Once again we have an artist that I feel deserves recognition and yet I have exhausted all avenues of research with little to share.
Carol had one album on the Casablanca subsidiary EarMarc Records in 1979. "Score" was produced by Michael Forte and Bruce Weeden. Forte went on to have successes with Terri Wells, Eugene Wilde, Joe Simon and had already scored a disco hit with "Ultimate." Weeden, whose primary career was as an engineer, has had a longer and more varied career. His skills have graced the recordings of everyone from Barbara Mason and Regina Belle to Diana Ross and Oscar De La Hoya. The two put together a blockbuster album of great dance material for Lloyd. Since the album was produced for So. Philly Productions and given that most of the artists that Forte worked with were from Philly it can safely be assumed that either Carol was a native Philadelphian or was based there at the time.
Two 12" singles were released, "Score" and "Dream Dancer" on one and "Shake Me Wake Me" and a remix of "Score." All three songs were huge hits in the club scene, one appealed to the high energy crown while the other to the more laidback radio crowd. Both singles were promotional-only releases that are extremely rare and highly sought after.
The bulk of the album was written by Forte and featured Weeden and Forte on guitars and Leza Holmes, Renee Johnson and Sharon Williams on background vocals. Williams lent her voice to Anne Murray, Alice Cooper and Bob Seeger on the rock side and can be heard on disco discs by Karen Silver, Gino Soccio and Richard T. Bear, among others. The album was naturally recorded in Philly at Alpha International Studios.
Given the climate of disco music and the upheaval at Casablanca in 1980 it's not surprising that another album or at least a 12' single was not forthcoming. What is surprising is that after this one fantastic release Carol seems to have fallen off the radar. Anyone that has any additional information to share with us please let us know so that we can pay homage to another artist that has given us such treasures. Wherever Carol is we hope she is happy, healthy and still singing. |
