City Rhythm (Sandy Lam album)
Encyclopedia
City Rhythm is the sixth studio album
by Sandy Lam
, released under Warner Bros. Records
in the winter of 1988. "City Rhythm" is a series of albums that launched Sandy's career into the ranks of Anita Mui, Sally Yeh, Priscilla Chan, etc. "City Rhythm" is also the beginning of Hong Kong mainstream concept albums. Much was riding over what musical direction this album will take, especially because this Sandy had just signed earlier in 1988 shortly after the release of Ready
. In this particular "City Rhythm" album, the songs are mainly dance-pop
and cover of ballads. Sandy had considerably more control since this album, along with Clarence Hui and Anthony Lun as producers for the "City Rhythm" series.
2. Thunder Stormy Night (雷電風雨夜)
3. It's Late at Night... No Excuses (夜了...沒有藉口)
4. What's Left Behind... (還有...) --Duet with Dave Wang
5. Seeing the Morrow Again (又見朝陽)
6. Once We've Touched (一接觸)
7. You Are My Man (你是我的男人)
8. City Dreams (偷閒)
9. Talk More Mistaketh More (講多錯多)
10. Crazy Because of You (因你瘋了)
What's Left Behind... (Music Version)--Released under "City Rhythm Part One Take Two" Warner Bros. Records 1989
Talk More Mistaketh More (So Angry that You can Dance)--Released under "City Rhythm Part One Take Two" Warner Bros. Records 1989
. To help with this, producers Clarence Hui, Anthony Lun, and Sandy Lam has portrayed a surreal young urban professional woman in the realistic city of the late 80s. The lyrics were often positively described as very fine, whilst being very narrating. The lyrics were, if not warm and romantic, very daring when they touch on rare topics such as sex. They describe their experiences of life and love in the busy streets, with many flexibility to it, which can be joyful or sad. To achieve this, they dug out talented lyricists Richard Lam, Thomas Chow and Calvin Poon, along with occasional changes to write adult contemporary stories of modern day women. In “City Rhythm”, the specific theme is a woman trying their best to have a “perfect world” to have a job and many desires for a lover, but keeping themselves a very high social status, and therefore, not accepting ordinary lovers.
Description of concept of specific songs:
In the Midst of the Night—A woman’s desperate desire for love and sex
Thunder Stormy Night –A woman’s continuous thoughts about a lover
It's Late at Night... No Excuses—A woman’s clear oath about breaking up very calmly and strongly
What's Left Behind...—A Pair of lover’s past
Seeing the Morrow Again—A woman’s growing self-esteem for a better tomorrow
Once We've Touched—A woman’s desire for a man, after meeting them once
You Are My Man—A woman’s very rich relationship with a man
City Dreams—A woman’s wish to escape from work for rest, and to have a “City Dream”
Talk More Mistaketh More—The man is being dishonest with the woman, where the woman is more than glad that the man decide to leave
Crazy Because of You—A woman’s interlooping undecided monologue after seeing their last lover
seasonal award and nomination in 1988 and 1989 respectively, although not winning either.
. Slow songs tend to be ordinary pop songs. Upbeat songs tend to be dance pop songs. “What’s Left Behind…” is somewhat another milestone, becoming Sandy’s first official duet, promoting Dave Wang in Hong Kong. Music is not a major improvement, or possibly a disappointment since it does not have the strong R&B and Jazz
of Ready, nor the Eurodance
of Grey. Therefore, it is not the album that has music that is absolutely unique in 1988. Arrangers are quite similar to her previous albums, which is mainly Anthony Lun and Andrew Tuason. With the exception of “In the Midst of the Night”, all songs were covers of songs all around the world, including USA, Japan, Taiwan, even France. This is most likely due to the rush the team is in for a winter release.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Sandy Lam
Sandy Lam
Sandy Lam, also known as Lam Yik Lin, is a Cantopop singer who sings in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Japanese.-Career:...
, released under Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
in the winter of 1988. "City Rhythm" is a series of albums that launched Sandy's career into the ranks of Anita Mui, Sally Yeh, Priscilla Chan, etc. "City Rhythm" is also the beginning of Hong Kong mainstream concept albums. Much was riding over what musical direction this album will take, especially because this Sandy had just signed earlier in 1988 shortly after the release of Ready
Ready (Sandy Lam album)
Ready is the fifth studio album by Sandy Lam, released under CBS Records in the summer of 1988. "Ready" would be a major milestone in Sandy's career because it would be her first album to be heavily influenced by R&B and Jazz which strongly affected her future...
. In this particular "City Rhythm" album, the songs are mainly dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
and cover of ballads. Sandy had considerably more control since this album, along with Clarence Hui and Anthony Lun as producers for the "City Rhythm" series.
