=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= B E T W E E N T H E L I N E S Volume 3, Issue 9 - July 27, 1991 DDDDD D D D D GGGG D D G DDDDD G GGG G G GGG A Debbie Gibson Discussion Forum =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CONTENTS * ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES * AIP SONGBOOK REVIEW - Bill Consoli * AIP PROMO POSTER - Shaun Stuart * AIRPLAY IN AUSTRALIA - Robert Barber * OSA RELEASED IN LONDON - Graeme Lyall * NY ARTICLES ON RECENT DG PARTY - Chris Backa * EDITORIAL ON NY POST ARTICLE - Sandra Chen * CABOODLES CONTEST - Shaun Stuart * CLOSING REMARKS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES According to the last BtL immediate release, BtL 3.9 was going to be released during the middle of August. However, with your enthusiastic participation, enough material was submitted to justify another issue so soon. BtL 3.10 will be released in the middle of August before I leave to follow Deb on the west coast portion of her tour. While I am gone, Sandra Chen will be in charge (please continue to send submissions to the mjung@bloom.ucdavis.edu address though). DISCLAIMER : **************************************************************************** This forum does not necessarily reflect the views of Deborah Ann Gibson, Gibson Management Inc. (GMI), 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) or Possibilities Publishing (ASCAP). This forum is a non-profit organization. **************************************************************************** BtL moderators - * Matthew Jung : mjung@bloom.ucdavis.edu or myjung@ucdavis.bitnet * Sandra Chen : ez003229@pollux.ucdavis.edu =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AIP SONGBOOK REVIEW Bill Consoli (BCONSOLI@HMCVAX.CLAREMONT.EDU) Wed, 3 Jul 1991 10:00 PDT Last Friday (6/28) I obtained a copy of the "Anything Is Possible" songbook, containing sheet music for every song on the album. It's much thicker than the songbooks for "Out Of The Blue" and "Electric Youth" but of course its got a few more songs in it. THE GOOD: * Some really nice color photos in the front before the sheet music. * The only song I've had a chance to play with at all so far is "One Hand One Heart" and it's a simple enough song that it can't be screwed up too badly by the usual bad translation to sheet music. I've jazzed it up with some strings where appropriate and it sounds pretty good. THE BAD: * Does not contain "So Close To Forever" or "The Most Beautiful Love Song" * Leaves you to "ad lib" the piano solo in "Another Brick Falls" THE UGLY: * Contains "Reverse Psychology" Overall I'm happy with it and I hope I can be un-busy enough soon so I can go play with it some more. $Bill =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AIP PROMO POSTER Shaun Stuart (shaun@calstate.bitnet) Fri, 19 Jul 91 14:18:49 PDT My friend's friend, who works at Music Plus, gave me a promo poster today of Deb. It's the shot of her on the motorcycle that's on AIP and along the bottom it says "Debbie Gibson On Atlantic Records, Cassettes, and Compact Discs." Hmm. I take that back. It's not the same shot, but similar. She's smiling a bit and all the rogue is much much less visible. Her hands are not touching the bike at all - her left elbow is propped on the gas tank and her right elbow is propped on her leg. Her legs aren't crossed, although one is resting on the bike's pedal and her knee is raised. Also, you can see down to her feet. Well, you can see the foot on the bike and down to the ankle of the other one. You can also see "Harley Davidson" on the gas tank. I think it's a much better shot than the AIP one. I looked for it in DGIF, but I can't find it anywhere else. Shaun =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AIRPLAY IN AUSTRALIA Robert Barber (rbarber@gara.une.oz.au) Tue, 23 Jul 91 15:37:42 EST I have just gotten back from a very lazy holiday, which turned out to be a surprising one in that I heard "This So-Called Miracle" several times on the radio station. The first time I heard it, to say I was surprised is an understatement, but when I heard it played a few more times, I just couldn't believe it. And that's not all. They also played "One Hand, One Heart" which didn't come as quite a shock considering the airplay TSCM had been getting, but one afternoon they played "Where Have You Been?" which is most definitely not a single, but only on the AIP CD which was mentioned afterwards. So it certainly appears that at least somebody at the Tamworth radio station likes Debbie. In retrospect, I suppose she's had decent airplay in Tamworth, because it was through radio that I got to know Deb, and when I moved to go to university, hardly anyone there knew who she was, even after the EY album came out. Robert. