Having been friends with two of the studio musicians on this album, got a cassette from the master back around 1981 or so. Dave Kaffinett & Rick (Can't remember his last time), from the English Progressive Rock Band 'Rare Bird', they were also in that movie Spinal Tap, David on keyboards & Rick as the last drummer. I've always enjoyed this album, although it took me close to 20 years to get an original pressing so it's quite rare and been out of print for about that long.
Hardcore David Bowie fans are probably familiar with the name Ava Cherry, but for the benefit of everyone else, Ava was Bowie’s lover in the early to mid ’70s, as well as one of his backup singers in the Astronettes during the Diamond Dogs/Young Americans Tour. Bowie had plans for Cherry and the other Astronettes, producing an album for the trio that was New Wave before the term existed. It also ended up being shelved for twenty years when things with their mutual management MainMan went sour.
That setback didn’t stop Cherry from pursuing a music career, though it was tough for her to break away from being “David Bowie’s lover.” A 1980 album for RSO (Ripe!!!) caused a minor ripple on the Billboard Black Albums Chart, so when RSO bit the dust, Ava found herself with a new deal on Capitol Records. The resulting album, Streetcar Named Desire, was a bit of a throwback, a funk/disco affair when New Wave and the music industry had finally caught up to Cherry. It’s too bad, since while the title track and lead single is perfectly serviceable, Cherry deserved a more forward-sounding approach that matched her image. As it was, Streetcar sank with nary a trace. Ava tried again with a dancier attempt, Picture Me, in 1987, but short of a couple of dance chart hits, it wasn’t the breakthrough she or Capitol were looking for.
Cherry went on to reunite with Luther Vandross, whom she sang backup with during the Bowie days - this time, however, she was singing backup for Luther. Ava continues to record now and then, her most recent offering being a dance remake of “Hopelessly Devoted To You” from Grease that’s not half bad.
Tracks:
01 Having Been Near
02 Streetcar Named Desire
03 Fast Lover
04 Love to Be Touched
05 Protection
06 Awkward Situation
07 This Time Around
08 Street Victim
09 Techno Love
10 Having Been Far
I just learned this. Finally explains the Bowie segue from his first wife to Imam. Tho love knows no color.
ReplyDeleteThe Astronettes and Bowie trying to set her and the back up women up as star singers is what Prince replicated.