Are you a “Superfly Guy” or a “Music Lover”? What about S-Express? Shall we find em? fool em? or forget em?(!)
S-Express or DJ Mark Moore (born 1965) are one of the foremost dance/house music/club acts of the 1980’s to make it big commercially. Although Moore is generally recognised as the front man and best known face of the group, other artists and producers were involved including Pascal Gabriel, who later went on to write songs for Kylie Minogue, Dido and Will Young to name but a few, Billie Ray Martin, who would juggle time with the group Electribe 101 before setting out on a successful solo career, and Sonique, who would also later become a chart topping artist in her own right.
Seemingly appearing from nowhere, S-Express burst into the public domain in March 1988 with their debut single, naturally titled “Theme From S-Express” (what else!). Groundbreaking and sounding like nothing else in sight, the track shot up the charts around the world, breaking the top ten in fifteen countries and peaking at the very top in four, including the UK for two weeks and topping the US dance chart as well! The song samples no less than fourteen other tracks and was produced by both Moore and Gabriel, although some of these were removed for the US release due to licensing issues. The vocals were replaced by unnamed voice artists to satisfy copyright!
S-Express quickly followed this success that Summer with “Superfly Guy” which again sped up the global charts and dance chart, reaching No.2 this time in The States and No.5 on the UK top 40.
In early 1989, a third single was released “Hey Music Lover” which peaked at No.6 on both the US dance chart and in the UK singles chart and hit the singles charts across Europe and ‘down under’. Shortly after, an album “Original Soundtrack” was released reaching No.5 in the UK and gaining a Gold certification for sales of over 100,000 copies.
Moore returned later in 1989 with a brand new track “Mantra For A State Of Mind” which failed to do anything Stateside but reached No.21 on the UK singles chart and No.12 in Ireland. Further releases from a second album “Intercourse” included “Nothing To Lose” (UK No.32) and “Find Em, Fool Em, Forget Em” (UK No.43). Singer Sonique, who had herself had an all too brief and unsuccessful career as a solo singer prior to, provided the vocals on all tracks.
Ten years after “Theme From S-Express” was released, Moore produced a ‘follow up’ with “Theme From S-Express – The Return Trip” which climbed to No.14 in the UK. It was included on a greatest hits package called “Ultimate S-Express” released that same year.
Ten years later in 2008, Moore ‘resurrected’ the group and released a new track “Stupid Little Girls”. He runs the London nightclub’s Electrogogo and CanCan and continues to DJ and produce, and work as a much sought-after mixer both underground and commercially.
Remind yourself of the awesome music and keep in touch with Mark through his WEBSITE and the S-Express FACEBOOK group
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