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= OSA RELEASED IN LONDON Graeme Lyall (uad1123@dircon.co.uk) Mon, 22 Jul 91 20:46:12 BST DGIF wrote to all the members in England asking them to help promote "One Step Ahead" which, finally, was released here a couple of days ago. This seems to be along the same lines of the letters sent on previous occasions, though it's the first in the UK. They want us to write to East West Records, call the radio stations, request the single in the record stores, etc. In fact the record has only been released in the London area, another instance of a failure to promote Deborah's stuff. There is absolutely no reason in a small country like this to restrict the record to one area. The DGIF letter talks about it being released to dance stations and seems to see the record as being a cross-over hit which strikes me as crazy. Firstly there are only a couple of dance music stations, in fact commercial radio in the UK is comparatively new (15 years or so) and most areas would have only one commercial station playing pop music, as well as a national BBC pop station. Secondly the charts are dominated by dance music anyway. Anyhow the letter goes on to say that if the record reaches the top 20 of the pop charts there will have to be another single released (by implication there won't be otherwise!) and in that event Deborah will have to visit the UK, "and you'll finally have her in your country for a few weeks". I've only seen one review of OSA which didn't even discuss its musical worth. Still at least the record was being stocked, admittedly in small quantities, in the major stores. So far I've got it on 7-inch, 12-inch, and cassingle only. I found out at Tower (after pushing them, they really weren't very interested) that there is a CD release. Regarding record sleeves, the 12-inch was released with a plain black sleeve but the 7-inch and cassingle both feature a nice photograph of Deborah, which is credited to Alberto Tolot. Deborah is apparently lying down on what looks like some straw, her head propped up on her right hand. It's a reasonably close-up shot, her arms are bare, her hair is fairly short but not permed and is sort of pushed back from her forehead, she is wearing pale lipstick. She is not smiling, or let's say she's half-smiling. I like the way she comes up with different looks, and this one is nice. So far as tracks are concerned, the 7-inch and cassingle feature the "Hot Radio Mix" as well as the LP version. The 12-inch has the "Club Mix" on the A-side and the "Masters At Work" and "Underground" mixes on the B-side, which I think is the same as the US 12-inch release. The latter two are awful, a real waste of time. The best mix is the "Hot Radio Mix" so I'm hoping that will be on the CD. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NY ARTICLES ON RECENT DG PARTY Chris Backa (CSC3CSB@HOFSTRA.BITNET) Mon, 22 Jul 91 13:54 EST Long Island Newsday: Friday July 19, 1991 [Copied verbatim without permission] People Section Debbie Gibson "All the Backyard's a Stage for Young Singer" by Wayne Robins When Debbie Gibson was growing up on the South Shore, she used to charge admission to her backyard shows, though she said neighbors did not exactly rush to the door for tickets. Wednesday night in her home on the North Shore, Gibson did a variation on that childhood routine, with more fulfilling results. A black-tie crowd of about 200 invited guests filled the Gibson house and yard for cocktails, a buffet dinner and a performance by Debbie. "It's a little strange, I haven't been home for six weeks," Gibson said in a conversation, at poolside before her performance. She's been touring Asia - a show last week took place amid piles of volcanic ash in the Philippines. Her backyard show was hosted by her record company, Atlantic, her music publishers, EMI-SBK, and her new tour sponsors, Caboodles, which makes cosmetics cases aimed at the youth market. The 20-year-old former teen sensation seemed a little nervous before her short set began. She performed most of the songs alone at the piano. "I thought it would be good for people to know what she's all about," said Diane Gibson, Debbie's mother and manager. "What people will see tonight is what we've had with us all our lives." Debbie performed "One Hand, One Heart" and "Sure," two of the moodier songs from her latest album "Anything is Possible." "I don't know how many of you have heard it," Gibson said of the later song, a reference to the fact that "Anything Is Possible," released last fall, has not been a great success. Gibson continued to accompany herself on the piano for "Lost in Your Eyes," one of the hits from her "Electric Youth" album. Robert Marks, Gibson's former vocal coach, then came up to back the singer on a selection of show tunes. "This is me living out a little fantasy, because I'd really like to do musicals," Gibson said. Marks had to ad lib while Gibson changed shoes ("If I don't change out of these heels, I won't be able to do another song," she said), then had to go through two false starts of "Rinka Tinka Man" an obscure show tune from the 1920s or 30s, because Gibson kept cracking up. Gibson also sang "On My Own" from "Les Miserables" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" from "Funny Girl." {Here is another article in another NY paper of the same event. It is better written and more informative than the above. - Chris} New York Post: July 19, 1991 [Copied verbatim without permission] "Debbie Does Ballads" by Bob Harrington A BONA fide superstar at age 15, Debbie Gibson hit the jackpot with two multimillion selling albums in a row before she was old enough to vote. In 1989, she was the hottest commodity in the world, but her third album, "Anything is Possible," proved prophetically titled. Released in November, it hit the record stores while she still was at her peak, and just sat there gathering dust. It would be a dead issue by now, except that Debbie, who, if you want to send her a card turns 21 Aug. 31, still believes in the album. So to turn it - and her career - around, she's launching a world tour beginning at Westbury Music Fair on Aug. 5 and 6. And to kick it off in style, she threw a chic little bash at her home Wednesday night that included an impromptu poolside concert. Invitations to the black tie event came with detailed