M People | ||
| Allmusic Biography : The visionary behind the hit-making British house team M People is Mike Pickering (b. March 1958; Manchester), a respected DJ who played in Quando Quango, booked several early shows by the Smiths, and signed Happy Mondays and James to Factory Records while working A&R; during the mid-80s. Pickering later moved from Factory to the dance label Deconstruction, where he signed acts in addition to recording material with his own band, T-Coy. He formed M People in 1990 with Heather Small (b. Jan. 20, 1965; London) and former Orange Juice member Paul Heard (b. Oct. 5, 1960; London). The group signed to DeConstruction in 1991, and released the single "Colour My Life" that May. Second single "How Can I Love You More," propelled by Smalls deep soul vocals, became a U.K. hit and spawned the 1992 album Northern Soul. Later that year M People issued the remix work Northern Soul Extended, and then began a blockbuster 1993 with "Movin on Up." The album Elegant Slumming was also a hit, earning the group a BRIT award as Best UK Dance Act. The following year, Bizarre Fruit continued M Peoples success, and was followed in 1997 by Fresco. During the next two years, a pair of collections appeared: Classic M People and Testify. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 11 Title: Northern Soul Released: 1991 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:10:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Colour My Life (05:36) 2 How Can I Love You More? (05:16) 3 Inner City Cruise (04:28) 4 It’s Your World (04:03) 5 Someday (05:35) 6 Sexual Freedom (05:18) 7 Kiss It Better (05:11) 8 Tumbling Down (04:41) 9 Landscape of Love (05:42) 10 Life (04:54) 11 Platini (05:03) 12 Inner City Dub (04:30) 13 Colour My Life (original mix) (05:18) 14 Kiss It Better (guitar mix) (04:48) |
 | Album: 2 of 11 Title: Elegant Slumming Released: 1993-10-04 Tracks: 10 Duration: 54:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 One Night in Heaven (06:29) 2 Moving on Up (05:30) 3 Renaissance (05:23) 4 You Just Have to Be There (05:28) 5 Love Is in My Soul (06:17) 6 Don’t Look Any Further (05:31) 7 Natural Thing (05:07) 8 Little Packet (05:22) 9 La Vida Loca (04:34) 10 Melody of Life (04:45) |
| Elegant Slumming : Allmusic album Review : Including no less than five British Top Ten singles and several other chart entries stretching back to 1992, Elegant Slumming is easily M Peoples best album. From the driving British house of "One Night in Heaven" and the nu-disco slant of "Moving on Up" to more downtempo soul on "Melody of Life," vocalist Heather Small is confident and aggressive while the production by Mike Pickering and Paul Heard backs her up with an exquisite touch. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 11 Title: Bizarre Fruit Released: 1994-11-12 Tracks: 10 Duration: 57:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sight for Sore Eyes (06:12) 2 Search for the Hero (06:11) 3 Open Your Heart (05:42) 4 Love Rendezvous (05:25) 5 Precious Pearl (06:04) 6 Sugar Town (05:41) 7 Walk Away (05:46) 8 Drive Time (05:30) 9 Padlock (06:12) 10 ... And Finally (05:04) |
| Bizarre Fruit : Allmusic album Review : The Manchester, England-based trio M People scored in 1994 with a series of British Top Ten hits from its debut album Elegant Slumming; both "Moving on Up" and "One Night in Heaven" became U.S. dance club smashes, thanks to an endearing mixture of house and R&B;, and Heather Smalls startling vocal presence. Fortunately, M People did not suffer the dreaded sophomore slump; the 1995 release Bizarre Fruit continues in much the same vein as its predecessor. Bizarre Fruit is chock-full of funky house grooves, and Smalls deep, soulful vocals add just the right touch to the mix, making M People considerably warmer than most contemporary dance acts. The "Moving on Up" soundalike "Open Your Heart" was a major club success in its own right. In addition to the obvious dance appeal, "Open Your Heart," like most of M Peoples music, has a touch of 70s R&B; in the mix. The albums opener, "Sight for Sore Eyes," has a grandiose gospel-influenced intro before kicking into the funky groove and a melody similar to Technotronics "Pump Up the Jam." The jazzy "Search for the Hero," and the retro-soul tune "Precious Pearl" are also highlights. M People, unlike many mid-90s dance music acts like C+C Music Factory and the Real McCoy, deserves kudos for releasing an album just as entertaining and consistent as its debut. Bizarre Fruit is a worthy follow-up to Elegant Slumming and should please those who enjoy a little soul when hitting the dancefloor. . | ||
