=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= B E T W E E N T H E L I N E S Volume 2, Issue 8 - October 1990 DDDDD D D D D GGGG D D G DDDDD G GGG G G GGG A Debbie Gibson Discussion Forum =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CONTENTS * ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES * INTRO BY FELIX NG * INTRO BY JASON HARVEY * TON OF BRICKS * ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE * ANA RELEASES DG WRITTEN SONG * DG GIF FILES * WPLJ ALBUM PREVIEW PARTY * QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS * CLOSING REMARKS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES Without your support, monthly issues wouldn't be possible. Please send all submissions to ez000018@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu and keep each line within 78 characters in length. If you do not get a note indicating that we have received your submission within a few days, please remail you submission. If you would like back issues (BtL 1.1-1.12 and BtL 2.1-2.7), you may also send requests to ez000018@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu and you should get them within a few days. Bitnet members may have to wait a little longer since it takes a little more time to cut up some of the larger issues. If you don't get the back issues you requested, please remail your request. If you are attempting to reach another BtL member by email and have been unsuccessful, don't hesitate to contact any one of the moderators. We'll try to provide suggestions of alternative routings or additional addresses to the destination site. If these attempts fail, then the moderators will forward your email. DISCLAIMER : **************************************************************************** This forum does not necessarily reflect the views of Deborah Ann Gibson, Gibson Productions Inc. (GPI), the Atlantic Recording Corporation, or any organizations to which members belong or represent. All songs by Debbie Gibson are copyrighted by Deborah Ann's Music (ASCAP). This forum is a non-profit organization. Members may disclose information about merchandise and products but may NOT advertise them for monetary sale. The purchase and trading of merchandise as such MUST be kept confined to electronic mail. BtL is NOT intended to replace publications released by the Debbie Gibson International Fan Club (DGIF), the only authorized fan club. Information on DGIF may be obtained by e-mailing any one of the moderators or by sending a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (S.A.S.E.) to the following address: D.G.I.F. P.O. Box 489 Merrick, NY 11566 Currently, the initial membership fee is $15. The annual membership renewal fee is $10 for those in the U.S. and $12 for those outside the U.S. **************************************************************************** BtL's Triumvirate - * Steve "Plastic" Burstall : hnr_443854@emunix.emich.edu * Matthew Jung : ez000018@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu myjung@ucdavis.bitnet * Henry "Hitman" Lee : userhhgc@mtsg.ubc.ca lee@physics.ubc.ca =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= INTRO BY FELIX NG Felix Ng (fng@questor.wimsey.bc.ca) Date: Mon, 15 Oct 90 23:32:37 PDT Hello fellow members. My name is Felix Ng from Vancouver, B.C. I have been reading BtL for the last few months including all the back issues. I was unable to introduce myself earlier due to the fact that I had no access to USENET. Before I tell you how I found out about Debbie's music, I would like to thank my SysOp Steve Pershing for giving modem users free access to USENET and Michael Scheele whom I met on FidoNet for introducing me to Henry Lee. It has been a lonely three years for me until the last few months when I finally had a chance to talk to someone with a similar musical taste. It all started when I was making a 100 LED color organ (a electronic gadget that makes lights flash to the music). When I had finished the project, I hooked it up to an audio source to see if it worked. I tuned my radio to a station that was playing music and sure enough lights flashed. At the same, I got hooked to the song, "Out Of The Blue" which was being played. I was surprised that I liked the song because I have always listened to classical music and I never really enjoyed pop music. After hearing "Out Of The Blue" for the second time on the radio, I found out that the artist was named Debbie Gibson. Later that week, I went to the record store to buy the album. I wanted the CD, but it was sold out so I settled with the record. In early 1989, I heard "Lost In Your Eyes" while I was doing my homework. I liked this song so much that I asked my Dad to drive me down to Bellingham, WA the following day to buy the album since it wasn't available in Canada yet. All her songs were great on the second album, but the ones that stood out were "No More Rhyme", "Lost In Your Eyes", and "We Could Be Together". I thought that "Silence Speaks A Thousand Words" sounded like a Chinese song. Well I guess I was right when I heard a remake of that song a couple of months later on the Chinese channel! Since then, I have been collecting and reading everything that has the name Debbie Gibson on it. I also attended her concert on September 1st where she put on an excellent performance. I will not go into details since Henry Lee has done so already on one of the previous BtL issues. However, I will tell you that I did get a chance to sign