Club Nouveau Albums (5)
'Under a Nouveau Groove'
Release Date 1/1/1989
Tracks 11
Label Warner Bros.
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What The Critics Say
Some entertaining, if very derivative, urban contemporary dance-pop, R&B, and ballads. Club Nouveau had only hit, a cover of Bill Withers' "Lean On Me," and, by the time of this album, had virtually exhausted an already lightweight bag of tricks. This album was more interesting as a barometer of late '80s production trends than for the songs or performances. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
'Listen to the Message'
Release Date 1/1/1987
Tracks 9
Label Warner Bros.
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Life, Love & Pain'
Release Date 1/1/1986
Tracks 8
Label Warner Bros.
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The funky, dance-oriented R&B act Club Nouveau stormed onto the musical scene in late 1986 with Life, Love, & Pain. Half the songs on this eight-title set received some form of airplay, but none matched the success of their lighthearted, reggae/hip-hop remake of the Bill Withers classic "Lean on Me," which topped the American pop charts for two weeks in 1987. The follow-up, "Why You Treat Me So Bad," only peaked at number 39 on the pop charts (but fared much better on the R&B charts), yet has enjoyed an equally long (if not longer) shelf life. By the end of the '90s, "Why You Treat Me So Bad" had already been sampled into two of the decade's biggest hip-hop hits: "I Got Five on It" by Luniz and "Satisfy You" by Puff Daddy and R. Kelly. The album also featured "Jealousy," which was a remake/answer song to Timex Social Club's 1986 Top Ten hit "Rumours," and the R&B hit "Situation #9." The album closes with "Pump It Up," which is a reprise of "Lean on Me." Club Nouveau never again came close to matching the success of this album or its singles. There are a few compilations on Club Nouveau, but to capture the spirit of the band at their best, go with Life, Love, & Pain. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
By the time the 1990s rolled around, much of the urban contemporary world had pretty much given up on Jay King and assumed that his career was over and done with. Club Nouveau had lost too many key members (most notably, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, who were busy working with En Vogue and others), and it seemed doubtful that King's band would make a comeback. But in 1992, King gave it a shot with A New Beginning, which unveiled a new Club Nouveau lineup. The CD didn't do much commercially, and it's hardly in a class with Life, Love & Pain or even Listen to the Message. But A New Beginning does have its moments, including the reassuring "I'll Be There" (not to be confused with the Jackson 5 hit), the troubling "Mary," and a spirited remake of the Edwin Hawkins Singers' gospel favorite "Oh, Happy Day." The album is slightly better than some skeptics might think, although it's definitely the work of someone who was past his prime. Only completists will find A New Beginning to be of interest. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
