Hi-NRG
It contains two massive Hi-NRG hits in the form of It's Raining Men and I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair. This 1983 album was produced by Paul Jabara.
The album opens with the vibrant track Success where the two contrasting voices of the girls come over most distinctly. Hungry For Love is a funky mid-tempo song, whilst Dear Santa starts out as a slow Christmas ballad with soulful vocals before the fast Hi-NRG beat kicks in.
Hope is an uplifting song with some impressive vocals. The real appeal of the album lies however in the closing tracks It's Raining Men, a camp classic with a pulsating beat and I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, a festive number with a catchy tune and foot tapping rhythms. Fans of 1980s dance music will love this album.
I Got the Feeling/Earth Can Be Just Like Heaven
Sylvester - Greatest Hits
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The Complete Herstory Of The Weather Girls
1977- They paired up as backup singers for Sylvester James on his third LP- SYLVESTER. Here's the completed works of The Weather Girls (Past & Present):
1. They sing their first duet, a song called I BEEN DOWN.
2. 1978- The disco group PARADISE EXPRESS uses Izora's and Martha's big voices on their self-titled debut LP; most notably Izora on REVEREND LEE, and Martha on STAR IN MY LIFE. (The 1978 self-titled debut Paradise Express album is now finally available on cd!!, by e*bay seller Shakhrec, as well as the second Paradise Express album LET'S FLY from 1979. )
The two women continue to sing backup on Sylvester's fourth LP STEP II (1978).
3. 1979- Their popularity had grown so much they had their own fan base, thanx to the Sylvester concerts in which they were allowed to shine in solos. Check out Sylvester's LIVING PROOF cd.
4. 1980- Fantasy Records quickly realized what they had and offered the duo their own recording contract. They released their debut LP TWO TONS O' FUN.
5. 1980- Because their debut sold so well, they qucikly released a second LP. They shortened their name to THE TWO TONS and called this album BACKATCHA. They re-record I BEEN DOWN, this time adding Jeanie Tracy. (Both albums are available as a 2-on-1 cd called THE TWO TONS: TWO TONS O' FUN/BACKATCHA. Released by the ACE Records/South Bound Label (1993 London). Fantasy records also released their own compilation cd on these
two women and called it "TWO TONS: MARTHA WASH & IZORA ARMSTEAD - GET THE
FEELING". It has 11 tracks, 3 of which are the original full-length
12" single versions: "I GOT THE FEELING" (Patrick Cowley Megamix),
"DO YOU WANNA BOOGIE, HUNH?" (Buddy Brundo Remix), and "EARTH CAN BE
JUST LIKE HEAVEN" (Robbie Leslie Remix). Definitely worth getting these
two cd's if you want the complete collection).
6. 1982- The Girls move to Columbia Records and Paul Jabara & Paul Shaffer (of David Letterman Show) wrote a song called IT'S RAINING MEN and presented it to the duo. It was Izora's idea to call themselves THE WEATHER GIRLS. They release the infamous 12" single of "IT'S RAINING
MEN" and the rest is herstory.
7. 1983- Paul Jabara releases an album called PAUL JABARA & FRIENDS and it features The Weather Girls on 3 songs- IT'S RAINING MEN, HOPE, and a
song called LADIE'S HOTLINE (written by Paul Jabara & Diana Ross).
(The 12" version of LADIES HOTLINE is available on the 2004 Weather Girls
compilation cd called HALLELUJAH! IT'S RAINING MEN & OTHER GEMS).
The PAUL JABARA & FRIENDS album also features a new up and coming
singer named Whitney Houston (this was her third song she recorded up to that time).
The same year, 1983, The Weather Girls release their debut album (3rd LP)- SUCCESS. (Available on cd).
8. 1985- The Weather Girls release their next album (4th LP)- BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY, which is still not available on cd. In 1985, the two Girls sing backup for Bob Seger on his hit LIKE A ROCK, as well as on Debbie Jacobs-Rock hit FOREVER. Martha provides backup vocals for different artists, including Narada Michael Walden
on his 1985 album THE NATURE OF THINGS. Also in 1985
their old label Fantasy Records cashes in on their renewed fame by
releasing an album (their fifth) called MEGATONAGE: THE BEST OF THE TWO TONS (AKA THE WEATHER GIRLS). It features 7 tracks from their 2 Fantasy LP's and an 8th track, their hit IT'S RAINING MEN. This was never
released onto cd.
9. 1988- The Weather Girls release their sixth and last album as a duo- THE WEATHER GIRLS. It features 3 songs by FULL FORCE. They tour to promote
the album, but then part ways on good terms and each pursue a solo career.
10. 1988- December 16th, Sylvester passes away in San Francisco.
11. 1989- Martha is hired by Clivilles & Cole to sing lead vocals on SEDUCTION's song (YOU'RE MY ONE & ONLY) TRUE LOVE, and is denied credit.
