COVERSTORY: "STARPOINT"
Back in 1969 this New York band had already been formed. Originally the band was called Licyndiana, however no one could pronounce or understand it. Therefore the name was changed to Starpoint. The band peaked throughout the 80's. They disbanded in 1990.
Listen to a selection of Starpoint 's greatest songs here ! [WMP required]
The band members:
George Phillips (Lead & Background Vocals, Clavinet, Piano, Percussion)
Kayode Adeyemo (Bass, Percussion, Background Vocals)
Renee Diggs (Lead & Background Vocals)
Lionel Job (Producer, Arranger, Mixing, Drums, Percussion)
Ernesto Phillips (Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Percussion, Lead & Background Vocals)
Gregory Phillips (Drums, Congas, Bongos, Percussion, Background Vocals)
Orlando Phillips (Bass Guitar, Tenor Sax, Background Vocals, Keyboards, Synthesizers)
Starpoint built up a reputation in the club scene and after three Chocolate City albums they were signed to Casablanca in 1982 with their album "All Night Long". This album included songs like
"Bring Your Sweet Lovin' Back" and "Get Your Body Up". It has been said that they could emulate Aurra and Slave very well, but they really had a sound of their own. The group highest charted single (# 8 on Billboard) was "Object Of My Desire" (Elektra, 1985). The three albums (see titles below) before "All Night Long" from 1980 and 1981 included great uptempo songs like "Gonna Lift You Up", "I Just Wanna Dance With You", "I Just Want To Be Your Lover", "Keep On It", "I Want You Closer," "Starpoint's Here Tonight", "Wanting You" and "Star Nite (Your Night)".
In 1983 Starpoint made the album "It's So Delicious" for Boardwalk Records. Songs like "Don't Be So Serious" and "It's So Delicious" sounded more "electronic" and even "Minneapolis" like.
Tracks on the B-Side like "Behind Your Back" and "I'm So Crazy 'Bout You" were both electronic and funky.
In 1984 Starpoint switched to Elektra Records. The album "It's All Yours" (1984) included great uptempo, danceable tracks like "It's All Yours", Satisfy Me Lover" and "Breakout". A change of their sound has been made with this album. Even so more so with their album "Restless" (1985). The song "Object Of My Desire" has been in the Billboard charts for 22 weeks. It had a "commercial" sound to it, which also can be be heard with the song "Restless". In 1987 Starpoint recorded the album "Sensational", mainly known for their track "He Wants My Body".
The lead female singer, Renee Diggs, has also worked as a backing singer with artists like James Ingram and Bob James. In 1993 she recorded songs for her solo album "Oasis" with Capitol Records but the release of this album was 8 years later in 2001 with Expansion Records (UK). Produced by Marcus Miller and Barry Eastmond (also produced for Freddie Jackson) the album is a real "wannahave" for people like us.
Starpoint Albums:
Starpoint (Chocolate City 1980)
Keep on It (Chocolate City 1981)
Wanting You (Chocolate City 1981)
All Night Long (Casablanca 1982)
It's So Delicious (Boardwalk 1983)
It's All Yours (Elektra 1984)
Restless (Elektra 1985)
Sensational (Elektra 1987)
Hot to the Touch (Asylum 1988)
Have You Got What It Takes (Elektra 1990)
