Expert: Bong Santos - 3/24/2007

Question
hello,
Could you tell me who sung rumours and jealousy? (not sure with the title : (   Both were played at disco house in the 80s, i still remember when my older brother tagged me along when i was a kid to see how disco house looks like : ) and those music were just stuck in my head! please help, thank you

Answer
Dear JFS,

You will be surprised it was done by two different acts. It sounds alike anyone would think it was the same group. What's the story behind it?

RUMOURS was TIMEX SOCIAL CLUB's lone hit. They were formed in 1982 by members GREGORY THOMAS, MARCUS THOMPSON, KEVIN MOORE, MICHAEL MARSHALL, CRAIG SAMUEL, DARRIEN CLEAGE and ALEX HILL. They specialized in old school rap and merger of urban R&B with hip-hop rhythms (or new jack city). In 1986, they released their only album, VICIOUS RUMOURS which spawned the hit RUMOURS, peaking at #8 on August 16, 1986. By 1987, TSC producer JAY KING formed his own band together with DENZIL FOSTER, THOMAS McELROY, SAMUELLE PRATTER and VALERIE WATSON and called it CLUB NOUVEAU which translates to NEW CLUB to exploit the imminent break-up of TSC. Their first album LIFE, LOVE & PAIN contains JEALOUSY, actually an answer to TSC's RUMOURS. While it was an R&B Top 10 Hit, it failed to enter the Hot 100 Chart. Their follow-up single did, racing all the way to the top of the chart, a remake of BILL WITHERS' classic song LEAN ON ME. While, TSC disbanded in 1987, CLUB NOUVEAU occasionally regroups to record.

Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines