Your Love Is Cyanide To Me Baby
My main man Black Shag has dropped several of his top ten boogie joints in the last couple of weeks so I feel motivated to throw a few entries into the fire as well. Whilst Mr. Shag has been focusing on his country of origin, the United Kingdom, my next few entries will feature heat from my hometown of Milwaukee, WI as well as my adopted home, the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hailing from across the bay in Oakland, CA Carol Shinnette cut her first 7" in 1984 on the private Zilko label. Backed up by the aptly named Concrete Band, "Cyanide Love" was recorded at Beggars Banquet Recording Studio in Santa Rosa, CA. Co-written with Shinnette and produced by the mysterious W.P. Guidry, "Cyanide Love" is a mammoth cut and an easy contender for my personal boogie top ten list.
Shinnette went on to release a rare modern soul LP (The Expressions of Carol Shinnette) and a handful of 45's on the obscure Optune label out of Oakland in 1985. Optune also went on to repress a very small run of "Cyanide Love" picture sleeve seven inches in 1986.
I tried calling the phone number on this picture sleeve and a serious thug answered the line. Sadly, he didn't seem too interested in discussing Carol Shinnette or Optune Records but he did manage to throw a few idle threats my way.
Cyanide love was Shinnette's first and finest recording.
Carol Shinnette with the Concrete Band - Cyanide Love
Posted by Magnum | 6 comments
Labels: boogie, Carol Shinnette, Optune Records, W.P. Guidry, Zilko Records
December 3, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Record is from Lake Charles, LA. My theory is this was being repped like it was a west coast record, when it was really a Lake Charles affair.
Carol is still very young. 40 or something. She's still doing her thing! I guess she's been booked recently to play in France.
These bands are all featuring members of Superior Elevation.
W.P. Guidry is deceased.
December 3, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Amazing track! Thanks :)
December 3, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Fantastic! Thanks!
December 5, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Not been on your site for a while, but I'm glad to see you're still posting the hot shit. Thanks
December 6, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Hi BT Magnum,
Thank you so much; Carol Shinette was original & hot! Bring it!
Peace, Jerome
December 12, 2008 at 12:47 PM
this is AWESOME perfect blend of eighties funk and italo glitchy synth.. this is great.