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P.M. Dawn

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P.M. Dawn
P.M. Dawn (Attrell Cordes and Jarrett Cordes) in Los Angeles in 1991.
P.M. Dawn (Attrell Cordes and Jarrett Cordes) in Los Angeles in 1991.
Background information
OriginJersey City, New Jersey,U.S.
Genres
Years active1988–present
Labels
Members
  • Doc. G
  • K-R.O.K.
Past members

P.M. Dawnis an Americanhip hopandR&Bact that formed in 1988 by the brothersAttrell Cordes(known by his stage name Prince Be, sometimes credited as Prince Be the Nocturnal) and Jarrett Cordes (known as Eternal or DJ Minutemix) inJersey City, New Jersey.[1]They earned significantcrossoversuccess in the early 1990s with music that merged hip hop, older soul, and more pop-orientedurban R&B.[2]

P.M. Dawn recorded their debut single, "Ode to a Forgetful Mind", in 1988. Their first album,Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience,was released in 1991 to critical acclaim, and was an immediate commercial success driven by its single "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss".Their 1993 follow-up,The Bliss Album...? (Vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence),featuring the hit singles "I'd Die Without You"and"Looking Through Patient Eyes",was also praised by critics. P.M. Dawn continued to receive strong reviews with their subsequent albums,Jesus Wept(1995) andDearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad(1998), despite their poor sales.[2]

In 2005, Prince Be’s health issues due to complications fromdiabetes,led to his cousin Doc. G taking ownership of P.M. Dawn and Eternal’s departure from the group. In 2016, Prince Be died fromkidney disease.Doc G. continues to perform as P.M. Dawn, without involvement of the Cordes brothers.

Early history

[edit]
P.M. Dawn performing in 2006

Attrell Cordesbegan DJing parties and composing songs in ninth grade. Cordes, known by his stage name Prince Be, and his younger brother, Jarrett Cordes, known as DJ Minutemix, formed P.M. Dawn in 1988. The group's first demo tape was created using $600 that Prince Be had earned through his job as a nightsecurity guardat ahomeless shelter.[3]

They first approachedTommy Boy Records,therap musicsubsidiary ofWarner Brothers,with their demo, but they were told that they were too much like alternative hip-hoppersDe La Soul,and nothardcoreor ghetto, and were turned away.[citation needed]Eventually, Warlock, anindependent record label,issued a debut single, "Ode to a Forgetful Mind", in 1989, but it went unnoticed.

Therecord labelthat released the single in the United Kingdom,Gee Street Records,found greater success. Gee Street mixed and marketed the song so that it earned considerable attention from music reviewers, and P.M. Dawn found themselves courted not just by Gee Street's head,Jon Baker,but also by most of the major UK record labels. Gee Street brought the brothers to London in 1990 to record tracks for an album; however, the label found itself facing bankruptcy during the recording. The entire Gee Street operation, along with P.M. Dawn'srecording contract,was sold to the highest bidder,Island Records.Island issued a few more singles in the United Kingdom before releasing their debut album,Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience.

Career

[edit]

"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"

[edit]

Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Crossfeatured the international hit "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss",which sampled theSpandau Balletsong "True",and featured a cameo by Spandau Ballet singerTony Hadleyin themusic videoof the song.[1]"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" hit No. 1 the week of November 30, 1991, and is the first No. 1 song on theBillboardHot 100chart following the introduction ofNielsen SoundScanto the chart. The song also reached No. 3 in the United Kingdom.[1]"Paper Doll",which was one of the early singles Island released in the United Kingdom, was released in the US as a follow-up to" Set Adrift on Memory Bliss ", and peaked at No. 28 in early 1992.[1]

With the success of their debut album, the band parted company with their manager Nick Hemmings and embarked on a world tour. During this world tour, Prince Be gave an interview toDetailsmagazinein which he expressed skepticism of rapperKRS-One's activism: "KRS-One wants to be a teacher, but a teacher of what?" KRS-One and his crew,Boogie Down Productions,responded by storming a P.M. Dawn concert, forcing the group off the stage and performing their songs "I'm Still #1"and"The Bridge Is Over".[4]Defending his actions toUSA Today's James T. Jones IV, KRS-One remarked, "I answered his question. 'A teacher of what?' I'm a teacher of respect."

In 1992, P.M. Dawn appeared on theRed Hot Organization's compilation CDRed Hot + Dance,contributing the Richie Rich Mix of "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss".[5]The album, featuringGeorge MichaelandMadonnaamong others, was meant to raise money and awareness in support of the AIDS epidemic. During February 12 of that same year, P.M. Dawn was nominated for theBRIT Awardsand wonBest International Newcomer.[6]

The Bliss Album...?

