Boney M.: 10,000 Lightyears (Expanded Album, Vol. 2) [1984]

Boney M.'s seventh album was released on May 5, 1984, and had been two and a half years in the making. Boney M.'s popularity had declined drastically after the departure of their iconic dancer Bobby Farrell late 1981. Ghanese-born singer Reggie Tsiboe joined the group in 1982 but their first single The Carnival Is Over/Going Back West failed to become a hit. Their 1983 single Jambo announced the new album to be released in the fall of that year. When Jambo was another flop, the LP had to be reconsidered. Farian then came up with the space rock concept that became side 1, and the LP and a ZDF TV special were finally launched in May 1984. The LP reached a respectable #23 in the German charts but once again the single Somewhere In The World only reached the lower end of the charts. It was an Italian chart single, Kalimba De Luna, that caught Farian's attention. He rushed Reggie Tsiboe in the studio over the summer to record a Boney M. version of it. It was released in August '84 and returned Boney M. to #13 in Germany. At the same time Bobby Farrell rejoined the group for the Happy Song single with The School Rebels, a single that was an even bigger success, reaching #7 at the end of the year.

I have reconstructed the album as a 2LP concept, keeping the space concept running on side 1 and also adding the songs from 1982/83 that never made it to the LP. Side 2 and 3 (+ Jambo) probably represent what a Boney M. album would have looked like, if released November 1983.

Side 4 is Kalimba De Luna, Happy Song and the unpopular B-side School's Out. Finally Dizzy rounds it all off. I never felt that track fitted the original album. It was intended to be a Frank Farian & Sandy Davis single in the summer of 1984 but even though a 12" Club Mix had been prepared, it was never released.

Vol. 1
A1. Exodus (Noah's Ark 2001)
A2. Wild Planet
A3. Future World
A4. 10,000 Lightyears

B1. Somewhere In The World
B2. Living Like A Moviestar
B3. Barbarella Fortuneteller
B4. Where Did You Go
B5. I Feel Good
B6. Bel Ami

Vol. 2
C1. Babysitter
C2. The Alibama
C3. Jimmy
C4. The Carnival Is Over
C5. Going Back West

D1. Jambo - Hakuna Matata
D2. Kalimba De Luna
D3. Happy Song
D4. School's Out
D5. Dizzy - Frank Farian & Sandy Davis

Bonus
Exodus (Single Version)
Future World (Promo Version)

[ЛарисаПавловна-шз]

Офигенная музыка мой любимый альбом моя любимая группа на все времена

[workingZen]

I thought the song 'Alibama' sounds familiar. We used to sing it in South Africa, in Afrikaans. Looks to have originated from there. Its cool That Boney M sang it as I love their version.

[chizlit]

Very underrated album BM produced some great material on here most of it not known by the public.

[miguelmusicajw]

i love this version of "Jimmy" !

[TheMagicStar]

strong tracks here! knew them all except for the "Babysitter" it sounds that Baby;s Gang were part of track too ;) so cool ..thanks