 | Album: 4 of 11 Title: Bizarre Fruit II Released: 1995-11-27 Tracks: 21 Duration: 2:10:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sight for Sore Eyes (06:12) 2 Search for the Hero (04:10) 3 Open Your Heart (05:42) 4 Love Rendezvous (05:53) 5 Itchycoo Park (06:42) 6 Precious Pearl (06:04) 7 Sugar Town (05:41) 8 Walk Away (05:48) 9 Drive Time (05:30) 10 Padlock (06:12) 11 ... And Finally (05:04) 1 Walk Away (live mix) (05:40) 2 Search for the Hero (live mix) (05:33) 3 Colour My Life (live mix) (04:43) 4 Someday (live mix) (05:10) 5 Moving on Up (live mix) (06:22) 6 Itchycoo Park (Morales Classic Club mix) (07:51) 7 Search for the Hero (Us Remix by David Jam Hall) (04:16) 8 Open Your Heart (Brothers in Rhythm Soundtrack) (10:13) 9 Love Rendezvous (K-klass Klub mix) (07:59) 10 Padlock (Junior Vasquez Sound Factory mix) (10:04) |
 | Album: 5 of 11 Title: Fresco Released: 1997 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:01:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Just for You (06:01) 2 Fantasy Island (05:40) 3 Never Mind Love (04:24) 4 Last Night 10,000 (05:13) 5 Smile (06:04) 6 Red Flower Sunset (04:57) 7 Angel St (05:31) 8 Lonely (04:46) 9 Rhythm and Blues (04:17) 10 Believe It (05:06) 11 Bohemia (03:28) 12 Avalon (06:02) |
| Fresco : Allmusic album Review : M People spent a considerable amount of time on Fresco, the groups fourth album, crafting a record that would break them out of the Europop straitjacket and establish them as an international dance-pop act. In other words, Fresco is less a club album than it is a radio record, filled with carefully constructed songs with strong rhythms, sturdy hooks, and pop-soul melodies. Too bad that much of the record simply isnt as memorable. Sure, there are several potential singles with naggingly catchy melodies and the entire production is appealingly glossy and accessible, but the songs simply arent there and neither is the charming, unashamed brashness of their early work. A few songs -- the garage techno of "Angel St.," the catchy house of "Fantasy Island" and the sweeping orchestrated pop of "Just for You" -- make the album worthwhile, but on the whole Fresco is a distressing step backward for a group that had yet to make a false move. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 11 Title: The Best of M People Released: 1998 Tracks: 8 Duration: 43:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Search for the Hero (05:41) 2 Moving on Up (05:54) 3 One Night in Heaven (06:39) 4 Sight for Sore Eyes (07:17) 5 Just for You (05:33) 6 Colour My Life (03:31) 7 Open Your Heart (03:41) 8 Someday (04:50) |
| The Best of M People : Allmusic album Review : M People were one of the best and most successful bands to come out of the U.K. in the 1990s, and, amazingly, scored only one major hit in the U.S. with the electrifying "Movin on Up." Their sophisticated blend of house, dance, soul, and pop, highlighted by Heather Smalls always impressive vocals, is wonderfully represented on The Best of M People. This stellar collection rounds up all their major European hits, as well as several new tracks, including the soulful single "Testify," "Dreaming," and their excellent cover of the Doobie Brothers "What a Fool Believes." Also included are early hits such as the funky "Colour My Love" and "How Can I Love You More," hits from their peak period including "Movin on Up," "One Night in Heaven," "Open Your Heart," and "Sight for Sore Eyes," and later hits such as "Angel St." and "Just for You." Also here is their epic version of "Itchycoo Park," which had previously appeared on Bizarre Fruit Part 2. A wonderful, well-rounded collection highlighting the best of one of the 1990s most exciting (and in the U.S., most under-appreciated) acts. Buyer beware, however, because around the time of this albums release, a terribly assembled U.S. compilation titled Testify hit the shelves. Spend a few extra dollars and buy this import, because it is miles better than the bizarre hodgepodge that is Testify. As a final note, the versions included here are the edited single versions. