Black Box (band)
Encyclopedia
Black Box was an Italian house music
group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of a club DJ (Daniele Davoli), a classically trained clarinet teacher (Valerio Semplici), and a keyboard and electronic music "wiz" (Mirko Limoni). The three created an image for the Black Box act utilizing French fashion model Katrin Quinol as its album/singles cover art and supposed lead singer in all of the group's music videos. Davoli, Semplici, and Limoni had previously formed a group called Groove Groove Melody, producing dance music
under names such as Starlight (who had a UK Top 10 hit in August 1989 with "Numero Uno") and Wood Allen. They went on to record music under many other aliases, most notably the alias Mixmaster, which scored a UK #9 hit in November 1989 with the song "Grand Piano".
model
Katrin Quinol (b. Catherine Quinol) and formed the group Black Box. By early 1990, Martha Wash
was engaged to perform vocals on a number of tracks which, Wash was apparently told, were for club consumption and were not for mass-release. One would be "Everybody Everybody
", which would become one of their two top-ten hits in North America
. The album Dreamland
was released in May 1990.
The first single "Ride on Time
" - on which Katrin Quinol powerful vocals are featured, was an international hit, making Top 10 in many countries and No. 1 in the UK, soon becoming the UK's best-selling single of 1989. The song heavily sampled "Love Sensation
" by Loleatta Holloway
, a 1980 disco hit. The Black Box title is derived from the lyrics "Cause you're right on time".
Dan Hartman
, writer and producer of "Love Sensation", was not sought for permission to sample his song, and soon after the international success of "Ride on Time," questions arose as to the true vocalist on the song. Legal proceedings ruled that Loleatta Holloway was the actual singer on "Ride on Time" (albeit by means of the "Love Sensation" vocal samples) and Black Box surrendered a large percentage of the royalties from the song to Hartman and Holloway. The song eventually did make it onto the Dreamland
album when it was released later in 1990 as well as the Hits and Mixes compilation, and numerous other compilations. A new version of the track with vocals by Heather Small
appeared solely as a single. Subsequent releases, as well as the album tracks, also featured a then-uncredited Martha Wash
as vocalist. Katrin Quinol lip-synched the vocals in "live" performances and in the music videos for Black Box. Martha Wash
sued Black Box, RCA
Records and then C+C Music Factory
for performing vocals on their respective songs and not receiving due credit. These legal actions led to the legal recognition of vocalists who perform songs for other artists, including samplings. Wash received full vocal credit upon the single release of "Strike It Up
", but the music video
still featured Katrin Quinol lip-synching the lyrics.
A megamix
featuring cuts already released and entitled "The Total Mix" performed well in the charts towards the end of 1990. Various minor hits followed in the UK throughout the decade. In America, they are best remembered for their early '90s singles "Everybody Everybody
", "I Don't Know Anybody Else
", and "Strike It Up
", their biggest hit in the United States
, where all three of their hits are still heard on rhythmic radio and in clubs on a fairly regular basis to this day.
Black Box remain one of the few piano-house groups to achieve mainstream success in the USA. Dreamland earned a gold disc in both the UK
and the US
and achieved double-platinum status in Australia
, where it spent eight weeks at #1 during early 1991. Along the way, it also spawned six massive hit singles, both on the mainstream charts and in the clubs.
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
group popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The members of the group included a trio made up of a club DJ (Daniele Davoli), a classically trained clarinet teacher (Valerio Semplici), and a keyboard and electronic music "wiz" (Mirko Limoni). The three created an image for the Black Box act utilizing French fashion model Katrin Quinol as its album/singles cover art and supposed lead singer in all of the group's music videos. Davoli, Semplici, and Limoni had previously formed a group called Groove Groove Melody, producing dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
under names such as Starlight (who had a UK Top 10 hit in August 1989 with "Numero Uno") and Wood Allen. They went on to record music under many other aliases, most notably the alias Mixmaster, which scored a UK #9 hit in November 1989 with the song "Grand Piano".
