Amanda Lear - Secret Passion (1987) {2010, Reissue}

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Amanda Lear - Secret Passion (1987) {2010, Reissue}

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Secret Passion is the seventh studio album by French singer Amanda Lear, first released on Carrere Records in early 1987. It included single releases "Wild Thing", a dance cover of The Troggs 1965 classic, the romantic pop ditty "Aphrodisiac" and the howlingly vampire-esque rocker "She Wolf".

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Secret Passion was Lear's first full-length album since 1983's disappointing Tam-Tam and her first for French Carrere, a major label in Francophone countries like France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in the 70's and 80's. "Secret Passion" was a contemporary new wave dance production baring more than a fleeting resemblance to Madonna's True Blue album, mainly recorded in Los Angeles with American composers, musicians and arrangers, making it her first album to be recorded outside of Europe.

With Carrere signing Lear and investing money in a project produced in the States it was most likely not only intended to be her European comeback, but also a serious attempt to launch the husky-voiced French disco diva in English-speaking countries like the USA, Canada and the United Kingdown as well. During the years 1982 - 1986 Lear had spent most of her time working as a successful and appreciated TV-host in Italy, and had only released the occasional single on various labels on the French and Italian markets, most notably 1984's "Assasino" for WEA and 1986's "No Credit Card" on minor Italian label Merak. Now she was ready to focus completely on her musical career again. Sadly, she was getting ready to start promoting "Secret Passion" she was seriously injured in a near fatal car crash. She had to spend months in convalescence and was unable to promote the album or any of its singles.

"Secret Passion" was indeed released in a few countries like France, Italy, Canada and Greece but naturally with Lear not being available for either personal appearances or video recordings it didn't fare as well commercially as everybody had hoped and planned for. It is still generally considered to be Lear's best pop album of the 80's since having parted with label Ariola and producer Anthony Monn but due to the circumstances it was also to be her last attempt to resurrect her international recording career. It also became her last English language release until 1993's Eurodance album Cadavrexquis.

During the album sessions Lear had also recorded two French language versions that were released as A-side singles in France, "Les Femmes" ("She Wolf") and "Aphrodisiaque" ("Aphrodisiac"), and an updated single-only Hi-NRG version of her signature tune "Follow Me", released to promote the album, but not included on the actual album.

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Amanda Lear - Secret Passion (1987) {2010, Reissue}

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Amanda Lear - Secret Passion (1987) {2010, Reissue}

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Amanda Lear - Secret Passion (1987) {2010, Reissue}

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