M People: Heather Small (vocals); Mike Pickering (vocals, saxophone); Paul Heard (keyboards, programming); Shovell (percussion).
Additional personnel: G.A. Parricelli, Jim Williams (guitar); Yolisa Phale, Steven Hussey, Ivan Hussen, Ellen Blair (strings); Chris Snake Davis (saxophone, flute); John Thirkell (trumpet); Andy Connell, Graham Harvey (piano); Julian Crampton (bass); Andy Gangadeen (drums); Paul Jervier (programming); Juliet Roberts, Carroll Thompson, Beverly Skeet, Fay Simpson, Paul Tubbs Williams (background vocals).
Recorded at The Strongroom, London, England.
[Reviews]
Rolling Stone (8/10/95, p.59) - 3.5 Stars out of 5 - Good - ...This self-produced album is not one long throbbing dance marathon; the group's unifying vision of emotive pop music pulls together a collection of actual songs. They're all emboldened by Heather Small's lustrous contralto, catchy melodies and a house-music undertow...
Spin (6/95, p.99) - 7 - Flawed Yet Worthy - ...Although the instrumentation...relies on traditional musicianship rather than samples, the riffs and tunes quote liberally from 30 years of American R&B. M People's consistently substantial songs generate much body heat...
Musician (5/95, pp.90-92) - ...a dream you can dance to....is no longer interested in charting the outer limits of clubland, but rather turning the underground sounds of yesterday--lush disco sweeps with butt-burning basslines, sway-your-arms choruses--into today's hits...
Entertainment Weekly (5/19/95, p.63) - ...has more than its share of house-quaking grooves. Their secret? Delectable R&B-based arrangements layered on top of the beat and Heather Small's smoky, ecstasy-or-bust voice... - Rating: A-n
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M People: Heather Small, Mike Pickering, Paul Heard.
Additional personnel: Mark Bell (vocals); Jim Williams, Giovanni Parricelli (guitar); Snake Davis (flute, saxophone); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet); Chris Kibble, Alister Gavin (piano); Gareth Tasker (bass); Andy Gangadeen (drums); Shovel, Robin Jones (percussion); Juliet Roberts, Carrol Thompson, Beverly Skeet, Nu Colours, Paul Tubbs Williams (background vocals).
Recorded at The Strongroom, Milo and The Roundhouse, London, England.
All songs written by Mike Pickering and/or Paul Heard except Don't Look Any Further (D. Lambert/F. Golde/D. Hutchins).
Respected DJ Mike Pickering formed M People in 1993 with vocalist Heather Small and former Orange Juice member Paul Heard. ELEGANT SLUMMING was a very popular album, and won a BRIT award for Best U.K. Dance Act. The hit Moving on Up was a track that propelled the group to new levels of popularity. The opening cut on the album, One Night in Heaven, is a good example of what the band is about. Small adds cool rhythms and sultry vocals to ELEGANT SLUMMING. Some of the other remarkable tracks include Colour My Life, Exicted, and You Just Have to Be There. M People is one of the best songwriting units in the genre.n
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DECONSTRUCTION (1)
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