You note how being a studio project there were no photos of Change in the early days. I find it fascinating how an industry dominated by the star making machinery of rock went about marketing a genre like disco crafted by faceless producers and sessioners. The first Change album to feature a group photo on the cover (as opposed to an abstract illustration) appears to be the third, 1982's Changing Your Love, which displays the same line up shown above sporting an upmarket dress code clearly influenced by Chic, although I don't remember Nile Rodgers & co ever looking so awkward! The 1981 UK only single Stop For Love also featured an unidentified couple on the sleeve. If anyone reading can confirm who they are, I would be grateful.
First, let me answer your question 😃 I’m pretty sure the photo shows the two main vocalists on the track: Diva Gray and James Robinson.
JF Petrus was aiming to build the next Chic, but his challenge was that he couldn’t really work with the actual singers when it came to visuals. I know negotiations with Luther were tough, and being publicly tied to the project probably wasn’t even an option.
Change followed the same model Petrus and other disco producers had used for years: relying on top-tier New York session singers. Their 1979 project Revanche, for instance, featured Christine Wiltshire, who also sang Poussez and Musique.
What struck me while researching this week’s episode was why Petrus didn’t shift his approach for Change. You’d think he’d realize a lasting project needed a real, visible band. But maybe that’s hindsight talking. After all, Change was recorded in 1979, when disco was still riding high. The mixing happened post-backlash, so they could tweak the sound toward the emerging funk style.
That first Change album really sits right at the crossroads between two musical eras.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, Paul, have a great weekend!
Making Friday's great again. At least somebody is making something great again. Disco never sucked but my friend wrote a nice historical book about it. Stephen Blush "When Rock Met Disco" but you know all that Chicago stadium Brun your disco records radio promo fiasco. Like anything else it just led to endless disco. Hate something enough and it'll come back to bite you.
The Mob. Well, you shouldn't talk about it. I'm from New Jersey and we play it all night. We turn up the heat and go all the way and don't stop at nuthin' and fuck we got a lot to say! But it was always a fact that all the discos were owned by the... family. I think Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell were the first non-mobbed up guys to own a disco and they went down for tax evasion. No mob guys have done time for that since Al Capone. So, when we went to discos in Jersey like the Sopa Factory with the lighted squares doing the Hustle even though we were rockers slumming. Disco was fun! We knew not to step on any toes. There weren't any Sopranos but other well-known last names. We all pretended it didn't exist and were better off for it that much we knew. I have hung out with Rubel sin the penthouse of the Morgan Hotel during out 109 Details mag cover shoot. didn't know why he was there but he was entertaining. I was a made-man in Soprano's lore when the bass player of introduced me to Dominic Chianese (Uncle June) at his Monday night gig in the basement of the Edison Hotel by HBO's Director of Programming. A picture was taken and that was that. That night was heaven, but it didn't last another story to tell. Suffice to say that in the entertainment business you're only made until you're not, and I'm a not, now. But I digress...
My I'm a Man moment was dancing to Chicago's first album's blistering version at a camp dance, and I hit the floor with some visiting camp gals for that drum solo as I'm a drummer since the first grade but always wanted to be a guitarist (and now am as well as lead singing upfront) and Terry Kath's guitar jam was on fire! He was one of Hendrix's favorite "guys" as we musicians call other musicians we love so much, they become a part of your DNA. Jimi loved him so much he put them on tour with him because of him but he died a tragic accidental gun death, but his work stands tall. (See 25 or 6 to 4 from Chicago II) But this version is, in now-a-day vernacular, "sick" way beyond disco merging classical and funk and remixing right there in the extended version and soul!!! Lover's Holiday yeah, I hear the Chic in there for sure, but it stands tall on its own as well. Nile? Of course, I have a couple of NYC stories but he's too cool and nice to talk about. He made my night once by seeing me sing at Chaz and Wilson's early eve being one of the only people there way in the back. I sat in with the band who was glad to let me because the place was empty and sang Cold Sweat by the great JB and Nile's irrepressible smile made my night! You made my workday Friday great once again! The Great PeDupre! Getting the party started early!
Thanks, Steve, always enjoy reading your reactions to my write-ups. I actually read your friend’s book too. With a title like that, I didn’t even hesitate, I bought it on the spot 😃 It was a fun read.
As for the mafia, you’re right, there are plenty more stories out there. I’ve even come across mentions of mafia involvement with Buddah Records 😃 And of course, we all know they’ve had a hand in nightlife across pretty much every Western country.
What made it interesting in this case was the Italy–US connection, and the fact that JF Petrus met such a violent end (and it was never solved)
Thanks again for reading and sharing your thoughts, Steve. And yes, I’m definitely using that slogan, it’s too good not to 😃 Enjoy your weekend!
Don't be Dan 😃. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and it just happened to be that city. After Comiskey Park, similar incidents took place in other stadiums and at other games too. But by then, the novelty had worn off, and the press didn’t pay much attention. Thanks for reading & sharing your thoughts. Have a great weekend. I hope with great weather so you can enjoy your beautiful garden!
I love Change, and I love this record, but I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I didn't know most of the things you discussed today. Particularly interesting to see the cross-cultural element at play here. Without knowing a lot of the backstory, most Change tracks have always felt to me "sung in American, played Europe style". Thanks for the education!
This one was really interesting to dig into, Andy, such a great example of intercontinental cross-pollination. Appreciate you reading, sharing, and chiming in. Have a great weekend!
Nice write up!
Thanks Joe!
