 |
| France Joli |
| Born in 1963, this Canadian chanteuse had a talent that belied her tender age. France began singing at the age of 4, at home in Dorion Quebec, Canada. She would lip-synch to Barbra Streisand records for friends and relatives using a jump rope or hairbrush as a microphone. By the age of 11 she had begun appearing in talent shows and making television commercials. She had a full-time performing career as a singer, dancer and actress before she reached her teens.
While appearing at a talent contest she was discovered by singer/producer Tony Green, who became her manager. Recognizing her unbelievable talent he personally nurtured and guided her career. By the age of 16 France's dreams of becoming a star were within sight. Work began on her first album in the winter of 1978-1979. Green personally wrote, arranged, produced and even played the guitar on those sessions. Strings and horns were arranged by Denis LePage, who would later strike it big, first as himself, and then as one half of "Lime" and "The Sweethearts Of Sigma Sound" (Carla Benson, Yvette Benton and the late Barbara Ingram) were brought in for background vocals. With the finished masters in hand Tony began shopping France to the New York labels. Prelude Records quickly seized the opportunity to lease the tapes. The album was quickly pressed and the four tracks were split evenly onto 2-12" singles for release to D.J.'s. By the summer of 1979 France could be heard from coast to coast on radios and in clubs. "Come To Me" became such a huge hit that it reached number 15 on Billboard's Top 40. France Joli had arrived, and in a big way! Touring and personal appearances on American talk shows with the likes of Bob Hope, Merv Griffin and Dinah Shore, and playing in Las Vegas with artists such as Peaches and Herb followed. It was ironic that she was a star in the very clubs that she wasn't yet old enough to frequent. With her career firmly established work began on a follow-up album. Once again the line-up and roles were duplicated. The only exception was that one tune was not written by Tony Green. "This Time (I'm Giving All I've Got)" was written by Susan Minsky and Odette Springer. The tune, her first single from the "Tonight" album, was chosen to reflect a different side of Joli and to appeal to the ballad side of radio. Of the seven songs included on the album, it was once again on the dance floor where she found her success with, "The Heart To Break The Heart" and "Feel Like Dancing." Although both songs hit number one in the clubs, by 1980 radio was rapidly changing and failed to notice either track. Much of 1981 was spent celebrating her independence and turning 18. With her new found freedom Joli decided to make some bold changes. Continuing her affiliation with Prelude Records was about the only thing that remained. New producers were brought for the third album. William Anderson, Ray Reid, Eric Matthew and Darryl Payne contributed to her new sound. 1982's "NOW!" definitely had a hipper urban appeal. The only 12" single, "Gonna Get Over You" was in many ways her most appealing and successful. It was so popular that she even recorded a spanish version 12" single, which was later included on the compact disc release of the album. The album also featured "Can We Fall In Love Again," a top notch song that continued her more down-tempo approach to music. Unfortunately the 12" singles sold more than the actual album and this would prove to be her final affiliation with Prelude Records. But the now "Americanized" France Joli was still considered a major talent and attraction. She still commanded large fees and was still sought-after for concerts and personal appearances. But once again changes were afoot as France became a young lady. France made her major-label debut when she recorded her fourth album, "Attitude," for Epic Records in 1983. This LP signaled a major change of direction for Joli, who was best known for disco and R&B/pop during her Prelude years but emphasizes pop/rock and Europop on "Attitude." If you notice that much of the record has a European flavor, it's no coincidence. "Attitude" was produced by Pete Bellotte, who is best known for his Euro-disco work with Donna Summer and the executive producer is Bellotte's German colleague Giorgio Moroder. Further, Richie Zito (who co-produced Berlin's "No More Words" with Moroder and is no stranger to Euro beats) is employed as an arranger, guitarist, and keyboardist. People who were expecting another "Come to Me" or "Gonna Get Over You" from Joli were disappointed; however, those who were open to hearing her exploring pop/rock and Europop found a lot to admire about infectious tracks like "Dumb Blonde," "Mad About The Boy," and "Girl In The '80s." The closest Joli gets to R&B on this album is an inspired remake of the Four Tops' "Standing In The Shadows Of Love," which employs The Pips as background vocalists. So instead of Gladys Knight & The Pips, you get "France Joli & The Pips." Unfortunately, "Attitude" wasn't the mega-hit it should have been, but that doesn't make the album any less appealing. George Duke is an incredibly versatile musician; how many former Frank Zappa sidemen can honestly tell you that they have produced everyone from Flora Purim to A Taste of Honey? Given how flexible Duke is, the Californian was a logical person to hire as a producer when France Joli wanted her fifth album, "Witch Of Love," to be diverse. Although not quite as strong as Joli's previous Epic release, this Duke-produced album is a pleasing and fairly unpredictable effort that contains everything from up-tempo pop/rock ("Does He Dance," "What About Me," "Love's On Fire") to adult contemporary ballads ("Love Always Finds A Way") to urban contemporary ("Give Me Your Love"). Given Duke's R&B credentials, he could have easily made "Witch Of Love" a fine R&B album if that was what Joli was going for. But though Prelude saw her as a disco/R&B artist, she had more of a pop/rock outlook at Epic. What she didn't have at Epic was a lot of major hits; regrettably, this 1985 album (which has long since gone out of print) was a commercial disappointment. Unfortunately, success wasn't permanent. As France herself says, she "learned that it can all go away just as fast as it comes." By the time she reached age 22, she was already a forgotten star. Unlike most of the disco artists of the past, France Joli has been given the opportunity for a comeback. She reunited with Tony Green in 1996 to release a new 12" single. "Touch" seems to have picked up where they left off sixteen years earlier. "Touch" became a successful club hit and introduced Joli to a brand new audience of clubgoers. They followed this success with "Breakaway" in 1997 to equally pleasing results. Now, at the age of only 41 Joli has re-established herself as one of dance music's reigning divas. She continues to perform at disco festivals and sports a voice that has only become stronger and richer with time. |
 |