Alta Moda was a Canadian funk rock band formed in 1979 in Toronto.[1] It originally consisted of singer Molly Johnson and guitarist Norman Orenstein.[2] Drummer Steven Gelineau and bassist Etric Lyons were added in 1982 and 1983 respectively.[3]
Alta Moda | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Funk rock |
| Years active | 1979-1988 |
| Labels | CBS Records, CBS Records |
| Members | Molly Johnson Norman Orenstein Steven Gelineau, Etric Lyons |
After performing for several years in Toronto and releasing the promotional single "Train" in 1986,[4] the band signed to CBS Records and released their debut album, Alta Moda, in 1987.[5]
The album received mixed reviews, with some critics saying it sounded too much like funk or disco;[6] the band even faced some assertions that they were "too black" for the Canadian market.[7] The album spawned the single "Julian", but the song was only a modest hit, peaking at #53 in the RPM Hot 100 chart the week of January 30, 1988.[8] The album's other singles, "Notown (In Particular)" and "Cool Love", did not chart.
Alta Moda contributed a non-album track, "American Chaser", to the soundtrack of the 1986 television film Popeye Doyle.[9]
The band declined a Juno Award nomination in the R&B category for "Julian", because they felt it was a miscategorization of the song.[10]
Although Alta Moda had originally signed a six-album deal with CBS, they were dropped from the label after the album's poor sales.[11] The band continued to perform live, on the lookout for another deal. Orenstein wrote and produced material for other artists, and Johnson performed jazz and blues with a backing band which later became Big Sugar.[12]
Johnson and Orenstein signed a new deal with IRS Records in 1990,[11] but changed the band's name to Infidels by the time of their 1991 album.[10]
References
edit- ^ Craig MacInnis, "Alta Moda fires up audience". Toronto Star, May 24, 1988.
- ^ Jennifer Higgs, "Molly Johnson". The Canadian Encyclopedia, November 4, 2012.
- ^ Mark Lepage, "Alta Moda: Dance beat with lots of style". Montreal Gazette, November 26, 1987.
- ^ "Alta Moda – Train". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ Craig MacInnis, "Molly gives Alta Moda the soul-pop push". Toronto Star, October 9, 1987.
- ^ Greg Burliuk, "Alta Moda: Alta Moda". Kingston Whig-Standard, November 28, 1987.
- ^ Mike Doherty, "Johnson goes to jazz hell and back: Canadian jazz singer 'rocks the flag' in France". National Post, November 22, 2006.
- ^ "Top Singles - Volume 47, No. 15". RPM, January 30, 1988.
- ^ Liam Lacey, "Little labels can make a big mark". The Globe and Mail, April 4, 1986.
- ^ a b Greg Barr, "Pair of musical renegades driving force with Infidels". Ottawa Citizen, October 3, 1991.
- ^ a b Greg Barr, "Good golly!; Toronto's Molly Johnson and Alta Moda band sign big U.S. record deal". Ottawa Citizen, July 27, 1990.
- ^ "Johnson plays the infidel". Ottawa Citizen, August 15, 1991.
