Home      Discussion      Topics      Dictionary      Almanac
Signup       Login
Ten Thousand Lightyears

Ten Thousand Lightyears

Overview
Ten Thousand Lightyears is the seventh studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist.It usually does not contain live recordings and/or remixes, and if it does, those tracks do not make up majority of the album and are often "bonus tracks"...

 by Boney M. and the first to feature new member Reggie Tsiboe
Reggie Tsiboe
Reggie Tsiboe was one of the lead singers of the disco group Boney M. between 1982-1986 and later between 1989-1990.In 1982 Reggie originally replaced the dancer Bobby Farrell, but in 1984 Farrell rejoined the group and they followed as a quintet...

 who had taken over Bobby Farrell's role as the band's leading man in early 1982. The first single to emerge from new recording sessions in 1982 was a cover version of The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers were a group of Australian folk-influenced popular musicians that was formed in Melbourne in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve significant chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States....

 1965 hit "The Carnival Is Over
The Carnival Is Over
"The Carnival Is Over" is a pop-folk song written by Tom Springfield in 1965 for the Australian group The Seekers, and The Seekers close their concerts with the song...

" backed with Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff
The Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, musician and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...

s "Going Back West" in June 1982 - "The Carnival Is Over" had an ominous ring to its title, being the first Boney M.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Ten Thousand Lightyears'
Start a new discussion about 'Ten Thousand Lightyears'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum
 
Encyclopedia
Ten Thousand Lightyears is the seventh studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist.It usually does not contain live recordings and/or remixes, and if it does, those tracks do not make up majority of the album and are often "bonus tracks"...

 by Boney M. and the first to feature new member Reggie Tsiboe
Reggie Tsiboe
Reggie Tsiboe was one of the lead singers of the disco group Boney M. between 1982-1986 and later between 1989-1990.In 1982 Reggie originally replaced the dancer Bobby Farrell, but in 1984 Farrell rejoined the group and they followed as a quintet...

 who had taken over Bobby Farrell's role as the band's leading man in early 1982. The first single to emerge from new recording sessions in 1982 was a cover version of The Seekers
The Seekers
The Seekers were a group of Australian folk-influenced popular musicians that was formed in Melbourne in 1962. They were the first Australian popular music group to achieve significant chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States....

 1965 hit "The Carnival Is Over
The Carnival Is Over
"The Carnival Is Over" is a pop-folk song written by Tom Springfield in 1965 for the Australian group The Seekers, and The Seekers close their concerts with the song...

" backed with Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff
The Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, musician and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...

s "Going Back West" in June 1982 - "The Carnival Is Over" had an ominous ring to its title, being the first Boney M. single not to enter the German Top 20, peaking at a disappointing #41, and prompting Hansa to send out a new mix of "Going Back West", promoting this as the A-side.

After a break in the spring of 1983 when Liz Mitchell gave birth to her second child, and Marcia Barrett recorded demos with Eddy Grant
Eddy Grant
Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant is a British-Guyanese world-music singer-songwriter.-Childhood:When he was still a young boy, his parents relocated to London, UK, where he settled...

, the band issued "Jambo - Hakuna Matata (No Problems)" backed with a new remix of "African Moon" from the Boonoonoonoos
Boonoonoonoos
Boonoonoonoos is the fifth studio album by Boney M. It was released November 1, 1981.Despite producer Frank Farian having announced that Boney M...

 album. In Spain and Portugal, the single emerged with the original 1981 mix of "African Moon". The Iberian 12" singles furthermore included the full 7:44 mix of "Jambo" (the German 12" included a 5:35 edit) and another 1983 recording, "I Need A Babysitter" (a cover of French punk rocker Mahjun's 1980 hit), unavailable elsewhere. "Jambo" was originally intended to be the lead single for the seventh Boney M. album scheduled for release in the Autumn of 1983, but due to the poor chart performance of the single (#48 Germany, 5 weeks) both "Jambo" and "Babysitter" were omitted from the album, and the project postponed for another six months.