directions to the secluded Gibson family compound tucked away on LI's North Shore. It's an area so exclusive, the directions cautioned guests to ignore "Dead End" and "No Exit" signs and advised them to "make the first right after the 3 speed bumps." The mansion - quite tastefully decorated by her mother and manager, Diane Gibson, in a blend of contemporary and antique oriental motiffs - surrounds a large backyard pool where the hundred or so guests assembled to dine and await the star. The most interesting thing about the cocktail party was watching an essentially urban crowd, who had never seen anything more ferocious than a pigeon, react to the bats swooping around the swimming pool, gobbling moths and mosquitos, while the guests downed martinis and shelled shrimp. {Yes, there are bat caves on LI. - Chris}. Parked discreetly out back is a cherry red 1960 Thunderbird (Gibson loves anything that's '50s or '60s. "I used to have a '57 Ford Fairlane, but I traded it in for this.") The only sign of the impending concert was a white Yamaha grand piano, without a guitar of drum in sight. That should have been enough of a clue that this was going to be something really different. And it was. When the teen-dance queen finally performed, she began by accompanying herself on the piano and singing a few ballads. Then she brought pianist Bob Marks up and sang - are you ready for this? - Broadway show tunes and quite a respectable "On My Own" from "Les Miserables" and "Don't Rain on my Parade" from "Funny Girl" at that. The concert ended with the obligatory dance tune. ("This will drive the neighbors crazy. They call the police every time my dog barks." {Nice people - Chris}). But clearly in front of a crowd that included a healthy slice of rock press, most of the honchos from Atlantic, immediate family and even some high school friends, Debbie Gibson was staking out some new turf. {Here is the interesting part of the article, the secret why AIP was doomed from the start - Chris} And regaining control of her career. One of the reasons "Anything is Possible" failed to move was because for the first time she allowed the record company to select the singles and they chose the most generic cuts on the album. She recently had them release "One Hand, One Heart" and it's already starting to get airplay. {Where is this?? - Chris} Success for that single and the world tour may resurrect the album even at this late date. {As fans we better pray anything is possible. - Chris} Evidently, she knows exactly what she wants and what's good for her. It is a sad commentary on the music industry that this pubescent suburbanite knows more about managing her career than does one of the largest record companies in the business. {Nice knife in Atlantic's back!!! - Chris} But look beyond the fan mag propaganda and it's really no surprise that she's both knowledgable and more broadly based than her dance queen image suggests. Gibson's a classically trained musician ("I'd like to take a year off and get back to that," she told me afterwards. "I hit my peak as a classical pianist at 14. I can't help wondering what it would be like if I'd spent the last seven years concentrating on my playing.") and a Broadway aficionado. Her role model is not Madonna (whom she admires. "Just look at all she has done. And I'm still 10 years younger than she is."), but Streisand. -Chris =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= EDITORIAL ON NY POST ARTICLE Sandra Chen (ez003229@pollux.ucdavis.edu) Fri, 26 Jul 91 21:20:49 PDT The July 19th New York Post article "Debbie Does Ballads" by Bob Harrington said that Atlantic decided to release the most generic cuts from the album. How can you call AIP and TSCM "generic" cuts? These 2 songs don't fit in Top-40 radio! Harrington does not support his statements with facts either. If there is something that he knows that we don't, it's that OHOH is rising up the charts. As you can see, he is a bit out of touch with what songs Deb released and how well they did. Based on the information that we've gathered, we can pretty much make a good guess at who did the decision making. If you take a look at the AIP presskit, Atlantic promoted "One Step Ahead" pretty heavily. Why then did they wait so long to release it? AIP and TSCM were not radio ready so it wasn't in their best interest to release them. AIP and TSCM corresponded with Debbie's image change and her parents divorce; makes sense that it was THEIR decision to release the songs. In the Hanging with Hollywood interview, Debbie said that Atlantic wanted a song with a "dance/sexual" flavor. The first 3 songs don't fit this category. And also, remember that Debbie has stated that she "doesn't care" what the record company says, it's *HER* decision that stands. Given this, it doesn't make sense that she gave Atlantic free reign on which songs to release. I guess the main thing that bugs me about this statement is that the blame for Debbie's lack of success is given solely to Atlantic. Atlantic is guilty of poor promotion, but I feel that the song selection is more of GMI's/Debbie's fault. A thing to remember is that we, as fans, can probably deduce things better than some reporter who went to a party that Debbie threw. