South African Hi-NRG act around Paul Crossley and Terry Owen that formed out of the ashes of Shiraz. "Fighting For Our Lives" was first recorded in 1984 with male vocalist Marshall Harmse (as Shiraz) who had a heavy non English accent. Passion records UK wanted a more English sounding vocalist on the tracks Paul & Terry produced.
Female vocalist Cindy Dickinson was recruited and the project became PEOPLE LIKE US.
With the additional vocal talents of Cindy Dickinson and teaming up with top SA producer Hilton Rosenthal, PEOPLE LIKE US, achieved a surprising measure of success around the world in the mid-80's with songs "Deliverance" and "Midnight Lover".
"Fighting For Our Lives" is a song written about having HIV/AIDS during the 80s, with no effective treatments, fighting to survive a new virus, plus widespread fear, heavy stigma, and rejection associated with having AIDS.
The song was written by lead group member and the songs producer, Paul Crossley who was diagnosed with HIV in the early 80s.
The slogan "Fighting For Our Lives" was most often seen on banners at AIDS marches/protests in the mid 80s.
Paul Crossley self produced "Fighting For Our Lives" in 1987, releasing it as People Like Us (feat Cindy Dickinson) on lead vocals.
It was licenced to & released worldwide by Passion Records UK
[note: to the left side on the 12'' cover, in black, is an abstract side image of Paul Crossley, unusual as no pictures of Paul or Terry ever appear on their releases]
After Paul Crossley's death in 1989, Terry Owen briefly teamed up with Robin Hogarth and recruited vocalist Angie Gold but the dance music had evolved into techno/house/rave, and releases failed to repeat the same performance.
People Like Us – Fighting For Our Lives
Label: Passion – PASH 12 78
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG
Tracklist
A - Fighting For Our Lives 6.28
B - Fighting For Our Lives (Instrumental Mix) 5.52
Producer – Paul Crossley
Written-By – Grant Fisher, Paul Crossley, Terry Owen
RETRO DISCO Hi-NRG 🚀
📖 "FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES" (Song Lyrics)
Too frightened to touch
but I want you so much
wanna cry out in anger
live without danger
We have fought for so long
We were getting so strong
Now we're fighting,
We're fighting for our Lives
CHORUS
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to be strong
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to go on
We've been through the gates
of Hell and back
so watch out World
We're on the attack
We've moving on out
We've paid our deposit
No more days
Locked up in this closet
CHORUS
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to be strong
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to go on
CHORUS
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to be strong
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to go on...
Stay with me babe stay
Please don't turn away
We'll go on together
Brave stormy weather
We have fought for so long
We were getting so strong
Now we're fighting,
We're fighting for our Lives
CHORUS
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to be strong
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to go on...
CHORUS
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to be strong
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to go on...
CHORUS
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way
Fighting For Our Lives
Is the order of the day
Fighting For Our Lives
Every step of the way..
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to be strong
Fighting For Our Lives
We've got to go on...
[Written-By – Paul Crossley, Terry Owen, Grant Fisher]
"The Weird 80s Novelty Eurodisco Record, originally released in 1987, SOLD 2 MILLION COPIES 🐔🐔💰💰💸💸 (then they vanished!) 🍗👅
The FULL x3 TRACK 12'' MAXI 💿 VERSION (including RARE B-Side track, "Do You Listen Stereo?")