History
In 1989, the trio teamed up with French CaribbeanFrench Caribbean
The term French Caribbean varies in meaning with its usage and frame of reference. This ambiguity makes it very different from the term French West Indies, which refers to the specific, formal French possessions in the Caribbean region...
model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
Katrin Quinol (b. Catherine Quinol) and formed the group Black Box. By early 1990, Martha Wash
Martha Wash
Martha Wash is an American R&B, Pop, Soul, House singer/songwriter known for her distinctive and powerful voice.-Early career:...
was engaged to perform vocals on a number of tracks which, Wash was apparently told, were for club consumption and were not for mass-release. One would be "Everybody Everybody
Everybody Everybody (song)
"Everybody Everybody" is a song recorded in 1989 by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the third single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1990 in most countries worldwide.-Chart performances:...
", which would become one of their two top-ten hits in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The album Dreamland
Dreamland (Black Box album)
Dreamland is the debut studio album of Italo house band Black Box. It was released in May 1990 on RCA Records, and was preceded in 1989 by the international hit single, "Ride On Time." The album was certified gold in both the U.S...
was released in May 1990.
The first single "Ride on Time
Ride on Time
"Ride on Time" is a 1989 song recorded by band Black Box. It was later released on their debut LP Dreamland. The song was a chart success in many countries and a number-one hit in the UKand Ireland.-Music and lyrics:...
" - on which Katrin Quinol powerful vocals are featured, was an international hit, making Top 10 in many countries and No. 1 in the UK, soon becoming the UK's best-selling single of 1989. The song heavily sampled "Love Sensation
Love Sensation
"Love Sensation" is the title of a 1980 song performed by American R&B singer Loleatta Holloway, taken from her album of the same name. The song was produced and written by Dan Hartman, arranged by Norman Harris, and mixed by Tom Moulton. It was a hit on the U.S...
" by Loleatta Holloway
Loleatta Holloway
Loleatta Holloway was an American singer, mainly known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation", both of which have been sampled extensively.-Biography:...
, a 1980 disco hit. The Black Box title is derived from the lyrics "Cause you're right on time".
Dan Hartman
Dan Hartman
Daniel Earl "Dan" Hartman was an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known for such songs as: "Free Ride", "I Can Dream About You", "Instant Replay", "Love Sensation", and "Relight My Fire", all of which had world-wide success.-Career:Born in Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg,...
, writer and producer of "Love Sensation", was not sought for permission to sample his song, and soon after the international success of "Ride on Time," questions arose as to the true vocalist on the song. Legal proceedings ruled that Loleatta Holloway was the actual singer on "Ride on Time" (albeit by means of the "Love Sensation" vocal samples) and Black Box surrendered a large percentage of the royalties from the song to Hartman and Holloway. The song eventually did make it onto the Dreamland
Dreamland (Black Box album)
Dreamland is the debut studio album of Italo house band Black Box. It was released in May 1990 on RCA Records, and was preceded in 1989 by the international hit single, "Ride On Time." The album was certified gold in both the U.S...
album when it was released later in 1990 as well as the Hits and Mixes compilation, and numerous other compilations. A new version of the track with vocals by Heather Small
Heather Small
Heather Small is a British soul singer, best known for being the lead singer in the Manchester based band M People. Her debut solo album was Proud in 2000...
appeared solely as a single. Subsequent releases, as well as the album tracks, also featured a then-uncredited Martha Wash
Martha Wash
Martha Wash is an American R&B, Pop, Soul, House singer/songwriter known for her distinctive and powerful voice.-Early career:...
as vocalist. Katrin Quinol lip-synched the vocals in "live" performances and in the music videos for Black Box. Martha Wash
Martha Wash
Martha Wash is an American R&B, Pop, Soul, House singer/songwriter known for her distinctive and powerful voice.-Early career:...
sued Black Box, RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
Records and then C+C Music Factory
C+C Music Factory
C+C Music Factory is a dance-pop and hip hop group formed in 1989 by David Cole and Robert Clivillés which stopped recording 1996, following Cole's death...
for performing vocals on their respective songs and not receiving due credit. These legal actions led to the legal recognition of vocalists who perform songs for other artists, including samplings. Wash received full vocal credit upon the single release of "Strike It Up
Strike It Up
"Strike It Up" is a 1990 song recorded by the Italo house music band Black Box from 1990. It was the sixth single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1991 in most of countries worldwide....
