Dance diva Alison Limerick really did make it on her own.
So let’s follow her down. Deep down, where love lives…
London born singer Alison Limerick (b.1959) – that is her real name – spent most of the 1980’s as a backing singer and even a brief career as an actress, before launching herself as a bonafide dance floor diva of the 1990’s. She was signed on her own merit to Arista in 1989 and released her debut single, “Where Love Lives”, the following year, although this received no recognition first time around. A re-release and a remix in March 1991 saw the song finally reach the intended audience and it went to the top of the UK dance chart and to No.3 on the US dance chart.
“Where Love Lives” quickly established itself as a much sought after anthem and it crossed over to the commercial singles chart, peaking at No.27 in the UK. Initially! Alison’s follow up, “Come Back (For Real Love)” fared less well and it would be 1992 before she returned to mainstream success with “Make It Own My Own” (UK No.16, US dance No.6). Alison released her debut album, “And Still I Rise”, soon after and followed this with “Gettin’ It Right” and “Hear My Call”, during 1992. With club success assured, Alison capitalised on this with her next album, “With A Twist” in 1994.
The lead single, “Time Of Our Lives” broke the UK top 40 as did the follow up, a cover of Evelyn “Champagne” King’s 1982 single “Love Come Down”. While “With A Twist” was not a commercial success, “Love Come Down” would follow in the footsteps of “Where Love Lives” to become a solid 90’s classic, much revered and much played. Speaking of which, who said you can’t keep a classic down? In 1996, “Where Love Lives” received more remixing and was released a third time. It would give Alison her first, and to date, her only UK top ten hit when it charted at No.9. It also revisited the US dance chart and made it to No.4 on this occasion.
With remixes of all of Alison’s big tunes, a new album, “Club Classics”, was released that year and the new version of “Make It On My Own” would see Alison return to both the UK chart and the US dance chart. Her last studio album, to date, “Spirit Rising”, came in 1998 and featured the singles “Put Your Faith In Me” and “Let’s Hold On (To Love)”. Alison has continued to perform and write in both clubs and at festivals. She has worked with the likes of George Michael and Courtney Pine as well as M-People (“Melody Of Life”).
In 2003, another version of “Where Love Lives” hit both the UK singles chart and the US dance chart! She has recently recorded with US DJ and producer Lenny Fontana and English dance act X-Press 2. The lady keeps on giving!
Stay in touch with Alison through her FACEBOOK page and follow her on TWITTER
Take a look at all our other Where Are They Now posts and don’t forget to follow the playlist!