After doing lots of pieces going on about Shakespear’s Sister and how they unexpectedly became one of the biggest acts of the early-90s, I thought that I might as well take a look at the solo career of Marcella Detroit, as she had a few hit singles on her own. Marcella had already been in the music business for a long time before bumping into Siobhan (probably down the pub).
In the mid-70s she was a member of Eric Clapton’s group as a songwriter and backing singer. In 1980 she had a Top 50 hit single in America with “Help Me” in a duet with Robin Gibb from the Bee Gees. In 1982 she released her debut album “Marcella” (under her real name Marcy Levy). This was reviewed in Kerrang!, where she was favourably compared to Pat Benetar, and also praised for her “beautiful voice”.
And by the late-80s, all of the excitement with Shakespear’s Sister happened, which was something of a career swerve for both members, and has been well documented by me already. After her bitter departure in 1993, she decided to revive her solo career. In March 1994 “I Believe” was released, which reached no. 11, her biggest solo hit single in the UK, just missing the Top Ten.
In April 1994 her second album “Jewel” made the Top 20, the only one to make the chart in the UK. In May 1994 “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” reached no. 24. This was a duet with Elton John, who invited her to take part in his album, so she clearly still had plenty of friends in high places, and this was a cover of a hit from 1968. They also performed this together on Top Of The Pops.
And in July 1994 “I’m No Angel” reached no. 33. This would be her final hit single though. She returned in March 1995 with “Perfect World”, in July 1996 with “I Hate You Now…” (which she had to deny was about Siobhan), and in December 1996 with “Boy”, but these three singles all just missed the Top 100, and all of her further singles and albums got nowhere near the chart.
After her unlikely reunion with Siobhan, where they finally seemed to appreciate each other’s styles and personalities, they toured the UK at the end of 2019. Thank goodness this wasn’t planned for a few months later, or this would’ve had to be postponed indefinitely, and who knows what would’ve happened then. They also contributed to Top Of The Pops: The Story Of 1992, where they seemed a little cheerier about discussing the success of “Stay” then they probably would’ve done before the reunion.
ADAM'S NOSTALGIC MEMORIES 