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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > Cross My Heart-Martika, Tracie Spenser, 8th Wonder
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Thread started 04/17/09 5:11pm

VinnyM27

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Cross My Heart-Martika, Tracie Spenser, 8th Wonder

Not sure if this topic ever came up before and sorry if it has. I heard the song "Cross My Heart" by Eighth Wonder (a UK group) months ago on the radio and really loved it. Thought I heard it before. Possibly by Martika, since it was on her "Best Of" (as well as the first album). And it was ALSO sung by a very young Tracie Spencer (who's gotten some attention on the Org more for stuff like "This House" and "Tender Kisses")!

Question: Who sang it first? All were released in 1988. If you judge by Allmusic.com (which is often right), Tracie's came out first but Martika actually worked with the producer on her first album! And it seems like of them all, only Eighth Wonder decided to actually put it out as a single (and probably released the best version).







Anyone know the history of this very catchy pop song? Who do you think did it best?
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Reply #1 posted 04/17/09 5:14pm

Cinnie

That makes sense. I remember hearing Eighth Wonder's version on an 80s compilation and thinking it was damn familiar.. but I betcha it was Martika's version I actually heard in the 80s.
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Reply #2 posted 04/17/09 5:24pm

VinnyM27

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Cinnie said:

That makes sense. I remember hearing Eighth Wonder's version on an 80s compilation and thinking it was damn familiar.. but I betcha it was Martika's version I actually heard in the 80s.



Eighth Wonder was apparently a pop group with a lot of promise, mostly because Patsy Kensit was so friggin hot and compelling. The Pet Shop Boys wrote a song for her...even Niel couldn't resist (joking....I think PSB as always showed interest in writing and working with others....seems like they are up to it again like they were in the late eighties). Kind of interesting that there two biggest songs were released by other artists in the same year ("I'm Not Scared" appears on PSB's "Introspective"...listening to it now. She had a good pop voice. The group was more popular in Japan than even in the UK (where this song hit the Top 20 but the PSB written "I'm Not Scared" hit the Top Ten). I first heard the song while listening to a replay of the Rick Dees' Top 40 Countdown from 1988 (the month was probably Nov) and this one was a rising track that they predicted would crack the Top 40 (only hit 66 I believe). Once in a while the Sirius disco/classic dance station picked it up, too. Haven't heard it in a while. Might just pick up the CD, even though used copies are a bit pricey (and there stuff is mostly only available in Japanese editions).
[Edited 4/17/09 17:31pm]
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Reply #3 posted 04/18/09 7:20am

Rioub

Eight Wonder - "Cross My Heart" UK singles chart debut: 1988/06/25

Tracie Spencer - Tracie Spencer US LP chart debut: 1988/06/25

Eighth Wonder - Fearless UK LP chart debut: 1988/07/23

Martika - Martika US LP chart debut: 1989/02/04


I guess Eighth Wonder released it as a single on pretty much the same day as Tracie Spencer released it as an album track.
[Edited 4/18/09 7:21am]
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Reply #4 posted 04/18/09 8:31am

lastdecember

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VinnyM27 said:

Cinnie said:

That makes sense. I remember hearing Eighth Wonder's version on an 80s compilation and thinking it was damn familiar.. but I betcha it was Martika's version I actually heard in the 80s.



Eighth Wonder was apparently a pop group with a lot of promise, mostly because Patsy Kensit was so friggin hot and compelling. The Pet Shop Boys wrote a song for her...even Niel couldn't resist (joking....I think PSB as always showed interest in writing and working with others....seems like they are up to it again like they were in the late eighties). Kind of interesting that there two biggest songs were released by other artists in the same year ("I'm Not Scared" appears on PSB's "Introspective"...listening to it now. She had a good pop voice. The group was more popular in Japan than even in the UK (where this song hit the Top 20 but the PSB written "I'm Not Scared" hit the Top Ten). I first heard the song while listening to a replay of the Rick Dees' Top 40 Countdown from 1988 (the month was probably Nov) and this one was a rising track that they predicted would crack the Top 40 (only hit 66 I believe). Once in a while the Sirius disco/classic dance station picked it up, too. Haven't heard it in a while. Might just pick up the CD, even though used copies are a bit pricey (and there stuff is mostly only available in Japanese editions).
[Edited 4/17/09 17:31pm]


I think Eigth Wonder had the promise but it was completely Patsy's show, they needed a band to attatch this pretty face to, it was kind of a "new" Kylie attempt, or with the band, a chance to have a new Animotion.

"We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F
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Reply #5 posted 04/18/09 9:13pm

VinnyM27

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Rioub said:

Eight Wonder - "Cross My Heart" UK singles chart debut: 1988/06/25

Tracie Spencer - Tracie Spencer US LP chart debut: 1988/06/25

Eighth Wonder - Fearless UK LP chart debut: 1988/07/23

Martika - Martika US LP chart debut: 1989/02/04


I guess Eighth Wonder released it as a single on pretty much the same day as Tracie Spencer released it as an album track.
[Edited 4/18/09 7:21am]


Thanks for the research! I thought I read that Martika's album came out in 1988 (I know the first single "More Than You Know", did). Thank you. Could be none of them was an actual "cover" and that the producer just shopped the song to everywhere and by the time he could record his own rendition (IMHO, the weakest....the slight pauses and Martika's high notes make it sound labored), the song had already been picked up by two acts at nearly the same time (both with similar versions). Tracie's kind of sounds like a combo of both...perhaps Martika and Jay took inspiration from that and and did new things with it. Too bad Blender is gone....this would make a decent story in their section where they debunk myths (not a myth, but they could help clear up the mystery). I doubt Rolling Stone would touch it.
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