BONEY M. (1978)

I received the CD, "Nightflight To Venus," by Boney M. in the mail today.  This is a 2007 reissue of an original 1978 album and my fourth by the group since I started collecting their music last year.  Up to that point I had only known them for their stateside one-hit wonder, "Rivers Of Babylon" (#30 Pop and #35 AC, US, 1978, Billboard).  I started experimenting with international oldies stations a while back and Boney M.'s music was played on several.  I was so enthralled with their blend of disco and reggae that I immediately started my purchases.

"Nighflight To Venus" has the distinction of being Boney M.'s only chart album in the US (#134, 1978, Billboard).  Several songs on it are included on my very first purchase, "Gold: 20 Super Hits," and I'm pleased to now have album versions of three of them:  "Rasputin," "Rivers Of Babylon," and the title track.

The use of electric guitars on this album gives the sound a rock edge that reminds me of another classic disco album, "Bad Girls," by Donna Summer, the only artist I'd been enthusiastic about in the genre before now.

Two classic songs receive the Boney M. treatment on "Nightflight To Venus," the Roger Miller song "King Of The Road" and "Heart Of Gold" by Neil Young.

The 2007 reissure includes two bonus tracks.  First is "Dancing In The Streets" which I'd assumed was the Martha and The Vendellas classic but turns out to be a Boney M. original.  In hindsight I realized that the sixties hit had no s in "Street."  This song became the group's only US R&B chart entry (#75, Billboard, 1979).  It was the B-side of the single which is the other bonus track on the disc, the Christmas medley, "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord" (#85 Pop).  Though forementioned as a non-album track, it started appearing on Christmas compilations by the group in the nineties.

It's noteworthy to mention that Boney M. was the brainchild of Frank Farian who brought us Milli Vanilli in the nineties.  Recalling what would later become of the duo, I came to discover that BM member, Bobby Farrell, himself was a lip-syncher and that Frank supplied the male vocals.  The female singers, Maizie Williams, Marcia Barrett, and Liz Mitchell carried the group with their rich vocals.  Quite nicely, I might add.

I ordered "Nightflight To Venus" along with the group's second album "Love For Sale" which hasn't arrived yet.  However, with so many favorites ending up on the former, time will tell if it's as good or better.