"Trouble" by Nia Peeples

Song#:  3519

Date:  05/14/1988

Debut:  88

Peak:  35

Weeks:  15

Genre:  Dance-Pop

Pop Bits:  Born in Hollywood, Peeples was certainly in the right area to start an entertainment career. She first gave acting a go and picked up a few roles guesting on TV shows and appearing in a couple of soaps including General Hospital. But it was her role on the hit series Fame that put her in the limelight. She was with the show in its last three seasons. When Fame ended in '87, Peeples decided to give music a shot. Mercury Records saw an opportunity with Peeples since she had a built-in audience from Fame and signed her on. She first recorded "Trouble," a tune written and produced by Steve Harvey (not the comedian/game show host). It was issued out as a single and first began to gain favor in dance clubs. As the track made its way to #1 on the Dance chart, it then started to cross over to Pop. The tune was able to make the Top 40, but it couldn't get any further. It also got to #71 R&B. With the success of the single, Peeples then was able to finish off her debut album Nothin' But Trouble. Released in August of '87, it would get to #97. A second single, "High Time," would get to #10 at Dance, but it failed to make the Pop chart. A third single would be a minor #28 entry at Dance.

ReduxReview:  I was a fan of the TV show Fame and so when I saw Nia Peeples had a single coming out, I was curious as to the direction she would go. Ended up she went right for dance-pop and it sounded pretty darn good. The crisp production and slick groove had a bit of a Janet Jackson feel, but wasn't fully steeped in the Minneapolis sound. It was more akin to Paula Abdul, who had yet to reach the Pop chart (she would in a month's time). I really like this song and figured it would possibly reach the Top 10. I was disappointed when it stopped just inside the Top 40. It is still a cool jam and one that I will usually toss in to an 80s playlist.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Peeples was not the first person to record "Trouble." The tune was first given to La Toya Jackson. She recorded the song with Steve Harvey producing as a potential track for her first album for RCA Records, 1988's La Toya, but in the end the song was not used and set aside. Harvey next worked with Peeples and brought along the song. Jackson wanted to change up her sound for her La Toya album and worked with a pair of songwriting/production teams. She enlisted Full Force for four tracks and the Stock Aitken Waterman team for three others. The only single to make a chart was "You're Gonna Get Rocked!," which got to #66 R&B. Without anything to really promote it, the album failed to chart. Her original version of "Trouble" would be included on a 2013 reissue of La Toya.  2) It would take Peeples about three years to get a second album out. Her acting career played a part in that since she was cast in the NBC police drama Nasty Boys, which took a big bite out of her schedule. Unfortunately, the series would only last one season. Peeples eventually found time to do a second LP, this time for Charisma Records. The self-titled effort got kicked off with the new jack swing single "Street of Dreams." It would be her biggest hit on the Pop chart getting to #12 (#73 R&B). Two further singles would reach the lower rungs of the Pop chart. Despite the one hit, the album failed to chart. After that, it seems Peeples chose to stay with acting. She has appeared in many films and TV shows including three seasons on Walker, Texas Ranger, a couple years on The Young and the Restless, and more recently on the ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars.

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