Brooklyn Dreams (group)
Encyclopedia
The Brooklyn Dreams was a successful singing group of the late 1970s and early 1980s mixing R&B harmonies with contemporary dance/disco music and best-known for a number of collaborations with singer Donna Summer
. The band consisted of Joe "Bean" Esposito
, Eddie Hokenson and Bruce Sudano
. Esposito provided lead vocals for the band and played guitar, while Sudano played keyboards and Hokenson played drums and occasionally sang lead vocals.
featuring Joe Esposito on second lead and the group singing backup. Released on the Casablanca
label
in January 1979, the single reached # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100
. A version of the song is featured on Summer's Live and More
album. Their version of the song appears on the band's 1979 album, Sleepless Nights, with Esposito singing the lead vocal and Summer singing second lead with the group again contributing backing vocals, and credited as "Brooklyn Dreams with Donna Summer". The band sang backup on other tracks from several Summer albums during this period.
Their self-titled debut album Brooklyn Dreams (1977) received positive critical reviews, comparing the group's harmonies to those of The Righteous Brothers
. Singles "Sad Eyes" and the dance track "Music, Harmony and Rhythm" were modest hits. The latter song has been sampled over the years by various Hip hop
artists. While the album was a modest a hit, the group gained public awareness via an appearance as "Professor La Plano and The Planotones" in the 1978 film American Hot Wax
.
Their sophomore effort Sleepless Nights (1979) was a greater commercial success for the group as it featured their musical collaboration with their label mate Summer. The group toured as opening act for Summer and found itself hosting The Midnight Special
and performing on the popular talk shows The Mike Douglas Show
and The Merv Griffin Show
, as well as Dick Clark's
American Bandstand
, Solid Gold and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
". That year, the band co-wrote "Bad Girls
" with Summer, and the single topped Billboards Hot 100, Hot Black Singles
and Hot Disco
charts. Their own "Make It Last", however, did not improve on earlier chartings.
Their third album Joy Ride (1979) was a solid effort effort but moved them farther away from their R&B roots. Produced by Summer's recording engineer Juergen Koppers, but did not have the support of Casablanca, which was having a financial crisis, the album did not generate a chart single had a much more Euro dance sound. Casabalanca (which distributed the band's label, Millennium) had changed direction by 1980 with the demise of Disco
with which it was closely related, and chairman Neil Bogart
's departure. Summer also departed the label for the new Geffen Records
.
"Won't Let Go" (1980) was the last album by the group which was moving away from the labels push to Disco, and closer to a R&B pop sound they originally intended to produce . "Won't Let Go" received overall good reviews. Members of the group by this time were already pursuing other projects separately or together, but not under the name Brooklyn Dreams.
"Deez Hollywood Knights", a track on Snoop Dogg
s 2008 album Ego Trippin, samples the group's title track for the soundtrack for the 1980 film The Hollywood Knights
.
, The Karate Kid and Coming To America
, for which he recorded a duet with Laura Branigan
. He also released three solo albums "Solitary Man" with Giorgio Moroder
, followed by " Joe, Bruce and 2nd Avenue" a collaboration with former bandmate, the most recent being Treated and Released
in 1996. In 2011, Esposito is working on tracks for a new solo album.
Sudano and Donna Summer would later marry
. Sudano notably co-wrote the Dolly Parton
hit "Starting Over Again
", and a number of album tracks for Summer. Sudano released his first solo album, Fugitive Kind, for Millennium/RCA in 1981, which included his own recording of "Starting Over Again". The song was recorded again in 1997 by Reba McEntire
and was the title song of her CD. Sudano released his second solo album, Rainy Day Soul, twenty-three years later, in 2004. Sudano was voted AC artist of the year by New Music Weekly. Sudano's next CD, Life & the Romantic, was set to be released in March, 2009.
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
. The band consisted of Joe "Bean" Esposito
Joe Esposito (singer)
Joe Esposito is a Grammy winning American singer/songwriter whose career spans from the 1970s to the present day. Esposito's songs have been recorded by Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Labelle, and Stephen Stills and others.-Biography:...
