Syntonic is the second album by Kon Kan, released in 1990 by Atlantic Records. Syntonic was the first Kon Kan album to solely feature Barry Harris; Kevin Wynne had departed the previous year.[1]

Syntonic
Studio album by
Released1990 (1990)
RecordedQuadrasonic (NYC), Platinum Island (NYC), Battery Studios (NYC), Axis Studios (NYC), Ignited Productions (LA), Amigo Studios (LA) and Sam Therapy (London), 1990
GenreSynth-pop, dance
Length48:37
LabelAtlantic Records
ProducerJohn Luongo, Barry Harris, Paul Robb, Martyn Phillips
Kon Kan chronology
Move to Move
(1989)
Syntonic
(1990)
Vida!...
(1993)

Two singles were released from the album: "Liberty!" and "(Could've Said) I Told You So", the latter featuring a recreation of Jimmy Soul's 1963 number one hit, "If You Wanna Be Happy".[2]

"Time" features a recreation of Canadian band Trooper's "We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)".

Four songs were co-written with Bob Mitchell, who had also co-written Cheap Trick's 1988 number one hit, "The Flame", and songs on Kon Kan's previous album.

Four tracks were produced or co-produced by renowned disco producer John Luongo, who had also worked with Blancmange in the early 1980s.

Two tracks were co-produced by Paul Robb, a member of Minnesota band Information Society.

"Victim" was originally a 1978 Candi Staton single. The Kon Kan version was originally conceived as a duet featuring Tim Curry and Carole Pope.

Track listing

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  1. "Liberty!" – 4:59 (Barry Harris, Bob Mitchell)
  2. "(Could've Said) I Told You So" – 4:07 (Barry Harris, Bob Mitchell)
  3. "Victorious" – 4:59 (Barry Harris, Chrissie Lomax, R. Bertola)
  4. "Time" – 5:19 (Barry Harris, Bob Mitchell)
  5. "Heaven Knows (I'm Missing You)" – 4:57 (Barry Harris, Bob Mitchell)
  6. "Victim" – 6:48 (Dave Crawford)
  7. "I'll Find Another Love" – 3:55 (Barry Harris, C. Dixon)
  8. "My Camera (Oh How I Wish)" – 4:42 (Barry Harris, Bob Mitchell)
  9. "Can't Stop the Fire" – 4:40 (Barry Harris, Chrissie Lomax, Scott Humphrey)
  10. "Better Day" – 4:11 (Barry Harris, Bob Mitchell)

Personnel

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  • Barry Harris – lead and backing vocals, keyboards and programming
  • Paul Robb – keyboards and programming
  • Gregge Tupper – keyboards and programming
  • Martyn Phillips – keyboards and programming
  • Joy Winter – lead vocals
  • Carole Pope – lead vocals
  • India – lead vocals
  • MC Protege – rap
  • Debbe Cole – backing vocals
  • Harriet Harrison – backing vocals
  • Gordon Grody – backing vocals
  • Julia Waters – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters – backing vocals
  • Jon Lind – backing vocals
  • Chrissie Lomax – backing vocals
  • Paul Pesco – guitar
  • A.K. Eye – drums
  • Al S. Ess – drums and percussion
  • Danny Wilensky – saxophone

References

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  1. ^ Mayes, Alison (December 16, 1990). "Kon Kan: Former small-town boy blown away by far-flung fame", Calgary Herald, p. F4.
  2. ^ Cooper, William. "Kon Kan: Syntonic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 17, 2013.