hasn't been one day since we've
been together that I haven't heard
the word 'groove.' It all starts
there, it has to be there. We all
want something that is universal,
and great music has to have a
groove."
ENTERTAINMENT
IN BRIEF
y Y third·
charm. For Soul II Soul,
th t' de init ly t e .
Their third P, "Just Right",
the third voulm of
ric n jauJfu rib-
be n/Briti h fu ion th t
producer Jazzi B. mad
. nd. ith
th introduction of "Just
Right", fa get of
w 01 ew groove,
lbum C ee on movin'
with the return of oloi t
Caron Wh ler.
Although Soul II Soul bas
been round for early ten
y IS, it w n't until 1989
(wen "Keep OnMovin" hit
th U.S.), that the Briti h-
ul group really too off.
Th to Jazzie B.' dis­
tinctive beats nd Caron
• Wh ler' equally distinc­
tive vocals, Soul II Soul
made quite a name for them­
selves.
Caron and Jazzie's pair­
ing led "Keep On Mavin"
and it's followup hit "Back
To Life" into platinum ter­
ritory. But by 1990, when
Soul II Soul embarked on a
second LP, Caron had
hitched up her own solo deal
with CMI Records. None­
theless, Soul II Soul con­
tinued to soar with their top
five R&B Ingle, "Get A
Life". In the group landed
three Soul Train Awards,
two Grammys, and five
American Music Awards
nominations - all for the
two singles Caron had per­
formed. Which might ex­
plain why fans had so
strongly identified Caron
with Soul II Soul, and for
m ny, lhe group w n't the
This tim around. tb '
group adds a U.K. hitmaker
who goes simply by' the
name Kofi. Kofi's reggae
style gives a vibrant new
twist to ,"Move Me No
Moutain", a song originally
recorded by the Love Un­
limited and Dionne War­
wick.
Today, - looking back
on his musical endeavors,
Jazzie B. admits he never
believed his "funki dred"
style would become so hot.
But if Americans want
another up close at the "funki
dreds", it won't be anytime
soon. Soul II Soul isn't
going to tour. "There's no
desire to tour this moment in
time", Jazzie B. says.
Particularly with all he
has going on at home. In
addition to the music, there's
a London-based manufac­
turing operation which sells
clothing, sound equipment
and records. Last year,
rumor had it that the opera­
tion was facing financial
ruin. But Jazzie says the
outlet only closed down, in
order to reopen someplace
else.
Fact is, Jazzie B. has alot
to be joyous about. With
three albums, a slew of
awards and a gang of fans to
boot, it looks like this part of
the British music invasion
has found a permanent home
in the hearts 'of many
Americans. •
In the physical universe a total
eclipse is a forbidding darkness
caused when one planet crosses
in front of a source of light. It's a
great cause of wonder, but the
result is an even stronger energy
and brightness that emanates
thereafter. In ancient times it was
a sign of change, a symbol that
something new was on the
horizon.
In 1992 this Total Eclipse is a
throbbin' groovin' rockin'
slammin' feelin' band comin t at
ya courtesy of vocalist Bernie K.,
guitarist Victor Johnson, drum­
mer Dave Brown and bassist Dre'
Baby. Brilliant musicians in an
equation that is pure magic. Al­
chemy is alive!
Here's how the cards lined up
for Total Eclipse so they could
record their debut album on
Tabu/A&M Records. Bernie K.
was the powerhouse voice, Dave
Brown was the master blaster be­
hind the drum kit in the original
all Black, hard rock metal band
Sound Barrier who were signed
out of the LA clubs and released
three albums (yes, well before
Uving Colour).
Victor Johnson built his
reputation with the respected Bus
Boys, while Ore' Baby came
from the more R&B and funk side
of life. There was one common
thread between the four members
who came together in Total
Eclipse. "We all have our in­
fluences. I love rock and like to
do the funk thing," said ba sist
Dre', "Dave has a jazzier back­
ground, but deep down we all
want to rock." It shows.