", but the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
still featured Katrin Quinol lip-synching the lyrics.
A megamix
Megamix
A megamix is a medley remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. There may also be some elements of bastard pop in some, though not as much as a mashup...
featuring cuts already released and entitled "The Total Mix" performed well in the charts towards the end of 1990. Various minor hits followed in the UK throughout the decade. In America, they are best remembered for their early '90s singles "Everybody Everybody
Everybody Everybody (song)
"Everybody Everybody" is a song recorded in 1989 by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the third single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1990 in most countries worldwide.-Chart performances:...
", "I Don't Know Anybody Else
I Don't Know Anybody Else
"I Don't Know Anybody Else" is a 1989 song recorded by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in the first months of 1990 in most of countries worldwide....
", and "Strike It Up
Strike It Up
"Strike It Up" is a 1990 song recorded by the Italo house music band Black Box from 1990. It was the sixth single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1991 in most of countries worldwide....
", their biggest hit in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where all three of their hits are still heard on rhythmic radio and in clubs on a fairly regular basis to this day.
Black Box remain one of the few piano-house groups to achieve mainstream success in the USA. Dreamland earned a gold disc in both the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and achieved double-platinum status in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where it spent eight weeks at #1 during early 1991. Along the way, it also spawned six massive hit singles, both on the mainstream charts and in the clubs.
Albums
- DreamlandDreamland (Black Box album)Dreamland is the debut studio album of Italo house band Black Box. It was released in May 1990 on RCA Records, and was preceded in 1989 by the international hit single, "Ride On Time." The album was certified gold in both the U.S...
(1990) #1 Australia, #8 Norway, #14 UK, #56 US, #36 Germany - Mixed Up! / Remixland (1991)
- Positive Vibration (1995)
- Hits & Mixes (1998)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
NOR VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US Dan | ||||||
| 1989 | "Ride On Time Ride on Time "Ride on Time" is a 1989 song recorded by band Black Box. It was later released on their debut LP Dreamland. The song was a chart success in many countries and a number-one hit in the UKand Ireland.-Music and lyrics:... " |
1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 39 | ||||
| 1990 | "I Don't Know Anybody Else I Don't Know Anybody Else "I Don't Know Anybody Else" is a 1989 song recorded by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the second single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in the first months of 1990 in most of countries worldwide.... " |
4 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 4 | — | 23 | 10 | 1 | ||||
| "Everybody Everybody Everybody Everybody (song) "Everybody Everybody" is a song recorded in 1989 by the Italo-house music band Black Box. It was the third single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1990 in most countries worldwide.-Chart performances:... " |
16 | 5 | 35 | 41 | — | — | 8 | 2 | 1 | |||||
| "Fantasy" | 5 | 3 | 3 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| "The Total Mix" | 12 | 10 | 24 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1991 | "Strike It Up Strike It Up "Strike It Up" is a 1990 song recorded by the Italo house music band Black Box from 1990. It was the sixth single from their debut album Dreamland and was released in 1991 in most of countries worldwide.... " |
16 | 8 | — | 26 | — | — | 8 | 16 | 1 | ||||
| "Open Your Eyes" | 48 | — | 60 | 44 | — | 32 | — | — | — | |||||
| "Bright on Time" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1992 | "Hold On" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1993 | "Rockin' to the Music" | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1995 | "Not Anyone" | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1996 | "I Got the Vibration" | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1997 | "A Native New Yorker" | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2007 | "Everybody Everybody" (remix) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||||||