Janice Michell McClain (born 25 January 1964 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)[1] is an American R&B singer, probably best known for her 1979 disco hit "Smack Dab in the Middle".[2]
McClain was raised in North Philly, the only child of a construction father and a mother who worked as a secretary and later as a dressmaker. Singing nearly from infancy in church, McClain grew up in a musical household - both of her parents had themselves cut records as teenagers - , McClain becoming conversant at an early age with current Soul hits, showtunes and opera: her early idols included Freda Payne and Diana Ross and as a teenager McClain became an especial fan of Michael Jackson.[3][4][5] A student at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts,[5] McClain also studied at Settlement Music School.
At age 14 McClain's evident vocal prowess led to her professional performing debut singing with the local jazz ensemble Pieces of a Dream:[4] also when McClain was 14, her uncle Milton Tennant, a songwriter and record producer, had McClain cut her first record. Shortly after her fifteenth birthday McClain recorded the track "Smack Dab in the Middle", co-written and co-produced by Tennant and Thom Page (the latter also an uncle of McClain's): the track was successfully shopped to RFC, the recently launched Warner Bros. disco-oriented label, and released October 1979 to become one of the Top Ten most-played tracks in American discothèques for the first five weeks of 1980.[6] However the track would not become a mainstream success - barely crossing over to the R&B chart with a #91 peak[7] - and although McClain did cut tracks for a projected album she had no evident further releases prior to two mid-1980s 12" singles.
Adult careeredit
On 10 July 1982 - a month after her high school graduation - McClain was in the lineup of a Robin Hood Dell benefit concert alongside such Philly soul stars as McFadden & Whitehead, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes & Billy Paul.[8] Two days before her nineteenth birthday McClain reportedly caused a local sensation making her debut at the premiere North Philly jazz club Jewel's,[9][10] with McClain rapidly becoming established as a top lounge act, regular gigs at Jewel's [11] leading to engagements at New Jersey venues.[12][11][13] McClain also performed at the Kool Jazz Festival "jazz picnic" at Waterloo Village in June 1983,[4] and would serve as opening act for Philly engagements of such top R&B acts as James Brown and the Commodores, also opening for the O'Jays in Atlantic City.[14]
"[McClain's] disciplined, wide-ranging voice...carr[ies] her...album, without a lot of production support. She often sounds terrific, but it's almost as if she is singing scales a lot of the time, so amorphous are the songs. It couldn't have helped that the LP lists 19 different producers & arrangers dealing with the work of 20 different composers on its nine tracks. While McClain rings out loudly & clearly above the confusion, it's more to make herself heard than to make music. Even the mild success of the single 'Passion & Pain' is hard to understand."[15]
While performing at the Trump Plaza (Atlantic City) showroom Jezebel's late in 1984 McClain was scouted by Jheryl Busby, head a&r rep for the Soul music division of MCA Records: Busby had been tipped off re McClain by Patti LaBelle after the latter had caught McClain's act either at Jezebel's or at Harrah's Marina where McClain had made her Atlantic City debut that September.[16] Mcclain was signed to MCA in July 1985[17][18] with her self-titled album originally scheduled for a 30 April 1986 release with a March release for the balladic track "Let's Spend the Night" as advance single:[19] however the album's release was delayed until the year's end with the dance track "Passion & Pain" as lead single, "Let's Spend the Night" being issued as the second single in April 1987: neither the album nor its singles were successful with only "Passion and Pain" charting, stalling at #75 on the R&B chart.[7]
Subsequent to a 1994 12" single release, McClain's recording resume has comprised chorale duties for Philly-area sessions, contributing to the albums It's Long Overdue by Keith Martin (1994), All the Way From Philadelphia by the Three Tenors of Soul (William Hart, Ted Mills, Russell Thompkins Jr.) (2007), Love, Niecy Style by Deniece Williams (2007), and George Clinton & His Gangsters of Love (2008), plus the 2010 seasonal EPRonnie Spector's Best Christmas Ever.[20][21] She remains an active live performer in Philadelphia and its surrounding area.[17]
janice, mcclain, janice, michell, mcclain, born, january, 1964, philadelphia, pennsylvania, american, singer, probably, best, known, 1979, disco, smack, middle, birth, namejanice, michell, mcclainborn25, january, 1964originphiladelphia, pennsylvania, united, s. Janice Michell McClain born 25 January 1964 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania 1 is an American R amp B singer probably best known for her 1979 disco hit Smack Dab in the Middle 2 Janice McClainBirth nameJanice Michell McClainBorn25 January 1964OriginPhiladelphia Pennsylvania United StatesGenresDance pop disco pop R amp BOccupation s SingerInstrument s VocalsYears active1978 presentLabelsWarner Bros Records RFC Records Mon Tab MCA Records Contents 1 Early life and teenage career 2 Adult career 3 Discography 3 1 Studio albums 3 2 Singles 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and teenage career editMcClain was raised in North Philly the only child of a construction father and a mother who worked as a secretary and later as a dressmaker Singing nearly from infancy in church McClain grew up in a musical household both of her parents had themselves cut records as teenagers McClain becoming conversant at an early age with current Soul hits showtunes and opera her early idols included Freda Payne and Diana Ross and as a teenager McClain became an especial fan of Michael Jackson 3 4 5 