12. 1990- A big year for Martha. She provided vocals for C&C MUSIC FACTORY's debut album GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT; however, she didn't receive credit again. She also provided lead vocals for BLACK BOX's debut album DREAMLAND, and again didn't receive credit. Die hard fans considered
the DREAMLAND cd her solo album because she sang lead on 6 of the 9 songs.
13. 1991- Izora attempts a solo career by releasing her only solo 12" single DON'T LET LOVE SLIP AWAY (on the I'nd Label, and not available
on cd). Martha sings a duet with Luther Vandross, a remake of the 1970
hit for Tom Jones called- I (Who Have Nothing). Ironically, Sylvester
recorded a disco version of this song in 1979 and Martha sang backup
on that.
14. 1992- Martha releases her solo self-titled debut album, which contains 2 solo versions of the TWO TONS O' FUN hit JUST US, I assume it is a nod to
her legion of longtime fans.
15. 1993- With the rights to the name The Weather Girls, Izora pairs up with her only natural-born daughter Dynelle, moves to Germany, and they release their debut album DOUBLE TON'S OF FUN. They record their own version of IT'S RAINING MEN.
16. 1993- The group CHOCOLATE release their own version of IT'S RAINING MEN featuring THE WEATHER GIRLS on vocals.
17. 1994- C&C Music Factory releases their second album ANYTHING GOES. This time Martha is credited for singing on a couple songs. Martha also
has a song on the soundtrack D2:THE MIGHTY DUCKS. It is a remake of the
old 1971 Jean Knight hit MR. BIG STUFF.
18. 1995- Izora and Dynelle release their second album as The Weather Girls- THINK BIG. One track, STAR, features Jimmy Sommerville, and is a remake of the Sylvester song.
19. 1996- Martha has a song on the soundtrack FIRST WIVES CLUB.
It is an Elton John remake called I'M STILL STANDING. Obviously,
this is an anthem song for Martha.
20. 1997- Todd Terry releases his debut album TODD TERRY PRESENTS READY FOR A NEW DAY. It features Martha singing lead on a few songs.
21. 1997- Lambda releases their 12" single HOLD ON TIGHT- featuring Martha's vocals. This makes it the fourth time she is denied credit for her work. (A year later Jason Nivens re-released this song as a cd-single
with remixes and gave Martha the credit she deserved).
Martha has a song on the soundtrack KISS ME GUIDO, called MAGIC CHARMS.
22. 1998- Martha releases her greatest hits called THE COLLECTION. It features yet another version of IT'S RAINING MEN- this time it's a duet with RU Paul.
23. 1998- Izora and Dynelle release their third album called PUTTIN' ON THE HITS. It features Dennis Edwards, ex-lead singer of The Temptations singing on the track DON'T LOOK ANY FURTHER, which was a hit for him in
1984. PUTTIN' ON THE HITS contains some great disco remakes.
24. 1999- Izora and Dynelle as The Weather Girls release the single BIG BROWN GIRL.
25. 2000- Small Voices Calling release the single LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE featuring Martha.
26. 2002- The Disco Brothers release the single GET UP featuring (Izora and Dynelle) The Weather Girls. The Weather Girls also release their own single YOUR LOVE from their upcoming album. The song is released as a 12"
single with Wackside.
27. 2003- The Weather Girls appeared on a german television show called
COMEBACK UNITED and on that show Dynelle paired up with Limahl (ex-lead
singer of 80's group Kaja Goo-Goo - "Too Shy", and he later released his
biggest solo hit "NEVERENDING STORY" from the children's movie of the same name). The two sang the duet "DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART" (old song by Elton John and KiKi Dee, then later by Elton John and RUPaul). This track is available on the rare, hard to find import 2-cd set called THE BEST OF
COMEBACK UNITED released in 2004. Dynelle, who is known as Little Izora, doesn't quite shine in this duet, but if you are a big fan of Weather Girls, then this track is essential in completing your collection.
28. 2004- September 16th, Izora passes away in a California hospital after experiencing health problems- Dynelle pairs up with her step-sister Ingrid and they decide to be the third incarnation of The Weather Girls and they finish work on the album Izora and Dynelle had been working on. The album is released as TOTALLY WILD along with the second single WILD THING (YOUR LOVE was actually the first single). Also in 2004, Martha
appears on the television special GET DOWN TONIGHT: THE DISCO EXPLOSION LIVE. It is released onto dvd and cd and contains her solo version of
IT'S RAINING MEN. Martha also starts her own record label called
PURPLE ROSE RECORDS and plans on releasing her own cd's.
29. 2005- Martha's new record label releases it's first cd single-
a song called YOU LIFT ME UP, which is a gospel flavored/club song.
She continues to work on her new full length cd (as of today's date
8/27/2008, it is still not released).
30. 2006- Not sure what else she might have done in 2006, but I was able
to find this one- on the REV. YVETTE FLUNDER cd called WE WON'T BE SILENT
ANYMORE, Martha sings a solo on the song HE'LL UNDERSTAND AND SAY WELL
DONE (track #9)- Sylvester covered this song on his 1983 album CALL ME. It is SOOOO good to hear Martha belt out a real gospel song- she needs to record a full length gospel album soon!
