652 Hello Cathy Dennis * - C'mon And Get My Love

( * D Mob  introducing.... )

Chart  entered : 21  October  1989

Chart  peak : 15

Number  of  hits : 13

Cathy's  had  such  phenomenal  success  as  a  songwriter  that  it  seems  to  have  consigned  her  performing  career  to  a  black  hole. I  don't  think  I've  heard  any  of  her  hits  on  the  radio  since  they  were  in  the  charts.

Like  Lisa  Stansfield  she  first  arrived  in  the  charts  as  a  guest  vocalist  for  a  production  act. D  Mob  were   a  front  for  Daniel  Poku  a  house  music  producer  from  Stoke  who  was  responsible  for one  of  the  most  annoying  hits  of  the  eighties  in  1988's  We  Call  It  Acieed.  In  1989  he  was  called  in  by  Polydor  to  work  with  a  young  singer  -songwriter  from  Norfolk.

Cathy  was  born  in  Norwich  in  1969. Her  father  was  a  pianist  and  restaurateur  and  she  began  writing  songs  as  a  teenager. She  worked  for  the  Norwich  Union  whilst  honing  her  performing  skills  as  a  holiday  rep  at  Butlin's. She  was  spotted  at  17  and  signed  up  by  an  ominous  name  now  entering  our  story,  Simon  Fuller  , to  his  19  Entertainment  company. This  in  turn  led  to  the  record  deal  with  Polydor.

Poku  worked  on  her  debut  single  "Just  Another  Dream"  released  in  the  summer  of  1989  and  was  given  a  co-writer's  credit. He  also  did  the  backing  vocals  on  the  chorus  which  many  took  to  be  Rick  Astley . Though  it  pre-dates  Madonna's  Vogue,  it  has  that  same  blend  of  house  beats  and  icy  strings. Cathy has  a  decent, slightly  shrill  voice  lacking  in  character,  a  criticism  you  can  level  at  the  record  generally. The  lyrics  detailing  an  infatuation  are  serviceable but  uninteresting  and  it's  easy  to  see Cathy  as  a  British  version  of  Debbie  Gibson. Her  red  hair/ green  eyes  combination  is  by  far  the  most  striking  thing  about  her. The  single  didn't  chart  until  it  was  reissued  in  1991  when  it  reached  number  13.

Cathy  returned  the  favour  by  guesting  on  the next  D  Mob  single. "C'mon  And  Get  My  Love" was  written  by  Poku  alone. It's  more  of  a  club  record  with  heavier  beats  and  house  piano  replacing  the  strings  but  otherwise  it's  in  a  similar  vein. Poku  adds  a  couple  of  polite  rap  inserts  rather  than  backing  vocals. The  song's  no  great  shakes  - virtually  every  line  in  the  verses  ends  in  "ya"  which  is  irritating -  but  it  was  effective  enough, becoming  an  even  bigger  hit  in  the  U.S.  where  it  reached  number  10.