Secret Life (band)
Encyclopedia
Secret Life was a British R&B
/house
and pop
band active from 1991 to 1996, particularly popular in the UK
and Europe
.
recording called "Spanish Lullaby", written and produced by Andy Throup and Jim Di Salvo. This was their first release from their "No Fixed Abode" recording studio, set up in South London
. The band then increased in size with the addition of Charlton Antenbring and Paul Bryant. Antenbring was a fashion student, disc jockey and reporter for The Big Issue
. Jim Di Salvo contributed on guitars, cubase programming, sampling
and music production. Throup was a classically-trained pianist and contrubuted to cubase programming and music production. Bryant was the vocalist. Bryant and Throup co-wrote most of Secret Life's material.
Contemporaneous to the development of Secret Life, Throup was also working with others involved with techno
and house
music, such as noted techno and house DJ Lenny Dee.
The band toured extensively, particularly in the United Kingdom, and performed on three popular UK TV music shows: The Beat, Dance Energy and The Hitman and Her
. They also released several music video
s. Di Salvo left the band in 1993 to set up "Bass Boom" recording studios. Di Salvo then released numerous singles and albums under his own name, and the alias act names of "The Juggler", "Bong Brothers" and "Salvo Jets", during the 1990s.
One of Secret Life's first singles, a 1992 dance arrangement of Stevie Wonder's
"As Always", was one of the most successful records issued by their then label, Cowboy Records, associated with their manager, Charlie Chester. After house producers Masters At Work
remixed Secret Life's "Borrowed Time" (1994), Chester moved the band to Pulse-8 Records, with a view to enhanced pop appeal. He was able to obtain an eight album deal from the label. The group was now a core duo of Bryant and Throup. A pop-oriented single, "Love So Strong", previously issued by Cowboy Records in 1993, was remixed and released by Pulse-8 in 1994. Three other singles were released in 1994, followed by an album, Sole Purpose, in 1995. According to one reviewer, "Production from Brothers in Rhythm
, Chris Porter and Pete Gleadall give Sole Purpose an R&B and house feel, and the album is topped off with...thoughtful lyrics and smooth vocals."
From 1992 to 1996, the group released eight singles and one album. Five of the singles reached Number 1 on the Coolcuts and Mixmag
dance charts in the United Kingdom. Two of the singles were also Top 40 hit record
on the UK Singles Chart
.
Pulse-8 Records subsequently went bankrupt, ending prospects of further releases through that label. Throup, now known as Andrew Grainger, moved to New York
in 2000, and became a lounge pianist and recording studio
owner. In 2007, Grainger relocated to Austin, Texas
, to continue lounge work. After spending some time in the late 1990s contributing vocals to the work of others, Bryant left the music industry.
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
/house
House 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...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band active from 1991 to 1996, particularly popular in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
History
The first release by Secret Life was a white labelWhite label
White label records are vinyl records with adhesive plain white labels affixed. Test pressings, usually with Test Pressing written on the label, with catalogue number, artist and recording time or date, are produced in small quantities to evaluate the quality of the disc production...
recording called "Spanish Lullaby", written and produced by Andy Throup and Jim Di Salvo. This was their first release from their "No Fixed Abode" recording studio, set up in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
. The band then increased in size with the addition of Charlton Antenbring and Paul Bryant. Antenbring was a fashion student, disc jockey and reporter for The Big Issue
The Big Issue
The Big Issue is a street newspaper published in eight countries; it is written by professional journalists and sold by homeless individuals. It was founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991...
. Jim Di Salvo contributed on guitars, cubase programming, sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
and music production. Throup was a classically-trained pianist and contrubuted to cubase programming and music production. Bryant was the vocalist. Bryant and Throup co-wrote most of Secret Life's material.
Contemporaneous to the development of Secret Life, Throup was also working with others involved with techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
and house
House 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...
music, such as noted techno and house DJ Lenny Dee.
The band toured extensively, particularly in the United Kingdom, and performed on three popular UK TV music shows: The Beat, Dance Energy and The Hitman and Her
The Hitman and Her
The Hit Man And Her was a British television dance music show hosted by Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan. The programme was produced by Granada Television in Manchester, Clear Idea Productions and Music Box and it ran almost continuously for over four years and three months September 1988 until...
. They also released several music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s. Di Salvo left the band in 1993 to set up "Bass Boom" recording studios. Di Salvo then released numerous singles and albums under his own name, and the alias act names of "The Juggler", "Bong Brothers" and "Salvo Jets", during the 1990s.
