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| Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel Blues and Soul 1982 |
EXCERPT:
Shalamar's leap to super-stardom is one of the great success
stories of 1982. Howard Hewett raps with B&S and explains how the Shalamar
explosion happened, and reveals their immediate and long term plans...
The thing about Shalamar is that you get the distinct
feeling that they would hang out together even if the Shalamar bubble burst
tomorrow - not that there's a whole lot of chance of that happening, you
understand! And not wishing to abuse any clichés but Jeffrey, Howard and Jody
do genuinely appear to like each other.
I recall the first interview personally I had with Shalamar
earlier this year, they seemed to possess a "oneness", a sort of
three into one will go type of aura which was difficult to pinpoint but very
easy to see and feel.
A flicker of the Daniel eye, a twitch of the Watley lip, a
raising of the Hewett eyebrow - everything, which would normally be perfectly
in order seemed to convey a secret message which only they understood.
I recall feeling slightly disoriented at the time but
manfully struggled on and completed the interview--which appeared in B&S
Issue 353.
Glancing through that interview, I note with interest that
their "Friends" album had just been unleashed on an unsuspecting
public, and my comment, although hardly a lone voice in the wilderness was
pretty accurate and prophetic.
The album "Friends" is without a doubt, outrageously
commercial and looks set to endorse the
group's faith in it's own belief. The fact that it was also their debut Solar
album under the WEA banner was also noted.
Shortly thereafter the whole Shalamar "thing" went
into orbit: their recordings, which hitherto had attained pleasing results,
suddenly became essential buys for what
appeared to be the majority of the British record market whilst their live
appearances became sell-out situations everywhere. Shalamar had become a very
hot property indeed.
What happened?
The answer to this, and other questions was answered by
Shalamar's Howard Hewett when I met up with him recently at the WEA offices in
Soho.
"I don't think there is just one simple explanation for
the success we have had this year.: smiles a relaxed, if tired looking Howard.
"I believe one of the major factors was the switch from RCA to WEA Records
which to be a viable and comfortable
move for everyone, certainly as far as we're concerned!" "Naturally,
the 'Friends' album didn't do us any harm either! We put a lot of effort into
making that albumm just right - or what we hoped was just right -- and I guess without appearing too
smug, we managed a reasonable job!"
"These two factors plus that indefinable something ... maybe it's the timing or the ability to catch the
spirit or mood of the people...really made the difference this
year."
Shalamar, of course, have always been an entertaining trio;
their appeal is basic and uncluttered and effective. Howard's lead vocals,
Jeffrey's dancing and Jody's...eh, well, Jody's all around talents have collectively proved to be the smash of
the year..82's formula for success which shows little sign of easing up for 1983.
