Pride 'n Politix

[ZeroGravity]

Changes by Pride 'n Politix, 1991

(if the player doesn't work download the file and listen on your player)

	Crying Over Nothing
	Nights
	Hold On

I first heard Pride ‘n Politix on the radio in Oakland Ca 1991 while there on a business trip. Perhaps it was because I was away from home or just maybe it is something about California that can take an ordinary song and wrap it in a full layer of “laid back”. I lived there years ago and I could remember feeling it back then too, so once again I started feeling this mood as I listened to the song “Crying Over Nothing” from this group. This song resonated in my mind long after I first heard it and it has not released me even until this day. I was fixated on those words “crying over nothing” and found myself wondering how many times in my life have I done that throughout the years. I still pull this CD out all the time…I’ve blogged about “crying over nothing”…I’ve played it a time or two to friends and others that I felt needed to hear it, because sometimes we get bogged down in life over simple things.

I connected with this music in a way that I cannot explain and still can’t even to this day. A lot of my friends don’t particularly care for this style of music, but I gravitated to it instantly and even now I can still find myself immersed in the words as if this was the first time hearing them.

When I hear “…when the nights are calling you…” in the song “Nights”, I can hear them calling my name. Can you hear them too? Don’t the nights call you sometimes?

-or-

I find myself singing the words “…to make all the people to understand why, take all the people that don’t want to try…and they’re crying over nothing at all” in the song “Crying Over Nothing”

There is not a lot of information on the album or group found on the internet. As a matter of fact, I found none. Even the CD jacket had no information on the history of the group. No reviews, introductions, or interviews…it’s as if Changes was the only CD they produced and the group faded into anonymity. That’s a shame if this is true because I thought they were on to a style that filled the gap nicely. What I do know about them is the group consists of two brothers ( Nikki and Carlton Romillie) and Robyn Smith and I believe they are from England. Here are some album notes I came across. Notice the contributing artists :)

Album notes

Playing time: 55 min.

Contributing artists: James Cleveland Choir, Rev. James Cleveland Choir

Producer: Robyn Smith

Pride 'N Politix:
Nikki Romillie (vocals, guitar);
Carlton Romillie (saxophone, background vocals);
Robyn Smith (keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, background vocals).

Recorded at Bedroom Studios, London, England, Garden Rake Studios, Ameraycan Studios, Los Angeles, California.

I don’t know what happened to Pride ‘n Politix and I'm sure others that had a chance to hear them have wondered the same thing. The only comments I found on the internet about the CD were from these two people…here is what they had to say:

re: Pride 'n Politics, October 30, 2004
By Dave in Denver (Denver, CO)
It's a crying shame this group didn't make it big. My introduction to Pride 'n Politix came through a smooth jazz station here in Denver some years ago when the song "Crying Over Nothing" was being played. The imagery in the lyryics and the mood of the melody absolutely captured my imagination. I went out to buy the album for that one song alone. To my amazement, every song on the CD, (with the exception of "Changes," which I do not prefer), were excellent. An extremely enjoyable CD all the way around -- primarily upbeat -- happy but not sappy. Intelligently done. The fact this group didn't enjoy more success and go on to record additional albums is truly "something to cry over."

Where Are They Now?, December 9, 2003
By A Customer
I purchased the VERY LAST cd version of this album in Tower Records, NYC back in the 80's. This band sounds as good today as they did back then. My favorite songs on this cd are: Hold On (kicks off the set), Nights, Crying Over Nothing, Felt Your Love (which introduced the band on radio) just to name a few. If you remember 'Felt Your Love' you will not be disappointed in purchasing this cd. This is one band that I wish I knew 'where are they now?" Very underrated.

The music style of Pride ‘n Politix is different I will admit, but I do like this CD, maybe it’s because it is far from what I normally listen to and it reminds me a little of the group Mandrill is some odd way, which btw, is another group that I like and find their music striking different chords from the norm in my musical DNA. Maybe I will compose something on them as well.

Peace.

[ZeroGravity]

MzzzDiva...absolutely! they do take you somewhere, at first I thought it was because I was "away" but when I returned home, I still felt like I was somewhere else listening to the CD lol I'm thrilled that you had a similar reaction when you heard the songs....I thought I was tripping all this time rotf ...

edie what ever happened to that generation of music like that? I don't think you can find that style of music today. I really like that style...it speaks to you very quietly. for instance the two you posted both conjured up subtle emotions/memories of different times with the same person. Get Off Into You reminded me of this particular person in the early stages of our relationship and Sliding Away did the same thing but of course opposite emotions LOL As I listened those thoughts just appeared, very unexpectedly. It draws you inward. Love it!

I like the kind of music that subliminally causes you to think about some aspect of your life as you listen...it's hard to find that today.

Thank you both for the great feedback.

[Edie Antoinette]

	Sliding Away- Bernard Oattes
	Get Off Into You Love Controversy 2 - DannyMadden

[Edie Antoinette]

I found both of the CD's!!!! After only a few seconds!!!! Hope is ALIVE for my brain!!! *mad scientist cackle* LOL

I'll post in a minute.

[Edie Antoinette]

I like them. Puts me in the mind of David Pack--one of my favorites (formerly from Bread)...I can see precisely what you mean when you say they put you in a 'mood'. I'll be playing and re-playing them. I'm hearing that same spirit as James Ingram and Michael McDonald...and I could be on those two all day long.

I have some tunes to share with you for your opinion--when I find them..One is this tune called Frame By Frame-or is it the album. My memory has been on the bum for like 8 years now and it's rather depressing..but you have me right where I want to be--with a challenge to find it. I could go look in my vault but, alas---you know how itt goes with laziness and certain ladies whose name starts with an "e" and ends with a "2" LOL

Stay tuned. You did such a good job with this--and the music is PERFECT..You just gone head onnnn wit'cha baaad self. More! More! Moreeeeee!!!!!! It's ALIVE!!!! LOL

[Edie Antoinette]

Bravo!!!! Great post!