1st Of April – Chicken In The Jungle 🐥🥚🍳 Label: Ariola – 608 791, Ariola – 608 791-213 Format: Vinyl, 12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM Country: Europe (Germany) Released: 1987 Genre: Electronic Style: Synth-pop, Disco
Tracklist:
A Chicken In The Jungle (12 Inch Dance Version) 5.28 🐔 B1 Chicken In The Jungle (7 Inch Version) 3.59 🐔🐔 B2 Do You Listen Stereo? 2.38 🍗🍗🐤
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Ariola Eurodisc GmbH Record Company – Ariola Eurodisc GmbH Published By – Edition Regulus Printed By – TOPAC Distributed By – RCA/Ariola-Ariola/RCA Distributed By – Ariola/RCA-RCA/Ariola Pressed By – Sonopress Designed At – Ariola-Studios
Art Direction – M. Vormstein Illustration – Linda Film Photography By – Mauritius Producer – 1st Of April Written-By – B. Bottle (tracks: A, B1), G. Glass, W. Wine
Ed. Regulus ℗ 1987 Ariola Eurodisc GmbH Distributed in Europe by RCA/Ariola-Ariola/RCA Vertrieb in Europa durch Ariola/RCA-RCA/Ariola Printed in Western Germany by TOPAC, Gesellschaft für Tonträger-Verpackung mbH, Gütersloh Ariola-Eurodisc GmbH, München
Catalog# on labels: 608 791 Catalog# on back cover: 608 791-213
Some copies came with an info / recipe sheet. (see download WAV file)
CHICKEN IN THE JUNGLE (Lyrics) by1st OF APRIL
It was one of those nights at the downtown show And the Chicken In The Jungle didn't know where to go
Ran away from the Colonel Started Looking for some fun Gotta find some leisure pleasure There's a Chicken On The Run
{BRIDGE}
Because it's Dangerous! It's Dangerous In The Jungle!
Because it's Dangerous! It's Dangerous In The Jungle!
[CHORUS] 🐤
There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 A Chicken In The Jungle
It was one of those nights at the downtown show And the movies gettin' groovy! but the chicks don't know
The midnight Tarzan in his limousine Searchin' like the Colonel for the Chicken of his dreams
{BRIDGE}
Because it's Dangerous! It's Dangerous In The Jungle!
Because it's Dangerous! It's Dangerous (All so Dangerous) In The Jungle! 🦁
[CHORUS] 🐤
There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 A Chicken In The Jungle
There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 There's A Chicken In The Jungle 🐤 A Chicken In The Jungle
02. Disco Rock Machine - Living For The City (1978) 7:19
03. Hot R.S. - House Of The Rising Sun (1977) 14:35
04. People Like Us - Hiroshima (1987) 6:39
05. Rouge - Eloise Concerto (1978) 17:32
06. Neil Cloud - Time Of The Season (1978) 6:33
07. John Ireland - Living Inside My Head (1978) 6:25
08. Hot R.S. - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1978) 7:47
09. Disco Rock Machine - You Really Got Me (1978) 7:12
10. Buffalo - Born To Be Wild (Medley) (1978) 14:07
11. Neil Cloud - Reflections (1978) 17:38
12. Hot R.S. - Delta Queen (1977) 7:49
13. Disco Rock Machine - Time To Love (1978) 7:18
14. Harari - Give (1980) 5:16
15. Hot R.S. - Money Runner (1980) 6:28
16. Disco Rock Machine - Loving Styles (1978) 7:15
17. Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse - Burn Out (1984) 4:57
RARE 2CD SET RELEASED FOR A LIMITED TIME July 1999, Gallo, CDREDD 627
Credits:
Thanks to: John Ireland, Brian 'Vagabond' Currin, Dion Singer, Gary Van Riet, Lana-Jane Miller, Terry Owen, the good people at EMI, Peter Pearlson (Forest Studios) for all his hard work, Terry Fairweather, the crowd at Apula and everybody else who made this compilation possible.
Compiled by Derek Smith
Digitally re-mastered at Forest Studios by Peter Pearlson.
Reviews:
In the late 70s disco music internationally was dominated by such artists as The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Chic, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, etc. The rhythm was everything and musicianship was secondary.
In South Africa, however, disco seemed to take on a distinct harder edge, with a number of classic hard rock and heavy metal songs being given the disco treatment.
Paul Ryan's classic 'Eloise' was extended to 17 minutes by Zane Cronjé's Rouge, HOT RS covered Iron Butterfly's 'In-A-Gadda-Da -Vida' (cleverly combining it with Frankie Vaughan's 1957 UK #1 smash hit 'Garden Of Eden') and Peter Vee's Buffalo covered Steppenwolf's heavy metal anthem 'Born To Be Wild'.