, Eddie Hokenson and Bruce Sudano
Bruce Sudano
Bruce Charles Sudano is a singer/songwriter/producer best known for his collaboration with and marriage to singer Donna Summer, and the group he co-founded, Brooklyn Dreams....
. Esposito provided lead vocals for the band and played guitar, while Sudano played keyboards and Hokenson played drums and occasionally sang lead vocals.
Biography
Their biggest hit was the single "Heaven Knows", a single by Donna SummerDonna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
featuring Joe Esposito on second lead and the group singing backup. Released on the Casablanca
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in January 1979, the single reached # 4 on 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...
. A version of the song is featured on Summer's Live and More
Live and More
Live and More was the seventh vinyl long-playing album recorded by Donna Summer, and it was her second double album. The live concert featured on the first three sides of this double LP album was recorded in the Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, California in 1978...
album. Their version of the song appears on the band's 1979 album, Sleepless Nights, with Esposito singing the lead vocal and Summer singing second lead with the group again contributing backing vocals, and credited as "Brooklyn Dreams with Donna Summer". The band sang backup on other tracks from several Summer albums during this period.
Their self-titled debut album Brooklyn Dreams (1977) received positive critical reviews, comparing the group's harmonies to those of The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers were the musical duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975, and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003...
. Singles "Sad Eyes" and the dance track "Music, Harmony and Rhythm" were modest hits. The latter song has been sampled over the years by various Hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artists. While the album was a modest a hit, the group gained public awareness via an appearance as "Professor La Plano and The Planotones" in the 1978 film American Hot Wax
American Hot Wax
American Hot Wax is a 1978 biopic film directed by Floyd Mutrux and written by John Kaye telling the story of Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s...
.
Their sophomore effort Sleepless Nights (1979) was a greater commercial success for the group as it featured their musical collaboration with their label mate Summer. The group toured as opening act for Summer and found itself hosting The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special (TV series)
The Midnight Special is an American musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981...
and performing on the popular talk shows The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
and The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
, as well as Dick Clark's
Dick Clark (entertainer)
Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark is an American businessman; game-show host; and radio and television personality. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years...
American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
, Solid Gold and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert is a television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations...
". That year, the band co-wrote "Bad Girls
Bad Girls (song)
"Bad Girls" is a 1979 single released by American singer Donna Summer, co-written by Summer and the Brooklyn Dreams. The inspiration for her to write the song came after one of her assistants was offended by a police officer who thought she was a street prostitute.A rough version of the song had...
" with Summer, and the single topped Billboards Hot 100, Hot Black Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
and Hot Disco
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...
charts. Their own "Make It Last", however, did not improve on earlier chartings.
Their third album Joy Ride (1979) was a solid effort effort but moved them farther away from their R&B roots. Produced by Summer's recording engineer Juergen Koppers, but did not have the support of Casablanca, which was having a financial crisis, the album did not generate a chart single had a much more Euro dance sound. Casabalanca (which distributed the band's label, Millennium) had changed direction by 1980 with the demise of Disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
with which it was closely related, and chairman Neil Bogart
Neil Bogart
Neil Bogart was an American record executive. He is perhaps best known as the founder of Casablanca Records, with Peter Guber....
's departure. Summer also departed the label for the new Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
.
"Won't Let Go" (1980) was the last album by the group which was moving away from the labels push to Disco, and closer to a R&B pop sound they originally intended to produce . "Won't Let Go" received overall good reviews. Members of the group by this time were already pursuing other projects separately or together, but not under the name Brooklyn Dreams.
"Deez Hollywood Knights", a track on Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
s 2008 album Ego Trippin, samples the group's title track for the soundtrack for the 1980 film The Hollywood Knights
The Hollywood Knights
The Hollywood Knights is an American motion picture comedy written and directed by Floyd Mutrux depicting the crass and mischievous antics and practical jokes of the remaining members of a 1950s-era car club turned social fraternity in and around Beverly Hills and Hollywood in 1965...
.