You note how being a studio project there were no photos of Change in the early days. I find it fascinating how an industry dominated by the star making machinery of rock went about marketing a genre like disco crafted by faceless producers and sessioners. The first Change album to feature a group photo on the cover (as opposed to an abstract illustration) appears to be the third, 1982's Changing Your Love, which displays the same line up shown above sporting an upmarket dress code clearly influenced by Chic, although I don't remember Nile Rodgers & co ever looking so awkward! The 1981 UK only single Stop For Love also featured an unidentified couple on the sleeve. If anyone reading can confirm who they are, I would be grateful.
First, let me answer your question 😃 I’m pretty sure the photo shows the two main vocalists on the track: Diva Gray and James Robinson.
JF Petrus was aiming to build the next Chic, but his challenge was that he couldn’t really work with the actual singers when it came to visuals. I know negotiations with Luther were tough, and being publicly tied to the project probably wasn’t even an option.
Change followed the same model Petrus and other disco producers had used for years: relying on top-tier New York session singers. Their 1979 project Revanche, for instance, featured Christine Wiltshire, who also sang Poussez and Musique.
What struck me while researching this week’s episode was why Petrus didn’t shift his approach for Change. You’d think he’d realize a lasting project needed a real, visible band. But maybe that’s hindsight talking. After all, Change was recorded in 1979, when disco was still riding high. The mixing happened post-backlash, so they could tweak the sound toward the emerging funk style.
That first Change album really sits right at the crossroads between two musical eras.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, Paul, have a great weekend!
Making Friday's great again. At least somebody is making something great again. Disco never sucked but my friend wrote a nice historical book about it. Stephen Blush "When Rock Met Disco" but you know all that Chicago stadium Brun your disco records radio promo fiasco. Like anything else it just led to endless disco. Hate something enough and it'll come back to bite you.
The Mob. Well, you shouldn't talk about it. I'm from New Jersey and we play it all night. We turn up the heat and go all the way and don't stop at nuthin' and fuck we got a lot to say! But it was always a fact that all the discos were owned by the... family. I think Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell were the first non-mobbed up guys to own a disco and they went down for tax evasion. No mob guys have done time for that since Al Capone. So, when we went to discos in Jersey like the Sopa Factory with the lighted squares doing the Hustle even though we were rockers slumming. Disco was fun! We knew not to step on any toes. There weren't any Sopranos but other well-known last names. We all pretended it didn't exist and were better off for it that much we knew. I have hung out with Rubel sin the penthouse of the Morgan Hotel during out 109 Details mag cover shoot. didn't know why he was there but he was entertaining. I was a made-man in Soprano's lore when the bass player of introduced me to Dominic Chianese (Uncle June) at his Monday night gig in the basement of the Edison Hotel by HBO's Director of Programming. A picture was taken and that was that. That night was heaven, but it didn't last another story to tell. Suffice to say that in the entertainment business you're only made until you're not, and I'm a not, now. But I digress...
My I'm a Man moment was dancing to Chicago's first album's blistering version at a camp dance, and I hit the floor with some visiting camp gals for that drum solo as I'm a drummer since the first grade but always wanted to be a guitarist (and now am as well as lead singing upfront) and Terry Kath's guitar jam was on fire! He was one of Hendrix's favorite "guys" as we musicians call other musicians we love so much, they become a part of your DNA. Jimi loved him so much he put them on tour with him because of him but he died a tragic accidental gun death, but his work stands tall. (See 25 or 6 to 4 from Chicago II) But this version is, in now-a-day vernacular, "sick" way beyond disco merging classical and funk and remixing right there in the extended version and soul!!! Lover's Holiday yeah, I hear the Chic in there for sure, but it stands tall on its own as well. Nile? Of course, I have a couple of NYC stories but he's too cool and nice to talk about. He made my night once by seeing me sing at Chaz and Wilson's early eve being one of the only people there way in the back. I sat in with the band who was glad to let me because the place was empty and sang Cold Sweat by the great JB and Nile's irrepressible smile made my night! You made my workday Friday great once again! The Great PeDupre! Getting the party started early!
Thanks, Steve, always enjoy reading your reactions to my write-ups. I actually read your friend’s book too. With a title like that, I didn’t even hesitate, I bought it on the spot 😃 It was a fun read.
As for the mafia, you’re right, there are plenty more stories out there. I’ve even come across mentions of mafia involvement with Buddah Records 😃 And of course, we all know they’ve had a hand in nightlife across pretty much every Western country.
What made it interesting in this case was the Italy–US connection, and the fact that JF Petrus met such a violent end (and it was never solved)
Thanks again for reading and sharing your thoughts, Steve. And yes, I’m definitely using that slogan, it’s too good not to 😃 Enjoy your weekend!
I'm embarrassed that the city I was born in produced the Disco Demolition! It affected a lot of people's lives and a lot of potential great music.
Don't be Dan 😃. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and it just happened to be that city. After Comiskey Park, similar incidents took place in other stadiums and at other games too. But by then, the novelty had worn off, and the press didn’t pay much attention. Thanks for reading & sharing your thoughts. Have a great weekend. I hope with great weather so you can enjoy your beautiful garden!
Thanks! You too!
I love Change, and I love this record, but I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I didn't know most of the things you discussed today. Particularly interesting to see the cross-cultural element at play here. Without knowing a lot of the backstory, most Change tracks have always felt to me "sung in American, played Europe style". Thanks for the education!
This one was really interesting to dig into, Andy, such a great example of intercontinental cross-pollination. Appreciate you reading, sharing, and chiming in. Have a great weekend!