AMANDA LEAR - Original Discography 1977-1983+

Codec: mp3.
Description: MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3.
Bit rate: 320 kbps.
Sample rate: 44100 Hz joint stereo.
Tags type: ID3V2 & ID3V1.
Source formats: CD (AAD/ADD/other) except *, vinyl (unreleased on CD).
Number of tracks: 147.
Cover art: original albums + CD releases.


My updated and expanded tribute to the one and only Amanda Lear. All 6 of her classic disco albums recorded for the Ariola label between the years 1977 and 1983, some rarities, alternate versions and mixes plus recent interpretations of her greatest hits.

Quick bio for those of you out there who for some strange reason still don't know who Amanda Lear is; born sometime in the late 1930s or early 1940s - nobody knows for sure - in Hong Kong, Saigon or Oslo - nobody knows for sure - to English / French / Chinese / Russian / Mongolian parents - nobody knows for sure. Grew up in Nice in the south of France with mother, a seamstress. Strict religious, Catholic upbringing. Fluent in five languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. 

Relocated to Paris sometime in the early 60s to study art at L'Academie des Beaux Arts. Discovered by legendary modelling agent Catherine Harlé in 1965. Top model in Paris and London working for among others Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Ossie Clarke, Anthony Price, Mary Quant and Paco Rabanne all through the 60s and early 70s. Photographed by Helmut Newton, Charles Paul Wilp, Antoine Giacomoni, Brian Duffy and Andy Warhol, all impressed with her exotic Eurasian features and tall stature. International jetsetter hobnobbing with the rich and famous - and dreaded gossip columnist for David Bailey and David Litchfield's glossy 'Ritz Magazine' in London. Best pals with Marianne Faithfull, Pattie Boyd and Anita Pallenberg. Surrealist painter Salvador Dalí's mistress and muse for fifteen years, later described their relationship as a "spiritual marriage". Wrote authorised biography 'My Life with Dalí', published in twenty-five languages. Also romantically linked to Guinness heir Tara Browne (immortalised in the Beatles' "A Day in the Life"), Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones ("Miss Amanda Jones" from 1967's 'Between the Buttons' allegedly written about her), Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music (pictured on front cover of 1973 album 'For Your Pleasure' with black panther) and David Bowie, the latter who persuaded her to launch a career in music: " - With a voice like that... you sound like Marlene Dietrich or Zarah Leander...you have to." 

Debut single "Trouble" (cover of Elvis Presley classic from movie 'Jailhouse Rock')b/w "Lethal Leading Lady" released in 1975 on minor UK label Creole Records, flopped. Big time. Re-recorded A-side with French lyrics in 1976, re-titled "La Bagarre". Single re-released on Polydor in France and Belgium, bombed again - but became a surprise disco hit in West Germany. After first appearance on music show 'Musikladen' with "La Bagarre" signed by Ariola Records Germany for "astronomical sum of money". Second single "Blood and Honey" produced by Anthony Monn Top 10 hit throughout Continental Europe and Scandinavia. Went on to record a series of pop-rock-disco-postdisco albums in Munich with the same musicians and arrangers as Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Boney M. and Silver Convention, among them Sylvester Levay, Rainer Pietsch, Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey. Wrote all lyrics and some of the music herself. Sold some 30 million albums worldwide and signature tune "Follow Me" which charted in 42 countries 2 million copies alone. Somehow never made it big in either the UK or the US, but crowned a Disco Queen in the rest of the world. A couple of characteristics however clearly set Lear apart from the other Queens: she was 6ft/183 cm tall, broad-shouldered and, most significantly, she had that deeeeeeeep baritone voice. Posed nude for Playboy in 1977 and Lui in 1983 saying "....and they could see I was a woman like everybody else....". Still the rumours persist: Amanda Lear or 'L'Amant Dalí' ('Dalí's Lover') was once somebody else. Entirely. Think "Lady Gaga" and "certain rumour", only forty-seven years ago..... Again - and still - nobody knows for sure.

Along with ABBA and Boney M. one of the very few Western artists to have her music approved and officially released in the Soviet Union by state-owned record company Melodiya, longlasting popularity throughout the entire Eastern Bloc ever since. Cover art for 1980 album 'Diamonds for Breakfast' designed by Pierre & Gilles. Striking physical resemblance to British actress and fellow 60s top model Joanna Lumley. Facial resemblance. Turned down the offer of playing the part of Patsy Stone in French film adaptation of 'Absolutely Fabulous' by saying she had "already lived it".... Cited as inspiration by among others Marc Almond, the Pet Shop Boys and Boy George (who remixed her recent single "Someone Else's Eyes"). Novelist, painter, actress, comedienne, beloved and celebrated but outspoken and sometimes controversial media personality and talk show host in France and Italy since the mid-1980s. Known for her razor-sharp intelligence and acerbic wit but also for her self-deprecating sense of humour. Constant source of punchy one-liners like " - I hate spreading rumours but what else are you supposed to do with them?".

