New Wave Outpost Forum

by **DevoManiac101** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:26 pm

"Woody Boogie" is one of my all time favorite songs, I was wondering what you guys know and like by the band, and have anything to share, the mystery of who really was the lead singer of Baltimora?

Thanks

by **hisoka5150** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:28 pm

not really a band just a pseudo name of Jimmy Mcshane.
Died of aids march 28, 1995 at the age of 37.
Born in londonderry, north ireland may 23, 1957

very sad.......may he rest in peace

by **Sean** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:11 am

I love Baltimora too. Besides Woodie Boogie, these songs are spectacular:

Pull The Wires
Chinese Restaurant
Living In The Background
Tarzan Boy (Summer Version)

Too bad he died of Aids. The guy's got a great voice.

by **enzfan** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 4:17 am

I did purchase the cassette Living In The Background back in the day of it's original release just from hearing "Tarzan Boy", it was and still is a great tune.

by **SomebodySomewhere** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:59 am

Jimmy was born in the same town that I was (although I had been "living in the background" here for several years when it became a hit). The funny thing was, when I first heard it, I thought he was Italian.

Of course, if he wasn't actually singing on the record -- as he was reported not to have -- that probably would explain it.

For the record, nobody actually calls it Londonderry... unless they're not from there.

by **Brambo** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:42 am

Actually, SomebodySomewhere, you are right: Baltimora is Italian, his real name is Maurizio Bassi. Jimmy McShane was just hired to lip-syc him.

See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimora

by **SomebodySomewhere** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:55 am

Yeah, I know. McShane also lipsynched in concert, so I guess you could call him the original Milli Vanilli.

People still want to insist that it was Jimmy actually singing. Like they were in on the sessions. The people who were in on the sessions claimed he wasn't. According to them, he was hired to dance and be a prettier face than Maurizio. That's it.

Many, many years ago, I got into a flamewar with some tool who swore I was wrong when I claimed that reputedly wasn't McShane's voice. Listen, buddy, I had a Northern Irish accent for the first 13 years of my life. I think I know what one sounds like. "A fiher balows de signiol to de sky." 'Nuff said.

But whatever people want to believe.

by **highway1pch** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:24 am

Who knew? I've learned more about Baltimora today than ever before. Is there a reason why "Tarzan Boy" never made it onto any of the major New Wave compilations?

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimora

"Tarzan Boy" also became the theme song of the energy drink Gay Fuel.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Fuel

Gay Fuel is an energy drink marketed by Florida-based Specialty Spirits, LLC towards the gay community, using the slogan "GET FIRED UP." Gay Fuel is similar to Red Bull, except the liquid is dyed bright pink. Its makers claim Gay Fuel contains a blend of sexual stimulant herbs and immune system boosters. The can is silver with several rainbow stripes. The official website is currently offline while it undergoes a "facelift".

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/52/Gayfuelcan.jpg/200px-Gayfuelcan.jpg">

<a href="http://www.ocnewwave.blogspot.com/">OC New Wave Blog</a>
<font="westminster">Music videos, Orange County concerts, and more.

by **SomebodySomewhere** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:45 am

[quote][i]Originally posted by highway1pch[/i]
 "Tarzan Boy" also became the theme song of the energy drink Gay Fuel.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Fuel[/quote]

That makes sense.

Not that I am any great expert on Italo dreck -- 90% of it gets on my nerves -- but I understand the genre "pulled a Milli Vanilli" quite a bit. Except they didn't really seem to understand the concept of it. Milli Vanilli were two guys who couldn't sing but were pretty faces. The actual singers were three guys who could sing but weren't easy on the eyes. With Italo disco, you've got stuff like Valerie Dore's "The Night" (or perhaps her other hit, "Get Closer" -- never mind that it's THE SAME EXACT SONG), and the real vocalist, Dora Carofiglio, can't sing, and the model they hired to play her, Monica Succhi, is hard on the eyes. Oh, those crazy Italians.

What I wanna know is, is there a reason why "Tarzan Boy" has such a godawful video? I mean, maybe that could cut it in Italy, but I can't believe with such a huge hit on their hands that EMI/Manhattan couldn't shell out a few bucks and put together something better for the American market.

by **Bitter Almonds** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:58 am

I've seen some of the other Baltimora vids and that one's the best[xx(]

by **Mechi** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:42 am

"Tarzan boy" is the music for Diet Coke's ads in Argentina (I think that's worse than the energy drink)... and evrybody here sings the chorus in a really not understandable English.. they just like sing what they think it sounds like.

by **Sean** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:00 am

So I'm a little confused guys, who died? Jimmy or Maurizio?

by **Bitter Almonds** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:26 am

Cool Mint Listerine![8D]

Jimmy was the one who died of AIDS[}:)]

by **Sean** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:28 am

So technically, they can still do a cd for Baltimora if Maurizio can still sing. I love Valerie Dore, I guess I should say Dora C. and all of her projects under different names. I think she's got a really pretty voice and the Novecento guys write really melodic tunes.

by **SynthesizerMan** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:49 am

When I read this thread about Jimmy Mcshane a couple of days ago I wondered about it because I have the original release and it was recorded in Italy, mixed in Germany and made no mention of him. That doesn't ness mean anything but it did get my attention.

Does anyone know anything about the name "Baltimora"? Being originally from Baltimore (MD) I wonder how it came to be.

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