Monday 12/5/22 4pm ET: Feature LP: Irene Cara – What A Feelin’ (1983)

What a Feelin’ is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Irene Cara. Released on November 2, 1983, this album is a continuation of the work that Cara began with producer Giorgio Moroder on the soundtrack to the 1983 film Flashdance. The dance-pop song she co-wrote with Moroder and Keith Forsey for the film, “Flashdance… What a Feeling”, went to number one on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 and foreshadowed the style of this album, which was unlike her R&B-heavy debut. Although Cara was more accustomed to composing music, she relinquished most of those duties to Moroder here and shifted much of her songwriting focus to lyrics.

The title of the album clued in record buyers to the inclusion of the soundtrack hit from the spring of that year, but another four songs would make the Hot 100, the first of which, “Why Me?”, had been released in October. “The Dream (Hold On to Your Dream)” from the D.C. Cab soundtrack became the second new single when that movie was released in December, four months earlier than planned. Since the song was not on the original pressings of What a Feelin’, those copies were removed from store shelves so that the album could be re-released to include it. The other two Hot 100 entries were Cara’s last top ten hit, “Breakdance”, and the one track on the album for which she did write the music, “You Were Made for Me”.

The album received mixed-to-positive reviews and was moderately successful, reaching number 77 on Billboard’s album chart. But while Cara was having hit records and receiving awards for “Flashdance… What a Feeling”, she was also feeling ripped off by her record company, Network Records, and planning to sue. The lawsuit she filed resulted in a backlash that destroyed her reputation in the entertainment industry. It would be eight years before the courts would acknowledge the harm she suffered and she would begin receiving royalties for the recordings she had made since signing with the label.

1. “Flashdance… What a Feeling” 3:57
2. “Why Me?” (12″ Mix) 7:03
3. “Breakdance” 3:27
4. “The Dream (Hold On to Your Dream)” 4:49
5. “You Took My Life Away” 3:53
6. “Keep On” 3:29
7. “Romance ’83” 3:56
8. “Cue Me Up” 3:24
9. “Receiving” 3:42
10. “You Were Made for Me” 4:21
11. “Talk Too Much” 4:01
12. “Breakdance” (Extended Remix) 5:26
13. “The Dream (Hold On to Your Dream)” (Dance Remix) 6:49
14. “Flashdance… What a Feeling” (Extended Remix) 7:09
15. “Flashdance… What a Feeling” (Instrumental) 8:03

Irene Cara – lead vocals

Joe Esposito – background vocals (CD tracks 1, 2, 14, 15)
Stephanie Spruill – background vocals (CD tracks 1, 2, 14, 15)
Maxine Willard Waters – background vocals (CD tracks 1, 9, 14, 15)
Merry Clayton – background vocals (CD track 2)
Irene Cara – background vocals (CD tracks 3, 9, 12); additional background vocals (CD track 10)
Bunny Hull – background vocals (CD tracks 3, 9, 12) ; additional background vocals (CD track 10)
Giorgio Moroder – background vocals (CD tracks 3, 5, 12)
Beth Anderson – background vocals (CD tracks 6, 8, 9)
Mary Hylan – background vocals (CD tracks 6, 8)
Joe Pizzulo – background vocals (CD tracks 6, 8); guest vocalist (CD track 8)
Charlotte Crossley – background vocals (CD track 10)
David Lasley – background vocals (CD track 10)
Bruce Roberts – background vocals (CD track 10)
Wendy McKenzie – additional background vocals (CD track 10)

