Roni Griffith ~ Desire 1981 Disco Purrfection Version

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I worked as a sous chef for a bistro bar in Old Quebec close to the famed Chateaus Frontenac. I had to work nights which was fine as there was bus service until 3AM. The Assistant Chef used to play the FM radio show called Ultra Weekend out of Montreal with Alain Montpetit and this one had me from the very first note.

It was a new sound, really funky dirty groove thing going on and that synthesized clave bass line just killed me! I got the 12" but it was not extended at a length of 3:57. I heard it many times and it helped me to get through those crazy busy winter nights.

This was the first song from producer Bobby Orlando that I ever heard. The layers of electronic funk blended together so well and Roni's voice was just the perfect cherry on top. The club scene was changing in 1981 and music like this is what I moved on to, the high energy sound.

Orlando was prolific as his production style left no doubt as to who was behind it. The first version of the Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" was produced by him.

There is not a lot of info on Roni Griffith other than she was born in Bloomington, Indiana. Then she joined Kid Creole & The Coconuts and they opened for bands like The B52's and Huey Lewis & The News. Then they appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1981.

Roni decided to try a solo career with Bobby Orlando and their first collaboration was "Mondo Man" that peaked at #36. Then came "Desire" which scored a little higher peaking at #30. Her biggest disco hit ever was the #2 showing of "(The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" and it spent two weeks in that position.

She walked away from her sudden burst of fame, feeling she was losing herself and was born again. She was 23 when she decided she had enough and became a Christian recording artist. This change was a good one as she soon discovered her talent for photography and she has scored major national accounts which is what she is doing today.