The story begins in late 2001, as Boogaloo Stu prepared to release his debut single, a homespun sampladelic tune "Rocksteady", reworking jazzy elements lifted from Carmel's seminal 80's hit "More More More" fused into a skittering ska rhythm and topped off with Stu's developing lounge croon.
The result was quirky and thoroughly unexpected and, in the throes of audacious self-promotion, Stu personally mailed out just 20 copies of the single to national radio stations in a random bid for success. Somehow, without expertise of a national radio plugger, "Rocksteady" found it's way onto the XFM A-list, and was subsequently championed by Jo Whiley, Rob Da Bank and Huw Stephens on Radio One, to name just a few.
Falling short of the national charts by a whisker, this initial flurry of success with "Rocksteady" inspired Stu to get back into the studio to record his debut album "The Glambassador".
Available for the first time as a download, "The Glambassador" has been augmented by a selection of remixes from the singles "Rocksteady", "Hit 'Em With It High" and "Dynamite!" including ubiquitous mixes from Manhattan Clique, Captain Korg and, erm, Mike Hunt.
Tracklisting:
1. J'adore Le Glambassador (intro)
2. Rocksteady
3. Fly Around The Moon
4. Dynamite!
5. Hit 'Em With It High
6. The Next Big Nothing
7. Under Your Spell
8. Blue
9. Stars Are Falling
10. Keep On Burning
11. Brilliant Discovery
12. MacArthurs Song
13. Happy Ending
14. Hit Em With It High (Unbedingt Schon remix)
15. Dynamite (Manhattan Clique remix)
16. Rocksteady (Mike Hunt's On Fire Remix)
17. Rocksteady (Bubblegum remix)
Stu released his follow-up album "Enough About You...Let's Talk About Me" in 2008.
"Rocksteady" video here...
...and "Dynamite" video here!
Can't get enough? "Dynamite" demo video here! Two were made! How crazy is that!
"Magnetic Heart" video here!
"Just Want You To Know" video here!
Boogaloo Stu's current album "Enough About You...Let's Talk About Me" is available to purchase now from boogaloostu.com and selected record stores, or buy it from i-Tunes