Bizarre Fruit

• Artist: M People
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1995
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Electronica

Review

The Manchester, England-based trio M People scored in 1994 with a series of British Top Ten hits from its debut album Elegant Slumming; both "Moving on Up" and "One Night in Heaven" became U.S. dance club smashes, thanks to an endearing mixture of house and R&B and Heather Small's startling vocal presence. Fortunately, M People did not suffer the dreaded sophomore slump; the 1995 release Bizarre Fruit continues in much the same vein as its predecessor.

Bizarre Fruit is chock full of funky house grooves, and Small's deep, soulful vocals add just the right touch to the mix, making M People considerably warmer than most contemporary dance acts. The "Moving on Up" sound-alike "Open Your Heart" was a major club success in its own right. In addition to the obvious dance appeal, "Open Your Heart," like most of M People's music, has a touch of '70s R&B in the mix. The album's opener "Sight for Sore Eyes" has a grandiose gospel-influenced intro before kicking into the funky groove and a melody similar to Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam." The jazzy "Search for the Hero" and the retro-soul tune "Precious Pearl" are also highlights.

M People, unlike many mid-'90s dance music acts like C+C Music Factory and the Real McCoy, deserves kudos for releasing an album just as entertaining and consistent as its debut. Bizarre Fruit is a worthy follow-up to Elegant Slumming and should please those who enjoy a little soul when hitting the dancefloor. ~ William Cooper, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Sight for Sore Eyes	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering, Heather Small	M People	(6:12)
Search for the Hero	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(6:13)
Open Your Heart	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(5:41)
Love Rendezvous	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(5:30)
Precious Pearl	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(6:04)
Sugar Town	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(5:41)
Walk Away	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(5:46)
Drive Time	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(5:30)
Padlock	Tamy Smith	M People	(6:13)
And Finally...	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering, Heather Small	M People	(5:03)
Renaissance (I'm Coming Home)	Paul Heard, Mike Pickering	M People	(6:30)

Credits

M People (Main Performer), Ellen Blair (Strings), Andy Connell (Piano), Julian Crampton (Bass), Chris Davis (Flute), Chris Davis (Saxophone), Andy Gangadeen (Drums), Graham Harvey (Piano), Paul Heard (Producer), Paul Heard (Mixing), Steven Husey (Strings), P. Jervier (Programming), Yolisa Phale (Strings), Mike Pickering (Producer), Mike Pickering (Mixing), Herb Powers (Mastering), Juliet Roberts (Vocals (Background)), Faye Simpson (Vocals (Background)), Beverley Skeete (Vocals (Background)), John Thirkell (Trumpet), Jim Williams (Guitar), Giovanni Parricelli (Guitar), Ivan Hussen (Strings), Shovell (Percussion), Shovell (Producer), Shovell (Mixing), Carol Thompson (Vocals (Background)), Carroll Thomson (Vocals (Background)), Lewis Mulatero (Photography), Luke Gifford (Assistant Engineer), Gaeten Schurrer (Programming), Paul "Tubbs" Williams (Vocals (Background)), Heather Small (Producer), Heather Small (Mixing), Norbert Schoerner (Photography), James Reynolds (Engineer)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)