I Specialize in Love
Encyclopedia
"I Specialize in Love" is a song written by Lotti Golden
and Richard Scher. It was a hit in U.S. nightclub
s in the early 1980s when performed by American singer Sharon Brown
, the niece of songwriter Phil Medley
. Brown's version of the song spent three weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
chart in 1982, her only song to reach this survey.
The song was mixed by Tee Scott
.
Exposé
included a cover version
of the song on their 1992 self-titled studio album
. This version featured lead vocals by Ann Curless
and Jeanette Jurado
and was produced by DNA
, musicians Nick Batt and Neal Slateford, who had scored a hit in 1990 for themselves and Suzanne Vega
when they remix
ed Vega's song, "Tom's Diner
". Although this version of "I Specialize in Love" was not formally released as a single
from the album Exposé, it was issued as a promotional 12" single to dance clubs in 1995 when various remixes of the song by Darrin Friedman were included on the CD Maxi-single release of "I'll Say Good-bye for the Two of Us". This latter song was taken from the soundtrack of the 1995 film Free Willy 2, and although both songs failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100
chart, "I Specialize in Love" became a top ten single on the Billboard Club Play chart again, peaking at #6. It also reached the top twenty on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart in December of that year.
Exposé version
Lotti Golden
Lotti Golden is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and poet. A cult icon of the late 1960s, Golden is best known for her 1969 debut album, Motor-Cycle on Atlantic Records which "captured women's liberation and motorcycle soul in one psychedelic swoop."Winner of the ASCAP Pop Award for...
and Richard Scher. It was a hit in U.S. nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s in the early 1980s when performed by American singer Sharon Brown
Sharon Brown (singer)
Sharon Brown is a singer-songwriter and musician who was born in Harlem, New York, U.S.. She is the niece of songwriter Phil Medley, who co-wrote the song "Twist and Shout". She is also the daughter of drummer William Brown, who played with musicians such as The Isley Brothers and Cannonball...
, the niece of songwriter Phil Medley
Phil Medley
Philip "Phil" Medley was an American songwriter notable for his composition "Twist & Shout", which he wrote along with Bert Russell. The song was made famous by both The Isley Brothers and The Beatles. Medley also co-wrote "If I Didn't Have a Dime" for Gene Pitney with Russell...
. Brown's version of the song spent three weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in 1982, her only song to reach this survey.
The song was mixed by Tee Scott
Tee Scott
Born Marc Allen Scott, also known as Toraino Scott, or Tee Scott was an American DJ and remixer in the disco era working in New York city....
.
Exposé version
Ten years later, the American girl groupGirl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Exposé
Exposé (band)
Exposé is an American vocal group. Primarily consisting of lead vocalists Ann Curless, Jeanette Jurado, and Gioia Bruno, the group achieved much of their success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming the first group to have four top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from their debut...
included a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song on their 1992 self-titled studio album
Exposé (album)
Exposé is the third album released from the group Exposé. This album's music style is less Latin influenced with more adult-contemporary material...
. This version featured lead vocals by Ann Curless
Ann Curless
Ann Curless-Weiss is a popular music singer, most notable for being a member of Exposé.-Education:Curless was raised in Miami Beach, Florida and attended school there...
and Jeanette Jurado
Jeanette Jurado
Jeanette Livier Jurado is a member of the popular girl group Exposé. She was born on November 14, 1965, in Pico Rivera, California, a suburb of Los Angeles.Jurado is a member of Exposé, along with Ann Curless and Gioia Bruno, then later Kelly Moneymaker...
and was produced by DNA
The DNA Disciples
DNA was the pseudonym taken by two British dance music producers Nick Batt and Neal Slateford, best known for issuing a remix of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" in 1990....
, musicians Nick Batt and Neal Slateford, who had scored a hit in 1990 for themselves and Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Nadine Vega is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.Two of Vega's songs reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner"...
when they remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed Vega's song, "Tom's Diner
Tom's Diner
"Tom's Diner" is an a cappella pop song written in 1981 by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. It was first released as a track on the January 1984 issue of Fast Folk Musical Magazine. When first featured on one of her own studio albums, it appeared as the first track of her Solitude Standing...
". Although this version of "I Specialize in Love" was not formally released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album Exposé, it was issued as a promotional 12" single to dance clubs in 1995 when various remixes of the song by Darrin Friedman were included on the CD Maxi-single release of "I'll Say Good-bye for the Two of Us". This latter song was taken from the soundtrack of the 1995 film Free Willy 2, and although both songs failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100
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...
chart, "I Specialize in Love" became a top ten single on the Billboard Club Play chart again, peaking at #6. It also reached the top twenty on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales
Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes...
chart in December of that year.
Sharon Brown version
12" promo- US: Arista / 1995
- A - "I Specialize In Love" (7:16)
- B - "I Specialize In Love" (instrumental) (6:00)
Exposé version
12" promo- US: Arista / 1995
- A1 - "I Specialize in Love" Spike Club Mix I (7:16)
- A2 - "I Specialize in Love" Spike Dub (6:45)
- B1 - "I Specialize in Love" Spike Club Mix II (8:02)
- B2 - "I Specialize in Love" Spike Classic Mix (6:13)
Charts
Sharon Brown version| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
2 |
Exposé version
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes... |
20 |
External links
- 1982 Sharon Brown 12" single discogs.com
- 1995 Exposé 12" single discogs.com