Mirage (medley group)
Encyclopedia
Mirage were a British pop music group active in the 1980s and specializing in medley
s. They achieved particular success in 1987-8 with their "Jack Mix" series of singles and LPs.
producer Nigel Wright to cash in on the success of Dutch medley group Stars on 45
. Enigma's "Ain't No Stopping", a medley of disco hits played by session musicians, was released while Stars on 45 was still climbing the charts. "Ain't No Stopping" peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart
and was followed up with "I Love Music", which peaked at number 25.
Although the medley craze faded quickly, Wright continued to produce medleys, first under the name Mojo, before settling on Mirage.
The first Mirage medley to make an impact was the 1984 release "Give Me The Night", a medley of George Benson
songs sung by Leroy Osbourne (of Sade) under the guise of Roy Gayle. Other single-artist medleys followed: "Let's Groove" (Earth, Wind and Fire), "Get Down On It" (Kool and the Gang) and the Tracey Ackerman
-fronted "Into The Groove Medley" (Madonna
). Though popular in UK clubs, only "Give Me The Night" crossed over into the mainstream charts.
style which was beginning to enter the mainstream. In January 1987, Steve "Silk" Hurley achieved the first house music number one hit in the UK with "Jack Your Body
". Wright quickly responded by releasing the 12" single "Jack Mix" under the Mirage name - a medley/montage of "Jack Your Body", "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
" and "Axel F
". Following positive response from the clubs, an expanded version was released, titled "Jack Mix II". This became the first UK-produced house record to reach the British top ten, peaking at number 4.
Unlike most medleys, which typically used sections of individual songs presented sequentially with brief transitions between them, the "Jack Mix" series took a different approach, layering elements of different songs to produce a dense montage effect.
Despite being reliant entirely on medleys of other people's material, Mirage were one of the most successful house acts in 1987-8, placing several more singles on the charts, including the number eight hit "Jack Mix IV". Several TV advertised albums also charted, with the most successful being Jack Mix '88 (actually released in 1987) and Jack Mix In Full Effect, both of which reached number 7.
Mirage's popularity faded in 1988, following the explosion of British house music acts producing original material and sample-based records using the original recordings rather than session remakes.
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
s. They achieved particular success in 1987-8 with their "Jack Mix" series of singles and LPs.
History
Mirage had its origins in Enigma, a 1981 project created by ShakatakShakatak
Shakatak are an English jazz-funk band, founded in 1980.-Career:Shakatak scored a number of chart entries, including two Top Ten hits in the UK Singles Chart, "Night Birds" and "Down on the Street" plus a further 12 entries in the Guinness book of British Hit Singles...
producer Nigel Wright to cash in on the success of Dutch medley group Stars on 45
Stars on 45
Stars on 45 was a Dutch novelty pop act that was briefly very popular in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, the United States and Australia in the early 1980s. The group later shortened its name to Stars On in the U.S., while in the U.K. and Ireland it was known as Starsound...
. Enigma's "Ain't No Stopping", a medley of disco hits played by session musicians, was released while Stars on 45 was still climbing the charts. "Ain't No Stopping" peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and was followed up with "I Love Music", which peaked at number 25.
Although the medley craze faded quickly, Wright continued to produce medleys, first under the name Mojo, before settling on Mirage.
The first Mirage medley to make an impact was the 1984 release "Give Me The Night", a medley of George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
songs sung by Leroy Osbourne (of Sade) under the guise of Roy Gayle. Other single-artist medleys followed: "Let's Groove" (Earth, Wind and Fire), "Get Down On It" (Kool and the Gang) and the Tracey Ackerman
Tracey Ackerman
Tracy Ackerman is a British singer and songwriter. She works with several other British songwriters including Andy Watkins and Paul Wilson of Absolute and Mark Taylor....
-fronted "Into The Groove Medley" (Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
). Though popular in UK clubs, only "Give Me The Night" crossed over into the mainstream charts.
Jack Mix
Mirage came to much greater prominence in 1987 when Wright spotted an opportunity in the new house musicHouse music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
style which was beginning to enter the mainstream. In January 1987, Steve "Silk" Hurley achieved the first house music number one hit in the UK with "Jack Your Body
Jack Your Body
Jack Your Body is a popular song by Steve 'Silk' Hurley, which was featured on the only J.M. Silk album, Hold on to Your Dream, released in 1987....
". Wright quickly responded by releasing the 12" single "Jack Mix" under the Mirage name - a medley/montage of "Jack Your Body", "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)
"Showing Out " is the debut single released by sister duo Mel and Kim in 1986. The song was originally intended to be a B-side to the group's first chosen single, "System", but was later flipped to be the A-side, and became a hit....
" and "Axel F
Axel F
"Axel F" is the electronic instrumental theme from the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop performed by Harold Faltermeyer. The title comes from the main character's name, Axel Foley , in the film. It topped musical charts in 1985 and remains a popular remix track. Mixes of "Axel F" topped European pop...
". Following positive response from the clubs, an expanded version was released, titled "Jack Mix II". This became the first UK-produced house record to reach the British top ten, peaking at number 4.
Unlike most medleys, which typically used sections of individual songs presented sequentially with brief transitions between them, the "Jack Mix" series took a different approach, layering elements of different songs to produce a dense montage effect.
Despite being reliant entirely on medleys of other people's material, Mirage were one of the most successful house acts in 1987-8, placing several more singles on the charts, including the number eight hit "Jack Mix IV". Several TV advertised albums also charted, with the most successful being Jack Mix '88 (actually released in 1987) and Jack Mix In Full Effect, both of which reached number 7.
Mirage's popularity faded in 1988, following the explosion of British house music acts producing original material and sample-based records using the original recordings rather than session remakes.