Chart entered : 4 February 1989
Chart peak : 59
Some of the eighties' lesser lights dropped out before the end of the decade.
Although it only reached 35 in the charts, Matt Bianco squeezed four hits from their debut album. Not everyone was a fan though and they were called "a bunch of wankers" by a caller on Saturday Superstore. Shortly after that , keyboard player Danny White and his girlfriend, singer Basia Trzetrzelewska left to launch the latter's solo career. Lone survivor Mark Reilly recruited multi-instrumentalist Mark Fisher who'd previously played keyboards for Wham ! as Danny's replacement. Basia was replaced on the next album by Jenni Evans but she was never classed as an official member. The hits continued although as Mark F's influence increased the jazz influence became less obvious in their music. They scored their biggest hit in 1988 when the double A-side "Don't Blame It On That Girl / Wap Bam Boogie" reached number 11.
This was the third single from the same album "Indigo ". "Nervous " is a solid contemporary R & B- flavoured pop tune in the style of Living In A Box or late eighties Duran Duran with some decent funky guitar and sax work . For someone who detested their earlier hits it's a pleasant surprise even if it doesn't set the world alight.. As mentioned above "Wap Bam Boogie " , a competent house tune, had already been a hit two singles previously but they put it out again in the form of a Latin remix with added congas and tinkly piano . Neither version does a great deal for me.
They squeezed one more single from the album , "Say It's Not Too Late" which is a mellow , more Latin-flavoured tune which sounds a bit like Miami Sound Machine. Emilio Estefan worked on some of the tracks on the album though he's not credited as producing that one. I'm surprised it didn't make a minor showing.
In 1990 their back catalogue was bought out by EastWest who put out a compilation album but it only reached number 49, their last mark on the UK charts. The new song "Fire In The Blood" was put out as a single It's a reasonable example of Latin-tinged dance pop but it was ignored as was a re-release of "Wap Bam Boogie" a couple of months later.
They released a new album "Samba In Your Casa" in 1991 which saw them move off in a Latin direction. For some reason they chose to lead off with the very worst track as a single . "Macumba " rests on a very pedestrian samba rhythm and is largely a rap by some guy called Chulito ,The King of Latin Rap with the duo joining in with a tuneless chant for the chorus. There was a fourth outing for "Wap Bam Boogie" on the flip. There were some tasty dancers in the video but that wasn't enough to save it. The follow-up single was a cover of The Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes", a good song which they don't completely ruin but it's over-produced with the horns too loud and overblown. The album didn't chart here but sold well in Germany and Japan.
The group decided to concentrate on those markets and released their music on a variety of labels. I'm not sure which of their records were even released in the UK though they didn't usually bother releasing singles here. 1994's "Another Time Another Place" was a solid jazz funk set but only made an impact in Japan. The following year they tested the UK market with the Latin house tune "Lost In You" featuring Kym Mazelle on backing vocals but it didn't take flight and the parent LP "Gran Via" wasn't released here. The duo continued in this vein for three more albums, "World Go Round", "Rico" and "Echoes" before amicably calling it a day in 2002.
The following year Mark R reunited with Danny and Basia to relaunch the group as it was on their first hits. Basia had been coaxed out of five years of seclusion following the death of her mother . A new album "Matt's Mood" came out in 2004. Besides reuniting the trio it featured some unused work by deceased saxophonist Ronnie Ross, a long time collaborator with the band . It's fair to say this wasn't one of the more celebrated noughties reunions and it's generally a low-key affair , rather soporific in places but it does have its moments; the bittersweet "I Never Meant To" is a pop gem and certainly the best thing either incarnation of the group has recorded. The album didn't chart in the UK and after finishing a tour to promote it Danny and a revitalised Basia left again to resume the latter's solo career.
The two Marks reunited and produced two more LPs "Hi-Fi Bossanova" ( 2009 ) and Hideaway" (2012 ) before splitting again. Mark R revisited some old MB tracks on an EP "The Things You Love" under the name New Cool Collective last year. In December Mark F passed away and it seems likely that their won't be any more new MB material.
Basia's career ( despite the name they were effectively a duo ) defied expectations. Matt Bianco had made zero impression on America but Basia did well over there and barely figured in the UK. They released their first album "Time and Tide" in 1987 , an over-produced and sterile collection of jazz-tinged adult pop that showcases a versatile voice but little evidence of ability to write a memorable tune . What the Americans saw in the murderously dull title track to make it a Top 30 hit as a single is anyone's guess. It stalled at number 61 here. "Promises" was the biggest UK hit reaching number 48 but it's no better. A third single "New Day For You" made number 53 in the US. While the album peaked at numbe 61 here it reached number 36 in the US. It was also a big hit in France.
Their second album "London, Warsaw, New York " came out in the autumn of 1989 and was slightly more interesting although the smooth pop tune "Cruising For Bruising" ( her last US hit reaching 29 ) is the only track you really want to hear again. It was their most successful album reaching number 20 in the US ( 68 here ).
There wasn't another album for six years as the personal turmoil alluded to in the lyrics of "Cruising For Bruising" overwhelmed Danny and Basia's personal relationship and it was some time before they felt able to work together again. 1994's "The Sweetest Illusion" was in the same jazz-tinged pop vein but with an emphasis on slower tempos. "Drunk On Love" , one of the livelier tracks became their biggest UK hit at number 41 but the brooding "Perfect Mother" is the best track by far. Though not yielding any US hits, the album made number 27 there and failed to chart here. Basia had also become very popular in Japan where the album reached number 6.
In 1995, they put out a live album "Basia on Broadway" but it only charted in Japan. the following year Basia sang on a single by Peter Case and released a slushy Christmas single "Angels Blush" . It featured on "Clear Horizon" a compilation with a couple of new tracks released in 1997. The title track uses gospel influences to build up to an anthemic chorus and is listenable enough and "Go For You" has an inventive harmonic arrangement. None of these singles charted anywhere and the album only charted in Japan. Basia's audience had evaporated and as noted above the singe withdrew from the public eye until Matt Bianco were resurrected.
Now operating from the singer's native Poland, Basia didn't put a new album out until 2009, "It's That Girl; Again" has a stripped-down production and is all the better for it. Both singles "A Gift" and "Blame It On The Summer" are good songs. The album reached number 4 in Poland but there wasn't much interest anywhere else despite a world tour. Basia have put out a live album and a compilation since then but there' s no sign of another studio album.
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