Sunday, February 26, 2012

Lean on Me - by Club Nouveau - February 26th 80's Quest Song/Band of the Day


In 1986 it seemed you could not escape this song, "Lean On Me" by Club Nouveau.  I was in college and it was all over the radio.  When you walked around it was coming out of car windows passing by, it was on people's boom boxes, and played at all the parties (it was a popular one to dance to).  It was a cover of a song originally done by Bill Withers in 1972.

Lyrics:
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on (lean on me)
For it won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

We be jammin'
We be jammin' hey yeah
We be jammin'

We be jammin'
We be jammin' man hey
We be jammin'

Just call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)
Call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)

Call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)
Call on me (when you need a friend)
Call on me (oh baby now)

Club Nouveau was formed in Sacramento, CA in 1986 by record producer, Jay King. There had been another band, Timex Social Club, who had a big hit in 1986 called "Rumors. Around the time Timex Social Club broke up, Club Nouveau formed. They took the name Club Nouveau (French for "New Club") to signify that they were ready to step up and take the space Timex Social Club left void.

Members included Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Samuelle Prater, and Valerie Watson. Their debut album, Life, Love and Pain, was released in 1986 and spawned four hits: "Jealousy" (which was a response song to Timex Social Club’s hit "Rumors"), "Situation #9", "Lean on Me" and "Why You Treat Me So Bad" which was later used in the Puff Daddy song "Satisfy You".

"Lean on Me" hit #1 on the American music charts for two weeks, and was also #1 on the dance charts. In 1987 it won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for Bill Withers, as the writer.

Club Nouveau’s song "Step by Step" appeared on the 1987 movie soundtrack for Madonna vehicle, "Who’s that Girl".

Club Nouveau was short-lived. By 1988 Foster and McElroy left to become producers and work with other bands. Prater (she performed the female lead vocals on "Lean On Me") left to pursue a solo career. David Agent and Kevin Irving joined the band as replacements, and they released 4 more albums, that did not regenerate the popularity of their debut.

Up to the present date, Club Nouveau sometimes regroups to record new material.

Lyrics:

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
( From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/club-nouveau-lyrics/lean-on-me-lyrics.html )
Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...


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