The Afternoon Delights

The Afternoon Delights were a vocal studio quartet from Boston, Masschusetts that consisted of members Rebecca Hall, Janet Powell, Robalee Barnes and Suzanne Boucher.

In 1981, the quartet released a parody single of the popular, well-known ABC soap opera "General Hospital" called "General Hospi-Tale."

In the summer of that same year, the song became a hit for the quartet, peaking at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #22 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart, staying on the chart for 11 weeks.

During that same year, the Afternoon Delights released their debut album "General Hospi-Tale" to little success. After that, it seemed as if they've faded into obscurity.

On April 28, 2013, the song was revisited by General Hospital in an episode as part of the series' 50th anniversary.

To see a fan-made video for "General Hospi-Tale," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD7XkD5scTI


[updated on 03\01\13]

Trey Lorenz

Trey Lorenz (born Lloyd Lorenz Smith on January 19, 1969 in Florence, South Carolina) is a male R&B singer who started his career supporting Mariah Carey on her 1990 promotional tour and later providing background vocals for her sophomore album, "Emotions."

Trey met Mariah in February of 1990 while he was majoring in advertising during his junior year at Farleigh Dickinson University. He played in a Top 40 band called the Players and was in a short-lived group called Squeak and the Deep.
Notably in 1992, Trey was Mariah's backing singer on her appearance on "MTV Unplugged" where he and Mariah sang a cover version of the Jackson 5's hit song, "I'll Be There." Mariah's "MTV Unplugged" EP was released that year and the song was released as a single which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequently after that, Trey was signed a record deal with Epic Records.
During that same year, Trey released his self-titled debut album which peaked at #111 on the Billboard 200, #32 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart, and topped Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart.
Trey's first single from the album "Someone to Hold" peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, #18 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart & Top 40 Mainstream chart and #5 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 20 weeks, becoming Trey's biggest solo hit on the Hot 100 to date.

The song was co-written & produced by Mariah, who also provided backup vocals on the track as well.
The second single "Photograph of Mary" peaked at #6 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart, #11 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart and #46 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.

The last single from the album "Just to be Close to You" peaked at #66 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 6 weeks.

After that, Trey was dropped from his record label. A year later in 1994, he recorded the duet, "She Deserves It" with Polish singer, Basia which was featured on her certified-Gold US album, "The Sweetest Illusion."

After that, Trey went back to being a background vocalist for artists such as Usher, TLC and late Tejano singer, Selena.

In 1997, he began to support Mariah Carey on her albums and concert tours again, and during that same year, he recorded a song called "Make You Happy" that was featured on the "Men in Black" movie soundtrack which was co-written by Mariah and songwriter\record producer, Cory Rooney.

In 2003, Trey was featured in Mariah's "Charmbracelet" tour and was signed to her second short-lived record label, MonarC Entertainment and So So Def Records, but never released any music under the label.
In September of 2006, Trey released his sophomore album "Mr. Mista" on the X-Ray Records label during the time he was featured in Mariah's "The Adventures of Mimi" concert tour singing three songs and doing background vocals.

These days, Trey is still in the music biz and working on a new album which is yet to be released.


To see the music video for "Someone to Hold," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTsbNGYuiU8

To see a fan-made for "Photograph of Mary," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIHak6f-Yzs

To see a fan-made video for "Just to Be Close to You," go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWKc5Gb_V8o

To see a video of Trey performing the song "My Everything" (from Trey's album, "Mr. Mista"), go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkaWsHUF_rU


As a bonus, here's the video of Trey Lorenz and Mariah Carey singing, "I'll Be There" on "MTV Unplugged":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIt3dx4an9c


[updated on 04\14\2016]

Rare and Obscure Music on Facebook

I've recently started a Facebook page for the "Rare and Obscure" music blog. Keep in mind it's a work in progress, but I promise to have more stuff on the Facebook page for you to see.
To see the Facebook page, go to:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rare-and-Obscure-Music/133581693333210?v=wall

Sincerely,
The Music-Know-It-All

Jermaine Stewart

Jermaine Stewart (born William Jermaine Stewart on September 7, 1957 in Columbus, Ohio) was a male pop singer who became known as a "one-hit wonder" back in the 80's.

In 1972, Jermaine moved to Chicago and later gained recognition as a dancer on "Soul Train." He became a backing vocalist and dancer for Shalamar. He also did background vocals for Millie Jackson, Tavares, and the Temptations.

In 1983, he was featured on Culture Club's "Colour by Numbers" album and Culture Club helped him get a record deal with Arista Records.
In 1984, Jermaine released his debut album, "The Word is Out" which peaked at #90 on the Billboard 200 and #30 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The title song became Jermaine's first hit, peaking at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart, and #7 on Billboard's Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 19 weeks.

In 1986, Jermaine released his sophomore album, "Frantic Romantic" which peaked at #34 on the Billboard 200 and #31 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
Jermaine's biggest and only hit song, "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #35 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart, #41 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart, and #64 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 15 weeks. It also peaked at #2 on the U.K. Singles chart.
The follow-up single from the album, "Jody" (written about Shalamar's Jody Watley) peaked at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #18 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks. The song also peaked at #50 on the UK Singles Chart, staying on the chart for 4 weeks.