31. 2007- Not sure what else she has done this year in 2007, but I did
come across this cd: TONY MORAN- EVENT a 2-cd collection of club songs.
Martha sings KEEP YOUR BODY WORKIN', which I believe is a remake of the
1979 song by the disco group KLEEER. . . . ?
32. Ralph Falcon releases his huge club hit "BREAK YOU" which spent one week at #1 on the American dance chart- the song features the Weather Girls and it is Dynelle who really shines, especially on the original version. There are at least 3 different remix collections of this song, but the original version is the best one to hear Dynelle deliver! The song is from his upcoming (Oct. 2008 release) 2-cd set called Hollywood To Hialeah. Hopefully, the Weather Girls are featured on another song or two in that collection.
Here's hoping that Martha releases a full-length cd soon because it's a shame to have one of the best female singers around not releasing material for her huge legion of fans! :)
Take a moment and visit her website: w3. martha-wash dot com.
There have been 3 'Best Of' collections released of the Weather Girls material, yet the 4th LP BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY has never been released
into cd. However, you can compile the songs from that Lp onto a cd yourself by using the following cd's/tracklisting:
BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY - original 1985 album tracklisting:
1. LOCK ME UP (Use the track from the 1997 Weather Girls compilation cd
import from Germany called "IT'S RAINING MEN". The cover is a photo
from the SUCCESS album photo session in 1983).
2. BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY (Use the Weather Girls 2000 compilation cd called
"SUPER HITS" for this track).
3. WELL-A-WIGGY (Again use the "SUPER HITS" cd track).
4. NO ONE CAN LOVE YOU MORE THAN ME (Again, use the "SUPER HITS" track).
5. DOWN ON THE CORNER (Use the 2004 Weather Girls compilation cd
"HALLELUJAH! IT'S RAINING MEN & OTHER GEMS" track).
6. LAUGHTER IN THE RAIN (Use the SUPER HITS compilation for this track).
7. YOU CAN DO IT (Use the german import cd compilation "IT'S RAINING
MEN" for this track).
8. MARCH (Unfortunately, this track is not available on cd. . . . but
maybe you know someone who can do vinyl to cd transfer?).
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Celebrating $exuality!
In fact, not only does the CD start out strong, the whole set of tracks is real strong! The Weather Girls celebrate $exuality without any shame and they have fun doing it, too! I myself really liked the CD; it immediately brought back memories of when I was younger and songs like this constantly played on the radio. This album is pure 80's beat! The CD starts out strong with the song "Success," in which The Weather Girls sing of their ecstasy about becoming famous and they thank their fans for putting them at the top.
Of course, the CD's most famous song is "It's Raining Men. " This song brought The Weather Girls their greatest fame and notoriety as a first rate singing duo.
There are no lyrics in the liner notes but it's hardly a drawback since the songs are so good! The quality of the sound is excellent and the picture of them on the cover is awesome!
I recommend this CD for Weather Girl fans (as if they didn't already know about it), people who want to get familiar with some awesome music and fans of 80's music and disco! GET THIS CD AND CRANK IT UP! GRIN
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Enduring success!
But the 80's also brought us this little gem of an album from Isora Armstead and Martha Wash. The 80's have a lot to answer for, like "Dynasty" on TV and those NFL-sized shoulder pads on women's clothes. God bless these terrific singers!
I'm playing this CD right now and enjoying it every bit as much as I did all those years ago - on cassette at the time, or was it actually vinyl?
"It's Raining Men" is of course the big classic here. But don't forget "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "Hungry for Love. "
If you can listen to this music and not smile and want to dance, check your pulse, honey, you may be dead already.
Some of the best 80's beat ever--this is TRUE SUCCESS!
In fact, not only does the CD start out strong, the whole set of tracks is real strong! The Weather Girls celebrate sexuality without any shame and they have fun doing it, too! I myself really liked the CD; it immediately brought back memories of when I was younger and songs like this constantly played on the radio. I agree with the reviewer who writes that this album is pure 80's beat! The CD starts out strong with the song "Success," in which The Weather Girls sing of their ecstasy about becoming famous and they thank their fans for putting them at the top.
Of course, the CD's most famous song is "It's Raining Men. " This song brought The Weather Girls their greatest fame and notoriety as a first rate singing duo.
There are no lyrics in the liner notes but it's hardly a drawback since the songs are so good! The quality of the sound is excellent and the picture of them on the cover is awesome!
I recommend this CD for Weather Girl fans (as if they didn't already know about it) and fans of 80's music and disco! It's also a great way to remember the late Izora Rhodes Armstead who passed away just a few days ago. May she live on in heaven forever--and GET THIS CD! GRIN
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You can see a complete list of all The Weather Girls discography, or go back to the The Weather Girls tabs
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