Married French artistocrat Alain-Philippe Malagnac d'Argens de Villèle in Las Vegas in 1979 and settled down in Provence, tragically widowed in 2000. Complicated relationship with German publishing/record company Siebenpunkt Verlags GmbH/Mint Records who keeps releasing cheap CD compilations of re-recordings of her disco hits (see below) once, twice, sometimes three times a year - recently even via iTunes. Has taken concepts like 'kitsch' and 'übercamp' and quite literally turned them into fine art. 2006 exhibition in London, Paris and New York tellingly entitled 'Never Mind the Bollocks: Here's Amanda Lear!'. Decorated with prestigious award 'Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres' by the French Ministre of Culture in 2007 in recognition of her significant contributions to the arts and literature. Recently published autobiography 'Je ne suis pas celle que vous croyez' ('I'm not the one you think I am') without a single word about her life before 1965. Attagirl!

Still recording and still going strong.  

La Reine Lear - la Regina Lear - la Reina Lear - Königin Lear - ферзь Лир.

The iconic, enigmatic and absolutely fa-fa-fa-faaaaaaaaaaabulous Queen Lear. Long may she reign. Vive la difference! Viva la Diva!


TRACK LISTING

I Am a Photograph +  (1977)
============================
01. Blood and Honey
02. Alphabet (Prelude in C. by Johann Sebastian Bach)
03. These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
04. Tomorrow
05. Pretty Boys
06. Queen of Chinatown
07. Alligator
08. The Lady in Black
09. I Am a Photograph
10. Blue Tango
+
11. Trouble* [Original English version of 'La Bagarre', 1975]
12. Lethal Leading Lady* [B-side 'Trouble'/'La Bagarre', 1975]
13. La Bagarre [1976]
14. Blood and Honey [UK 7" Mix, 1976]
15. She's Got the Devil in Her Eyes* ['Blood and Honey', Instrumental Version, 1976]
16. Blood and Honey* [12" Mix, 1976]
17. Mon Alphabet* [Alphabet - French Version]
18. Alfabeto* [Alphabet - Italian Version]
19. Blood and Honey [New Remix Version '98]
20. Blood and Honey [Club Mix '98]
21. Queen of Chinatown 2006 [Djenetix feat. Amanda Lear - Single Version]
22. Queen of Chinatown 2006 [Club Remix]
23. Queen of Chinatown 2006 [Extended Mix]

All tracks produced by Anthony Monn except 11-13: Strum Productions/Angelo La Bionda & Carmelo La Bionda.



Sweet Revenge + (1978)
=======================
01. Sweet Revenge Suite:
a)  Follow Me
b)  Gold 
c)  Mother, Look What They've Done to Me
d)  Run Baby Run
e)  Follow Me (Reprise)
02. Comics
03. Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmmh to Me)
04. The Stud
05. Hollywood Flashback
+
06. Look at Her Dancing* [from soundtrack 'La Ragazza Dal Pigiama Giallo', 1978]
07. Your Yellow Pyjama* [from soundtrack 'La Ragazza Dal Pigiama Giallo', 1978]
08. Follow Me [7" Mix]
09. Follow Me [US 12" Mix]
10. Follow Me [Part I & II]
11. Follow Me '89 [7" Mix]
12. Follow Me '89 [Ian Levine High Energy 7" Mix]
13. Follow Me '89* [Ian Levine 12" Mix]
14. Mother, Look What They've Done to Me [7" Mix]
15. Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmmh to Me) [7" Mix]
16. Gold [7" Mix]
17. Gold '89 [7" Mix]
18. Gold '89 [Ian Levine Extended House Mix]
19. Gold '89* [Ian Levine Extended Deep Gold Vocal Mix]
20. Run Baby Run [7" Mix]
21. Follow Me (Reprise) [7" Mix]

All tracks produced by Anthony Monn except 6 & 7: Riz Ortolani.



Never Trust a Pretty Face + (1978)
===================================
01. Fashion Pack (Studio 54)
02. Forget It
03. Lili Marleen [German/English Version]
04. Never Trust a Pretty Face
05. The Sphinx
06. Black Holes
07. Intellectually
08. Miroir
09. Dreamer (South Pacific)
+
10. Lily Marlène* [German/French/English Version]
11. The Sphinx [Alternative 7" Mix]
12. The Sphinx [12" Mix]
13. Fashion Pack (Studio 54) [7" Mix, 1979]
14. Fashion Pack (Studio 54) [Alternative 7" Mix, 1979]
15. Mirrors* [Miroir - English Version]
16. Dreamer (South Pacific)* [Extended Version]

All tracks produced by Anthony Monn.



