The Superstars
Encyclopedia
The Superstars was the third album by Dutch soundalike studio group Stars on 45
, released on the CNR Records label in The Netherlands in March 1982. In the US the album was retitled Stars On Long Play III, released on Radio Records and credited to 'Stars On'. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand the album was instead titled Stars Medley, again credited to Starsound and released by CBS Records
. Just like the two preceding Stars on 45 albums The Superstars was also issued in the Soviet Union
and large parts of the Eastern Bloc
by state-owned label Melodiya
, credited to Stars on 45 but released under the title Discotheque Stars 3.
The fourth Stars On 45 single released in both Europe and the U.S. was "Stars on Stevie
", paying tribute to Stevie Wonder
and including a selection of his best-known songs, ranging from his breakthrough single "Fingertips
" (released in 1963 and credited to Little Stevie Wonder) to his then most recent US hit "Master Blaster (Jammin)
". The "Stars On Stevie" medley - in the UK somewhat confusingly released by CBS as Starsound: "Stars Medley", the very same title as the album - became Stars On 45's fourth UK Top 20 hit, peaking at #14 in February 1982. In the US, where it was given a third title, "Stars On 45 III: In Tribute To Stevie Wonder", it reached #28 on Billboard
s Hot 100 chart.
The extended 12" mix of "Stars On Stevie" was included on Stars On 45's third full-length release The Superstars where it was placed as the opening track on Side B, followed by an also-extended version of the single's B-side, "It's Not A Wonder, It's A Miracle", written by producer Jaap Eggermont and musical arranger Martin Duiser.
For the A-side of the album Eggermont returned to the concept of the first Stars On 45 LP by again creating a sixteen minute side-long medley, this time dedicated to The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the World
; The Rolling Stones
. The twenty-five track medley charted the band's at the time seventeen year long career, from their 1965 breakthrough with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
" via classic hits like "Ruby Tuesday", "Sympathy For The Devil", "Miss You", "Under My Thumb" and "Honky Tonk Women" all the way to 1980's "Emotional Rescue
" and "Start Me Up
", a UK and US Top Ten hit in August 1981. "The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band In The World" single didn't fare as well on the charts however; while it became another Top 20 hit in the Netherlands and a few other European countries it failed to chart in both the UK and the US and The Superstars album itself met with the same fate, only reaching #94 on the UK albums chart and failing to register on Billboard's Top 200 chart in the US. (The only version of the Stars On 45 Stones medley to have been re-released on CD is the heavily-edited 7" mix, only including ten of the original twenty-five titles and 5:09 in length. The 9 minute 40 second 12" mix featured the majority of the Stones tracks in slightly edited form.)
Consequently, for the following album project producer Jaap Eggermont made a radical change of the Stars On 45 concept by launching the spin-off group The Star Sisters
, mainly covering material made famous by The Andrews Sisters
and other stars from the 1940s, 50's and early 60's - and without the Stars On 45 disco beat and its characteristic handclaps. The Star Sisters went on to release three albums and a series of singles between the years 1983 and 1987 whose commercial success was limited to Continental Europe in general and the Benelux
countries in particular.
The Superstars/Stars On Longplay III/Stars Medley album in its entirety and in its original form remains unreleased on CD.
All tracks written by Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
unless otherwise noted
All tracks written by Stevie Wonder
unless otherwise noted
2. "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser) - 0:07
3. "It's Not A Wonder, It's A Miracle" (Eggermont, Duiser) - 6:54
For the US album, this track is titled "Stars On Get Ready III"
4. "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser) - 0:07
Stars on 45
Stars on 45 was a Dutch novelty pop act that was briefly very popular in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, the United States and Australia in the early 1980s. The group later shortened its name to Stars On in the U.S., while in the U.K. and Ireland it was known as Starsound...
, released on the CNR Records label in The Netherlands in March 1982. In the US the album was retitled Stars On Long Play III, released on Radio Records and credited to 'Stars On'. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand the album was instead titled Stars Medley, again credited to Starsound and released by CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
. Just like the two preceding Stars on 45 albums The Superstars was also issued in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and large parts of the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
by state-owned label Melodiya
Melodiya
Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company/label of the Soviet Union.-History:It was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya"...
