Contact
Studio album by
Platinum Blonde
Released1987
LabelCBS Canada - 80105
ProducerMark Holmes, David Bendeth, Bernard Edwards, John Dexter
Platinum Blonde chronology
Alien Shores
(1985)		 Contact
(1987)		 Yeah Yeah Yeah
(1990)
Singles from Contact
  1. "Contact"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Connect Me"
    Released: 1987
  3. "Fire"
    Released: 1988
  4. "If You Go This Time"
    Released: 1988

Contact is the third studio album by the Canadian band Platinum Blonde, released in 1987.[1][2] It sold more than 150,000 copies in its first year of release.[3][4] The album reached a high of 20 on the Canadian charts. The first single was the title track; its video was shot at Lamport Stadium.[5]

The supporting tour was a disappointment, with the band forced to cancel dates due to low ticket sales; the band claimed that the cancellations were due to substance abuse issues.[6][7]

Production

CBS Canada pushed the band to adopt a style that would appeal to U.S. album-oriented rock radio stations; the company admitted its mistake when Canadian sales declined.[8] Leroy "Sugarfoot" Bonner sang on the cover version of "Fire".[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]

The Gazette wrote that "lead singer Mark Holmes has little or no vocal personality, but at least this time he keeps the whining to a minimum."[11] The Vancouver Sun determined that Platinum Blonde "do a pretty fair Duran Duran imitation, only their lyrics are a little dumber, their melodies aren't as catchy and ... they don't exactly measure up in the looks department, either."[12] The Ottawa Citizen called the album "reminiscent, although not imitative, of the metalized funk of Power Station."[13]

The Kingston Whig-Standard deemed the band "talented craftsman who do deserve respect if not superstardom."[1] The Toronto Star labeled Contact "an album rooted in the hot, street-tough funk of New York City, not in the fluff of snow-covered hockey arenas, suburban high school dances or video dreams."[14]

Track list

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Contact"Mark Holmes, Kenny MacLean, David BendethHolmes, Bendeth3:56
2."Connect Me"Sergio Galli, MacLeanHolmes, Bendeth3:46
3."Diamonds"HolmesHolmes, Bendeth3:11
4."If You Go This Time"Holmes, MacLean, Chris WardmanHolmes, John Dexter3:59
5."System"Holmes, Galli, MacLeanBernard Edwards3:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
6."Fire"Ohio PlayersHolmes, Bendeth3:51
7."Tough Enough"HolmesEdwards3:30
8."Automatic Drive"HolmesHolmes, Bendeth3:46
9."Chaperone Sally"Holmes, Galli, MacLeanHolmes3:33
10."I Might Have You"Holmes, MacLeanHolmes, Bendeth3:17
11."Beauty of the Beast"Holmes, MacLean, BendethHolmes, Bendeth3:46

Credits

Platinum Blonde:

  • Sergio Galli: guitar, backing vocals
  • Mark Holmes: lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Kenny MacLean: bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Sascha Tukatsch: drums, percussion

with:

  • David Bendeth: guitar
  • Jeff Bova: keyboards
  • Michelle Cobbs: backing vocals
  • Claude Desjardins: percussion, keyboards, drums
  • Bernard Edwards: bass
  • Peter Fredette: backing vocals
  • Eddie Martinez: guitar
  • B.J. Nelson: backing vocals
  • Lou Pomanti: bass, keyboards
  • Fonzi Thornton of Chic (band): backing vocals
  • Uptown Horns: horns
  • Tony Thompson: drums, percussion
  • Tom Weir: drums, percussion

Engineers:

  • Jay Mark, Scott Church, Don Wershba, Bruce Robbins, Randy Staub

References

  1. 1 2 Burliuk, Greg (28 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde Loses Hair Color But Gains Respect". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Entertainment. p. 1.
  2. ↑ "Platinum Blonde Biography by Keith Pettipas". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "Platinum Blonde cancels Maritime section of tour". Ottawa Citizen. 19 Jan 1988. p. D19.
  4. ↑ "Platinum Blonde". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ Gross, Jonathan (September 12, 1987). "Fast Forward". Toronto Star. p. S28.
  6. ↑ MacInnis, Craig (21 Jan 1988). "Platinum Blonde's eastern tour killed". Toronto Star. p. B1.
  7. ↑ O'Connor, Tim (9 Mar 1988). "Platinum Blonde cleaning up its act". Ottawa Citizen. p. E7.
  8. ↑ Quill, Greg (14 Feb 1988). "The bubble has popped for teen-oriented music". Toronto Star. p. D1.
  9. ↑ MacInnis, Craig (October 9, 1987). "Contact Platinum Blonde". Toronto Star. p. E4.
  10. ↑ AllMusic review
  11. ↑ Lepage, Mark (15 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde: Contact". The Gazette. p. E7.
  12. ↑ Mackie, John (17 Oct 1987). "Platinum Blonde: Contact". Vancouver Sun. p. C10.
  13. ↑ Erskine, Evelyn (23 Oct 1987). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. D5.
  14. ↑ Quill, Greg (7 June 1988). "Platinum Blonde a musical powerhouse". Toronto Star. p. F1.
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