Rocktrospectiva: The Ultra Rate And Nearly Forgotten "Some People" Turns 40

 

Released on this month 40 years ago, "Some People" was the debut studio album from British musician Belouis Some aka Neville Keighley who began performing as Belouis Some in 1983. The album spawned four singles "Target Practice", "Imagination", "Some People" and "Jersusalem".

 

Belouis Some would sign with Parlophone Records in 1983 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 but unfortunately, it did not chart. The story of Belouis Some was curious, it was probably the least-known act on 1986's Pretty in Pink soundtrack, however, with his spiky hairdo and booming voice, was able to earn some relative MTV fame. 

 

The title track "Some People" was a club hit. Although Some's contribution to the Pretty in Pink soundtrack, "Round, Round," did not penetrate the mainstream, it introduced Some to an audience outside of discotheque, the track had enough electric guitars to seduce rock fans while maintaining the interest of the dance crowd with its pounding groove. 

 

The next single "Imagination," was a song from Some People, was reissued in 1986, peaking at number 17 on the U.K. pop charts. Both "Some People" and "Imagination" were remixed several times. In 1987, Some recorded his self-titled second album, but it failed to duplicate the success of his debut. And then Some disappeared from the music scene. 

 

Critics 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'." Nevertheless, some others 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, in spite of a really up-to-date pop production back then. 

 

Some People Track List:

 

1. Some People 

2. Stand Down

3. Imagination

4. Walk Away

5. Aware Of You

6. Target Practice

7. Have You Ever Been In Love

8. Tail Lights

9. Jerusalem<