Post by atruefan on Nov 21, 2011 18:34:29 GMT -5
Although I knew it would happen someday, I was shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Andrea True. While most viewed her as a one-hit wonder, she was so much more to me. She and her songs were single-handedly responsible for my obsession with music (I currently have over 15,000 singles and albums) and American Top 40.
According to her obituary in a Kingston, NY newspaper (ironic that that's where she died, considering Kingston, Jamaica is where "More, More, More" was recorded), she was born Andrea Marie Truden on July 26, 1943. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee; and moved to New York City to start her music career. Other than a few singing engagements, her career in music didn't really go anywhere. Needing money, she soon found herself working in X-rated movies.
In 1975, she was working on a commercial in Jamaica when she found that due to government restrictions she couldn't take the money she'd earned out of the country. So, she contacted record producer Gregg Diamond and he came down to Jamaica. There, they crafted "More, More, More." The song went on to become a top 10 smash. She followed the song up with three other Hot 100 hits - "Party Line," "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" (her only other top 40 hit), and "What's Your Name, What's Your Number." After that, other than a punk album released only in Italy, her music career was done.
For years, I tried to find her and contact her. I wanted her to know how much her songs meant to me. Now, I'll never have that chance. "More, More, More" will definitely continue to be heard, (I believe a version of it can currently be heard on a cereal commercial). Plus, I'll always have the memory of how shocked and excited I was when Casey said that "she's back with her second hit song," when "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" debuted at number 40 on the 3/26/77 countdown.
Many of us obsessed with American Top 40, can vividly recall the first time we heard AT40. My first time listening was actually immortalized in Pete's AT40 the 70s book. As a memorial to Andrea, I'd like to post my "reader comment" from that book.
"On Sunday, July 18, 1976, I was spinning the dial of my portable radio and heard my favorite song "More, More, More" by the Andrea True Connection on 95BBF in Rochester, New York. As the final chorus faded out, I heard a voice that I'd never heard before outroing the song. Because the song was number 4 that week, there was only twenty minutes left in the countdown; but I was hooked. Week after week, I listedn to Casey Kasem and kept traock of the songs in a notebook. By 1978, I wanted to know ahead of time what songs were where, and started a subscription to Billboard magazine. More than 27 years later, I still listen to American Top 40 every week, I still get Billboard magazine, and "sadly," "More, More, More" is still my favorite song. Jim Kiehle, a longtime AT40 listener."
Much has changed since I wrote that over 8 years ago. I stopped listening to American Top 40 when Casey left in 2004; and I stopped subscribing to Billboard in 2006. But, to paraphrase my comments above "happily, "More, More, More" is still my favorite song; and it always will be."
Rest in peace Andrea; and thank you for the joy you gave me through your music.
According to her obituary in a Kingston, NY newspaper (ironic that that's where she died, considering Kingston, Jamaica is where "More, More, More" was recorded), she was born Andrea Marie Truden on July 26, 1943. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee; and moved to New York City to start her music career. Other than a few singing engagements, her career in music didn't really go anywhere. Needing money, she soon found herself working in X-rated movies.
In 1975, she was working on a commercial in Jamaica when she found that due to government restrictions she couldn't take the money she'd earned out of the country. So, she contacted record producer Gregg Diamond and he came down to Jamaica. There, they crafted "More, More, More." The song went on to become a top 10 smash. She followed the song up with three other Hot 100 hits - "Party Line," "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" (her only other top 40 hit), and "What's Your Name, What's Your Number." After that, other than a punk album released only in Italy, her music career was done.
For years, I tried to find her and contact her. I wanted her to know how much her songs meant to me. Now, I'll never have that chance. "More, More, More" will definitely continue to be heard, (I believe a version of it can currently be heard on a cereal commercial). Plus, I'll always have the memory of how shocked and excited I was when Casey said that "she's back with her second hit song," when "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" debuted at number 40 on the 3/26/77 countdown.
Many of us obsessed with American Top 40, can vividly recall the first time we heard AT40. My first time listening was actually immortalized in Pete's AT40 the 70s book. As a memorial to Andrea, I'd like to post my "reader comment" from that book.
"On Sunday, July 18, 1976, I was spinning the dial of my portable radio and heard my favorite song "More, More, More" by the Andrea True Connection on 95BBF in Rochester, New York. As the final chorus faded out, I heard a voice that I'd never heard before outroing the song. Because the song was number 4 that week, there was only twenty minutes left in the countdown; but I was hooked. Week after week, I listedn to Casey Kasem and kept traock of the songs in a notebook. By 1978, I wanted to know ahead of time what songs were where, and started a subscription to Billboard magazine. More than 27 years later, I still listen to American Top 40 every week, I still get Billboard magazine, and "sadly," "More, More, More" is still my favorite song. Jim Kiehle, a longtime AT40 listener."
Much has changed since I wrote that over 8 years ago. I stopped listening to American Top 40 when Casey left in 2004; and I stopped subscribing to Billboard in 2006. But, to paraphrase my comments above "happily, "More, More, More" is still my favorite song; and it always will be."
Rest in peace Andrea; and thank you for the joy you gave me through your music.
And thanks for giving us "More, More, More".