my name on a huge birthday card that a fan made for her. Well that's my story. Feel free to contact me through: Internet: fng@questor.wimsey.bc.ca Snail Mail: Felix Ng 2137 Qualicum Drive, Vancouver, B.C. V5P 2M3 FidoNet Netmail: Felix Ng, 1:153/715 Bye for now... --- Felix Ng (D.G.I.F. 8767) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= INTRO BY JASON HARVEY Jason F. Harvey (jh6g+@andrew.cmu.edu) Date: Sun, 21 Oct 90 01:24:16 -0400 (EDT) Hey everybody! I'm Jason and I'm a freshman here at Carnegie Mellon. The first time I heard of Debbie Gibson was on Channel 23's Video Program in Akron, Ohio. They started to show "Only In My Dreams". I liked the bongos and the general feeling of the video at first. Then when I saw her, there was just something about her that really caught my eye. I was of course 14 at the time and developed an immediate crush on her. When I went to the store to check out the album and saw the face on her knee, I thought this wouldn't be my type of album. But you know to never judge a book by it's cover. I didn't get addicted to her music until the summer when "Foolish Beat" went to number one. I was in a summer program at Kent State and my roommate had her "Out of the Blue Tape". I listened and was instantly hooked. My favorite song from that album and still happens to be my favorite is "Staying Together". My roommate's was "Red Hot" and we would always argue over which song was better. After that point, I had an album of my own and posters of her which are still up in my room today (Always kept forgetting to update those posters.) I was also very impressed that Debs wrote and produced her own music. I was also surprised when I saw the extended video of "Out of the Blue" and saw her version of videoscratching. Quite interesting! And so awaiting for "Electric" to come out I had to go through the disappointment of missing her first tour. I, of course, didn't make that mistake twice. I heard "Lost In Your Eyes" for the first time on the radio and I knew that it was going to be number one. If the public liked "Foolish Beat" enough for it to go to number one, "Lost" was bound to go to number one. I got her album (I asked for a tape, but my mother was one of those "Vinyl is Forever" people). I made a copy of it right before I went to school and listened to it during school. The only song that really caught my ear was the title track. I always have been more accustomed to dance music. The rest of the songs, especially a couple on the first side, sounded like they were blended together. However, after listening to it a couple times the album finally grew on me (Doesn't most of what she does grow on you?). I was also surprised when I saw the video "No More Rhyme" and saw Deb in full (and I mean FULL) makeup. I suppose she was trying to get into a more mature image. I am still angry that I never got to see the "We Could Be Together" video. However, I actually got to see Debs in concert when she came to Akron (It says Cleveland, but Blossom Music Center is closer to Akron). The first thing I noticed was the hoards of teeny boppers in their traditional DG hats. I also noticed that their parents had come along with them. What a way to ruin a concert, however I had good seats so I was able so see really well. When she came out she was wearing some tight spandex and I was suddenly reminded of the crush (It still affects me today somewhat). She rocked us and rolled us. Damn good entertainer. Since I hadn't gone to her first concert, I didn't know what to expect. But when she started to sing Motown's greatest hits, I almost bust out laughing. But she did them extremely well, and didn't insult the people who sang the songs or the songs themselves with her singing. When she supposedly ended, people started to leave. The lights hadn't been turned on yet and she hadn't done any encores yet, so I wondered why everyone was going. When she came out for the encore, you could see people running at top speed to get back to the Music Center. In the end, I ended up with two of her tour t-shirts, 5% hearing decrease and better liking of what this lady can do. And now I anxiously await "Anything Is Possible". If it has 16 songs I think it's safe to assume it's a double album. I can hardly wait. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TON OF BRICKS Gregg Smith (T430002@UNIVSCVM.CSD.SCAROLINA.EDU) Date: Mon, 24 Sep 90 17:31:32 EDT I just recently purchased a cd from a new group called 'The Party'. They are a 3 guy and 2 girl group ranging in age from 15-18 years. I was reading the back cover when I found out that Deborah wrote a song called "Ton Of Bricks" that is sung by one of the guys in the group. The cd is from Disney studios where Hollywood Recording studios is located. Deborah wrote, and co-produced the song but did not sing on it.... it sounds really different from what she has written before..... Also the song was recorded at G.P.I. studios and Z studios in NY. This is first song that I know that she has written from a guy's point of view. It's a upbeat song, like 'Over the Wall' but funkier (ummm???) Almost soul music..... I'm wondering why she didn't produce and perform this track... Fred Zarr did a lot of the keyboards and producing.... Deborah was also there for the mixing of the tracks too........ TON OF BRICKS written by Deborah Gibson co-produced by Deborah Gibson arranged by Fred Zarr ------------------------------- Something unexpected Something so new Something so crazy Crazy like you I mean, I knew you had a reputation (Of flirtation) And I knew you had a messed up mind But, you went and did it this time Chorus: You hit me, hit me, hit me Like a ton of bricks You hit me, hit me, hit me Like a ton of bricks You told me all about all the boys you loved Every single romance you were ever dreaming of Of course you knew I wasn't shy (You knew I was that type of guy) I told you open up your eyes and see I didn't know you had your eye on me Bridge You could've prepared me for this Shocking experience I can't even speak to you Never mind giving you an answer We've joked around but you were never serious (At least I never was) But girl you really went and did it, did it Girl ya really did it this time Chorus =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE Henry Lee (lee@physics.ubc.ca) Date: Tue, 16 Oct 90 12:13:03 PDT Sent out as "immediate release" to BtL members on T Oct 16/90; also submitted as article for upcoming BtL as well as article into rec.music.misc : Tuesday October 16, 1990 DEBBIE GIBSON'S 3RD ALBUM I called the Vancouver offices of Warner Music Canada (formerly WEA Music Canada) at 10am this morning and inquired about Deborah's 3rd album. While the release date for the first single is yet unknown, I *do* know that the album release date for CANADA is Tuesday, November 20th, 1990 (The Record, Vol 10 #10, October 8th, 1990, page 3). I was asked to call back at the end of October for information on release of the first single. However, here's some stuff about the album : * The album is titled "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE" * There is a total of 16 (sixteen) songs on the album. (So, does that make it "a single and a half" album?) * She has solo writer's credits to 12 of the songs and remaining 4 co-writer's credits with Lamont Dozier. * She has either co-producer or producer credits to ALL of the songs. * The first single is the Title Track, cowritten with Lamont Dozier. Gettin' ready yet? Henry Lee // =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ANA RELEASES DG WRITTEN SONG Matthew Jung (ez000018@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu) Date: Sun, 21 Oct 1990 12:06:02 UTC-0700 Epic/Parc artist Ana was supposed to release her duet with Jordan Knight (of the New Kids on the Block) as her second single. It was our hope that she would include another one of the songs Deborah wrote and produced for her on the b-side of this second single. Well, it turns out this next single is one of the Gibson written and produced tracks off Ana's second album, "Body Language." There are several reasons for this change of plan. For one thing, the duet between Seiko and Donnie Wahlberg (also of the New Kids on the Block) didn't even break the top 40 on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. Not only that, but there seems to be more radio resistance against the New Kids now because of their overexposure. Their most recent single debuted very low on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart and still has not reached the top 40 in its third week of charting. Ana's management, from these indicators, probably realized they couldn't siphon off some power from the New Kids to help Ana and wisely chose a more radio ready single. Her first single was not very radio ready and didn't even debut on the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. The song they decided to release in place of the duet was "Everytime we say goodbye." It is obviously 90% Deborah Gibson and 10% Ana in effort. It was produced, written, arranged by Deb. The studio musicians used for this track were her very own band musicians used for her recent Electric Youth tour. They are Kirk Powers (bass), Fred Levine (drums), Tommy Williams (guitar), Adam Tese (percussion), Gary Corbett (keyboards), and Leo Rizzo (keyboards). The backup singers she used include herself as well as Carry Johnson and Libby Johnson, the backup singers of her "Electric Youth" and "Out of the Blue" albums. Deborah also mixed the song with Bob Rosa, who also is a veteran mixer on her two previous albums. The recording engineer is Phil Castellano, also another veteran of the Gibson albums. To top it off, it was recorded in Deborah's new studio at her new home during the summer of 1989. Though it is nice that Ana choose the Gibson song over the other seven for the next single, the timing of the release may not be so great. Ana beats Deborah to the punch on releasing this single. Deb's next single, "Anything is Possible," will now have to compete with another Gibson song that is more Gibson itself. Deborah's next single is co-written with Lamont Dozier and co-produced with Jellybean Benitez (Producer of Madonna's "Holiday") so that makes it less of Deborah's work than "Everytime we say goodbye." In fact, "Everytime we say goodbye" is probably the most Gibson involved single since "Lost in Your Eyes." Still, it is good to be optimistic. Hopefully, both of these Gibson songs will debut a few weeks apart and rise to the top ten. Ana desperately needs this single to work to get her career off the ground and it would probably make Deborah very proud if it was her work that helped launch Ana's career as opposed to Maurice Starr. If both songs make it to the top ten at the same time, then it will be the first time Deborah has two songs on the top ten simultaneously. