausgekoppelt:

Jerry Edwards – I am Somebody ’89

Die Solo Single von Jerry Edwards, der zuvor bei In-Sync und Phase II die Vocals beisteuerte.
Geschrieben und produziert von Blaze.
Erschienen auf dem UK Label Republic Records.

Label: Republic Records #LICT 021X

Rock Shock* Remixes:

I Am Somebody (Amaizin‘ NJ Mix)
I Am Somebody (Dubbin‘ NJ Mix)
I Am Somebody (Accapella Mix)

Blaze Remixes:

I Am Somebody (Blazin‘ Soul Mix)
I Am Somebody (Piano Dub)
I Am Somebody (Paradise Regained Mix)

Written: Blaze (K. Hedge, C. Herbert & J. Milan)
Producer: Blaze
Background Vocals: Blaze, Kelten Cooper
#1-3 Additional Production: Rock Shock
#4-6 Guitar: Kelton Cooper
Veröffentlicht am 27.01.89