One of Secret Life's first singles, a 1992 dance arrangement of Stevie Wonder's
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
"As Always", was one of the most successful records issued by their then label, Cowboy Records, associated with their manager, Charlie Chester. After house producers Masters At Work
Masters At Work
Masters at Work is the house/garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. They first worked together using the name, which had been given to them by mutual friend Todd Terry , in 1990...
remixed Secret Life's "Borrowed Time" (1994), Chester moved the band to Pulse-8 Records, with a view to enhanced pop appeal. He was able to obtain an eight album deal from the label. The group was now a core duo of Bryant and Throup. A pop-oriented single, "Love So Strong", previously issued by Cowboy Records in 1993, was remixed and released by Pulse-8 in 1994. Three other singles were released in 1994, followed by an album, Sole Purpose, in 1995. According to one reviewer, "Production from Brothers in Rhythm
Brothers in Rhythm
Brothers In Rhythm is a house music duo consisting of producers / remixers and DJs Steve Anderson and Dave Seaman. As a duo and individually, they have remixed and/or produced tracks by Lulu, M People, Secret Life, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Kylie Minogue, Garbage,...
, Chris Porter and Pete Gleadall give Sole Purpose an R&B and house feel, and the album is topped off with...thoughtful lyrics and smooth vocals."
From 1992 to 1996, the group released eight singles and one album. Five of the singles reached Number 1 on the Coolcuts and Mixmag
Mixmag
Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...
dance charts in the United Kingdom. Two of the singles were also Top 40 hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
on 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 ...
.
Pulse-8 Records subsequently went bankrupt, ending prospects of further releases through that label. Throup, now known as Andrew Grainger, moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 2000, and became a lounge pianist and recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
owner. In 2007, Grainger relocated to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, to continue lounge work. After spending some time in the late 1990s contributing vocals to the work of others, Bryant left the music industry.
Singles
- "As Always" (1992) Cowboy
- "Love So Strong" (1992) Cowboy
- "Love So Strong" (1993) Cowboy
- "I Want You" (1994) Pulse-8
- "Love So Strong" (1994) Pulse-8
- "She Holds The Key" (1994) Pulse-8
- "Love Love Love" (1996) Pulse-8
- "Vehicle" (1996) Pulse-8
Compilation inclusions
- Sonic System (1992) TelstarTelstar RecordsTelstar Records was a record label founded in 1982 by Sean O'Brien and Neil Palmer with a government loan of £120,000. It was founded as a specialist compilation marketing label and had hits with a range of compilation franchises such as the Deep Heat, Kaos Theory and 100% ranges...
; includes "As Always" - Remix Culture 12/92 (1992) DMC; includes "As Always" (The Greed Remix), plus remixes of Spandau BalletSpandau BalletSpandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
, ChicChic (band)Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
and Dina CarrollDina CarrollDina Carroll is an English singer of Scottish and African American descent who had a string of hits from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.-Early career:... - DMC CD Collection 127 (1993) DMC; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Remix)
- Energy Rush Factor 5 (1993) Dino EntertainmentDino EntertainmentDino Entertainment was a firm specializing in the compilation market of the late 1980s and early 1990s, releasing records such as the That Loving Feeling and Energy Rush range of CDs, in competition with Telstar Records, Stylus and K-Tel....
; includes "Love So Strong" (Radio Edit) - Energy Rush Level 3 (1993) Dino Entertainment; includes "As Always"
- Full-On Dance '93 (1993) Cookie Jar 2 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong"
- Full-On Dance: 20 Kickin' Dance Hits (1993) Cookie Jar; includes "Love So Strong"
- Hey Mr. DJ...The 4th Compilation (1993) EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Arena Dream) - The Megamix Album 128 (1993) DMC; includes "Love So Strong"
- Underground Selection 8/93 (1993) DMC; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Fully Loaded Mix)
- The Voice of Dance 3 (1993) EVA Belgium 2 CD compilation, includes "As Always" (Gospel Radio Edit)
- Club Together: The Club Sound of 1994 (1994) React/EMIEMI RecordsEMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
; includes "I Want You" - Pulsating Rhythms 5 (1994) Pulse-8; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Arena Dream)
- Renaissance: The Mix Collection (1994) Renaissance 3 CD compilation; includes "She Holds The Key" (H.A.L.F. I'm A Believer Mix)
- Club Together 2: The Club Sound of 1995 (1995) React/EMIEMI RecordsEMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
; includes "Love So Strong" - Cowboy Records - The Album Volume 1 (1995) RPM/Rodeo; includes "I Want You" (MoralesDavid MoralesDavid Morales is an internationally acclaimed Grammy-winning house music DJ and producer. In addition to his production and DJ work, Morales is one of the most prolific remixers of all time, transforming many pop music songs into club-friendly dance tracks...
Def Classic 12") - Cowboy Records - The Album Volume 2 (1995) Rodeo; includes "I Want You" (Morales Def Classic 12")
- United DJs of America, Volume 4: David MoralesDavid MoralesDavid Morales is an internationally acclaimed Grammy-winning house music DJ and producer. In addition to his production and DJ work, Morales is one of the most prolific remixers of all time, transforming many pop music songs into club-friendly dance tracks...
