Newcleus

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Please improve this article if you can. (November 2006)
Newcleus
Origin Brooklyn, New York, USA
Genre(s) Electro, Old school hip hop
Years active 1977 – 1989, ? – present
Label(s) Mayhew Records, Rhino Records, Jam-On Recordings
Associated acts Jam-On Productions
Members
Chilly B, Lady E, Cozmo D
Former members
Nique D

Newcleus is a group that came in on the first wave of Electro in the early 1980s.

Contents

[edit] Formation

A precursor to the group, known as Jam-On Productions, formed in 1977 in Brooklyn, New York, which included teenagers Ben "Cozmo D" Cenac and his cousins Monique and Pete Angevin. The group's popularity grew as it played block parties in Brooklyn. By 1979, the primary group's members were Cozmo D, Yvette "Lady E" Cook (who would later marry Cozmo D), Monique Angevin, and Bob "Chilly B" Crafton (who would later marry Monique).

[edit] Singles

Newcleus recorded "Jam-On's Revenge", a block party favorite which featured vocals that were sped up to resemble Alvin and the Chipmunks. The track impressed record producer Joe Webb, and it became the group's first single in 1983 on Mayhew Records. It was re-released later that year on Sunnyview Records as "Jam On Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)", and it made the Top 40 on the R&B charts.

Their follow-up single "Jam-On It" has become their most famous single, ushering in a new sound altogether for hip hop: from the conga rock of the old school to a more programmed sound. This song was ahead of its time in production techniques and general atmosphere.

[edit] Albums

In 2005, Cozmo D released an album, Destination Earth: The Definitive Newcleus Recordings, a collection of hip-hop tracks from their entire catalog. This collection supersedes the Rhino Records collection Jam On This! The Best Of Newcleus, and is the only Newcleus album that the band gets any royalties for. The majority of the songs on this release have been restored and remastered from the original master tapes. The "Definitive Versions" of the songs "Destination Earth" and "Why" taken from this CD were also released on 12 inch vinyl on the German electro-label Dominance Electricity. Together with classic electrofunk remixes by Sbassship and Reeno, and cover illustration by Bill Wray (known for his work on the 1990s cult TV cartoon The Ren & Stimpy Show).

Newcleus is working on a second collection entitled Returned to Earth, a companion volume to Destination Earth, which will collect all of their electro works onto one disc, restored and remastered from the original tapes. Returned to Earth will also include two new songs.[citation needed]

Although both of Newcleus' albums Jam On Revenge and Space Is The Place have been remastered and reissued on CD. The song "Where's The Beat" from Jam On Revenge has been deleted from the track listing. These albums were previously available in the USA only on vinyl and audio cassette. However both albums, original track listing and cover art were also available on CD, manufactured and distributed by Bellaphon Germany through Sunnyview Records in 1988.

[edit] Website

New albums can be purchased directly from the Newcleus website. Their website frequently releases remixes, edits, old recordings, unreleased songs and new material for free and premium content also available via free registration for the forum.

[edit] Discography

  • Pre-album singles
    • 1983 "Jam-On's Revenge", re-released as "Jam On Revenge (The Wikki-Wikki Song)"
    • 1984 "Jam-On It" #56 US
  • Albums
    • 1984 - Jam-On Revenge
    • 1985 - Space Is the Place
    • 1994 - Next Generation
    • 2005 - Destination Earth: The Definitive Newcleus Recordings
    • Upcoming - Returned to Earth
  • Remixes

[edit] External links