White Boy (album)

White Boy is the sixth studio album from American musician/singer/songwriter Dan Hartman. It was recorded during 1985 and 1986 but remains unreleased.^[1]

Background

Following the comeback commercial success of Hartman's hit single and same-titled album I Can Dream About You in 1984, Hartman soon began recording his second album for the MCA Records label. He continued to write with his songwriting partner Charlie Midnight, with whom he first wrote for the I Can Dream About You album.^[2] The album marked Hartman's desire to create an edgier recording, however the MCA felt that although the songs were good, they did not suit Hartman's image. As a result the album was shelved. Despite this a small number of official vinyl LP test pressings were created by the company in 1986, and have been listed for sale at high prices up to $1500.^[3] In recent years the songs from the album have circulated unofficially on the internet, courtesy of Hartman's close friend Glenn Ellison.^[4][5] White Boy was not the first album to suffer from rejection from MCA, as the I Can Dream About You album also had songs that never circulated. Many more songs were written by Hartman and Midnight for I Can Dream About You, but these were rejected by the record company due to the edginess of the music and lyrics.^[2] After White Boy was not released, Hartman returned to writing and producing for others, until his death in 1994. His final studio album New Green Clear Blue was released in 1989, and was an instrumental new age-styled album.^[6]

The album is known to have definitely featured nine particular tracks via Ellison's tape, all written by Hartman and Midnight, although other recordings were produced around the time, and these may have been intended to end up on the album, including song such as "The War is Over" and "Shadow Boxing". Only one song from the album was released officially and this was the 1986 song "Waiting to See You", which ended up being featured on the original motion picture soundtrack for the film Ruthless People.^[7] This song was issued in the UK, the Netherlands and Japan only, and managed to peak at #34 in the Netherlands.^[8][9] "Waiting to See You" and another song from the album "I'm Only Foolin' Myself" were both performed in 1986 by Hartman on the Rock Around the Dock TV programme - a UK music show filmed from the Albert Dock in Liverpool.^[1] English musician Paul Young ended up recording a version of "I'm Only Foolin' Myself" for his 1991 compilation From Time to Time – The Singles Collection. Stemming from the song's inclusion on the compilation, it was also issued as a CD single in the Netherlands by Columbia Records, and also a promotional 7" vinyl single in Spain.^[10] Young's version was produced by Hartman and mixed by Tom Lord Alge, whilst Hartman also provided backing vocals.^[11]

In an interview with Midnight on memories of Hartman for his official fan site, one question asked about the making of the album and why it was never released. Midnight revealed "The "White Boy" album was a result of Dan's continuing desire to create an edgier recording that would signify an evolution in his career as an artist. There were points that he wanted to express both musically and lyrically that were considered, by the record company, to be outside the box for an artist like Dan. Although the nabobs at the label conceded that the songs were good, they did not feel that the material suited Dan and his "image." As a result, the album, with wonderful songs like "Age of Simulation" and "The War Is Over" was not released." When asked if there were other projects that remained unreleased, Midnight replied "As far as I can remember, "White Boy" was the only project that Dan and I worked on that was not released."^[2]

When asked if he had a favorite composition on the official fan site, Glenn Ellison stated "Gosh – there are so many, some of which were on the "Whiteboy" project that has never been released. "Circle of Light" comes to mind as a brilliant and moving track. I have a tape of the whole project and it was some of their best work. Dan's music was always evolving and Charlie was right there with him."^[12]

In an interview with British musician and music producer Martyn Ware, founding member of The Human League and Heaven 17, was revealed to have worked with Hartman for sessions of the album. When asked when he first met Hartman, he stated "I first worked with Dan on "Circle of Light" and "Shadow Boxing". Dan had heard about my work with Heaven 17 and was also familiar with the Human League and asked me to work with him because he liked the modern British 'urban sound'. We agreed to meet at Swan Yard, near Highbury Corner in London and I presumed that Dan would bring his own gear along with him - in fact he turned up with nothing as he thought that I would have all the necessary gear! This resulted in a rather 'chilly atmosphere' between us but we soon started to get on together exceptionally well. To start off with Dan seemed a bit reticent about playing the keyboards and expected me to take the lead as the producer. Dan worked in a different way to most producers and we worked together as like minded spirits, rather than by pure direction. We got on together extremely well."^[13]

In the Mohave Daily Miner of March 7, 1989, Hartman revealed one reason for recording New Green Clear Blue. He stated "It seemed to be a natural period when I wanted to stop doing pop records; it came with a falling-out between my record company and me. One of the quotes I heard was that they expected me to crank out 10 songs like "I Can Dream About You."^[14]

Track listing

References