Customer Reviews

Norma Jean

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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I can't believe someone is trying to sell this cd here on amazon for $214!! It's a classic, but come on now. Hopefully Wounded Bird Records will release this soon like they did all the recent Chic cd's and Sister Sledge cd's. Every cut seems tailor made for Norma and why not? She was and still is, the First Lady Of Chic. For those of you who are curious as to her other releases, I provide the following list:

1. 1977- Norma provides lead vocals on CHIC debut album, along with
Alfa Anderson. Norma gets the solo record deal she wanted and
leaves to work on her album. (She is replaced by
Luci Martin- Alfa and Luci become the "voice" of Chic
for the next album C'EST CHIC in 1978. Then the 2 ladies
are joined by Fonzi Thornton and the trio provide vocals
for the following subsequent albums: 1979's RISQUE, 1980's
REAL PEOPLE, 1981's TAKE IT OFF, 1982's TONGUE IN CHIC,
and 1983's BELIEVER. Chic took a break and regrouped in
1992 for the CHIC-ISM album- Fonzi Thornton returned along
with 2 new female singers- Sylver Logan Sharp and Jenn Thomas.
In 1996, Chic released their 9th album FREAK & MORE TREATS
and the vocalists were Sylver Logan Sharp, Jill Jones
a former protege' of Prince, she sang backup for Prince,
Vanity 6 and Apollonia), and Christopher Max. Chic's 10th
album was a result of their Japan tour in '96- LIVE AT THE
BUDOKAN. Bernard Edwards died of pneumonia on the final
night of the concert tour, in his hotel room. This live
cd wasn't released until 1999. In 2001, Chic had a new song
in the movie RUSH HOUR 2, called LET'S BOUNCE. It was not
released as a single nor did it appear on the soundtrack,
but you can hear it in the final credits of the movie.
In 2005, Chic released a live 2-cd set called LIVE IN
AMSTERDAM: AT THE PARADISIO. In 2006, Chic gave the duo
called Shapeshifters some songs that were unreleased and
in the vaults- the duo liked the melody of one particular
song- which was one of many songs from an 80's unreleased
Chic Organization produced Johnny Mathis album, and they
reworked it and called it SENSITIVITY and released it as
a cd single under the title Shapeshifters Feat. Chic.)
Sorry about all that info, but someone out there will find
it interesting I'm sure.

2. 1978- NORMA JEAN is her debut solo album, produced by the
Chic Organization and had the following tracklisting:
1. Saturday aka- "(I JUST CAN'T WAIT TIL) SATURDAY"- 6:05
This song was covered by Donna Allen in 1997,
as well as Taka Boom in 2000. I still prefer
Norma's version, although I still swear that the
chorus is sung by Kathy Sledge. It's possible
because Chic was working with Sister Sledge in
1978-1979 for their album, and songs were known
to be exchanged amoungst the groups. For example,
He's The Greatest Dancer was slated for the C'EST
CHIC album, but then given to Sister Sledge because
it sounds more suited for a girl group. The song
I Want Your Love was slated for the We Are Family
album, but instead recorded by Chic because it has
more of a sophisticated sound to fit their image I
suppose).
2. Having A Party- 4:30
3. I Believe In You- 5:11
4. Sorcerer- 4:59
5. So I Get Hurt- 4:49
6. This Is The Love- 3:05
7. I Like Love- 5:43
This song was covered by Solitaire in 2004 as
"I Like Love (I Love Love)").

On The Sequel Records UK 2000 cd release, it has the following
BONUS TRACKS:

8. Hold Me Lonely Boy (The B-side of the 12" single
for High Society)- 3:37
9. High Society (12" version from 1979. This was supposed
to be on the follow-up album for Norma, but that never
materialized)- 6:06
10. Saturday Nite (The 7" 45 single version)- 3:25
11. Sorcerer (The 12" version)- 7:12
12. Having A Party (The extended mix)- 5:46

3. 1983- Norma released the 12" single LOVE ATTACK on the Mirage
label.

4. 1984- Norma released the 12" single SHOT IN THE DARK on
the Mirage label. The song was co-written by Raymond
Jones, who was the keyboardist on the Chic albums from
1979 to 1982.

5. 1985- Norma released the 12" single EVERY BIT OF THIS LOVE
on the Mirage label. The song was co-written by Annie
Lennox of the Eurythmics.

6. 1990- Norma teamed up with Raymond Jones and the duo called
themselves STATE OF ART and released the 12" Single "Hero".
Followed a year later with the full length cd- "COMMUNITY".
The song UNDERSTANDING features former Chic member
Luci Martin.