[edit]

Before releasing their follow-up album,The Bliss Album...? (Vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence),P.M. Dawn contributed the single "I'd Die Without You"to the 1992Eddie MurphycomedyBoomerangandits soundtrack.This #3 pop hit was also included onThe Bliss Album...?,as was theBillboard#6 pop hit "Looking Through Patient Eyes".[1]

"Looking Through Patient Eyes" featured backing vocals byCathy Dennisand sampledGeorge Michael's hit "Father Figure".Themusic videofor the song was shot in a church, and featuredChristianimages throughout — most notably, Prince Be wore aT-shirtwith "Thank you, Jesus" written across it in black lettering.

The Bliss Album...?featured a duet withBoy Georgeentitled "More Than Likely" and a cover ofThe Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)".[1]

The album also included "So On and So On," which led to a 1999samplinglawsuit. In the lawsuitBatiste v. Island Records, Inc.,Paul and Michael Batiste claimed that P.M. Dawn's song "So On and So On" used unauthorized samples from David Batiste & The Gladiators' "Funky Soul". The fifth Circuit FederalAppellate Courtfound that the Batistes' point to no evidence in the record demonstrating that consumers were confused or deceived by either the use of a digital sample of "Funky Soul" in "So On and So On", or the attribution to David Batiste as a co-author of the track. The Batistes' claim that Paul and Michael Batiste were improperly excluded from theliner notesaccompanying the album also failed to suggest that consumers were confused, especially because the liner notes do credit the name of the band in which both Paul and Michael Batiste performed.[7]Though Island Records won the lawsuit, the song was removed from subsequent releases ofThe Bliss Albumand is no longer available for purchase in their publishing catalog.

Jesus Weptand DJ Minutemix's arrest

[edit]

P.M. Dawn contributed a cover of "You Got Me Floatin'" to the 1993compilation albumStone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix.Artists ranging fromPat MethenytoEric ClaptontoIce-T'sBody Countwere included. They also remixedBeautiful People's "If 60's Was 90's".

Their 1995 albumJesus Weptwas unable to attain the success of their first two albums. The album's highest charting single was "Downtown Venus",which contained a sample ofDeep Purple's "Hush", and reached #48 on theBillboardchart.[1]Also, in 1995, P.M. Dawn was credited with theremixofWhite Zombie's "Blood, Milk and Sky" (Miss September Mix) on theSupersexy Swingin' Soundscompilation album. In the same year, Jarret Cordes (DJ Minutemix) was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year old relative and was subsequently arrested in Burlington County.[8]The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.[9]

In 1996, P.M. Dawn contributed "Non-Fiction Burning" to the AIDS benefit albumRed Hot + Rioproduced by theRed Hot Organization.[5]In 1998, Prince Be contributed the tracks "Perfect for You" and "Gotta Be...Movin' on Up" to theMarlon WayansandDavid SpadecomedySenseless,followed later in the year by P.M. Dawn's fourth album,Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad.It was less successful again, with the album's single, "Being So Not for You (I Had No Right)" being a minor chart hit.[citation needed]

In 2000, they released the compilation,The Best of P.M. Dawn.Through their website, they also began selling a mail-order-only album calledFucked Musicon December 1, 2000. This was paired with a bonus CD,Unreleased Vol. 1,and a T-shirt.

Prince Be's declining health

[edit]

Prince Be suffered a massivestrokein early 2005 that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. Undeterred, P.M. Dawn appeared onNBC'sHit Me, Baby, One More Timeshow,performing "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", and coveredPuddle of Mudd's "Blurry".Despite Prince Be still suffering symptoms, they beatAnimotion,Missing Persons,Juice NewtonandShannonto claim the $20,000 charitable prize, which they contributed to theJuvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,as Prince Be was a diabetic.

Following their appearance onHit Me, Baby, One More Time,Minutemix left the group due to internal differences. This led to the introduction of the Cordes brothers' paternal first cousin, Gregory Lewis Carr II, known by his stage name Doc. G (also known as 'Dr. Giggles').[10]Amid trademark and artistic criticism, Doc. G continues to perform as P.M. Dawn.[11]

On June 17, 2016, Prince Be died from kidney disease, caused by complications of diabetes, at the age of 46 at a hospital inNeptune City, New Jersey.[3][12][13]On April 6, 2018, Doc. G hired music producer K-R.O.K. as the new member of P.M. Dawn.[14]

Legacy

[edit]

