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| Harlow |
| In the winter of 1980 clubs across America blared the sounds of Canadian trio Harlow to delightful dancers. "Take Off" would become a classic, one of the last in the dying disco genre. Producer Mike Alyanak, with Alex Alexander, created and produced the concept album. Mike was the musical force and Alex was the primary writer. Three lovely ladies were recruited to vocalize the concept although no mention of their names is given. Their one and only album,"Taking Off," was released on G.R.A.F. Records International and contained the equally delicious, but less successful tracks, "Movie Queen," "Frisco," "Moonlight Mansion" and "Mystic Lady." After the success of the album Mike Alyanak founded his own Canadian-based label Quantum Records. The label recruited Wally McDonald and Peter Frost to remix "Take Off" as a 12" single in 1981. The label would go on to have many other artists and releases throughout the 1980's among them Jaymz Bee and The Look People. Harlow resurfaced in 1981 on the SWS label with the 12" single of "Midnight Celebration" featuring vocals by Linda Hanchar. The flip was "Hurt Myself" featuring vocals by Johanna Vanderkley. We are not sure if either of those two ladies were part of the original Harlow line-up. The song, which is mediocre at best, paled in comparison to their debut. It quickly sank from sight and led many to believe that Harlow was nothing more than a one hit wonder. Lo and behold they bounced back in the summer of 1983 with a song that would save them from being a disco novelty. "On The Road To Mandalay" unabashedly borrows from their debut as well as other disco classics such as Tantra and Voyage. The song received crucial club exposure but would not pull in the numbers that "Take Off" did and it would be the final release under the banner of Harlow. Mike Alyanak would continue on in Canada's music scene, both as a producer and musician. He has continued to branch out into other areas of the music scene as well, most notably as a composer/producer of scavenger music on the television series "War Of The Worlds." Our hats off to Mike and the three unheralded voices that made us "Take Off" that cold winter nearly a quarter of a century ago....thank you! |
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