, credited to Stars on 45 but released under the title Discotheque Stars 3.
The fourth Stars On 45 single released in both Europe and the U.S. was "Stars on Stevie
Stars on Stevie
"Stars on Stevie" a.k.a. "Stars Medley" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 III: In Tribute to Stevie Wonder" was a song issued in 1982 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, in the UK credited to 'Starsound', in the US 'Stars On'...
", paying tribute to Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and including a selection of his best-known songs, ranging from his breakthrough single "Fingertips
Fingertips
"Fingertips" is a 1963 number one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States since Johnny Standley's 1952...
" (released in 1963 and credited to Little Stevie Wonder) to his then most recent US hit "Master Blaster (Jammin)
Master Blaster (Jammin)
"Master Blaster " is a 1980 single by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from his 1980 album Hotter than July.-History:The song, built on a heavy reggae feel, is an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley; Wonder had been performing with Marley a few times in concerts on his US tour in the fall of...
". The "Stars On Stevie" medley - in the UK somewhat confusingly released by CBS as Starsound: "Stars Medley", the very same title as the album - became Stars On 45's fourth UK Top 20 hit, peaking at #14 in February 1982. In the US, where it was given a third title, "Stars On 45 III: In Tribute To Stevie Wonder", it reached #28 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Hot 100 chart.
The extended 12" mix of "Stars On Stevie" was included on Stars On 45's third full-length release The Superstars where it was placed as the opening track on Side B, followed by an also-extended version of the single's B-side, "It's Not A Wonder, It's A Miracle", written by producer Jaap Eggermont and musical arranger Martin Duiser.
For the A-side of the album Eggermont returned to the concept of the first Stars On 45 LP by again creating a sixteen minute side-long medley, this time dedicated to The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the World
The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the World
"The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band in the World" a.k.a. "Stars Medley" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 III: Rollin' Stars" was a song issued in 1982 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, in the UK credited to 'Starsound', in the US 'Stars On'...
; The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. The twenty-five track medley charted the band's at the time seventeen year long career, from their 1965 breakthrough with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
" Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Richards's throwaway three-note guitar riff — intended to be replaced by horns — opens and drives the song...
" via classic hits like "Ruby Tuesday", "Sympathy For The Devil", "Miss You", "Under My Thumb" and "Honky Tonk Women" all the way to 1980's "Emotional Rescue
Emotional Rescue (song)
"Emotional Rescue" is a song by the English rock 'n roll band, The Rolling Stones. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and is featured on their 1980 album Emotional Rescue....
" and "Start Me Up
Start Me Up
"Start Me Up" is a song by The Rolling Stones featured on the 1981 album Tattoo You. Released as the album's lead single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the UK Singles Chart.-Writing and recording:...
", a UK and US Top Ten hit in August 1981. "The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band In The World" single didn't fare as well on the charts however; while it became another Top 20 hit in the Netherlands and a few other European countries it failed to chart in both the UK and the US and The Superstars album itself met with the same fate, only reaching #94 on the UK albums chart and failing to register on Billboard's Top 200 chart in the US. (The only version of the Stars On 45 Stones medley to have been re-released on CD is the heavily-edited 7" mix, only including ten of the original twenty-five titles and 5:09 in length. The 9 minute 40 second 12" mix featured the majority of the Stones tracks in slightly edited form.)
Consequently, for the following album project producer Jaap Eggermont made a radical change of the Stars On 45 concept by launching the spin-off group The Star Sisters
Star Sisters
The Star Sisters were a female Dance/Pop trio from The Netherlands that were very popular during the 1980s, most notably as the ladies who performed the chorus as members of Jaap Eggermont's studio act Stars on 45 and in a spinoff in which they performed as The Andrews Sisters in a medley that...
, mainly covering material made famous by The Andrews Sisters
The Andrews Sisters
The Andrews Sisters were a highly successful close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews , soprano Maxene Angelyn Andrews , and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews...
and other stars from the 1940s, 50's and early 60's - and without the Stars On 45 disco beat and its characteristic handclaps. The Star Sisters went on to release three albums and a series of singles between the years 1983 and 1987 whose commercial success was limited to Continental Europe in general and the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
countries in particular.