7. 1995- Norma produced a cd album by singer Lori Gold ("LORI
GOLD"), which is a Japan import. Lori has been
compared to sounding like Mary J.Blige. I don't know
if Norma sings on this album or if she wrote songs
for it. Lori changed her name to REINA and released
a hand full of songs and a cd in 2004 called THIS IS
REINA which contains all the cd singles she has released.

8. 1997- GTS (Groove That Soul)- on their cd album LOVE UNLIMITED,
Norma Jean Wright & Luci Martin "The First Ladies Of Chic"
sing lead on "I WANT YOUR LOVE" & LET'S BOUNCE". The song
"I WANT YOUR LOVE" also appears on the GTS 2004 2-cd
"CRUISING". I found the 12" with these 2 songs, but have yet to
come across a cd single. In 2001, as mentioned earlier in this review,
CHIC sings a song called "LET'S BOUNCE" for the movie
soundtrack RUSH HOUR 2. Nile Rodgers commented in a music
magazine article that it was getting a little lame for Norma
and Luci to keep covering old CHIC songs, so perhaps that is why
CHIC covered their song "LET'S BOUNCE".....?

9. 2000- Romina Johnson released a cover version of Chic's
MY FORBIDDEN LOVER, featuring the backup vocals by
"The First Ladies Of Chic" Norma Jean Wright & Luci Martin.

10. 2004- Norma released the 12" single YOU LIFT ME UP- Part 1"
on the Look At You Records label. Norma and
Raymond Jones wrote the song. A follow-up 12" single
was called YOU LIFT ME UP- Part II". All mixes by
Pound Boys.

11. 2006- GTS released their cover of LE FREAK, featuring
lead vocals by "The First Ladies Of Chic"
Norma Jean Wright & Luci Martin.
From the GTS 2-cd album "Electheque"). I found my
10 track cd single of this on e*bay.

12. 2010- On the new CHIC ORGANIZATION 4-cd Boxset, there are 2
Norma Jean tracks worth mentioning- "HOLD ME LONELY
BOY" the previously unreleased 12" version (not available
on her solo cd bonus trax), and a Dimitri Of Paris remix
of "SATURDAY (I Just Can't Wait 'Til)".

13. 2010- Alfa Anderson-Barfield, who joined Luci Martin as the 2 singers
for CHIC, after Norma Jean Wright left, has joined with her husband
Tinker B. (Barfield) & LuFuki (his band) and have released a new
song called "MY LOVER'S ARMS"- it features all three women on lead-
Alfa Anderson/Norma Jean Wright/Luci Martin. Check it out the video
on you...tube... there you will find a link to purchase the cd single
for ten dollars (thru paypal). The link is http:// keosp . com /
cds.html (Keep On Smiling Productions).

14. 2011- Edsel Records has now released the Norma Jean solo album on cd- the first time
it was released on cd was 2007 by Sequel Records UK (see above under 1978 info).
The tracks for this new updated cd version are:

Tracks 1 - 7 same as original LP, with these bonus tracks:

8. Sorcerer (12" Single)- 7:13
9. Having A Party (Extended Version)- 5:48
10. Saturday (7" Single Mix)- 3:26
11. Sorcerer (7" Single Mix)- 2:59
12. Having A Party (7" Single Mix)- 3:30
13. Hold Me Lonely Boy (7" Single Mix B-Side of "High Society")- 3:37
14. High Society (12" Single)- 6:06

So, there you go. Anyone who may have been looking for info
on Norma Jean Wright can stop now... until further releases. :)

While "Saturday," "I Like Love," and "High Society" are available on various compilations, they are only here in their extended versions. "Sorcerer" was a good single that deserves to be heard (and its Art Deco 12" sleeve is reproduced in the packaging!) This album is notable as a transition between Bernard Edwards' and Nile Rodgers' initial, simpler efforts on the first Chic lp and their sophisticated, exceptional next efforts, C'est Chic and We Are Family. The production, arrangements, songwriting and playing had progressed from where Edwards & Rodgers left off ("Everybody Dance"). 1979's "Lonely Boy" and "High Society" fit nicely with the original lp material. Norma Jean's album anticipated the stupendous Chic Org work to come, although it was not on a par with the next 8 projects. It is, however, a must for any serious Chic fan.

Hi Chic fans.

Definitely a fan of Nile Rodgers guitar strokes and those beautiful female voices that are truely THEIR VOICES (unlike this 90s and new millenimum crap).