Ex-Rabbitt, Trevor Rabin with his Disco Rock Machine recorded the Kinks' 'You Really Got Me' while his colleague, Neil Cloud (Rabbitt's drummer), covered 'Time Of The Season' originally done in 1968 by Rod Argent's Zombies.
All these tracks and others (like John Ireland's 'Living Inside My Head') are on this Gallo collection compiled by Derek Smith. -- Brian Currin, 1999
Even if one did not care overmuch for disco, he or she should be able to find enough songs on this double CD to make at least a 90 minute tape. In Texas we spend much time in our cars so road tapes, for me anyway, are important. This is good music to use to thump one's way across Texas. When done South African style, and that's with a bit more rock thrown in, one wonders if the disco genre is undervalued. Here are the songs of Disco Fever: all disco or dance, though some do rock:
'Magic Carpet Ride' by Buffalo is a strong opener, and in its way, "Ooh, ooh, carpet ride!" is a fine basic rock lyric. Nice musical frills here, the song is imaginative despite the dominant disco beat that can easily become moronic if not decorated creatively, as it is here. I hear a couple of lyrics differently on the original, but this is really a strong song.
'Living for the City' by Disco Rock Machine is a nice disco-fied cover of Stevie Wonder's song, and one faithful enough to the original, yet different and so eminently danceable that I can imagine Stevie himself might like it.
'House of the Rising Sun' by Hot R.S. A good version of one of my favorite rock standards, though the young lady singing really over-emotes how glad she feels, and she carries on disturbing the neighbours for quite a while.
'Hiroshima' by People Like Us has nice singing and is interesting lyrically, more than I-love-you-baby lyrics, yet it is a more straight-forward disco song than the first two songs on this double CD set.
'Eloise Concerto' by Rouge starts out as a readily recognizable disco song, with horn accents, and moves into a lo-o-ong and rather mellow interlude. The song is pleasant, with several movements, and comes across more as listening disco than dancing disco. If I were to hear it in a club I might think differently, though. The pleasantness of the song is borne out by the fact that it does not seem to last 17 minutes and 32 seconds.
'Time of the Season' by Neil Cloud has the same eerie mood of the original, but with a more obvious beat. The original was a favorite song, this version is too.
'Living Inside My Head' by John Ireland is my favorite song on 'Disco Fever'. Maybe early in childhood I was entranced by 'Greensleeves', which I feel sure Henry the VIII did not write, despite his claim. Anyway, John Ireland does a much better job than Henry could have with this beautiful melody and original lyrics. Absolutely lovely.
'In-a-Gadda-da-Vida' by Hot R.S. rocks, or is it that maybe the original wasn't too far from being a disco number itself? Whichever the case, this is a good version of a classic song that everyone pokes fun at, but one which everyone knows nonetheless.
That's disc one, some good pure disco, and some disco with a definite rock edge.
Disc two: 'You Really Got Me' by Disco Rock Machine (featuring Trevor Rabin) is only barely disco. It's disco in a hard rock mode, go-ahead rock with a cranking guitar. This is a loud disco cover of The Kinks song with a disco beat in the back and a wailing guitar up front in the lead.
Medley: 'Born to Be Wild', 'Gimmy Gimmy Good Lovin'', 'Mony Mony', and 'Born to Be Wild' by Buffalo works, flowing from one song to another. Inspirational rock in that it lifts me up like good music is supposed to do. Nice and long at 14 minutes and 7 seconds, too.
Medley: 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' and 'Reflections of My Life' by Neil Cloud also mixes different songs and it works, moving from the universally known "Good, Bad, and Ugly" theme to lyrics of Marmalade's reflective song to disco dance rhythm and back to the two pop songs -- it really works. Also nice and long at 17 minutes and thirty-eight seconds.
'Delta Queen' -- Another song with a vocal woman disturbing the neighbors. This starts out dance-worthy with a nice yearning mood, then it mellows to become a softer disco song, with a build meant to symbolize something going on. This is a disco song of movements and parts, good to listen to aside from the young lady's histrionics, which in the song, as in real life, are distracting.
'Time to Love' by Disco Rock Machine is a good disco song with a moderate beat and some electronic fills. Pleasant and acceptable, but it doesn't really stand out.
