Can any of you tell me about the Blueberry Gossip album? I heard it's not as good as her first one but is it decent at least? Does it have the Minneapolis sound? I just ordered it so I hope it's listenable.

dancerella said:

I've always enjoyed that album. Musically it sounds a lot like Jesse's Every Shade of Love album -- I equate the sound of each of her albums with Jesse's albums from the same year (considering he produced and played most of the instrumentation on each). So, yes, I'd say it retains the Minneapolis sound (at least from 88). Excite My Life is one of my favorites from either of her albums. Blueberry Gossip the song has some great/heavy guitar work from Jesse. There's a cover of Everyday People (Sly Stone) that's not bad. There's certainly not anything on the album that I dislike. The album doesn't get the love that her debut does around here or anywhere else, but it's quite enjoyable. I'd love to have a CD quality copy of it (and her debut), but that's hard to come by. I'll have to settle for ripping them from my cassettes. Hope you enjoy the album. I'm gonna have to pull that cassette out and have a listen myself.

pzlyprk said:

thanks for your review of the album. i'm kind of surpised to hear you like it so much because in the past i've read bad things out it here. well, soon i'll hear for myself. feel free to keep em coming though, good or bad!

dancerella said:

I've scared myself from giving it a listen because of the reviews I seen comparing it to it's predecessor. Decided to lend it an ear last week, and to my delightful surprise, it is NOT the disaster it's made out to be. The only possible difference I could decipher was the production getting a little tighter, but since when has that been a bad thing?

Agreeing with pzlyprk about "Excite My Life." Let's just say, it took a while for me to get it off repeat

"Blueberry Gossip" and "Love Struck"
Summer of 1988
Buffalo, New York
Couldn't get enough of BOTH these jams!!!!!
"Cut 'Em Jesse"!!!!!

Sang it Ms. Margie Cox!!!!!

I liked every track on the first album. However, on the second album, the only two songs I liked were "Blueberry Gossip" and "Everyday People".

Everybody Dance & Affection were the cuts.

vainandy said:

what do you think is lacking on this album??

GoActive said:

i'm guess this album is an aquired taste so to speak as comments are very mixed but i'm happy to read a few positive ones. i can't wait to hear this album already!

MsLegs said:

Yep! Especially "Affection."

MuthaFunka said:

You know it.

MsLegs said:

you know i saw the video on you tube for Affection and didn't even realize i was familiar with the song. it is hot! i wish i could get their first album now.

pzlyprk said:

just curious. did you give it another listen? what do you think of it now??

dancerella said:

I GOT BOTH OF 'EM ON VINYL!!!!!

woogiebear said:

i'm jealous.

dancerella said:

Haven't had a chance yet. Missed it when I pulled several other MPLS tapes earlier in the week. Don't think I'll change my mind about it though. I wouldn't say it's as memorable as the debut, but I still think it's very enjoyable. They're both quite a bit different than what P did with her in '89 (MC Flash). As much as I love the Jesse's production on both Tamara albums, it's Margie's voice that really stands out to me. I think she had one of the best voices to come out of that MPLS scene. My other favorite was a Flyte Tyme Productions staple on their 80s work -- Lisa Keith. Anyway, I digress, don't let others taint your opinion of the second Ta Mara album. It's a fun and funky album... just not as short and sweet as her debut. Hope you enjoy it!

pzlyprk said:

guess what? i got my copy in the mail last night and on the first listen i was thinking oh no, i think the orgers might be right about this cd being kinda weak but i listened to it again on my way into work on my discman and it sounds really good! so far the stand out tracks are blueberry gossip, tuff girl & betcha she don't want you but overall it's not bad at all. i think maybe because from what i hear her debut album was flawless, so anything less from the 2nd one is gona be a hard act to follow. i think a lot of artists have suffered from that.

Who is MC Flash??

dancerella said:

Glad you gave it a second chance/listen. I waited three years for that album (85 to 88). I was pretty thrilled with it at the time (just to have a second album period). I think the expectations of some orgers tend to be unachievable (i.e. - anything new that P puts out doesn't compare with old stuff. Why compare... just enjoy.).

To answer your question... MC Flash was a project that Margie Cox (Ta Mara) did in 89 with Prince (MC stood for Margie Cox). After Blueberry Gossip failed to achieve any notoriety, she broke away from Jesse's camp and went the Paisley way. Most, if not all of that unreleased album is available on bootlegs. You can see footage of her from that time with P when she sang backup for him on SNL's 15th Anniversary Show (performing Electric Chair).