A student at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts 5 McClain also studied at Settlement Music School At age 14 McClain s evident vocal prowess led to her professional performing debut singing with the local jazz ensemble Pieces of a Dream 4 also when McClain was 14 her uncle Milton Tennant a songwriter and record producer had McClain cut her first record Shortly after her fifteenth birthday McClain recorded the track Smack Dab in the Middle co written and co produced by Tennant and Thom Page the latter also an uncle of McClain s the track was successfully shopped to RFC the recently launched Warner Bros disco oriented label and released October 1979 to become one of the Top Ten most played tracks in American discotheques for the first five weeks of 1980 6 However the track would not become a mainstream success barely crossing over to the R amp B chart with a 91 peak 7 and although McClain did cut tracks for a projected album she had no evident further releases prior to two mid 1980s 12 singles Adult career editOn 10 July 1982 a month after her high school graduation McClain was in the lineup of a Robin Hood Dell benefit concert alongside such Philly soul stars as McFadden amp Whitehead Harold Melvin amp the Blue Notes amp Billy Paul 8 Two days before her nineteenth birthday McClain reportedly caused a local sensation making her debut at the premiere North Philly jazz club Jewel s 9 10 with McClain rapidly becoming established as a top lounge act regular gigs at Jewel s 11 leading to engagements at New Jersey venues 12 11 13 McClain also performed at the Kool Jazz Festival jazz picnic at Waterloo Village in June 1983 4 and would serve as opening act for Philly engagements of such top R amp B acts as James Brown and the Commodores also opening for the O Jays in Atlantic City 14 People magazine on the album Janice McClain McClain s disciplined wide ranging voice carr ies her album without a lot of production support She often sounds terrific but it s almost as if she is singing scales a lot of the time so amorphous are the songs It couldn t have helped that the LP lists 19 different producers amp arrangers dealing with the work of 20 different composers on its nine tracks While McClain rings out loudly amp clearly above the confusion it s more to make herself heard than to make music Even the mild success of the single Passion amp Pain is hard to understand 15 While performing at the Trump Plaza Atlantic City showroom Jezebel s late in 1984 McClain was scouted by Jheryl Busby head a amp r rep for the Soul music division of MCA Records Busby had been tipped off re McClain by Patti LaBelle after the latter had caught McClain s act either at Jezebel s or at Harrah s Marina where McClain had made her Atlantic City debut that September 16 Mcclain was signed to MCA in July 1985 17 18 with her self titled album originally scheduled for a 30 April 1986 release with a March release for the balladic track Let s Spend the Night as advance single 19 however the album s release was delayed until the year s end with the dance track Passion amp Pain as lead single Let s Spend the Night being issued as the second single in April 1987 neither the album nor its singles were successful with only Passion and Pain charting stalling at 75 on the R amp B chart 7 Subsequent to a 1994 12 single release McClain s recording resume has comprised chorale duties for Philly area sessions contributing to the albums It s Long Overdue by Keith Martin 1994 All the Way From Philadelphia by the Three Tenors of Soul William Hart Ted Mills Russell Thompkins Jr 2007 Love Niecy Style by Deniece Williams 2007 and George Clinton amp His Gangsters of Love 2008 plus the 2010 seasonal EP Ronnie Spector s Best Christmas Ever 20 21 She remains an active live performer in Philadelphia and its surrounding area 17 Discography editStudio albums edit Janice McClain MCA Records 1986 Singles edit Year Song Peak chart positions US R amp B 7 US Dance 7 1979 Smack Dab in the Middle 91 6 1983 Giving My Love 1984 Burnin Up 1986 Passion and Pain 75 Let s Spend the Night 1994 Peace of Mind denotes releases that did not chart References edit Janice McClain Striking It Rich in A C Philadelphia Daily News December 27 1984 p 34 Album Janice Mcclain Janice Mcclain Mca Records MCA 5740 US 1986 www soulandfunkmusic com Retrieved November 22 2017 Janice McClain Took a Shortcut to Fame The Salina Journal February 10 1980 p 7 a b c Whitaker Tim July 17 1983 Fast Forward Philadelphia Inquirer p 4 a b Polak Maralyn Lois January 19 1986 Janice McClain the North Philly Star Philadelphia Inquirer pp 9 10 Carlton Bill January 17 1980 The Stars Are Coming Out Early These Days New York Daily News p 65 a b c d Janice McClain Top Songs Chart Singles Discography Music VF Retrieved December 31 2021 Nightlife Philadelphia Inquirer July 9 1982 p 26 Young Masco January 27 1983 Color Red Foxx Upcoming A C Gig Very Blue Philadelphia Daily News p 41 Kolson Ann April 9 1986 The Jewel of All That Jazz Philadelphia Inquirer pp 1C amp 3C a b Corr John May 27 1983 On the Town Philadelphia Inquirer p 24 Ettinger Stewart May 27 1983 In the Club Camden Courier Post p 4 D Lena Studies Her Options Philadelphia Daily News September 29 1983 p 40 Bitman Terry October 11 1993 Going Out Philadelphia Inquirer p E1 Picks and Pans Review Janice Mcclain January 26 1987 Young Masco August 9 1984 Town s Most Exciting People Ask Mary Mason Philadelphia Daily News p 45 a b Janice McClain Philly Party Band Archived from the original on January 15 2016 Young Masco August 1 1985 Lead Vocalist Signs for Big Note Philadelphia Daily News p 44 Young Masco February 20 1986 A Spinning Deal for Philly Records Philadelphia Daily News p 61 Janice McClain Credits AllMusic Janice McClaine Credits AllMusic External links editJanice McClain discography at Discogs nbsp Allmusic profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Janice McClain amp oldid 1210355045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
