ava cherry and the astronettes
random notes
From:
Charles Pater (charpa@flevonet.nl)
Did you know that David Bowie is audible as part of the Astronettes singing a
1973 cover of How Could I Be Such I Fool? It's on People from bad homes by Ava
Cherry and the Astronettes.
From:
Marc De Bruyn (emdebe@village.uunet.be)
On October 6, 1998, I wrote the following mail to David Priest ("The Bowie
Archivist" - musicmaster@lineone.net): "Hi there, In search of cover
versions of Frank Zappa songs, I came across your page http://website.lineone.net/~musicmaster/pages/db04.htm
which gives a review of Ava Cherry's 'People From Bad Homes' album (1995).
Track number 10, 'How Could I Be Such A Fool', is a Zappa composition, and I was
wondering if you could give me some details about who's singing, playing,
dancing... - whatever - on that track. Thanks!". The same day I got the
following reply: "Hi Marc, Thank you for the e-mail. The song you mention,
'How Could I Be Such A Fool', is as you state a Zappa composition. It was
recorded at Trident studios in London by David Bowie, who was producing an album
by The Astronettes. The vocals are by The Astronettes with guide vocal
originally recorded by David. Another interesting item is that David also
recorded a Zappa song in 1966/67 'It Can't Happen Here' with his band at the
time, The Buzz. This track has never surfaced among collectors. Hope this is of
some help. - David Priest -
http://website.lineone.net/~musicmaster/Bowie.html".
From:
Patrick Neve (splat@darkwing.uoregon.edu)
Flo & Eddie sing on the eponymous Ava Cherry album from 1983.
From:
Marc De Bruyn (emdebe@village.uunet.be)
More on AVA CHERRY: http://www.gtslade.com/myscare.html
AMG - Ava Cherry a.k.a. Black Barbarella, was raised in
Chicago. The singer/model grew up loving Motown, Aretha, and Gladys Knight but a
four-year stint with rock star David Bowie would forever change her musical
direction. From 1974 to 1978 she performed on stage and in the studio with
Bowie, appearing on some his most acclaimed albums. She was one third of a
backing trio comprising Robin Clark, and Luther Vandross. Lovers as well, Ava
and Bowie have remained friends throughout the years. The experience spoiled
Ava, she traveled all over the world, sung before crowds of 50,000 people, and
mingled with superstars like John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, and others. After
the Bowie split she returned home (Chicago) where a friend introduced her to
Curtis Mayfield. Curtom/RSO Records released Spend The Night, by Ava; she had
some rock songs ready to go, but Curtom placed her in a snug disco/soul bag, and
didn't use her hard rock compositions. The same year (1979) she backed Gavin
Christopher on his self-titled RSO LP. The Curtom album didn't do as well as
anticipated and Cherry returned to Bowie's camp. Her second album felled in 1983
on Capitol Records, but Streetcar Named Desire went unnoticed despite the Bowie
association. She remained until another Bowie alumnus, Luther Vandross, started
blowing up; Cherry joined Vandross around 1986 and is heard from the Any Love
album onwards. In 1987 a second Capital LP Picture Me, dropped with little
celebrity or sells. However, along with Lisa Fischer & Kevin Owens, Ava
contributed to making Luther Vandross a top draw in Urban Music, the trio backed
Luther in concert and in the studio. They don't just sing behind Luther, Cherry,
Fischer, and Owens execute some classy stepping & dance routines that always
wow the patrons. Thanks to Griffin Music, People From Bad Homes saw daylight in
1995 after over 20 years of neglect. J-Bird Records made the RSO/Curtom album
Spend The Night, available on CD in 1997. - Andrew Hamilton