Animotion

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Animotion
Animotion.jpg
General information
Genre (s) New wave , synth pop
founding 1983, 1988, 2001
resolution 1988, 1990
Website www.animotion-obsession.com
Founding members
Astrid Plane (1983–1988, since 2001)
singing
 Bill Wadhams (1983–1988, since 2001)
singing
 Paul Engemann (1988–1990)
singing
 Cynthia Rhodes (1988-1990)
Charles Ottavio (1983–1988, since 2001)
Paul Antonelli (1983-1984)
Frenchy O'Brien (1983-1984)
Jim Blair (1985-1990)
Current occupation
guitar
 Charles Ottavio
Keyboard
 Gregory Smith (since 1988)
Drums
 Kevin Rankin (since 2001)
guitar
 Don Kirkpatrick (since 1986)
singing
 Astrid Plane
singing
 Bill Wadhams

Animotion is an American new wave and synth pop band founded in Los Angeles in 1983 .

history

The group was founded by Astrid Plane and Charles Ottavio, who were previously members of the defunct retro science fiction band Red Zone. Two other members were the former bandmates, keyboardist Paul Antonelli and drummer Frenchy O'Brien. Charles Ottavio changed the managerial position to the bass instrument, while Astrid Plane continued to take over the vocal parts and designed the band name. Larry Ross of CBS Records became the band's manager. It was also he who was able to sign a second singer for the band in Bill Wadhams.

The band signed a 1984 recording deal with Polygram Records . Shortly after the contract was signed, the album Animotion was released at the end of 1984 . The hit single Obsession on it hit stores in the fall of 1984 and became their first top 10 hit. It was originally written by Michael Des Barres and Holly Knight. At the same time Paul Antonelli and the drummer Frenchy O'Brian separated from the band.

The guitarist Don Kirkpatrick was added in early 1986. With him the next album Strange Behavior was recorded, which was released in the spring of 1986. From this LP came out as a preliminary single the title I Engineer , which in Germany with number 2 in the charts became her biggest single success. The song was also successful in other European countries, but in the USA they only reached lower chart positions.

From 1986 to 1987 the band was mainly active with live performances. They played with Depeche Mode , Eurythmics , Genesis , Howard Jones , INXS , Phil Collins and Simply Red and were guests in various TV shows, shot videos or gave interviews. In 1987 Bill Wadhams and Astrid Plane presented the American Music Awards together with Diana Ross .

In the summer of 1988 the two singers Bill Wadhams and Astrid Plane left the band, after which Animotion broke up.

At the end of 1988 the band reunited with a new line-up by keyboardist Gregory Smith, drummer Jim Blair, and singers Paul Engemann and Cynthia Rhodes . However, the group could no longer build on the previous successes. In the spring of 1989, the song Room to Move from the soundtrack of the film My Stepmother is an Alien was a surprise hit. The single climbed to number 9 on the US Billboard charts . In early 1990, the band broke up again.

On February 8, 2001, Bill Wadhams announced that Animotion would reunite. The band has since performed at various concerts and shows.

reception

Matthew Rettenmund, author of the book Totally Awesome 80s , named the single Obsession # 3 of the most important songs of the 1980s . He described the band name as the second best of the same decade.

Discography

Studio albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1984 Animotion [Mercury] - - - - US28 (30 weeks)
US
First published: 1984 Published
in Canada as The Language of Attraction
1986 Strange Behavior DE14 (19 weeks)
DE 		- CH21 (4 weeks)
CH 		- US71 (14 weeks)
US
First published: 1986
1989 Animotion [Polydor] - - - - US110 (17 weeks)
US
First published: 1989
2016 Raise [Invisible Hands Music] - - - - US-US
First published: 01/20/2016

Compilations

  • 1996: Obsession: The Best of Animotion
  • 1998: obsession
  • 2006: 20th Century Masters: The Best of Animotion

Singles

Chart placements

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE AT AT CH CH UK UK US US
1984 Obsession
Animotion 		DE8 (16 weeks)
DE 		AT17 (4 weeks)
AT 		- UK5 (13 weeks)
UK 		US6 (24 weeks)
US
First published: November 23, 1984
1985 Let Him Go
Animotion 		DE41 (7 weeks)
DE 		- - UK78 (4 weeks)
UK 		US39 (13 weeks)
US
First published: 1984
1986 I Engineer
Strange Behavior 		DE2 (18 weeks)
DE 		AT19 (4 weeks)
AT 		CH6 (10 weeks)
CH 		- US76 (6 weeks)
US
First published: March 28, 1986
I Want You
Strange Behavior 		DE27 (7 weeks)
DE 		- - - US84 (4 weeks)
US
First published: 1986
1989 Room to Move
animation 		- - - UK87 (2 weeks)
UK 		US9 (18 weeks)
US
First published: February 1989
Calling It Love
Strange Behavior 		- - - - US53 (9 weeks)
US
First published: 1989

further single releases

  • 1986: Strange Behavior

Awards for music sales

  • 1985: Gold record in Canada for the single "Obsession"
  • 1985: Gold record in Canada for the album "The Language Of Attraction"

swell

  1. ↑ Single placement at Allmusic (English)
  2. ↑ a b Chart sources: DE AT CH UK US
  3. ^ A b Gold / Platinum Music Canada. Music Canada , accessed May 9, 2016 .

Web links