The last single from the album "Don't Ever Leave Me" peaked at #76 on the UK Singles chart, staying on the chart for only 3 weeks.
In 1988, Jermaine released his third album, "Say it Again" which peaked at #98 on the Billboard 200 and #45 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
Jermaine scored his last Top 40 hit with the title song, which peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #15 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 14 weeks. In the UK, the song peaked at #7 on the UK Singles chart.
The follow-up single, "Get Lucky" didn't chart at all on the Billboard Hot 100, but managed to peaked at #69 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 8 weeks. The song was moderately successful in the UK, peaking at #13 on the UK Singles chart.

The third single, "Don't Talk Dirty To Me" peaked at #61 on the UK Singles chart, staying on the chart for 3 weeks.
The last single from the album "Is It Really Love?" failed to make the charts in either the United States or the United Kingdom.
In 1989, Jermaine released his fourth and last album for Arista Records, "What Becomes a Legend Most" which failed to chart at all on the Billboard charts.

The first single, "Tren De Amour" peaked at #97 on the UK Singles Chart, staying on the chart for 3 weeks. It was also featured on the soundtrack to the 1989 film "She-Devil."

The last single, "Every Woman Wants To" peaked at #95 on the UK Singles Chart, staying on the chart for only a week. During that same year, Jermaine sang the song, "Hot and Cold" which was featured in the closing credits of the movie, "Weekend at Bernie's."

In 1992, Jermaine teamed up with Chicago music producer, Jesse Saunders for his last album, "Set Me Free" on Reprise Records. Due to the flop of the title track released as a single, the album was shelved, but there are some copies of it existing on cassette.

On March 17, 1997, Jermaine passed away of AIDS-related liver cancer at only 39 years old in the Chicago suburb of Homewood, Illinois. In 2005, his brother released a compliation album on his own record label in Ohio.

To see the music video for "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk43HowkOw4

To see the music video for "The Word is Out," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WkU3bAdo60

To see the music video for "Jody," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH7F3ge3q7Y

To see the music video for "Say it Again," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dYjolgq0gM

To see the music video for "Get Lucky," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1LfOftR8dE


[updated on 05\07\12]

Neneh Cherry

Neneh Cherry (born Neneh Mariann Karlsson on March 10, 1964 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a female singer\rapper.

Nenah comes from a musical, creative family and even her half-brother is musician Eagle-Eye Cherry. At the age of 14, she dropped out of school and joined a punk band called The Cherries. She moved through several various bands.

Nenah began her solo career with a protest song called, "Stop the War." In 1987, she was featured on English music group, The The's song, "Slow Train to Dawn" which was moderately successful in the UK and Australia.
In May of 1989, Neneh released her debut album, "Raw Like Sushi" which peaked at #40 on the Billboard 200 and #62 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. The album went Gold in Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland, but it only charted at #3 in her native Sweden.
Neneh's first single and biggest hit to date "Buffalo Stance" became her big international breakthrough hit song. The song topped the charts in Sweden and the Netherlands. In the UK, it peaked at #3 on the UK Singles chart.

In the US, the song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped Billboard's dance charts, peaked at #16 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart and #30 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, staying on the chart for 11 weeks.

Neneh notably performed "Buffalo Stance" live on "Top of the Pops" when she was 8 months pregnant which caused controversy because of the gyrating choreography while she was performing the song.
The second single from the album, "Manchild" peaked at #5 on the UK Singles chart, but failed to chart at all in the US. Internationally, the song was moderately successful.
Her third single from the album, "Kisses on the Wind" became another US hit for her, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #9 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart, and #19 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Club Play chart.

The song managed to peak at #20 on the UK Singles chart. Internationally, the song was moderately successful.
The last two singles, "Heart" and "Inna City Mamma" were moderately successful internationally, but not so much in the US.

In 1990, Neneh was featured on the AIDS benefit compliation album, "Red Hot + Blue" with a cover of Cole Porter's song, "I've Got You Under My Skin." The song peaked at #25 on the UK Singles chart.

Neneh was nominated for a Grammy in 1990 for "Best New Artist," but she lost out to Milli Vanilli (who later got their Grammy revoked).

She won the Brit Award for her debut, "Raw Like Sushi" and Soul II Soul member Jazzie B is quoted, saying, "Neneh smashed her Brit Award in half and gave Soul II Soul a piece of the trophy." She worked as an arranger on Massive Attack's album, "Blue Lines."
In 1991, Neneh returned to England to work on her sophomore album "Homebrew" which was released in October of 1992. The album didn't reach the same success as her debut album, but it received critical acclaim.
The first single "Money Love" peaked at #23 on the UK Singles chart. The song was moderately successful in New Zealand and Australia.
The second single "Move With Me" failed to chart at all in the UK, the US, or anywhere else internationally.
The third single "Buddy X" peaked at #35 on the UK Singles chart. In the US, the song peaked at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100, #22 on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart, #29 on Billboard's Rhythmic Top 40 chart and #96 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 2 weeks. The song managed to peak at #35 in the UK and #23 in the Netherlands.

