World Clique

by Deee-Lite

Overview

Its reputation may rest on only one hit single -- but what a hit. "Groove Is in the Heart" defined the summer of 1990 on radio and MTV with its delicious combination of funk, modern dance sheen, and Lady Miss Kier's smart, sharp diva ways. Add in guest vocals and bass from Bootsy Collins (a pity his hilarious video cameo wasn't represented here), brass from the original Horny Horns duo of Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker, and a smooth mid-song rap from A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip, and the results sounded good then and now. The rest of World Clique offers variations on the song's theme, with Kier's sweet, light vocals and DJs Dimitri and Towa Tei making it work in various ways. It's still a bit surprising that Kier didn't go on to greater fame on her own, because she definitely has not merely the pipes but the personality to carry something on her own -- compared to the dog-whistle vocal calisthenics of someone like Mariah Carey, there's no contest. Check out her work on songs like "Good Beat" and the amusing sass of such numbers as "Try Me on, I'm Very You." The two musicians come up with a seamless, adept flow throughout, merrily raiding whatever they so choose in the past for their own purposes. Disco is the heart of it all, with everything from hip-hop breaks to bubble-salsa piano -- even early Depeche Mode! -- taking a bow; hints of the future genre-mashing Towa Tei would make his own trademark are already plentiful. Bootsy and the Horny Horns crop up at other points as well, adding just enough classic funk to blend with the crisper electronic pulses and arrangements. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	08/07/1990
Label:	Elektra
UPC:	0075596095723
Rank:	76832

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Deee-Lite   Primary Artist,Vocals
Q-Tip   Guest Artist,Rap
Bootsy Collins   Guest Artist,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background),Guitar,Bass
Maceo Parker   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Towa Tei   Vocals
Lady Miss Kier   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Fred Wesley   Trombone
Bill Coleman   Vocals
Dmitry Brill   Vocals
Sheila Slappy   Vocals (Background)
Kier Kirby   Vocals

Technical Credits

Mike "Tweekin" Rogers   Engineer
Brill and Tei   Composer
Sampadelic Productions   Composer
Ichiro Tanida   Musician
Dream Street Management   Musician
Lady Miss Kier   Lyricist
Eddie Sancho   Assistant Engineer
Deee-Lite   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Kamaal Fareed   Composer
Mike Rogers   Mixing,Arranger,Engineer,Vocal Arrangement
Herbie Hancock   Composer,Lyricist
Herb Powers   Mastering
Daisy   Art Direction
Nick Egan   Design,Art Direction
Tom Bouman   Design
Bill Coleman   Executive Producer
Michael Halsband   Photography
Dmitry Brill   Composer
Derek Lategan   Assistant Engineer
Hiroyuki Nakano   Musician
Kier Kirby   Composer
Towa Tei   Composer
Bob Power   Engineer