Diamonds for Breakfast + (1980)
================================
01. Rockin' Rollin' (I Hear You Nagging)
02. I Need a Man
03. It's a Better Life
04. Oh Boy
05. Insomnia [English Version]
06. Diamonds
07. Japan
08. Fabulous (Lover, Love Me)
09. Ho Fatto L'Amore Con Me
10. When
+
11. Le Chat De Gouttière* [Non-album track, 1980]
12. Solomon Gundie [Non-album single, 1980]
13. Fabulous (Lover, Love Me) [7" Mix, 1979]
14. Diamonds [7" Mix]
15. Ciao* [When - Italian Version]
16. Ho Fatto L'Amore Con Me* [Alternative Version]
17. Insomnia* [Italian Version]

All tracks produced by Anthony Monn.



Incognito + (1981)
===================
01. Incognito Suite:
a)  Hollywood Is Just a Dream When You're Seventeen 
b)  Love Amnesia
c)  Red Tape
d)  New York
02. Égal
03. Berlin Lady
04. Nymphomania
05. If I Was a Boy
06. Made in France
+
07. Hollywood Is Just a Dream When You're Seventeen [7" Mix]
08. Love Amnesia [7" Mix]
09. Red Tape [7" Mix]
10. New York [7" Mix]
11. Igual* [Égal - Spanish Version]
12. Ninfomanía* [Nymphomania - Spanish Version]
13. Dama De Berlin* [Berlin Lady - Spanish Version]
14. New York* [French Version]

All tracks produced by Anthony Monn.



Ieri, Oggi (Yesterday, Today - 'Best of' compilation Italy 1982)
===================================================================
01. Incredibilmente Donna [1982]
02. Ho Fatto L'Amore Con Me [1980]
03. Buon Viaggio* [1982]
04. Your Yellow Pyjama* [1978]
05. Fabulous (Lover, Love Me) [1979]
06. Fashion Pack (Studio 54) [1979]
07. Blood and Honey [1976]
08. Tomorrow [1977]
09. Queen of Chinatown [1977]
10. Blue Tango [1977]
11. Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmmh to Me) [1978]
12. Follow Me [1978]
+
13. Love Your Body [Non-album double A-side single, 1983]
14. Love Your Body* [12" Mix]
15. Darkness and Light [Non-album double A-side single, 1983]
16. Darkness and Light* [12" Mix]

All tracks produced by Anthony Monn except 1 & 3: Arturo Zitelli, 4: Riz Ortolani & 13-16: Peter Lüdermann.



Tam-Tam + (1983)
=================
01. Tam-Tam
02. Bewitched
03. Wicked Lady
04. No Regrets
05. Magic
06. It's All Over
07. Gipsy Man
08. Music Is
+
09. No Regrets [12" Mix]
10. Bewitched* [12" Mix]

All tracks produced by Roberto Cacciapaglia.



Greatest Hits - Revisited & Re-Remixed 1987-2008
=================================================
01. Follow Me '87* [7" Mix]
02. Follow Me '87* [12" Mix]
03. Fashion Pack '93
04. Lili Marleen '93
05. Follow Me '93
06. The Sphinx '98
07. Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmmh to Me) '98
08. Fashion Pack '98
09. Blood and Honey '98
10. Fabulous (Lover, Love Me) '98
11. Follow Me '98
12. Follow Me '98 [9T8 Remake]
13. These Boots Are Made for Walkin' 98
14. These Boots Are Made for Walkin' 98 [Bang! Mix]
15. Tomorrow '98
16. Tomorrow '98 [Dance Version]
17. Tomorrow '98 [Re-Touched 2002]
18. Queen of Chinatown '98
19. Queen of Chinatown '98 [Opium Dense Mix]
20. Queen of Chinatown '98 [Summer Queen Mix, 2001]
21. Queen of Chinatown '98 [Radio 70's Mix, 2008]
22. Follow Me 2000 [Radio Mix]
23. Follow Me 2000 [Extended Mix]
24. Tomorrow 2008
25. Queen of Chinatown 2008
26. Lili Marleen 2001
27. Tomorrow '88 (Voulez-Vous Un Rendezvous?) [CCCP Fedeli Alla Linea & Amanda Lear]
28. Do You Remember Me?* [Club Mix]
29. Do You Remember Me?* [Extended Groove Mix]
30. Do You Remember Me?* [Radio Mix]


If somebody out there has any of these vinyl rarities with better sound quality feel free to share them with the rest of us, just leave a message above.

If you prefer a basic introductory discography without rarities and re-recordings:
 
http://thepiratebay.ee/torrent/4982594/AMANDA_LEAR_-_Original_Discography_1977-1981_

2010-05-24. Had nothing better to do in life. Again. Updated the whole thing from scratch. Re-ripped all CD tracks. Replaced some mp3 files found on the interwebs with my own vinyl rips. Pitch, EQ and volume adjusted "for continuity". Added a few more mixes. New cover scans. Corrected tpyos. Some of them. Etc. Etc. Etc. This is about as good as it gets folks. Mycket nöje! Buon divertimento! Enjoy!