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CABOODLES CONTEST Shaun Stuart (shaun@calstate.bitnet) Tue, 09 Jul 91 15:53:03 PDT My mom was reading through Glamour magazine and came across an ad for Caboodles, a cosmetics carrying case. Deb is doing advertising for them. Anyways, the ad says: Win your own private concert with Debbie Gibson. First, get to the store. Look for the Caboodles display. Now. Spot the tag. Open it. Wow! You can win your own private concert with superstar Debbie Gibson, in Hollywood! Everyone can enter! It's easy - the hottest musical event of the year, and all you need is a phone (or a stamp)! And grab a caboodles while you're at it. They've got the spaces and places for all your makeup, jewelry, and accessories. The ad has a picture of Deb's face done in shades of blue. If you want to find it, it's on page 115 of the August issue of _Glamour_. I went to the store and looked through the little girl toys and perfume sections (thinking some lady would see me and accuse me of being a pervert) and found a Caboodles makeup box that had the contest info on it. Here it is: Information about the "Win Your Own Private Concert With Debbie Gibson" contest, sponsored by Caboodles: The following is copied directly from a tag found on a Caboodles box (which is a makeup carrying case): First...Call 1-800-354-8500. It's the Caboodles/Debbie Gibson Concert Contest Hotline! Now...Listen as Debbie Gibson tells you how to enter the contest! It's as easy as leaving your name and phone number and store where you saw this offer! Wow... You and your friend could be one of the lucky fans to win a private concert and party weekend with Debbie Gibson in Hollywood. Rules: 1. No purchase necessary. 2. To enter: call 1-800-354-8500 and hear Debbie Gibson tell you how you and your friend can win one of 100 all-expense-paid trips to Los Angeles, CA for a private concert and party with her. After hearing Debbie's message, you will have approx. 30 seconds to leave your name and phone number and the name of the store where you saw this offer. Calls must be made between June 1, 1991 and September 15, 1991. Or, send a handwritten entry on a postcard to: Caboodles Concert Entries P.O. Box 80,000 Los Angeles, CA 90009 Each mail-in entry must be handwritten (including name, telephone number, age, and store where you saw this offer), mailed separately, and received by September 15, 1991. No mechanical reproductions accepted. 3. To receive a complete copy of the official rules of the contest, send a hand-written request with a SASE to: Caboodles Concert Rules C/O Premiere Radio Networks 6255 Sunset Blvd., 22nd floor Los Angeles, CA 90028 (What is interesting to note is that not only do you get a small concert with Deb, but a "party" as well! And of course, since I told you guys about this, if you win, I hope you'll remember me when it comes time to pick the friend that will accompany you .) Shaun =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CLOSING REMARKS The Milwaukee concert has been cancelled according to John Shew who called up GMI/GPI. A Nebraska concert has been added which is after the Concord date. According to Alan Chim and Sam Lau, there exists a promotional MusiCard that has Debbie Gibson on it. It is a card with no number on the back issued by Pro Set prior to the release of their regular series MusiCards which contained the four of Debbie Gibson, three of which were described in back issues. "One Step Ahead" climbed from #24 (even without a bullet) to peak at #18 on the Billboard Club Play chart for weekending July 20. During that week, it climbed from #43 to #38 on the Billboard 12-Inch Singles chart and maintained its bullet. This week, "One Step Ahead" falls to #25 on the Billboard Club Play chart while it rises to #34 on the 12-Inch Singles chart where it still maintains its bullet. For those of you who don't know, a bullet indicates significant gains over the previous week. The tour outside the US was called the Live Around the World Tour. As soon as Deb arrived in Japan to kick off that tour, she appeared on a popular Japanese variety show (at midnight) to promote for a few minutes. In Japan, American artists do not have opening acts so Chris Cuevas (her opening act) managed to perform one of his own songs "You Are the One" while Debbie was changing. He also performed "Someday" with Deborah as expected. Also not surprising, Deb performed "Without You" since that was a single which she only released in Japan. The Live Around the World '91 tourbook contains mostly pictures of Deb with the exception of two pages where there is a picture of each band member and dancer. The tourbook also contains a page right in the beginning which lists the Japanese dates. All the text is in Japanese of course. The tour in the US and Toronto is called the One Step Ahead tour. The kickoff concert in New York on 7/23 was not sold out (the venue only seats 3000). The Massachusetts concert on 7/24 was not sold out either (the venue only seats 1200). Chris Cuevas continues to be the opening act and he performs for about 25 minutes; he does come back on stage with Deb to sing his duet "Someday" and they hold hands in a manner similar to Deb and Keeth Stewart for "Love Under My Pillow." Deb's show is 90 minutes long. One noticeable change is that she got rid of the Shake break. Deb tried to wear heels and a heel broke during one of the shows (she joked that it must have been a bad shoe day). Buddy Casimano and Adam Tese are the only two original band members left. The only merchandise on sale were two shirts because the US tour programs have not been printed yet. I encourage all of you who plan to see Deborah in concert to write a review whether raving or critical. If there are enough reviews submitted after BtL 3.10, then BtL 3.11 may be released on August 31st, 1991 to celebrate Deborah's 21st birthday.