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= DG GIF FILES Ray Wilmott (wilmott@remus.rutgers.edu) Date: Sun, 30 Sep 90 15:58:12 EDT Greetings fellow BTL'ers. About 9 months ago I discovered the wonderful world of GIF graphics. For those of you who may not be familiar with GIF, it is a standardized file format for storing graphics information. Just about every personal computer has a public domain, shareware and/or commercial program available for it which can display GIF images. I've either seen or heard of GIF viewing programs for Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64/128, IBM PC and Macintosh computers. After obtaining GIF viewers for both the Mac I use at work and the Atari I use at home, I began building my own little library of assorted GIF's which I found on local BBS'. I have a scanner at work where I do desktop publishing and soon found a way to scan photos and create my own GIF's. So what does all this have to do with the topic of this newsletter - namely Deborah Gibson? Well, among the many GIF's I've either come across on BBS' or scanned myself, are some of Debbie. I've been in contact with Matthew Jung and we think it would be a good idea to put together a compilation of any GIF's that BTL members have and make them available to everyone via ftp or e-mail. I'll start the ball rolling by making the 9 I currently have available (see filenames and descriptions at end of article). To get a particular file, either ftp to castor@ucdavis.edu or send mail requesting the file to ez000018@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu. If you happen to have any GIF format pictures of Debbie which are different from those on this list, please contact Matthew Jung and arrange to add your pictures to ours. If anyone has any particularly nice photos of Debbie that they would like to see turned into a GIF file, you can snail-mail them to me at the address below and I will scan them and return them to you. Unfortunately, the scanner I use at work will only do gray-scale images (I can scan a color photo, but it will end up as a gray-scale GIF). If anyone has access to a color scanner and can also convert images to GIF format, please contact Matt. Happy GIF-ing! Ray Wilmott 10 South Rhoda Street Monroe, NJ 08884 (wilmott@topaz.rutgers.edu) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- debpic1 - Electric Youth tour promo shot. debpic2 - Debbie being asked questions by reporters. OOTB era. debpic3 - Photo taken after the American Music Awards (1989). debpic4 - Smiling with hoop earrings and "Deborah" necklace. debpic5 - Debs with her sisters at the American Music Awards. debpic6 - Candid taken at the Central Park ice skating rink. debpic7 - Good 'ole Deb singing her heart out. gibson - Electric Youth shot. debbie - The cover photo of the OOTB video compilation (color). dgibson1 - The cover of the LIYE single. debsad - Similar to DGIBSON1; taken from cover of "Beats" magazine. debs - Debbie smiling and sitting in her car. dg - the "White Shirt" photo. (color) *all pictures are black and white unless otherwise noted. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= WPLJ ALBUM PREVIEW PARTY Chris Backa (CSC3CSB%HOFSTRA.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU) Date: Mon, 22 Oct 90 13:24 EST WPLJ here in New York is having a preview party for her third album. No details of the contest have been released at this time, other than Debbie will be hosting the party herself. The new album "Anything is Possible" will contain 16 new songs. Also rumor here at Hofstra, had Debbie coming here for some Video classes since our Communications Department is one of the best on the east coast. -Chris =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q. Jason Harvey (jh6g+@andrew.cmu.edu) For those of you who went to her second concert and saw one of her dancers sing the song "Team Spirit", does anyone know if he's gonna have an album or not? A. The singer's name is Keeth Stewart. Matthew Jung met him after the Reno concert to ask if Deborah was going to do any production work for him. His face lit up, as if no one ever asked him that before, and said yes. Whether he is going to have an album out remains to be seen. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CLOSING REMARKS Since we now have more information about the new album, we have discarded the results of Steve Burstall's poll. Most of the votes cast were for a double album just in case you were interested. We thank all who have participated. The best article contest is still on. At the end of the year, the submission judged by the moderators as the best (moderator authored articles exempt of course) will win a prize. The prize will either be a color 8x10 of Debbie Gibson or two 7-inch singles. The singles are "Out of the Blue" and "Shake Your Love." We invite articles in response to the release of the title track to the long-awaited "Anything Is Possible" album. When the song finally hits radio in a few weeks, it is hopeful that the corresponding video track will also be "added" quickly to the respective North American video networks and shows. Unfortunately, Deborah will be "a little late" for 1991 Grammy or American Music Awards' nominations unless a real miracle happens. We welcome your opinions with regards to the title track : the song and the video, if possible, when you get a chance to hear/see it. It is expected that as issue 2.9 goes to "press" towards the end of November, there will be a much welcomed flurry of articles about Deborah's 3rd album.