I know I could Google this and find out, but I bow to the Orgers greater knowledge...

I see the name "Ta Mara and the Scene" crop up occasionally as a "Prince Related" artist / band. Trouble is I don't know anything about them.

What is the association?
How much did/do they release?
Is it any good?
Yadda, Yadda, Yadda...

I'm sure someone can help me out.

They are a group masterminded by Jesse Johnson. He produced and performed most of the music. The female lead was Margie Cox("Tamara"). Their biggest seller was the track Everybody Dance. Very Minneapolis Funk sounding. They made a self titled album and another called Blueberry Gossip, which had a cool version of Everyday People.

Tamara and the Seen also did a pretty popular single entitled "Affection."

Squirreal & LLa, I think you guys preety much hit it on the head when it comes to that group.

LLA said:

And that cut was the JAM!!!!!

SteamForest said:

Yep it sure was back in the day.

Thanks folks. Love Jesse's work so this project sounds very appealing.

eBay here I come!

Oliver Lieber was a member and produced some of the hits off Paula Abdul's 1st album. He worked alot with St. Paul and produced tracks for the Corrs, Elisa Fiorillo, and Rod Stewart. He's the son of Jerry Lieber who co-wrote some of the greatest songs in early rock 'n' roll and soul, including "Hound Dog" and "Stand By Me".

Quick follow up... is the track "True Ecstacy" particularly rare or is it just an album track?

I have Ta Mara's first album on vinyl. "Everybody Dance", "Affecttion", "Thinking About You"...great stuff.

butter4yourmuffin said:

I've always thought that Oliver Lieber was the inspiration for the Prince penned Sheila E track "Oliver's House". The lyrics make sense.

I heard this afternoon from the neighborhood [slut, Deborah]
She said Oliver is leaving soon so he can make a scene

CHORUS:
Were gonna have fun, Olivers house
Make a lot of white noise
Fun, Olivers house
Play with the white boys

Last June, Oliver threw a party 4 his girl, Louise
She got drunk and called me a bitch just cuz I kissed him

CHORUS

Fun, Olivers house {x2}

Olivers got a swimming pool, a piano in his bathroom
We took turns throwing down, we took turns throwing up

Gonna have fun, Olivers house
Make a lot of white noise
Fun, Olivers house
Play with the white boys

Fun, Olivers house
Make a lot of white noise
Fun, Olivers house
Play with the white boys

U should see his mothers room, shes got so many fine clothes
Oliver, he dressed me up and then he undressed me slowly
Oliver is so weird but he knows how 2 play guitar
Im a sucker 4 a major chord, a ride in an open car

Were gonna have fun, Olivers house
Fun, Olivers house {x3}
Were gonna have fun
Fun {x27}

misty2k said:

It was the second single from their 'Blueberry Gossip' album. The actual single is a little rare, but the song itself isn't.

misty2k said:

I believe Jesse pretty much was 'The Seen' on the second album. I'd also bet that he played a lot of the instruments on the first LP, but gave credit to the others á la The Time.

Jesse's one of the baddest from the Prince camp. He also started another group called Da'Krash.

Thanks folks,

Additional question. Are their albums available on CD or will I have to hunt them down on Vinyl?

misty2k said:

Yes. They were both available on CD, but are out of print. Check Ebay or the like.

squirrelgrease said:

Thanks,

I've seen "Gossip" up on eBay but it's vinyl so I'll keep an eye out for the CDs instead... though I do love vinyl...