'Give' by Harari is not what I'd call a disco song, but rather it is a timeless dance number, and a catchy and good one. The few songs I've heard by Harari make me want to hear more.
'Money Runner' by Hot R.S. combines disco, horns, and hip lyrics in an anthem to the almighty buck. This song has a driving tempo and in a club was likely to cause everybody to move in unison.
'Loving Styles' by Disco Rock Machine is a quirky song, slow in tempo with a stop-start rhythm. While I can see where some might enthuse over this one it's another that didn't hit me. It's not obvious disco, but definitely a song to dance to. Okay, it has interesting guitar extrapolations.
'Burn Out' by Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse is a nice and gently chugging dance song, and another without the obvious disco beat. The melody and beat work precisely together here. The vocals carry the tune but are not dominant, they work with the instrumentation. A pretty song, appropriate for a closing set for lovers to dance close to before going home together.
My take on over 150 minutes of South African disco music, untinged by nostalgia, is to wonder: can it be that South Africa improved on disco? I conclude: Yes.
About a third of the musical contents of these two discs is disco for rock fans, so rockified that one might ask, "Disco? What disco?" Many of the songs are untypical of an undervalued genre. The couple of songs that I didn't respond to as strongly as others most certainly don't detract from the whole. All in all, another case of my Dollars-into Rands being well-spent.
-- Kurt Shoemaker, Blanco, Texas, 2000
Various – Disco Fever Label: Gallo – CDREDD 627, Gallo Special Projects – CDREDD 627 Format: 2 × CD, Compilation, Stereo Country: South Africa Released: 1999 Genre: Electronic Style: Disco
"An extremely RARE OFFICIAL 2CD Disco Rock compilation"
TRACKLISTING 01 - Macchina Nera (Single Version)-4.22 02 - Macchina Nera (12'' Version)-6.26 03 - Rats On Broadway-4.23 04 - The Perfume Of Love (Remix)-6.12 05 - The Perfume Of Love (Extended Version)-6.57 06 - Roma Roma (Long Version)-6.32 07 - Roma Roma (Street Opera Mix)-6.30
"Scala, was a 80s German/Italian 80s Italo Disco Group who had success with dance singles "Macchina Nera" (1985); "Roma Roma" (1986); "The Perfume Of Love" (1987)
"This is a 'HARD-TO-FIND' UNRELEASED CD COMPILATION
Just gets better at this point. High-Energy Volume 8 picks up right where Volume 7 left off.
Stunning range of tracks and that HOUSE word creeps in here too, although only for 1 track (phew!) The original "Love Can't Turn Around" by Farley Jackmaster Funk.
Another double from Man 2 Man here, their cover of "These Boots are Made For Walking" with Jessica Williams and the risky "I Need A Man"(Heheheh - remember coming back from Durban with the cassette playing in the car and being asked when this song came on "You certainly have some underground music don't you?").
Fab tracks from Body Heat, Micheal Bow, Jamie Dean, Grant Miller, Chip Chip, Mozzart (YAY!), Jacky Dean Foundation, Joe Yellow, Albert One, Triple G, Linda Jo Rizzo, Fred Ventura & Jock Hattle. Fantasy Ten is in there with an OFF-ish (that is sounding like OFF) song called "Big Bang" which was one of the songs on the forefront of the "New Beat" movement.
Another fab mix by Andrew Wood with Lee Selsick doing another brill cover of our High Energy dude (this time with different specs!). A Good compilation true to the genre.
I remember seeing TV Commercials for this release back in 1987. Interesting to note at this point the South African music giant "World Of Music" put its name behind our compilation. This would be the major source and influence for the next few compilations.
Side One No Mr Boom Boom - Body Heat
I Need A Man - Paul Zone & Man Parish
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Man 2 Man & Jessica Williams
Love And Devotion - Michael Bow
One More Time - Bianca
Side Two
Love Can't Turn Around - Farley Jackmaster Funk
Love Child - Jamie Dean
Wings Of Love - Grant Miller
Never Say Goodbye - Chip Chip
Money - Mozzart
Side Three
Caravan Of Love - Jacky Dean Foundation
