Some People (Belouis Some Album)

''Some People'' is the debut studio album from British musician Belouis Some, released in 1985.

Background

Neville Keighley began performing as Belouis Some in 1983. He would sign with Parlophone Records that year and began recording his studio album soon after. Recording of ''Some People'' began at Good Earth, Maison Rouge and Air Studios in London, with Ian Little and Pete Schwier at the producers' helm. In late 1984, recording continued at New York with producers Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero. ''Some People'' was released in 1985. It did not chart.

Preceding the album, the first single "Target Practice" was released in June 1984, but failed to chart. In March 1985, "Imagination" was released, and saw some chart success across various countries, including reaching #50 in the UK and #88 in America. The album's third single, "Some People", followed in June, and reached #33 in the UK and #67 in America. Both "Imagination" and "Some People" were also successful on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, reaching #4 and #8 respectively. In January 1986, "Imagination" was re-issued, reaching #17 in the UK; however, a March re-issue of "Some People" failed to re-chart. In July, the final single, "Jerusalem", was released, reaching #98 in the UK. A re-issue of "Target Practice" would also reach #16 in South Africa in May 1986.

A music video for "Imagination", directed by Storm Thorgerson, was met with some controversy as it featured full frontal nudity. The music video for "Some People" was filmed in Aldeburgh, Suffolk.

Release

The album was released by Parlophone/EMI on vinyl in various countries, including the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, Japan, Argentina and South Africa. In the US and Canada, it was released by Capitol Records. Jugoton/Parlophone released the album in Yugoslavia. Although the album wasn't commercially released on CD, a UK promo version appeared on the format, which was made in Japan and released by EMI.

Later in 2009, Cherry Pop would remaster and reissue the album on CD. For the release, Cherry Pop mastered the album from vinyl, leading to complaints over the sound quality. A second edition of the CD was released by the label in 2010.

Critical reception

On its release, Lisa Clark of ''Smash Hits'' considered ''Some People'' to be an "excellently put together pop/funk collaboration", adding "Although basically a pop record, the funky production slants the songs quite differently – sometimes like the mega-brilliant 'Imagination' with its sneery vocals, and sometimes like the haunting, David Bowie-inspired 'Jerusalem'." Nick Adams of ''Number One'' stated, "Belouis Some has already released a couple of strong singles and the rest of his songs are equally dramatic – big, thumping melody links punched out on synths with saxes and backing vocalists making sure you don't forget the tune. Belouis' phrasing often lapses into Bowie's London camp, and too many of the songs are striving to be 'Let's Dance Part 2'. Nevertheless, a promising debut." Eleanor Levy of ''Record Mirror'' commented, "It's a good album if not a great one, but with the backing he's got - plus a certain amount of swoon-inducing charisma from the man himself - this truly is the future of rock 'n' roll."

Brian Chin of ''Billboard'' wrote, "''Some People'' is a really up-to-date pop production, with one attractive and danceable cut after another. Best cuts are the pop title cut, and the rockier
'Target Practice,' along with the surfacing 'Imagination'." Helen Metella of the ''Edmonton Journal'' described the album as "thoroughly accessible, staunchly commercial pop, often vocally reminiscent of Bowie". She praised the "ambitious but simply stated lyrics" and Some's ability to "emote convincingly", but noted he was "not an especially strong singer". Metella concluded, "This debut s notan awesome masterpiece but it's a respectable effort from someone who should be reckoned with."

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Belouis Some.

Charts

Singles

Imagination

Some People

Target Practice

Jerusalem

Personnel

*Belouis Some – vocals
*Carlos Alomar – guitar, backing vocals, arrangement
*Chester Kamen, Earl Slick – guitar
*Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals, arrangement
*Dave Lebolt, Jack Waldman – keyboards
*Bernard Edwards, Carmine Rojas, Gary Twigg – bass
*Alan Childs, Andy Duncan, Tony Thompson – drums
*Jimmy Maelen – percussion
*Rick Bell – saxophone (track 3)
*Gary Barnacle – saxophone (track 8)
*Diva Gray – backing vocals
*Frank Simms, Kurt Yahjin, Robin Clark – backing vocals
;Technical
*Pete Schwier – producer (tracks 1–2, 6–9), engineer (all tracks)
* Steve Thompson – producer (tracks 1, 3–6), mixing (tracks 2, 6, 9)
*Michael Barbiero – producer (tracks 1, 3–6), mixing (tracks 2, 6, 9), engineer (all tracks)
*Ian Little – producer (tracks 2, 7–9)
*Alexander Haas, Carb Canelle, Rob Trillo – tape operators
*Richard Haughton – photography
*XL Design – sleeve

References

{{Authority control

1985 debut albums
Belouis Some albums
Parlophone albums
Capitol Records albums
EMI Records albums