The last single, "Trout" featuring REM's Michael Stipe managed to peak at #2 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was popular on college radio.
In 1994, Neneh was featured on musician Youssou N'Dour on the song "7 Seconds" which managed to peak at #3 on the UK Singles chart, #98 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in France, the song peaked at #1 and stayed on the charts for 17 weeks.

The song was moderately successful internationally. The song was certified Gold in Austria, France, Germany, and Switzerland. It remained on the charts for nearly half a year and Neneh was nominated for a Grammy in 1994 for the duet. At the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards, it won "Best Song."
A year later in 1995, Neneh was featured on the number-one UK single "Love Can Build a Bridge" (a cover version of the Judds' Top Five country hit) with musicians Cher, the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, and singer\guitarist Eric Clapton. The song was chosen for 1995's official Comic Relief single.
In September of 1996, Neneh released her third album to date "Man" which peaked at #16 in the UK, #22 in Sweden, #19 in Norway, #4 in France, and #5 in Switzerland and Australia.

The album also managed to peak at #187 in the US on the Billboard 200. She released a remix version of the album in 1997 called "Neneh Cherry Remixes."
The single "Kootchi" peaked at #38 on the UK Singles chart. Internationally elsewhere, the song failed to chart at all.
Another single "Feel It" peaked at #68 on the UK Singles chart and another one, "Woman" failed to chart at all. She released a cover version of Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man." It's unknown how or if it charted at all.
In 2006, Neneh announced the formation of a new band called, cirKus which includes herself, her husband, her daughter Tyson and her daughter's boyfriend. They have toured extensively in small venues in Europe with a single performance at the Montreal Jazz Festival in July of 2006 and a few dates in Brazil back in 2008 & they have released two albums.

In April of 2007, Neneh presented a 6-part cooking show called "Neneh and Andi: Dish it Up" with her good friend, Andrea Oliver for the BBC2 channel.

These days, Neneh continues to be active in the music business, working on various projects.

To see the music video for "Buffalo Stance," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWsRz3TJDEY

To see the music video for "Manchild," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ9VBMBS3qE

To see the music video for "Kisses in the Wind," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVdy0CaB2Uk

To see the music video for "Heart," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_SunceWvjU

To see the music video for "Inna City Mamma," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZknyDAqPPE

To see the music video for "I've Got You Under My Skin," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RWEF_xbGfM

To see the music video for "Money Love," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prMXw5xKXtM

To see a fan-made video for "Move With Me," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JsvM5F2sIw

To see the music video for "Buddy X," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LMTtsM95XE

To see the music video for "7 Seconds," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqCpjFMvz-k

To see the music video for "Love Can Build a Bridge," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDZCFHaOCMw&amp

To see the music video for "Woman," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0W212af1uk

To see the music video for "Kootchi," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RifileavVdo

To see the music video for "Feel It," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVZERmRZ3cI

To see the music video for "Trouble Man," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twxEtfdw82Y

To see a fan-made video for "Trout," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq8hQ_lyMBs

Gina Thompson

Gina Thompson (born Lugenia Thompson in Vineland, New Jersey in 1974) is a female R&B singer who started her career in the 90's.

She started singing at a young age and continued as a teenager. She also became the first black homecoming queen at her high school.

After graduating from high school, Gina signed a record contract with Mercury Records.
In 1996, Gina released her debut album "Nobody Does it Better" which peaked at #26 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart and #36 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart. The album was certified Platinum in 1998.
Gina's biggest hit to date, "The Things That You Do" peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music\Maxi-Singles Sales chart, and #12 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 29 weeks.

During that same year, she was featured on MC Lyte's song, "Cold Rock A Party" as a background vocalist and was featured on MC Lyte's 1997 album, "Seven & Seven" on the song, "It's All Yours."

Gina recorded a version of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers' song, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" for the 1998 movie soundtrack with the same name. She was also featured on Missy Elliott's sophomore album, "Da Real World."

The second single, "You Bring the Sunshine" peaked at #53 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart, staying on the chart for 12 weeks.

Gina's sophomore album, "If You Only Knew" was supposed to be released in September of 1999 through Missy Elliott's The Goldmind Inc. imprint label, but the album was shelved and never released.

The first single, "Ya Di Ya" (featuring Missy Elliot) peaked at #38 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles & Tracks chart, staying on the chart for 9 weeks.

Another single, "Caught Up" (featuring rapper Beanie Siegel) failed to chart at all. After that, Gina asked to be released from her record contract.
In 2008, Gina started work on a new album and released the song, "We Don't Talk No More" which was #1 on the Musica Urbana Music Channel for a week.

In February 2009, she finally released her sophomore album, "Missing You" through Blue Mountain Records, Sunset Urban Records, and her own record label, MaLjo Entertainment.

After the album failed to chart, Gina was dropped from Blue Mountain Records. These days, she is still active in the music business today and has her own MySpace page.

To see Gina Thompson's MySpace page, go to:
http://www.myspace.com/ginathompson

To see the music video for "The Things We Do," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clZYtzm9ZLs

To see the music video for "Ya Di Da," go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv-2U6DZkcA


[updated on 05\07\12]