Life, Love and Pain was released on November 1, 1986 by Warner Bros. Records. Club Nouveau arrived onto the music scene in remarkable fashion with their lead single, “Jealousy.” This song was in response to Timex Social Club’s “Rumors” record that was blazing up the charts during the same year.
Club Nouveau was borne due to the group Timex Social Club going their separate ways by signing with another record label. The producers of Timex Social Club broke ties with the group and launched the group JetSet, which later became Club Nouveau, a French name translated as New Club.
Their sound and eclectic styles took the charts by storm and led to an incredibly successful debut album. The effective and potent mixture of instruments ranging from the Juno 106 keyboard to the 808 and LinnDrum machines gave the group the perfect combination of disco, funk and R&B to be embraced by the mainstream music audience.
Aesthetically, they were reminiscent of the famous 1970s R&B group, Rufus. During this juncture, R&B groups were still relevant, but more solo acts were branching out to find success on their own. This along with other factors allowed Club Nouveau to establish themselves as a dominant player in the music industry with this album. It ultimately became their highest selling effort to date.
The history behind Club Nouveau begins in Sacramento, California. Jay King, the founding member of the group, began assembling members after the split of Timex Social Club. Timex Social Club was being managed by King and signed to his independent label, Jay Records. After the split, King immediately chose the talented crop of individuals who would become the nucleus for the Club Nouveau sound.
Club Nouveau consisted of Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Samuelle Prater, Valerie Watson and Jay King. Foster, McElroy and King provided the music for the group and King assumed the role of being manager as well. The group’s big break would occur in 1986 when Benny Medina, then Vice President and General Manager of the Urban Music Division at Warner Bros. Records heard their songs and signed them to Warner Bros. Records to release their debut album.
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Life, Love and Pain album was recorded in various studios in the Sacramento, Richmond, and Oakland, California.
SoulCulture recently sat down with Club Nouveau’s founder, Jay King to talk about the history behind the album and its legacy.