During the winter of 1983/1984 new recordings were made and the album was then given a whole new approach. It was supposed have been a continuation of the ethno-African themes, both musically and lyrically, of 1981's Boonoonoonoos but after the miscalculation with "Jambo" most of the new tracks which ultimately ended up as the side A suite were given a science fiction theme, the album title Ten Thousand Lightyears was chosen. Launched with a ZDF TV-special, the album was finally released in May of 1984 and was also Boney M.'s debut on the new Compact Disc format.

The single chosen to promote the finished album was ballad "Somewhere In The World" - it became the fourth consecutive Boney M. single not to reach the German Top 40. What was carefully planned to be a triumphant comeback after a three year long absence on the European charts unfortunately and in hindsight rather unfairly instead turned out to be the band's and producer Frank Farian's biggest commercial failure to date. Even though the album peaked at #23 in the German album charts, it did very little elsewhere, and the second single "Living Like A Moviestar" was cancelled.

Additional information


In the summer of 1984, Reggie Tsiboe and Liz Mitchell began recording a second Christmas Album with session singers Amy & Elaine Goff. For reasons unknown, Marcia Barrett wasn't invited, and her vocal role in Boney M. was now drastically diminishing. These sessions yielded six new titles: "Hark The Herald Angels Sing", "The First Noel", "Joy To The World", "Auld Lang Syne", "Oh Christmas Tree" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" (which featured the Goff-sisters alone). These sessions were put on hold when Farian heard Tony Esposito
Tony Esposito
For the Italian musician, please see Tony Esposito .Anthony James "Tony O" Esposito is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender, who played in the National Hockey League, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks. He was one of the pioneers of the now popular butterfly style.-Early...

s hit single "Kalimba de Luna" and decided to record a version for the German market with Reggie Tsiboe on lead vocals. The omission of Liz and Marcia on vocals and their absence in the first video version indicates it was supposed to have been a Reggie Tsiboe solo track, but it ended being released as a Boney M. track in August 1984, returning the group to the German Top 20 for the first time in nearly three years. A new version of "10.000 Lightyears" was released in September, adding the track to Side 2, and also seeing Carrere release the album in France with the title "Kalimba De Luna".

Album Details


A promotional white-label album in a white sleeve with the album logo and song credits was released on Hansa LP 206 318-000, featuring several different mixes, the title track even featuring a third verse which was cut off the released version. Furthermore, "The Alibama" (also appearing in a one minute longer version) featured lead vocals by co-writer Sandy Davis (Liz Mitchell sang the lead on the released version) and most likely slipped out by accident. The promo version is often mistaken as a Reggie Tsiboe lead.

A second promotional package was released in a gatefold plastic sleeve containing the commercial LP with a poster, a sheet with all the song lyrics (not included in the commercial version) plus a booklet with an essay about the album by Hans-Jörg Mayer (aka Reyam) and an interview with Frank Farian. The 12" single "Somewhere in the World" was inserted in the other side of the gatefold sleeve. Both promotional versions are sought-after items for Boney M. collectors.

Track Details


The second version of Boonoonoonoos
Boonoonoonoos
Boonoonoonoos is the fifth studio album by Boney M. It was released November 1, 1981.Despite producer Frank Farian having announced that Boney M...

 track "Jimmy" included on Ten Thousand Lightyears had originally been recorded in early 1982 as Atlantic Records UK planned to release it as the follow-up to single "We Kill The World (Don't Kill The World)". The record company recognised the commercial potential of the track but felt that it would benefit from an up-tempo arrangement. When the re-recorded version was delivered to them they had however lost interest in the band and 1982's "The Carnival Is Over" became the final Boney M. single to be issued by the Atlantic Records label. The updated version of "Jimmy" was then offered to Precious Wilson for her second solo album, she too turned it down and it instead ended up as the last but one track on album Ten Thousand Lightyears.

The cover version of Tommy Roe
Tommy Roe
For the English footballer of the same name see Tommy Roe Tommy Roe is an American pop music singer-songwriter....

's 1969 hit "Dizzy
Dizzy (song)
"Dizzy" is a song originally recorded by Tommy Roe which was a worldwide smash hit single in 1969.Written by Roe and Freddy Weller, "Dizzy" was a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number one on the U.S...