The Superstars/Stars On Longplay III/Stars Medley album in its entirety and in its original form remains unreleased on CD.
Tracklisting
Side A
"The Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band In The World" - 15:54All tracks written by Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
unless otherwise noted
- "The Stars Will Never Stop" (Eggermont, Duiser)
- "Sympathy for the DevilSympathy for the Devil"Sympathy for the Devil" is a song by The Rolling Stones which first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1968 album Beggars Banquet. It was written by Mick Jagger credited to Jagger/Richards...
" - "Miss You"
- "As Tears Go ByAs Tears Go By (song)"As Tears Go By" is a song written by The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, and their manager Andrew Loog Oldham, and was a popular hit for both British singer Marianne Faithfull in 1964 and The Rolling Stones in 1965.-History:...
" (Jagger, Richards, Oldham) - "Brown SugarBrown Sugar (song)"Brown Sugar" is a song by The Rolling Stones. It is the opening track and lead single from the English rock band's 1971 album Sticky Fingers...
" - "Jumpin' Jack FlashJumpin' Jack Flash"Jumpin' Jack Flash" is a song by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released as a single in 1968. Called "supernatural Delta blues by way of Swinging London" by Rolling Stone, the song was perceived by some as the band's return to their blues roots after the psychedelia of their preceding...
" - "Take It or Leave ItTake It or Leave It (The Rolling Stones song)Take It or Leave It is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards recorded from December 3–6, 1965 at RCA Studios in Los Angeles, California and first released on their album Aftermath...
" - "Under My ThumbUnder My Thumb"Under My Thumb" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones. Its first appearance was as an album track on 1966's Aftermath...
" - "Honky Tonk WomenHonky Tonk Women"Honky Tonk Women" is a 1969 hit song by The Rolling Stones. Released as a single on 4 July 1969 in the UK and a week later in the US, it topped the charts in both nations.-Inspiration and Recording:...
" - "Lady JaneLady Jane"Lady Jane" is a Rolling Stones' song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards featured on their 1966 album Aftermath.In America Lady Jane was the B-side to "Mother's Little Helper", but "Lady Jane" reached #24 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart...
" - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Richards's throwaway three-note guitar riff — intended to be replaced by horns — opens and drives the song...
" - "Get off of My CloudGet off of My Cloud"Get Off of My Cloud" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones. It was written as a follow-up single to the successful " Satisfaction"...
" - "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser)
- "Under the BoardwalkUnder the Boardwalk"Under the Boardwalk" is a hit pop song written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick and recorded by The Drifters in 1964.-Premise:The lyric describes a tryst between a man and his beloved in a seaside town, who plan to privately meet "out of the sun" and out of sight from everyone else under a...
" (Young, Resnick) - "Out of Time"
- "Gimme ShelterGimme Shelter"Gimme Shelter" is a song by English rock band The Rolling Stones. It first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1969 album Let It Bleed. Although the first word was spelled "Gimmie" on that album, subsequent recordings by the band and other musicians have made "Gimme" the customary spelling...
" - "Let's Spend the Night TogetherLet's Spend the Night Together"Let's Spend the Night Together" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and originally released as a single by The Rolling Stones in 1967...
" - "Tell Me (You're Coming Back)Tell Me (You're Coming Back)"Tell Me" is a song by English rock and roll band The Rolling Stones, featured on their 1964 self-titled album . It was later released as single A-side in the USA only, becoming the first Jagger/Richards song that the band released as a single A-side, and their first record to enter the US Top 40...
" - "We Love You"
- "Play with FirePlay with Fire (The Rolling Stones song)"Play with Fire" is a song by English rock and roll band The Rolling Stones, originally released as B-side to the song "The Last Time". It was later included on the American release of their 1965 album Out of Our Heads....