"E ER YTHI G TH
HAD t ppen in order to make
this ba d a reality did," said
drummer ave Brown. "I'd
, been bugging Vic for y ars to put
8 rock band together." "I had
originally come to Los Angeles
from Colorado looking for a hard
rock band," said the highly
respected guitarist Johnson.
VJ ended up touring and
recording as the axemaster in the
Bus Boys and sat in on a few
Sound Barrier gigs. Ore' Baby
came west from Cleveland, found
work as a session player, also
joined the Bus Boys and recently
recorded with Jennifer Batten
(Michael Jackson s last tour
guitarist). He was the final link in
the Total Eclipse chain offortune.
"I kept thinking," said vocalist
Bernie K. "Lord just give me a
bass player. We found one who
could really lay it down!"
Gaye with the firebreathing vocal
finesse of Rod Stewart" and
... "Guitarist Victor Johnson's
solos possess all the shock induc­
ing impact of a concussion
bomb," said the LA Daily News.
After that, Brown's brother-in­
law saw the band live and walked
the tape into Clarence Avant's of­
fice. He played it without inden­
tifying the band and that started
the ball rolling.
shivers to your fingers as you
wonder where those notes come
from. "Fire In The Rain" which
has become Bernie K. 's signature
work is redesigned this time. It
has grown from a simple piano
ballad about the demise of a
former band, to the title track of
one album, and is now a Total
Eclipse sweeping and climatic
favonte, as well as the first single
from their debut release.
"I think the strength of this
band," said Johnson, "is that we
are doing what we really feel and
there is a special chemistry;"
"We can look each other in' the
eye," adds Dre' "without saying a
word and know if it's right."
"I've even had people come up to
me," concluded Bernie K. "and
say 'man you guys play so tight,
you sound like you wear the same
underwear! '"
Rarely will you find four such
spirited musicians with such 8
commanding feel for their music,
a broad spectrum of musicality,
all focused on one target, as the
players in this band. But then
how often does a total eclipse
come along?
The real proof is the music
you '11 find in the thirteen tracks in
the self-titled debut album. Total
Eclipse has combined a grinding
groove (what they call "Rock n'
Groove") and superb musician­
ship with a confidence that makes
them unique. ,Listen to "Get
Outta Yo' Body" and you'll feel
like dancing. On "Check Me
Out" you'll understand Bernie
K. 's invitation to get into his
band. "I like to twi t the lyrics
sexually," Bernie says, "because
I think rock should be sexy. Get
into it and we know you'll dig it."
Put "Freedom Star" on the stereo
and you'll understand the senti­
ment that comes from four. Black
musicians who are socially aware
and passionate.
And for those music lovers
who appreciate great guitarwo k,
Victor Johnson's solo will send
Lover's Lane
Whitney Houston and
Bobby Brown are back from
their romantic ten day
Meditterranean Ctuise, and
now the first order of' busi­
ness for hubby Bobby
Brown will be the promotion
of his new album. MCA is
throwing a luge launch party
later this month in Beverly
Hills.··
--compiled by K. Barks -­
special contributors: Radio­
Scope ... The Column • &
Behind- The-Scenes··
"Ultimately, we were given
full control to make the album we
wanted," remembers Brown. Im­
mediately the band went into the
studio with producer Mclronald
Once intact the Eclipse cap­
tured the attention of producer
Michael McDonald (the engineer
for such diverse artists a Mar­
tika, Patti laB lle, Ray Charle ,
and the D ert R Band) who
took the b nd into the studio to
record demos. The band played a
handful of shows and quickly es­
tablished a reputation insided the
tight mu ical community 0 Los
Angeles with their live perfor­
mance .
"Vocali t Bernie K. combine
the ensu I a urance 0 Marvin
to lay down the tracks. "We
turned on the tape and just started
jamming to get the vibe," said
Dre', "and went from there."
"I JU T WA T�D some­
thing that felt right. That's our
motto," chimed in the undeniable
Bernie K., who captured the at­
tention of Brue Springsteen,
while Total Eclipse was record­
ing their album and' ended ,up
doing a session with the Boss.
"As long s it feels right is what
thi band is all about. There