Track listing
1. In the Midst of the Night (三更夜半)2. Thunder Stormy Night (雷電風雨夜)
3. It's Late at Night... No Excuses (夜了...沒有藉口)
4. What's Left Behind... (還有...) --Duet with Dave Wang
5. Seeing the Morrow Again (又見朝陽)
6. Once We've Touched (一接觸)
7. You Are My Man (你是我的男人)
8. City Dreams (偷閒)
9. Talk More Mistaketh More (講多錯多)
10. Crazy Because of You (因你瘋了)
Alternate versions
In the Midst of the Night (Spring Version)--Released under "City Rhythm Part One Take Two" Warner Bros. Records 1989What's Left Behind... (Music Version)--Released under "City Rhythm Part One Take Two" Warner Bros. Records 1989
Talk More Mistaketh More (So Angry that You can Dance)--Released under "City Rhythm Part One Take Two" Warner Bros. Records 1989
Conceptual Aspect
“City Rhythm” is definitely most praised for the conceptual aspect. “City Rhythm” series are a delicate set of albums that was constructed to hit the market while introducing bits of new music with the then unpopular concept albumConcept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
. To help with this, producers Clarence Hui, Anthony Lun, and Sandy Lam has portrayed a surreal young urban professional woman in the realistic city of the late 80s. The lyrics were often positively described as very fine, whilst being very narrating. The lyrics were, if not warm and romantic, very daring when they touch on rare topics such as sex. They describe their experiences of life and love in the busy streets, with many flexibility to it, which can be joyful or sad. To achieve this, they dug out talented lyricists Richard Lam, Thomas Chow and Calvin Poon, along with occasional changes to write adult contemporary stories of modern day women. In “City Rhythm”, the specific theme is a woman trying their best to have a “perfect world” to have a job and many desires for a lover, but keeping themselves a very high social status, and therefore, not accepting ordinary lovers.
Description of concept of specific songs:
In the Midst of the Night—A woman’s desperate desire for love and sex
Thunder Stormy Night –A woman’s continuous thoughts about a lover
It's Late at Night... No Excuses—A woman’s clear oath about breaking up very calmly and strongly
What's Left Behind...—A Pair of lover’s past
Seeing the Morrow Again—A woman’s growing self-esteem for a better tomorrow
Once We've Touched—A woman’s desire for a man, after meeting them once
You Are My Man—A woman’s very rich relationship with a man
City Dreams—A woman’s wish to escape from work for rest, and to have a “City Dream”
Talk More Mistaketh More—The man is being dishonest with the woman, where the woman is more than glad that the man decide to leave
Crazy Because of You—A woman’s interlooping undecided monologue after seeing their last lover
Commercial Aspect
Being the first album for a new company, “City Rhythm” lived up to expectations and went platinum. The album has succeeded because of Sandy’s new image and an extension of her last album’s music. Hit singles (chronologically) include “Talk More Mistaketh More”, “What's Left Behind...”, “In the midst of the Night” and “You are My Man”. All four singles performed very well commercially, the biggest hit being “Talk More Mistaketh More”. The first two singles topped the RTHK charts, while “Talk More Mistaketh More” also reaches No. 1 on the CRHK charts. In the CRHK charts, “What’s Left Behind…”, “You are My Man” and “In the Midst of the Night” peaked at No.3, 10 and 17 respectively. “Talk More Mistaketh More” and “In the Midst of the Night” both earned a Jade Solid GoldJade Solid Gold
Jade Solid Gold is a music show on the TVB Jade television channel. It has been running since October 10, 1981.-TVB HD Jade:**Thursday at 6:00am to 6:30am**Thursday at 6:00pm to 6:30pm...
seasonal award and nomination in 1988 and 1989 respectively, although not winning either.
Musical Aspect
“City Rhythm” is fairly similar to ReadyReady (Sandy Lam album)
Ready is the fifth studio album by Sandy Lam, released under CBS Records in the summer of 1988. "Ready" would be a major milestone in Sandy's career because it would be her first album to be heavily influenced by R&B and Jazz which strongly affected her future...
. Slow songs tend to be ordinary pop songs. Upbeat songs tend to be dance pop songs. “What’s Left Behind…” is somewhat another milestone, becoming Sandy’s first official duet, promoting Dave Wang in Hong Kong. Music is not a major improvement, or possibly a disappointment since it does not have the strong R&B and Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
of Ready, nor the Eurodance
Eurodance
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
of Grey. Therefore, it is not the album that has music that is absolutely unique in 1988. Arrangers are quite similar to her previous albums, which is mainly Anthony Lun and Andrew Tuason. With the exception of “In the Midst of the Night”, all songs were covers of songs all around the world, including USA, Japan, Taiwan, even France. This is most likely due to the rush the team is in for a winter release.