" was originally planned to be released as a duet single with Frank Farian and singer Sandy Davis which never happened. An unreleased extended 12" club mix also exists.

A remixed version of the rare 1983 recording "Babysitter" was released as a B-side to the 1992 "Megamix" CD-single, an alternate, previously unreleased mix was released on the 2007 CD re-issue of Ten Thousand Lightyears.

Track listing


Hansa LP 206 200-620 (Germany, May 1984)

Side A:
  1. "Exodus (Noah's Ark 2001)" (Davis, Farian, Kawohl) - 5:19
  2. "Wild Planet" (Bischof, Farian) - 4:06
  3. "Future World" (Bischof, Farian) - 3:48
  4. "Where Did You Go?" (Bischof, Kawohl) - 4:09
  5. "10.000 Lightyears" (Bischof, Bjorklund, Farian, Kawohl) - 4:32
  6. "I Feel Good" (Bischof, Farian, Barzscht) - 3:05



Side B:
  1. "Somewhere in the World" (Davis, Grohe, Keilhauer) - 4:38
  2. "Bel Ami" (Bischof, Farian, Rainford) 3:12
  3. "Living Like a Moviestar" (Bischof, Farian, Kawohl) - 3:04
  4. "Dizzy
    Dizzy (song)
    "Dizzy" is a song originally recorded by Tommy Roe which was a worldwide smash hit single in 1969.Written by Roe and Freddy Weller, "Dizzy" was a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number one on the U.S...

    " (Tommy Roe
    Tommy Roe
    For the English footballer of the same name see Tommy Roe Tommy Roe is an American pop music singer-songwriter....

    , Weller) - 3:28
  5. "The Alibama" (Davis, Farian, Reyam) - 3:11
  6. "Jimmy" (Farian, Howell, Daansen) - 3:02
    • New Version 1982
  7. "Barbarella Fortuneteller" (Davis, Farian, Kawohl) - 2:58







Alternate album editions


Hansa Promotional White-label LP 206 318-000 (Germany, May 1984)

Side A:
  1. "Exodus (Noah's Ark 2001)" (Davis, Farian, Kawohl) - 4:48
    • Alternate mix
  2. "Wild Planet" (Bischof, Farian) - 3:57
    • Alternate mix
  3. "Future World" (Bischof, Farian) - 4:09
    • Alternate mix
  4. "Where Did You Go?" (Bischof, Kawohl) - 4:09
  5. "10.000 Lightyears" (Bischof, Bjorklund, Farian, Kawohl) - 4:17 ´
    • Alternate mix with extra verse
  6. "I Feel Good" (Bischof, Farian, Barzscht) - 2:15
    • Alternate, abridged mix

Side B:
  1. "Somewhere in the World" (Davis, Grohe, Keilhauer) - 4:30
    • Alternate mix
  2. "Bel Ami" (Bischof, Farian, Rainford) 3:12
  3. "Living Like a Moviestar" (Bischof, Farian, Kawohl) - 3:04
  4. "Dizzy
    Dizzy (song)
    "Dizzy" is a song originally recorded by Tommy Roe which was a worldwide smash hit single in 1969.Written by Roe and Freddy Weller, "Dizzy" was a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number one on the U.S...

    " (Tommy Roe
    Tommy Roe
    For the English footballer of the same name see Tommy Roe Tommy Roe is an American pop music singer-songwriter....

    , Weller) - 3:46
    • Alternate mix
  5. "The Alibama" (Davis, Farian, Reyam) - 4:06
    • Alternate mix with Sandy Davis on lead vocals
  6. "Jimmy" (Farian, Howell, Daansen) - 3:02
    • New Version 1982
  7. "Barbarella Fortuneteller" (Davis, Farian, Kawohl) - 2:05
    • Abridged mix



Hansa 206 555-620 (Germany, September 1984)

Side A
(as Hansa 206 200)

Side B:
  1. "Kalimba De Luna" (Esposito, Malavasi, Amoruso, Licastro, Di Franco) - 3:16
    • Edited Single Version
  2. "Somewhere in the World" (Davis, Grohe, Keilhauer) - 3:10
    • Edited Single Version
  3. "Bel Ami" (Bischof, Farian, Rainford) 3:12
  4. "Living Like a Moviestar" (Bischof, Farian, Kawohl) - 3:04
  5. "Dizzy
    Dizzy (song)
    "Dizzy" is a song originally recorded by Tommy Roe which was a worldwide smash hit single in 1969.Written by Roe and Freddy Weller, "Dizzy" was a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number one on the U.S...