Anyways, to set the record straight, yes Norma wanted to do a solo project, but not out of selfishness. It was clearly motivated by Niles and Bernard (Edwards) that she had the talent to pursue a solo career. Unfortunately, due to extreme legalities, she could not be the lead singer AND pursue a solo career at the same time. It was very disheartening to her to leave Chic - it was also disheartening to the WHOLE GROUP!

Nevertheless, just wanted to set the record straight - she is the first woman of Chic and will always be a beautiful gift to the Chic family!!!

The gorgeous Norma Jean never achieved Chic's commercial success although Saturday, Sorcerer and High Society did well on the disco charts. These songs, especially the 12" mixes, are still the best tracks on this album, plus I Like Love. It's not quite the same as Chic, the arrangements are different. Saturday is my favorite, I love the tinkly bell like sounds that start coming in from the middle of the song. Sorcerer has similar sound effects. I Like Love is very uplifting too, but the rest are filler ballads, pleasant enough but nothing to e-mail home about. All in all a very welcome release with all the new material.

Nice little surprise for the die hard Chic fan...

Just when you thought there was no Chic music to be discovered out pops Norma Jean's CD a rerelease of a 1978 album written and produced by Nile and Bernard.

Why, wasn't this a Chic Album? Well, probably to keep Norma happy that she'd got a solo release..

It didn't do as well as the other Chic albums that were released at the same time. C'est Chic and Risque were supererior albums, and would have enjoyed better marketing too.

However there are some delights on here. The ballads are average even by Chic standards, but the up tempo dance tracks have on the whole stood the test of time sounding surprisingly fresh after 22 years.

Highlights are "I Like Love" (virtuoso Nile Rodgers guitar performance as an addition to the joyous chorus) the hit "Saturday" (which speaks volumes about work come downs before partying disco style :-) and "Lonely Boy".

The digital remastering isn't too bad either! Still, maybe one for the fans only. Others may still want to look at Chic's "Believer" (shimmering early 80's studio wizzadry and full digital recording) and "Take it off"(the R&B classic).

(I'm not 12!)LOL

Chic produced Norma Jean's lp - she was a former vocalist with Chic before going solo. If you love Chic - you'll love this disc. featuring the signature Chic sound - percolating Bass - rhytmic guitars and gorgeous production - containing several club and radio favorites like "Saturday" and "Sorceror". Anybody out there remember the show "Soap Factory Disco"? Norma performed "Sorceror" on the show. As a bonus - you get the original 12" club remixes as well as the 12" mix of "High Society b/w Lonely boy" that were for a planned follow up album that never materialized. So get you some soap, get it at the factory, come on and dance - dance, dance, dance to this great cd!

Unless you were dancing to disco back in 1978 you won't enjoy the release of this classic in CD. Norma Jean one of the ori-ginal Chic female members released her solo project when Chic was flavoring the success of their first release. "Saturday" as the liner notes says is another Saturday song classic. Other songs like "Sorcerer", "I like love" and "Hold me lonely boy" are excellent musically speaking. This is one of the best pro- ductions from the Chic Organization from back in the day. I just can't wait til Saturday to hear to this CD again!

Being a serious Chic fan, there's no mistaking who's behind the music. A good effort from Chic, Inc! My favorite songs are:

1. High Society (Number 1 on the album!!)
2. Sorcerer (A close second, an excellent song!!)

I can't complain about the rest of the CD, but I will say that her vocals are definitely superior! What a pity she couldn't have been featured more on the following Chic efforts.

Five stars for Norma Jean, Chic and the rest of their gang!

*Update: as of right now (11/30/11) - you can purchase this fabulous CD at Domestic (approx. US$15) prices. Amazon has done it again and found a supplier for this now "re-issued" disk. Look up "Norma Jean Wright" and you should see the CD "Norma Jean...Plus". Go forth and get your copy and keep your "extra" money in your pocket - as used copies of this CD has been going for prices in the HUNDREDS of Dollars!!

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**This is the version with the "extra tracks" and it's digitally remastered (2011)!! Another incentive to buy!!**
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Good luck!

Why this album isn't on cd is beyond me. How is it that Chic and Sister Sledge material can manage to make it to compact disc and Norma's album couldn't. The song's "Saturday Night and High Society" alone are worth having this cd. I have the vinyl at my house and i have "High Society" on a 12 inch single record, which i copped back in the day at a nearby record store.

Nawsah! Forget the bonus cuts. Gimme the 6-minute, 6-second version of Saturday...any-day!!! This is the first CD I've bought in a long time just for one classic cut. The remastering gave my speakers a sonic jolt, and I can actually hear Luther Vandross in the background!! Liner notes excel, as well!! Too bad the 11 other cuts were mediocre.