Facebook and other social media have often been criticized for facilitating narcissism and negativity. This is absolutely true but on the other hand, these networks also unite people with the same interests. Thanks to my activities on Facebook, I got in touch with British-born Australian vocalist Jennifer Renshaw Major.
Jennifer has been working as an all-around singer since the 1970s. An important phase in her career was her involvement in A La Carte, a British girl group based in Germany and active between 1978 and 1984, practically during Luv's heyday. After ALC's break-up, Jennifer has remained busy in the music business. As a resident of Australia, she recorded solo material and took part in several music projects (including a duo known as AbbaCadabra that tours the nostalgia circuit by performing ABBA songs and a collaboration with rappers Chisenga and Dios Mio on a cover version of the James Bond theme "Goldeneye").
AbbaCadabra Promo
CHISENGA (feat. Jennifer Major & Dios Mio) - Goldeneye 2.0
Jennifer and I have sporadically communicated on Facebook Messenger for the past 18 months. She is very supportive anytime Marco and I post new content on the Official Luv' Fan Page on Facebook. As a member of a girl trio, she has so much in common with Marga Scheide, José Hoebee and other ex-Luv' singers.
A La Carte was formed in 1978 on the initiative of German producers Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann in association with Hansa International. At the time, Baccara and Luv' had already conquered European record charts. Another girl trio from Germany named Arabesque was launched around the same time as A La Carte. Arabesque featured Sandra (who was a global pop sensation as a solo singer from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s).
The original line-up of A La Carte included Patsy Fuller, Julia and Elaine. Thanks to their performance on the iconic music TV show "Musikladen", the group gained immense popularity in Germany. Their debut single "When The Boys Come Home" was released in March 1979. It peaked at #18 and spent 11 weeks on the German Media Control/Musikmarkt record chart.
A La Carte performing When The Boys Come Home on Musikladen (Radio Bremen, Germany - July 12th, 1979)
The line-ups often changed with the release of new singles. Jennifer Renshaw became the only permanent member when she joined the group in October 1979. In 1980, the trio's debut album "Do Wah Diddy Diddy Round" came out.
By 1981, the group consisted of Jenny Renshaw, Linda Daniels and Joy Martin. Together, they released the album "Viva". A La Carte later went through other line-up changes. In 1982, they recorded their "Rockin' Oldies" album, which included numerous covers of 1960s songs. The final line-up featured Jenny Renshaw, Joy Martin and Katie Humble.
In addition to A La Carte's first record, other singles charted in Germany:
Doctor Doctor (Help Me Please) - 1979: peak position: #28 - weeks on charts: 11
Musikladen (Radio Bremen, Germany - January 17th, 1980)
Do Wah Diddy Diddy - 1980: peak position: #22 - weeks on charts: 17
Musikladen (Radio Bremen, Germany - June 19th, 1980)
Ring Me, Honey - 1980: peak position: #41 - weeks on charts: 14
Show-Express (ZDF, Germany on November 27th, 1980)
You Get Me On The Run - 1981: peak position: #41 - weeks on charts: 8
River Blue - 1981: peak position: #47 - weeks on charts: 11
WWF Club (WDR, Germany, 1981)
Have You Forgotten - 1981: peak position: #57 - weeks on charts: 5
Viva Torero - 1982 - peak position: #29 - weeks on charts: 9
Musikladen (Radio Bremen, Germany - June 21st, 1982)
In The Summer Sun Of Greece - 1982: peak position: #65 - weeks on charts: 2
TROS, Netherlands, 1982
Ahe Tamoure - 1982: peak position: #62 - weeks on charts: 2
WWF Club (WDR, Germany, 1982)
In 1983, A La Carte won the Grand Prix at the Seoul Song Festival in South Korea for their uptempo pop song entitled Radio. The ladies were awarded a trophy and a $20.000 cash prize.
A La Carte performing their winning song "Radio" at the Seoul Song Festival in 1983
Radio (Videomix of Musikladen and Tele-illustrierte (1983).
The group disbanded in 1984. When asked why A La Carte ended, here's whart Katie Humble answered in an interview posted on a Brazilian fan page on Facebook: "We disbanded after Coconut Records didn't follow up on our success at the Seoul Song Festival in Korea. It should have opened up the whole of Japan, but they were not interested. I don't know why. I left to do other things in the music business, but returned after a while".
In 1989, Ray Dorset's Mungo Jerry (world famous for the skiffle classic "In the Summertime" in 1970) tried to resurrect A La Carte. This project had nothing to do with the original concept of the girl group. Three attractive ladies were found to record the medley "Dancing In The Summertime" taken from the album "Sun Sun Summertime" (including cover versions of hits from the 1970s and 1980s). Shortly afterwards A La Carte disappeared once again.
In 1999, BMG/Hansa International put out the compilation entitled "Best of A La Carte" to take advantage of the nostalgia for the 1970s and 1980s pop and disco years (ABBA, Donna Summer, Boney M., Village People, Baccara, Luv'...). This anthology included '99 remixes of ALC's hits.
In 2016, Coconut Records released another compilation including the remastered versions of the ALC's classics: "The Ultimate Best Of Album".
A La Carte's discography: https://www.discogs.com/artist/612889-%C3%80-La-Carte
In 2017, A La Carte's line-up featuring Jenny Renshaw, Joy Martin and Katie Humble did a reunion show in Estonia and on the back of that success they decided to give more live performances in Europe.
A La Carte - Promo 2018
Unfortunately, their shows (scheduled for 2020 in the Netherlands and Romania) were cancelled due to the Covid-19 virus. However, the trio has plans to go back on stage when the pandemic decrease or is over.
ALC's Facebook Pages:
A La Carte Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/alacartereunion/
A La Carte Music: https://www.facebook.com/LaCarteMusic/
A La Carte Brasil: https://www.facebook.com/www.alacartebrasil.com.br/
A La Carte Artist: https://www.facebook.com/alacarteartist/
A La Carte Private Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542449655895645
Source: Facebook, Wikipedia, Discogs, Discostars80.com...
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