& Frankie KnucklesFrankie KnucklesFrankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
(1995) MoonshineMoonshine MusicMoonshine Music was an electronic music record label founded by Steve Levy in Los Angeles in 1992, and later headquartered in West Hollywood, California. Moonshine released over 250 compilations albums, many of which were DJ mixed. Moonshine helped to launch the career of DJ Keoki and his side-kick...
2 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong" - United DJs of The World Volume 1 - David Morales & Frankie Knuckles (1995) DMC; includes "Love So Strong"
- United DJs of The World - Frankie Knuckles (1995) DMC; includes "Love So Strong"
- Club Classics '95 (1995) Recurrent; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Experience)
- Dance 95 (1995) Circa; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Mix)
- Dance Mania 95 Volume 1 (1995) Pure Music; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Mix)
- DJs At Work Vol. 1. A Mix by David SeamanDave SeamanDave Seaman is a British dance music DJ and record producer. He was formerly a member of the DMC Publishing, and editor of music magazine Mixmag. He formed one half of Brothers In Rhythm with Steve Anderson, doing production work for Pet Shop Boys and Kylie Minogue. He has since founded Audio...
(1995) Pimp; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Experience) - Energy Rush K9 (1995) Dino Entertainment; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Mix)
- Hit Man 3 (1995) EMI; includes "Love So Strong"
- Para Para Non-Stop Vol. 4 (1995) MeldacMeldacis a music and video game company headquartered somewhere in Japan. They also had a subsidiary in America called Meldac of America before it became defunct in the 1990s....
; includes "Can I Believe" - Pulsating Hits - The Best of Pulse-8 1990-1995 (1995) QualityQuality RecordsQuality Records is a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels, and also released recordings by Canadian artists...
/Indisc/Critique; includes "I Want You" - Avex Dance Vol 2 (1996) Avex Trax; includes "Love So Strong"
- Climax 2 (1996) Edisom; includes "I Want You" (Play Boys Remix)
- Housemeister (1996) Club Tools 2 CD compilation; includes "Love Love Love" (Frankie Knuckles Classic Radio Mix), included in Megamix by House-Crack Sandro.
- National Anthems (1996) Firm Music 3 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Experience) as closing song to the compilation, with Megamix by Chris & James.
- Taneční Liga Vol. 3 (1996) Popron Music; includes "Love Love Love" (Frankie Knuckles Classic Radio Mix)
- The Best of Dance Party Volume 2 (1996) Quality; includes "As Always"
- Circuit Party Spins by DJ Julian Marsh (1997) Rhino; includes "Love Love Love" (Frankified Club Mix)
- Remix Culture 170 (1997) DMC; includes "She Holds The Key" (Remix by Bill Hamel, Neil Kolo & Michael Lacy)
- Pride 1998 by DJ Julian Marsh (1998) Centaur Music 2 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong"
- 1000 Original Hits - 1992 (2001) EMI; includes "As Always"
- Cowboy Records - The Album (2002) Cowboy 2 CD compilation; includes "As Always" (Old School House Mix)
- Oldskool Ibiza (2002) DecadanceDemon Music GroupDemon Records is a United Kingdom record label founded in 1980 by former United Artists A&R executive Andrew Lauder and Jake Riviera who had previously started Stiff Records...
3 CD compilation; includes "As Always" (Gospel Mix) - Rave Anthems 2: Old Skool Classics (2002) Decadance 3 CD compilation; includes "As Always"
- Best Of The 90s (2003) Disky 2 CD compilation; includes "I Want You"
- Renaissance: The Mix Collection (2004) Renaissance 10th anniversary reissue; includes "She Holds The Key" (H.A.L.F. I'm A Believer Mix)
- Back to Love 03.04 (2004) Hed KandiHed KandiHed Kandi is an UK-based record label and a music brand which was established in 1999 by Mark Doyle, specialising in funky, soulful house music. Hed Kandi's catalogue includes both artist albums and various genres of club compilations. As well as producing music albums and compilations, Hed Kandi...
2 CD compilation; includes "As Always" (Gospel Radio edit) - Renaissance: The Classics (2005) Renaissance 2 CD compilation; includes "As Always"
- Cowboy Records EP - Volume 1 (2005) Simply Vinyl; includes "As Always"
- Cowboy Records EP - Volume 2 (2005) Simply Vinyl; includes "As Always" (Gospel Mix)
- F.E.A. Version.Dosmilcuatro (2007) Sinnamon; includes "Self Delusion"
- The Ultimate 90s Album (2008) Decadance; 3 CD compilation; includes "Love Love Love"