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 11 Title: Testify Released: 1999 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:16:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Testify (03:58) 2 Dreaming (04:15) 3 Angel St (04:11) 4 Search for the Hero (04:09) 5 What a Fool Believes (05:56) 6 Fantasy Island (05:31) 7 Sight for Sore Eyes (M People Master mix) (06:11) 8 Just for You (03:59) 9 Smile (06:02) 10 Colour My Life (Joey Negros Agoura mix) (07:39) 11 Red Flower Sunset (04:55) 12 Moving on Up (Mark Pichottis Millennium mix) (09:00) 13 How Can I Love You More (Jimmy Gomez 6am mix) (10:20) |
| Testify : Allmusic album Review : Using their Classic M People compilation as a springboard, the trio released another collection in 1999, though Testify is nowhere near as essential. The new compilation includes the three new songs originally from the greatest-hits package (one of which is the title track) and a few of the groups best album tracks from past years; it is rounded out by new remixes of classic hits "Moving on Up," "Colour My Life," and "How Can I Love You More?" Its a curious collection, unessential for beginners and rather frustrating for collectors. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 11 Title: Ultimate Collection: The Remixes Released: 2005 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:16:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 How Can I Love You More? (Sasha Qat mix) (08:16) 2 Angel St (Joey Negro disco mix) (08:43) 3 Just for You (Rae & Christian mix) (06:48) 4 Movin on Up (Mk Movin mix) (07:31) 5 Open Your Heart (Brothers in Rhythm Soundtrack) (10:14) 6 Search for the Hero (Smith & Mighty remix) (05:57) 7 Renaissance (Roger S Uplifting club mix) (07:03) 8 Love Rendezvous (K-Klass Klub mix) (07:59) 9 One Night in Heaven (Classic mix) (06:37) 10 Someday (Sashas Full Tension mix) (07:05) |
 | Album: 9 of 11 Title: Ultimate Collection Released: 2005-02-21 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:11:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Moving on Up (03:35) 2 Search for the Hero (04:10) 3 One Night in Heaven (04:24) 4 Proud (03:55) 5 How Can I Love You More (04:43) 6 Just for You (04:01) 7 Dont Look Any Further (03:50) 8 Someday (03:44) 9 Angel St (04:14) 10 Sight for Sore Eyes (04:00) 11 Colour My Life (03:42) 12 Excited (03:45) 13 Holding On (03:45) 14 Open Up Your Heart (03:41) 15 Love Rendezvous (03:49) 16 Renaissance (03:57) 17 Fantasy Island (04:14) 18 Testify (04:00) |
 | Album: 10 of 11 Title: One Night in Heaven: The Very Best of M People Released: 2007-12-03 Tracks: 30 Duration: 2:36:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Moving On Up (03:37) 2 Search for the Hero (04:11) 3 How Can I Love You More (04:43) 4 Just for You (04:02) 5 Angel St (04:15) 6 Itchycoo Park (03:58) 7 Colour My Life (03:42) 8 Excited (03:45) 9 Fantasy Island (04:13) 10 Love Is in My Soul (06:18) 11 Renaissance (03:57) 12 What a Fool Believes (04:36) 13 One Night in Heaven (classic mix) (06:36) 14 How Can I Love You More? (Sasha Qat mix) (08:14) 15 Search for the Hero (Smith & Mighty remix) (05:55) 16 Avalon (06:03) 1 Open Your Heart (03:43) 2 One Night in Heaven (04:25) 3 Dreaming (04:42) 4 Sight for Sore Eyes (04:00) 5 Love Rendezvous (05:25) 6 Dont Look Any Further (03:53) 7 Itchycoo Park (Morales classic club mix) (07:52) 8 Someday (Sashas full tension mix) (03:47) 9 Testify (04:00) 10 Padlock (06:13) 11 Moving On Up (MK Movin mix) (07:31) 12 Just for You (Rae & Christian mix) (06:49) 13 Angel St (Joey Negro disco mix) (08:44) 14 Renaissance (Roger S uplifting club mix) (07:03) |
 | Album: 11 of 11 Title: The Collection Released: 2009-07-27 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:15:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Moving on Up (03:35) 2 How Can I Love You More (04:43) 3 Search for the Hero (04:09) 4 Dont Look Any Further (03:50) 5 Love Rendezvous (05:53) 6 Colour My Life (03:42) 7 Walk Away (05:46) 8 Padlock (06:12) 9 You Just Have to Be There (05:28) 10 Natural Thing (05:04) 11 Melody of Life (04:45) 12 Believe It (05:06) 13 Bohemia (03:25) 14 Red Flower Sunset (04:57) 15 Man Smart (05:15) 16 Just for You (04:02) |