Harlem Desire Explained

Harlem Desire
Cover:London-Boys-Harlem-Desire-single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:London Boys
Album:The Twelve Commandments of Dance
B-Side:Talk! Talk! Talk!
Released:1987
September 1989[1]
Genre:Europop, Euro disco
Length:3:41
Label:WEA, TELDEC
Producer:Ralf René Maué
Prev Title:London Nights
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:My Love
Next Year:1989

"Harlem Desire" is a single by Europop duo London Boys. It was originally released in 1987 to limited success. As a result of the success of "Requiem" and "London Nights", the single was released again in 1989 and featured on the album The Twelve Commandments of Dance. It was written and produced by Ralf René Maué, and its cover artwork features photography from Julian Barton.[2] The single peaked at number 17 in the UK.

The B-side "Talk! Talk! Talk!" is a distant reworking of the track "Dance Dance Dance" which also appeared on The Twelve Commandments of Dance and was released as a 1987 single.[3] The original 1987 release featured the track "Put a Meaning in my Life" which was written by Django Seelenmeyer and Ralf René Maué.[4]

Critical reception

A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media said about "Harlem Desire": "The London Boys are the Boney M of the late 80s. Bombastic Europop with a sledgehammer dance beat".[5] More critical, David Giles, reviewer of Music Week, presented the song as a "camp, throwaway Euro-disco/Hi-NRG" similar to the band's previous single, and added that its chances to get success would depend on the music video and its reception in clubs.[6] Retrospectively, in a 2015 review of the parent album, the Pop Rescue website considered "Harlem Desire" is "a quite dancey", "wonderfully catchy and singalong" song, with "some great vocal harmonies" and "lots of stabbing synths scattered throughout", and a music recalling Pet Shop Boys.[7]

Chart performance

"Harlem Desire" met with some success, but not as much as London Boys' previous two singles, "Requiem" and "London Nights", failing to reach the top ten in their home-country. In the UK, it started at number 37 on 16 August 1989, reached number 17 two weeks later, and remained on the chart for seven weeks. In Ireland, it reached number six in September 1989 and appeared on the chart for four weeks. In addition, it was a top 20 hit in Finland, and charted for four weeks on the overall Eurochart Hot 100, with a peak at number 55 in its second week.

Formats

1987 release

  1. "Harlem Desire" - 3:45
  2. "Put a Meaning in My Life" - 3:40
  1. "Harlem Desire (Extended Mix)" - 8:18
  2. "Put a Meaning in My Life" - 3:40

1989 release

  1. "Harlem Desire" - 3:41
  2. "Talk! Talk! Talk!" - 3:20
  1. "Harlem Desire (Extended Mix)" - 8:21
  2. "Talk! Talk! Talk!" - 3:20
  1. "Harlem Desire" - 3:44
  2. "Talk! Talk! Talk!" - 3:20
  3. "Harlem Desire (Extended Mix)" - 8:20
  4. "Kimbaley (My Ma-Mama Say)" - 4:14

Personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Harlem Desire"
Chart (1989)Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100)[8] 55
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 20
UK Dance (Music Week)[10] 28

Notes and References

  1. 9 September 1989. This Week - The next seven days in view. Record Mirror. 32.
  2. Web site: Explore Releases on Discogs . Discogs.com . 2012-02-20.
  3. Web site: London Boys – Dance Dance Dance at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2012-02-20.
  4. Web site: London Boys – Harlem Desire (Vinyl) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2012-02-20.
  5. Previews – Singles. Music & Media. 6. 41. 14 October 1989. 22. 29800226. World Radio History . 31 July 2023.
  6. Singles . David . Giles . . 16 September 1989 . 23 . 30 August 2023 .
  7. Web site: REVIEW: "THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS OF DANCE" BY LONDON BOYS (CD, 1989) . Pop Rescue . 13 July 2015 . 25 October 2023.
  8. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 6. 40. 7 October 1989. IV-V. 29800226. World Radio History . 31 July 2023.
  9. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 . 2021 . London Boys. 151. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava . Helsinki. 28 July 2023.
  10. Top Dance Singles . . 23 September 1989 . 35 . World Radio History . 30 August 2023.