Red and Blue
Studio album by
Cee Farrow
Released1983
GenreNew wave, synthpop
Length38:35
LabelRocshire Records
ProducerAndy Lunn

Red and Blue is the debut and only album from German singer Cee Farrow, released in 1983.

Background

Originally a model, Farrow signed to Rocshire Records to release a full studio album. He worked with producer Andy Lunn and co-wrote various tracks, mainly with German keyboardist Lothar Krell.[1] Red and Blue was recorded at Hotline Studios between March–December 1982 and was released in 1983 in America. The album was not a commercial success, although the lead single "Should I Love You" peaked at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 91 on the Billboard R&B Chart.[2]

A second single, "Don't Ask Why", was also released,[3] while "Wildlife Romance" was issued as a 12" promotional single.[4]

The album remains out-of-print to date, having never been issued on CD or made available digitally.[1] After the album's release, Rocshire Records suffered legal problems, which culminated in the seizing of the label's assets in January 1984. The label was shut down by U.S. Federal Marshalls as it had been financed entirely by millions of dollars that owner Rocky Davis' wife Shirley Davis had embezzled from Hughes Aircraft while she was working as an accountant there. As such, the label's master tapes remain in possession of the Feds.[5][6]

After the album's release, Farrow reportedly opened a nightclub "The Bitter End" in 1985 within Hollywood.[7] He eventually re-surfaced with another single "Imagination" in 1991.[8] Farrow died in May 1993 in California of a brain disease attributed to AIDS.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Billboardfavourable[10]
Cash Boxfavourable[11]

Upon release, Billboard included the album as one of their "Recommended LPs" in June 1983. They wrote: "Farrow doesn't pose any chart threat, but his tough urban blues reflect much of the new music heard on the street though lacking the cute slickness of commercial contenders. Synthesizer and saxophone join forces to drive Farrow's hypnotic excursions, combining the drone and the danceable on "Don't Ask Why," "Heartbreaking Affair" and "Touched.""[10]

Cash Box listed the album as one of their "feature picks" during August 1986. They commented: "Although the lyrical content of his debut album is rather lacking in substance, Farrow more than makes up for the prose through his outstanding vocal ability. Influenced by such British art-rockers as David Bowie and Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry, Farrow's warbling adds subtle contours and shading to such offerings as "Touched," the cynical "Backwards" and the quirky "Distant Picture," all of which will comfortably fit on modern music playlists. A ballad entitled "Think of Me" also bodes well for Farrow, as does the catchy "Heartbreaking Affair," which features delicate saxwork."[11]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Don't Ask Why"Cee Farrow, Lothar Krell3:15
2."Heartbreaking Affair"Farrow, Krell, Seeliger4:12
3."Touched"Farrow3:36
4."Wildlife Romance"Farrow3:50
5."Distant Picture"Farrow3:40
6."Should I Love You"Farrow, Krell4:00
7."Paint It Blue"Farrow4:55
8."Backwards"Farrow, Krell2:25
9."Lost and Memorized"Farrow, Krell, Seeliger4:57
10."Think of Me"Farrow3:45

Chart performance

Singles

"Should I Love You"

Chart (1983) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] 82
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles[12] 91

Personnel

  • Cee Farrow - vocals, artwork (cover concept)
  • Pave - guitar
  • Chris Hafner - guitar (tracks 2, 9)
  • Lothar Krell - synthesizer, programming
  • Peter Ponzol - saxophone, Lyricon
  • Marc Tobias - saxophone (track 1-2)
  • Ken Taylor - bass
  • Nick Name - drums
  • Andy Lunn - producer, mixing, engineer
  • Wolfgang Auer - executive producer
  • Jon Caffrey - engineer
  • Mathias Dietrich - assistant engineer
  • Carmine Di - engineer, mixing (track 10)
  • Filiale - other (clothes)
  • Boris Guderjahn - photography

References

  1. 1 2 "Cee Farrow - Red And Blue (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  2. ↑ "Red and Blue - Cee Farrow". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  3. ↑ "CEE FARROW Dont Ask Why b w Wildlife Romance STOCK 45 M". eBay. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  4. ↑ "Wildlife Romance by Cee Farrow : Reviews and Ratings". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  5. ↑ Erling. "Rocshire Records USA". 45-sleeves.com. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  6. ↑ Chuck Miller (2009-10-27). "The Rise and Fall of Rocshire Records and the loss of Stacy Davis - Chuck Miller - timesunion.com - Albany NY". Blog.timesunion.com. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  7. ↑ "New Wave Outpost Message Board - Cee Farrow". Nwoutpost.com. Archived from the original on 2004-10-20. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  8. ↑ "Imagination - Cee Farrow". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  9. ↑ Publicada por TorviC (2012-03-14). "Eighties Marketplace: Cee Farrow - Red and Blue". Eighties-marketplace.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  10. 1 2 Billboard magazine - June 11, 1983 - Top Album Picks - Billboard's Recommended LPs: Cee Farrow, Red and Blue - page 9
  11. 1 2 Cash Box newspaper - June 11, 1983 - News & Reviews - Feature Picks: Red and Blue, Cee Farrow - page 8
  12. 1 2 "Cee Farrow". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
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