Martika

by Martika

Overview

Not just the Madonna wannabe she is often remembered as, Martika had songwriting skills and enough savvy to choose some of the best hooks of the '80s for her debut album. You'll find yourself singing these songs months after you've heard them. And that's a good thing. Her voice is thin and a bit limited, but she surrounds herself with producers who understand how to put a sheen on a great pop gem. The catchiest song is also the dumbest; "If You're Tarzan, I'm Jane," about a girl willing to adapt to anything her man wants her to be, is somewhat sexist, but it's such fun it's hard to not sing along. The big hit single, "Toy Soldiers," works with its childlike vocals and lyrics, creating a haunting, effective dichotomy with its subject of drug addiction. Martika even has the chutzpah to cover a Carole King song -- "I Feel the Earth Move" -- and actually does it justice. Producer Michael Jay -- writer or co-writer of "Toy Soldiers," "If You're Tarzan, I'm Jane," "More Than You Know," "Cross My Heart," "You Got Me Into This," "It's Not What You're Doing," and "See If I Care" -- shows he has the ear of an amazing pop artist a la Bernie Taupin. The melodies and productions make this album a major success, but if pop isn't your thing, you might not care that these are hooks many superstars would kill for. ~ Bryan Buss

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0074644429022

Tracks

1. If You're Tarzan, I'm Jane
2. Cross My Heart
3. More Than You Know
4. Toy Soldiers
5. You Got Me into This
6. I Feel the Earth Move
7. Water
8. It's Not What You're Doing
9. See If I Care
10. Alibis

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Martika   Primary Artist,Shaker,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Rick Jude Paldmbi   Vocals (Background)
Devyn Puett   Vocals (Background)
Greg Smith   Keyboards
Mark Jones   Bass
Rahsaan Patterson   Vocals (Background)
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Brad Cole   Keyboards,Multi Instruments
Claude Gaudette   Keyboards
Laura Creamer   Vocals (Background)
Clif Magness   Vocals (Background)
Marvin Morrow   Keyboards
Kimberly McCulllough   Vocals (Background)
Sue Sheridan   Vocals (Background)
Alitzah Wiener   Vocals (Background)
Stacy Ferguson   Vocals (Background)
Russ Iadevaia   Vocals
Michael Jay   Vocals (Background)
Omar Martinez   Drums
Monalisa Young   Vocals (Background)
Davey Faragher   Vocals (Background)
David Macias   Guitar
Donna De Lory   Vocals (Background)
Mark Leggett   Guitar
Mendy Lee   Vocals (Background)
Menoy Lee   Vocals (Background)
Renee Sands   Vocals (Background)
Michael Mattioli   Saxophone
Donald Kirkpatrick   Guitar
Michael Crua   Vocals (Background)
Nikki Harris   Vocals (Background)
Marlen Landin   Vocals (Background)
Rick Palombi   Vocals (Background)
Mitch Kaplan   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Tony Lane   Art Direction
Arnold Levine   Art Direction
Christopher Ainsworth   Drum Programming
Roberts Etoll   Composer
Martika   Arranger,Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Keith "KC" Cohen   Mixing
Stephen Marcussen   Mastering
Brad Cole   Arranger
Claude Gaudette   Arranger,Drum Programming
Carole King   Composer
Greg Smith   Arranger,Composer
Marvin Morrow   Arranger,Composer,Drum Programming
Rick Butz   Assistant Engineer
John Hegedes   Assistant Engineer
Sue Sheridan   Composer
Karen Siegel   Assistant Engineer
Russ Iadevaia   Engineer
Greg Loskorn   Assistant Engineer
Michael Jay   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,Vocal Arrangement
Michael McDonald   Mixing,Engineer
Brian Malouf   Mixing
Larry Treadwell   Composer
David Coleman   Design
Peter Arata   Assistant Engineer
Nancy Donald   Art Direction
Alberto Tolot   Photography
Mitch Kaplan   Composer