Respect the Beat is the second (and final) studio album by New Zealand band Aishah and The Fan Club, released in 1989 by CBS Records as well as Epic Records in some territories.[1][2][3] The album, produced by Mark S. Berry, reached No. 28 in New Zealand, where it was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1989 New Zealand Music Awards.[3][4][5] Its success resulted in The Fan Club earning the International Recognition award at the 1990 Awards.[4] However, Respect the Beat was the band's final album as lead singer Aishah decided to return to her native Malaysia, where the band was most successful, to pursue a solo career recording in the Malay language.[6]

Respect the Beat
Studio album by
Released1989
StudioAir Force Recording (Auckland)
Label
ProducerMark S. Berry
Aishah and The Fan Club chronology
Sensation
(1988)
Respect the Beat
(1989)
Singles from Respect the Beat
  1. "I Feel Love"
    Released: 1989
  2. "Never Gave Up On You"
    Released: 1990
  3. "Don't Let Me Fall Alone"
    Released: 1990

Background and development edit

The Fan Club's first album, 1988's Sensation, had not only reached No. 15 in New Zealand but also attracted some international notice, including from Epic, who were later involved in international releases of Respect the Beat.[3][7] This resulted in Respect the Beat having more global collaborators, including Americans such as producer Berry and songwriters Eric Beall and Alexandra Forbes, than its predecessor, which was mostly a New Zealand-made effort.[3]

Recording of the album took place at Airforce Recording Studios in Auckland while mixing was done at Platinum Recording Studios in Sydney.[3]

Release and legacy edit

The album's first release was in 1989[1][5] with some international releases in 1990.[3] Three singles were released to promote Respect the Beat; the first, 1989's "I Feel Love," reached the top 10 of the New Zealand singles chart, peaking at No. 8.[8] It was also nominated for Single Of The Year at the 1989 New Zealand Music Awards and Best Music Video at the 1990 event, winning the latter but losing the former to Margaret Urlich's "Escaping."[4] The following two singles, 1990's "Never Gave Up On You" and "Don't Let Me Fall Alone," respectively peaked at No. 25 and No. 28 in New Zealand.[9][10]

As well as New Zealand, the singles had some brief success internationally, including in the United States, where "Don't Let Me Fall Alone" was played on some of the largest and most influential Top 40 radio stations.[11][12] However, the band found most success promoting the album in Aishah's home country.[13][14] While they had difficulty attracting crowds for live performances in New Zealand in spite of their charting singles, they could easily fill venues in Malaysia.[14]

Even though its global success may have been short-lived, Respect the Beat cemented Aishah's legacy as one of the first Malaysian musicians to gain attention internationally.[2]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Feel Love"
 
2."Don't Let Me Fall Alone"
  • Eric Beall
  • Alexandra Forbes
 
3."Never Gave Up On You"
  • Smith
  • Moss
 
4."Back On Track"
  • Smith
  • Moss
  • Berry
 
5."I Need You"
  • Smith
  • Moss
  • Berry
 
6."That's The Way That Love Is"
  • Smith
  • Moss
  • Berry
 
7."Don't Mess With Me"
  • Smith
  • Moss
 
8."There For You"
  • Smith
  • Moss
 
9."Colour Me Blue"
  • Smith
  • Moss
 
10."I Don't Need A Lover"
  • Smith
  • Moss
 

Source: CD liner.[3]

Personnel edit

Source: CD liner.[3]

Charts edit

Weekly charts edit

Chart (1988) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[5] 28

References edit

  1. ^ a b Abdullah, Madiha (18 Dec 2017). "GV4: Pernah guna nama Natasha Aminah, ini 10 fakta tentang Aishah". Astro Awani. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Suara emas empat diva". Berita Harian. 9 Jun 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Respect The Beat (CD liner). Aishah and The Fan Club. USA: Epic Records. 1990. EK 46022.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) Retrieved 31 July 2021 from Discogs.
  4. ^ a b c Award History (search for 'Fan Club'). Aotearoa Music Awards. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Charts.nz – The Fan Club – Respect The Beat". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  6. ^ Zieman (16 Feb 2016). "Ex-pop star finds a new calling". The Star. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Charts.nz – The Fan Club – Sensation". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Charts.nz – The Fan Club – I Feel Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Charts.nz – The Fan Club – Never Gave Up On You". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Charts.nz – The Fan Club – Don't Let Me Fall Alone". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Power Playlists: Current Playlists of the Nation's Largest and Most Influential Top 40 Radio Stations". Billboard: 23. June 16, 1990.
  12. ^ "Fan Club -- Respect the Beat". Billboard: 66. July 28, 1990.
  13. ^ Gareth Shute (18 Jun 2019)."New Zealand Women in the NZ Top 10". Audioculture. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  14. ^ a b Murray Cammick (19 Oct 2017)."Paul Ellis Profile". Audioculture. Retrieved 31 July 2021.