    " (Tommy Roe
    Tommy Roe
    For the English footballer of the same name see Tommy Roe Tommy Roe is an American pop music singer-songwriter....

    , Weller) - 3:28
  6. "The Alibama" (Davis, Farian, Reyam) - 3:11
  7. "Jimmy" (Farian, Howell, Daansen) - 3:02
    • New Version 1982
  8. "Barbarella Fortuneteller" (Davis, Farian, Kawohl) - 2:58



Kalimba de Luna Carrere 66.189 (France, September 1984)

Side A
(as Hansa 206 200)

Side B:
  1. "Kalimba De Luna" (Esposito, Malavasi, Amoruso, Licastro, Di Franco) - 6:53
    • Slightly abridged 12" Version
  2. "Somewhere in the World" (Davis, Grohe, Keilhauer) - 4:38
  3. "Bel Ami" (Bischof, Farian, Rainford) 3:12
  4. "Living Like a Moviestar" (Bischof, Farian, Kawohl) - 3:04
  5. "Dizzy
    Dizzy (song)
    "Dizzy" is a song originally recorded by Tommy Roe which was a worldwide smash hit single in 1969.Written by Roe and Freddy Weller, "Dizzy" was a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number one on the U.S...

    " (Tommy Roe
    Tommy Roe
    For the English footballer of the same name see Tommy Roe Tommy Roe is an American pop music singer-songwriter....

    , Weller) - 3:28
  6. "The Alibama" (Davis, Farian, Reyam) - 3:11
  7. "Barbarella Fortuneteller" (Davis, Farian, Kawohl) - 2:58

Personnel

  • Liz Mitchell
    Liz Mitchell
    Liz Mitchell is a singer, best known as the former lead singer of the 1970s disco/pop band, Boney M.-Early life:...

     - lead vocals
    Singing
    Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. A person who sings is called a singer or vocalist...

     (All tracks except "Dizzy", "Barbarella Fortuneteller" and "Kalimba de Luna"), backing vocals
    Backing vocalist
    A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...

  • Frank Farian
    Frank Farian
    Not to be confused with Frank Farina.Franz Reuther , better known as Frank Farian, is a German music producer and singer-songwriter. He started out as a trained cook before moving into the music business...

     - backing vocals, rap on "Dizzy"
  • Reggie Tsiboe
    Reggie Tsiboe
    Reggie Tsiboe was one of the lead singers of the disco group Boney M. between 1982-1986 and later between 1989-1990.In 1982 Reggie originally replaced the dancer Bobby Farrell, but in 1984 Farrell rejoined the group and they followed as a quintet...

     - lead vocals "Wild Planet", "Barbarella Fortuneteller" and "Kalimba de Luna", backing vocals
  • Marcia Barrett
    Marcia Barrett
    Marcia Barrett , is one of the original vocalists with the prominent pop vocal group, Boney M.- The early years :...

     - lead vocal "Wild Planet", backing vocals
  • La Mama
    La Mama (band)
    La Mama is a German pop and disco trio who worked in Frank Farian's studios in the first half of the 1980s. Adapting their name from New York theatre La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, they released three singles and two albums and worked as backing singers on a number of recordings for other...

     (Madeleine Davis
    Madeleine Davis
    Madeleine Davis is an American-born pop and jazz singer and a stage actress...

    , Patricia Shockley, Judy Cheeks
    Judy Cheeks
    Judy Cheeks is a female dance music singer born in Miami, Florida and is the daughter of gospel singer and preacher Rev. Julius Cheeks. In 1978 she hit #10 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Mellow Lovin'," and then had a career resurgence in the 1990s, when she re-emerged with a string of...

