Rocktrospectiva: The Solid Dance Pop "In The Blood" Turns 35

Released on 18 September 1990 "In The Blood" was the second studio album by British-US danc band Londonbeat, the album became huge succesful spawning four singles included the massive hit single "I've Been Thinking About You", "A Better Love", the Bob Marley cover "No Woman No Cry", & "It's In The Blood". 

 

Formed in England's capital city, Londonbeat's career took off with the song "There's a Beat Going On", from their 1988 debut album, Speak. The song peaked on the UK chart at number 88. Subsequently became a modest success in the UK, rising to number 19. At the time, the band was formed by Jimmy Helms, Jimmy Chambers, Charless  Pierre and William Henshall. Back in 1990 the band released their second album "In The Blood" that become a major worldwide succesful in huge part by the single "I've Been Thinking About You", which reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1990 and number one on a number of world charts, including the US Billboard Hot 100 the following year. The album reached number 21 on the US Billboard 200 and number 34 in the UK Albums Chart

 

Their follow-up single, "A Better Love", became a Billboard Top-20 hit. Londonbeat's pleasant harmonies and pumping flow are undeniably catchy. Although their lyrics are sometimes obtuse, In the Blood is a better album, musically. In the Blood was a better album, musically, than it's ever been given credit for." Highlights were the danceable "She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)", inspired by Edwin Starr’s "Twenty-Five Miles"; the churning "It’s in the Blood"; and the exuberant "She Said She Loves Me". Londonbeat’s powerful dance rhythms and soulful blues songs recapturde the long-lost spirit of early R&B and of course the highlighted "I've Been Thinking About You", "She Said She Loves Me", "This Is Your Life" was a pretty acoustic number with beautiful harmonies", "Crying in the Rain" and "No Woman No Cry". 

 

Critics embraced the album praising the perfect balance of old-style soul and modern production techniques resulting in a crafty contemporary dance music in this impressive worldwide debut with its imix of dance and hip-hop beats that doesn't skimp on soulful melodies.

 

In The Blood Track List: 

 

1. It's In The Blood

2. Getcha Ya Ya

3. She Broke My Heart (In 36 Places)

4. She Said She Loves Me 

5. Step Inside My Shoes

6. No Woman No Cry

7. This Is Your Life

8. I've Been Thinking About You

9. A Better Love

10. In An I Love You Mood

11. You Love And Learn

12. Crying In The Rain