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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMOYET, Alison(b 18 June '61, Basildon, England) Singer, aka 'Alf'. Served apprenticeship with R&B bands in Southend, steeped in Billie Holiday as well as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Strived to emulate Dr Feelgood, but joined Basildon studio wizard Vince Clarke in forming duo Yazoo: the combination of his synthesizer tunes and her voice was a surprise hit (see his entry); her big beautiful bluesy voice was the only thing on TV's Top Of The Pops to make a music lover sit up and listen. She gigged with Alexis Korner and fans hoped she would pursue her love of the blues, but it was a one- off event. A year's work went into disco-ish Alf '84 on CBS, a success on release, among the decade's coffee-table LPs, incl. hits 'Love Resurrection', 'All Cried Out', 'Invisible' (latter written for her by Lamont Dozier). Hit single '85 with cabaretish treatment of the old Holiday song 'That Old Devil Called Love' (reedman John Altman formed mainstream/bop big band to back her during this period); she also worked with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra; marriage and motherhood saw performing/recording slow down; second solo LP Raindancing '87 was more straightforwardly rockish, incl. hits 'Is This Love?', 'Weak In The Presence Of Beauty'. As so often nowadays, the material and the glossy production are less wonderful than the voice. Further albums incl. Hoodoo '91, Essex '94, compiled Singles '95. |