Richie Zito – guitar (all CD tracks except 9, 10), Linn drums (all CD tracks except 1, 10, 14, 15), Simmons drums (CD tracks 3, 8, 11, 12), keyboards (CD tracks 3, 9, 12)
Arthur Barrow – bass guitar (all CD tracks except 1, 9, 10, 14, 15 ), keyboards (all CD tracks except 1, 10, 14, 15)
Keith Forsey – drums (CD tracks 1, 14, 15), percussion program (CD track 5)
Sylvester Levay – keyboards (CD tracks 1, 5, 14, 15)
Irene Cara – percussion program (CD track 6)
Leo Adamian – percussion (CD track 9)
Victoria Berdy – percussion (CD track 9)
Joe Caro – guitar (CD track 9)
Will Lee – bass guitar (CD track 9)
Carol Steele – percussion (CD track 9)
William Seidman – guitar (CD track 9)
Mike Baird – drums (CD track 10)
Lenny Castro – percussion (CD track 10)
James Newton Howard – piano (CD track 10), synthesizer (CD track 10)
Dean Parks – guitar (CD track 10)
Neil Stubenhaus – bass (CD track 10)

In Memoriam: Irene Cara (1959 – 2022)

Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer and actress. Cara sang and co-wrote the song “Flashdance… What a Feeling” (from the film Flashdance), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984. Cara is also known for playing the role of Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film Fame, and for recording the film’s title song “Fame”. Prior to her success with Fame, Cara portrayed the title character Sparkle Williams in the original 1976 musical drama film Sparkle.

Cara was born in New York City, the youngest of five children. Her father, Gaspar Escalera, a factory worker and retired saxophonist, was Puerto Rican, and her mother, Louise, a movie theater usher, was Cuban-American. Cara had two sisters and two brothers. At the age of three, Irene Cara was one of five finalists for the “Little Miss America” pageant. She began to play the piano by ear, studied music, acting, and dance seriously, and began taking dance lessons when she was five. Her performing career started on Spanish-language television, professionally singing and dancing. She made early TV appearances on The Original Amateur Hour (singing in Spanish) and Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show. In 1971–1972, she was a regular on PBS’s educational program The Electric Company, as a member of the show’s band, The Short Circus. As a child, Cara recorded a Latin-market Spanish-language record and an English Christmas album. She appeared in a major concert tribute to Duke Ellington which featured Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., and Roberta Flack.

Cara married stuntman and film director Conrad Palmisano in Los Angeles in April 1986 and they divorced in 1991.

Cara died at her home in Largo Florida on November 25, 2022, at the age of 63.

Friday 3/18/22 4pm ET: Feature Artist: Irene Cara

Irene Cara Escalera (born March 18, 1959) known professionally as Irene Cara, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Cara sang and co-wrote the song “Flashdance… What a Feeling” (from the film Flashdance), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1984. Cara is also known for playing the role of Coco Hernandez in the 1980 film Fame, and for recording the film’s title song “Fame”. Prior to her success with Fame, Cara portrayed the title character Sparkle Williams in the original 1976 musical drama film Sparkle.

Tuesday 6/1/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 80’s

Featuring tunes from David Lee Roth, Southern Pacific, Ray Parker Junior, Kathy Mattea, Whitney Houston, Queen, Paula Abdul, Carlene Carter, Police, Ramones, Oak Ridge Boys, Honeymoon Suite, Alabama, Genesis and more. . . 2pm – 6pm ET

Tuesday 5/25/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 80’s

Featuring tunes from Pointer Sisters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Police, Eddy Grant, Pat Benatar, INXS, Kenny Loggins, Def Leppard, Whispers, Pam Tillis, Dan Hartman, Night Ranger, Go Go’s and more . . .

Tuesday 5/18/21 2pm ET: Sounds of The 80’s

2 – 6pm ET

Featuring tunes from Pablo Cruise, Def Leppard, Dire Straits, Little Richard, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, KT Oslin, Neil Diamond, Janet Jackson, Was (Not) Was, Fleetwood Mac, Lou Gramm, Irene Cara, Genesis, and more . . .

Saturday 12pm: 80’s Countdown Show with Ron Kovacs

This week on the 80’s Countdown Show we feature the Top 40 Hits from October 22, 1983 with Ron Kovacs live at 12pm ET on RadioMaxMusic.   This week music from Culture Club, Donna Summer, Air Supply, Irene Cara, Debarge, Michael Jackson, Cliff Richard, Survivor and more .. .