"(Come On) Shout" by Alex Brown

Song#:  2303
Date:  05/04/1985
Debut:  93
Peak:  76
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Dance-Pop, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Singer Alex (Alexandra) Brown gained a lot of experience as one of the Raelettes, Ray Charles' backing girl group. Brown held a position with the Raelettes from '66-'68 before attempting a solo career. She made one album in 1970 for the Sundi label, but it never received an official release. She got another chance at solo stardom when she got asked to record "Love Really Hurts Without You," which did get to #65 on the R&B chart. Yet, nothing came from it and she continued her career as an in-demand backing vocalist. Over the years, Brown supported major artists like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, and many others. Another opportunity for some solo recognition came when she got asked to sing this song written for the 1985 rom-com Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. The tune was issued out as a single, but it didn't really catch on. It got to #27 Dance, #66 R&B and #76 Pop. Those tepid results didn't open up any further solo opportunities and Brown returned to backing other artists.

ReduxReview:  This just sounds like an attempt to replicate the hits that the Pointer Sisters and Patti LaBelle had via the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. It didn't really work, but the song is not all that bad. Brown is an excellent vocalist and like the Pointers and LaBelle, she makes the tune sound better than it actually is. This is pure mid-80s dance-pop that is fun, yet disposable.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Triple Shot!  1) The movie was obviously named after the Cyndi Lauper hit of the same name, but Lauper's hit was not included in the film or on the soundtrack. Apparently licensing issues came into play. It was probably a big disappointment not to have the Lauper song to use, but that didn't deter the filmmakers who just simply got someone else to record it. A trio of singers made up of Deborah Galli, Tami Holbrook, and Meredith Marshall did a version of the tune. The movie, which starred Sarah Jessica Parker, was a bit of a box office dud but in later years it got a lot of airplay on several TV channels like Lifetime and Comedy Central.  2) Brown's recording of "Love Really Hurts Without You" was a cover version of Billy Ocean's first significant hit. His original recording was issued in the UK where it reached #2 in 1976. As the song was shaping up to be a hit there, a producer who happened to hear Brown doing some backup vocal work recommended that she record the tune, which she did. Ocean's version got a US release and it ended up being a medium hit at Pop getting to #22, but it missed at R&B. During that single's run, Brown's version was released and it ended up on the R&B chart, yet missed at Pop.  3) Brown was also a songwriter and several artists have recorded her material. Songstress Anita Baker picked up a tune Brown co-wrote titled "Just Because." Baker included it on her third album, 1988's #1 Giving You the Best That I Got. The song was issued as the LP's second single and it got to #1 R&B and #14 Pop.
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