    ) - backing vocals "Future World", "I Feel Good", "Barbarella Fortuneteller", "The Alibama" and "Kalimba De Luna".
  • Amy Goff - backing vocals "10.000 Lightyears", "Dizzy" and "Kalimba de Luna"
  • Elaine Goff - backing vocals "10.000 Lightyears", "Dizzy" and "Kalimba de Luna"
  • Bill Swisher - narrator on "Wild Planet"
  • Sandy Davis - lead vocals "Dizzy", "The Alibama" (promotional-only LP version)
  • Mrs. Hanson and Children - additional vocals on "Exodus"
  • Max Greger - keyboards
    Keyboard instrument
    A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organs as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...

  • Curt Cress - drums
    Drum kit
    A drum set is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person . The term "drum kit" first became used in the 1700s in Britain...

  • Johan Daansen - guitar
    Guitar
    The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...

  • Mats Björklund - guitar
  • Pit Löw - keyboards
    Keyboard instrument
    A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include various types of organs as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...

  • Christian Schneider - saxophone
    Saxophone
    The saxophone is a conical-bored transposing musical instrument considered a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and are played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841...

  • Kristian Schultze - keyboards
  • Dino Solera - saxophone
  • Munich String Orchestra - orchestra
  • London Philharmonic Orchestra
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...

     - orchestra

Production

  • Frank Farian - producer
    Record producer
    In the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...

  • Dietmar Kawohl - arranger
    Arranger
    In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...

  • Stefan Klinkhammer - arranger
  • Harry Baierl - arranger
  • Kristian Schultze - arranger
  • Carmine Di - engineer
    Engineer
    Engineers are concerned with developing economical and safe solutions to practical problems, by applying mathematics and scientific knowledge while considering technical constraints. The term is derived from the Latin root "ingenium," meaning "cleverness"...

  • Zeke Lund - engineer
  • Ralph P. Rupert - engineer

CD releases

  • 1984 Germany: Hansa 610 140-222 (Track listing as Hansa 206 200-620)
  • 1994 Germany: BMG 74321 21266 2 (Track listing as Hansa 206 200-620)
  • 2007 Germany: Sony BMG 88697 09482 2 with Bonus Tracks: 14. "The Carnival Is Over" (Trad., Springfield, Farian, Courage) - 4:20 (Edited 1982 Single Version), and "I Need A Babysitter" (Mahjun, Allegue, Farian, Courage) - 3:46 (New 2007 mix)

Single releases


UK

7"
  • "The Carnival is Over (Goodbye True Lover)" (Traditional, Chappell, Tom Springfield
    Tom Springfield
    Tom Springfield is the brother of Dusty Springfield and an important figure in the 1960s folk and pop music scene...

    , Frank Farian) - 4:20 / "Going Back West" (Jimmy Cliff
    Jimmy Cliff
    The Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM is a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, musician and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts and sciences...

    ) - 4:14 (Atlantic Records
    Atlantic Records
    Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...

     A 9973, 1982)

Germany

7"
  • "The Carnival is Over (Goodbye True Lover)" - 4:45 / "Going Back West" - 4:05 (Hansa Records
    Hansa Records
    Hansa Records was a record label founded in the 1960s based in Berlin, Germany....

     104 475-100, 1982)
  • "Jambo - Hakuna Matata (No Problems)" (Bischof, Harrison) - 3:39 / "African Moon" (Remix '83) - 3:41 (Hansa 105 577-100, 1983)
  • "Somewhere in the World" - 4:34 / "Exodus (Noah's Ark 2001)" (7" Edit) - 4:37 (Hansa 106 320-100, 1984)

12"
  • "Medley: Going Back West/Silly Confusion" - 9:05 / "The Carnival Is Over (Goodbye True Lover) - 4:52 (Hansa 600 633-213, 1982)
  • "Jambo - Hakuna Matata (No Problems)" (12" Mix) - 5:33 / "African Moon" (Remix '83 - 12" Mix) - 6:39 (Hansa 600 922-213, 1983)
  • "Somewhere in the World" (12" Mix) - 5:05 / "Exodus (Noah's Ark 2001)" (12" Mix) - 5:54 / "Wild Planet" - 3:31 (Hansa 601 246-213, 1984)

Sources and external links