Solo Careers
Esposito went on to solo success on numerous movie soundtracks, notably FlashdanceFlashdance (soundtrack)
-Chart positions:AlbumSingles-References:...
, The Karate Kid and Coming To America
Coming to America
Coming to America is a 1988 comedy film directed by John Landis. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy, who also stars in the film. Murphy plays an African prince, who heads to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry...
, for which he recorded a duet with Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
Laura Ann Branigan was an American singer-songwriter and actress of Italian and Irish ancestry. She is best known in the United States for her 1982 Platinum-certified hit "Gloria" and in Europe for the number-one single "Self Control"...
. He also released three solo albums "Solitary Man" with Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
, followed by " Joe, Bruce and 2nd Avenue" a collaboration with former bandmate, the most recent being Treated and Released
Treated and Released
Treated and Released is Joe "Bean" Esposito's third R&B solo album. Esposito is best known as the lead singer of the Brooklyn Dreams. They scored a Billboard # 2 hit with "Heaven Knows", a duet with Donna Summer.-Solo Artist:...
in 1996. In 2011, Esposito is working on tracks for a new solo album.
Sudano and Donna Summer would later marry
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
. Sudano notably co-wrote the Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
hit "Starting Over Again
Starting Over Again
"Starting Over Again" was a 1980 U.S. pop and country hit single for Dolly Parton. Telling the story of a middle aged couple separating after 30 years of marriage, the song was written by Donna Summer and her husband Bruce Sudano...
", and a number of album tracks for Summer. Sudano released his first solo album, Fugitive Kind, for Millennium/RCA in 1981, which included his own recording of "Starting Over Again". The song was recorded again in 1997 by Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
and was the title song of her CD. Sudano released his second solo album, Rainy Day Soul, twenty-three years later, in 2004. Sudano was voted AC artist of the year by New Music Weekly. Sudano's next CD, Life & the Romantic, was set to be released in March, 2009.
Albums
- Brooklyn Dreams (1977)
- Sleepless Nights (1978)
- Joy Ride (1979)
- Won't Let Go (1980)
Soundtracks
- American Hot WaxAmerican Hot WaxAmerican Hot Wax is a 1978 biopic film directed by Floyd Mutrux and written by John Kaye telling the story of Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s...
(1978) - The Hollywood KnightsThe Hollywood KnightsThe Hollywood Knights is an American motion picture comedy written and directed by Floyd Mutrux depicting the crass and mischievous antics and practical jokes of the remaining members of a 1950s-era car club turned social fraternity in and around Beverly Hills and Hollywood in 1965...
(1980) - FoxesFoxes (soundtrack)Foxes is the soundtrack to the 1980 film of the same name, starring Jodie Foster, Scott Baio, Sally Kellerman, Randy Quaid as well as The Runaways' lead singer Cherie Currie...
(1980)
Singles
- "Sad Eyes" (1977) [#63 Hot 100]
- "Music, Harmony, and Rhythm" (1978) [#57 Hot 100]
- "Heaven Knows" (with Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, 1979) [#2 Hot 100] - "Make It Last" (1979) [#69 Hot 100]
- "To Much for the Lady" (1979)
- "Your Loves So Good to Me" (1979)
- "Back On The Streets" (1980)
- "Won't Let Go" (1980)
See also
- Alive N Kickin'Alive N Kickin'Alive N Kickin’ is a Brooklyn band, led by singers Pepe Cardona and Sandy Toder, known mainly for their 1970 hit single "Tighter, Tighter" which reached #7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart...
- Joe "Bean" EspositoJoe Esposito (singer)Joe Esposito is a Grammy winning American singer/songwriter whose career spans from the 1970s to the present day. Esposito's songs have been recorded by Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Labelle, and Stephen Stills and others.-Biography:...
- The MysticsThe MysticsThe Mystics is an American rock and roll group that began in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1950s. The group was known as The Overons, a quintet that, when signed to Laurie Records, consisted of Phil Cracolici , Albee Cracolici , George Galfo , Bob Ferrante , and Al Contrera...
- Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...