" (Nanker Phelge) - "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)"
- "Ruby Tuesday"
- "Star StarStar Star"Star Star" is a song by The Rolling Stones that appeared on their 1973 album Goats Head Soup. One of the raunchiest songs in the band's catalogue, the song was originally titled "Starfucker" until Atlantic Records guru Ahmet Ertegün insisted on the change...
" - "Emotional RescueEmotional Rescue (song)"Emotional Rescue" is a song by the English rock 'n roll band, The Rolling Stones. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and is featured on their 1980 album Emotional Rescue....
" - "She's a RainbowShe's A Rainbow"She's a Rainbow" is a song by the English rock 'n roll band The Rolling Stones and was featured on their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request.Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "She's a Rainbow" was recorded on 18 May 1967...
" - "Start Me UpStart Me Up"Start Me Up" is a song by The Rolling Stones featured on the 1981 album Tattoo You. Released as the album's lead single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the UK Singles Chart.-Writing and recording:...
" - "Angie"
Side B
1. "Stars on Stevie" - 7:42All tracks written by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
unless otherwise noted
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)Uptight (Everything's Alright)"Uptight " is a 1966 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label. One of his most popular early singles, "Uptight " was the first Stevie Wonder single to be co-written by the artist....
" (Moy, Cosby, Wonder) - "My Chérie AmourMy Cherie Amour"My Cherie Amour" is a 1969 soul classic by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder.The song was originally recorded in 1966, but not released...
" - "Yester-Me, Yester-You, YesterdayYester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" is a 1969 soul song written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, released by American Motown singer-songwriter-musician Stevie Wonder on the album My Cherie Amour. The song continued Wonder's success on the pop charts...
" (Miller, Wells) - "Master Blaster (Jammin)Master Blaster (Jammin)"Master Blaster " is a 1980 single by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder from his 1980 album Hotter than July.-History:The song, built on a heavy reggae feel, is an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley; Wonder had been performing with Marley a few times in concerts on his US tour in the fall of...
" - "You Are the Sunshine of My LifeYou Are the Sunshine of My Life"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 pop single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number one on the easy listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was...
" - "Isn't She LovelyIsn't She Lovely"Isn't She Lovely?" is a song by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. In it he celebrates the birth of his daughter, Aisha. There are three verses, each ending with the phrase "isn't she lovely, made from love"...
" - "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser)
- "Sir DukeSir Duke"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S...
" - "I WishI Wish (Stevie Wonder song)"I Wish" is a hit song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 as a single and included on the album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood...
" - "I Was Made to Love HerI Was Made to Love Her (song)"I Was Made to Love Her" is a hit single recorded by American soul musician Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label in 1967 . The song was written by Wonder, his mother Lula Mae Hardaway, Sylvia Moy and producer Henry Cosby; and included on Wonder's 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her...
" (Wonder, Hardaway, Moy, Cosby) - "For Once in My LifeFor Once in My Life"For Once in My Life" is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Jobete publishing company in 1967 . The composition was originally recorded by Jean DuShon, while other artists, such as Tony Bennett and The Temptations, recorded slow ballad versions of the song...
" (Miller, Murden) - "SuperstitionSuperstition (song)"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" - "Sir Duke"
- "Don't You Worry 'bout a ThingDon't You Worry 'bout a Thing"Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" was a hit single from Stevie Wonder's 1973 album Innervisions, which reached #16 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #2 on the R&B chart...
" - "A Place in the SunA Place in the Sun (song)"A Place in the Sun" is a 1966 soul single by American and Motown musician Stevie Wonder. Written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, the song hit #9 on the Billboard pop singles chart, his third Top Ten hit since 1963, and one of Wonder's first songs to contain social commentary...
" (Miller, Wells) - "FingertipsFingertips"Fingertips" is a 1963 number one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States since Johnny Standley's 1952...
" (Paul, Cosby)
2. "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser) - 0:07
3. "It's Not A Wonder, It's A Miracle" (Eggermont, Duiser) - 6:54
For the US album, this track is titled "Stars On Get Ready III"
4. "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser) - 0:07
Personnel
- Peter Vermeij - vocals (Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
) - Tony Sherman - vocals (Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
) - Jody Pijper - vocals