On April 3, 2022, one of theUnsungdocumentary episode, highlighting the story of P.M. Dawn, premiered onTV One.[15][16]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
US
[17] 		US
R&B
[17] 		AUS
[18][19] 		CAN
[20] 		NLD
[21] 		NZ
[22] 		SWE
[23] 		SWI
[24] 		UK
[25]
Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience 48 29 89 41 82 45 44 38 8
The Bliss Album…?
  • Released: March 23, 1993
  • Label: Gee Street
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 30 23 38 32 — — — — 9
Jesus Wept
  • Released: October 3, 1995
  • Label: Gee Street
  • Formats: CD, cassette, LP
 119 — 108 — — — — — 97
Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad
  • Released: October 27, 1998
  • Label: Gee Street/V2
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 — — 117 — — — — — —
Fucked Music
  • Released: December 1, 2000
  • Label: Positive Plain Music
  • Formats: CD
 — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Compilation albums

[edit]
  • 2000:The Best of P.M. Dawn(V2)
  • 2000:Unreleased Vol. 1(Positive Plain Music)
  • 2008:Most Requested(Sheridan Square Records)
  • 2010:P.M. Dawn: Greatest Hits Live!(Sbcmg)

Singles

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[29] 		AUS
[18][19] 		BEL
(FL)
[30] 		CAN
[20] 		FRA
[31] 		GER
[32] 		NLD
[21] 		NZ
[22] 		SWI
[24] 		UK
[25]
"Ode to a Forgetful Mind" 1989 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"A Watcher's Point of View (Don't 'Cha Think)" 1991 — — — — — — — — — 36 Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience
"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" 1 7 14 9 17 3 4 1 4 3
"Paper Doll" 28 61 43 31 45 42 60 — 33 49
"Reality Used to Be a Friend of Mine" 1992 — 118 — — — — — — — 29
"I'd Die Without You" 3 42 — 10 — 85 53 38 — 30 BoomerangsoundtrackandThe Bliss Album...?
"Looking Through Patient Eyes" 1993 6 20 — 1 — 63 — 11 — 11 The Bliss Album...?
"More Than Likely"(featuringBoy George) — — — — — — — — — 40
"The Ways of the Wind" 54 — — 24 — — — — — —
"Plastic" — — — — — — — — — —
"Norwegian Wood" — 133 — — — — — — — —
"You Got Me Floatin'" 115 43 — — — — — — — — Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
"Downtown Venus" 1995 48 73 — — — — — — — 58 Jesus Wept
"Sometimes I Miss You So Much (Dedicated to the Christ-Consciousness)" 95 139 — — — — — — — 58
"Gotta Be...Movin' on Up"(featuringKy-Mani) 1998 — 13 12 — 18 74 — 23 — 68 Senselesssoundtrack
"I Had No Right" 44 118 — — — — — — — 97 Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad
"Faith in You" — — — — — — — — — —
"Night in the City" 2000 — — — — — — — — — — A Case of Joni
"Amnesia" 2002 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcdefgStrong, Martin C. (2000).The Great Rock Discography(5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 750–751.ISBN1-84195-017-3.
  2. ^abErlewine, Stephen Thomas."P.M. Dawn".AllMusic.RetrievedAugust 27,2013.
  3. ^abCaramanica, Jon (June 19, 2016)."Prince Be, Who Infused Rap With Mysticism, Dies at 46".New York Times.RetrievedJuly 9,2016.
  4. ^""DIGGIN' IN THE FILES: KRS-ONE" – BY BILL ADLER – CrazyHood ".Archived fromthe originalon August 1, 2016.RetrievedAugust 4,2016.
  5. ^abColin Larkin,ed. (1997).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music(Concise ed.).Virgin Books.p. 959/60.ISBN1-85227-745-9.
  6. ^"Hammersmith Odeon, London".Brit Awards.British Phonographic Industry.February 12, 1992. Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2023.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  7. ^"United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. - 179 F.3d 217".June 21, 1999.
  8. ^"Pop star charged with sex crime".United Press International.September 21, 1995.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  9. ^Schmader, David (September 28, 2011)."The Dawn Goes On".The Stranger.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  10. ^Meyer, Marianne."Live!".The Washington Post.RetrievedMarch 13,2015.
  11. ^Vaidya, Amit (December 2, 2021)."#RSFlashback: P.M. Dawn's 'Set Adrift On Memory Bliss' Turns 30".Rolling StoneIndia.Archived fromthe originalon July 4, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 16,2023.
  12. ^"P.M. Dawn's Prince Be Dead at 46".TMZ.June 17, 2016.RetrievedJune 18,2016.
  13. ^Brennan, Christopher (June 18, 2016)."P.M. Dawn member dies in hometown".New York Daily News.RetrievedJune 18,2016.
  14. ^Nelson, Byron (March 22, 2022)."P.M. Dawn Member K-R.O.K. The Producer Announces He's Suing Doc G Ahead Of Unsung Release Next Month [Watch]".Landon Buford.Archived fromthe originalon December 9, 2022.RetrievedMarch 15,2023.
  15. ^Fisher, Jack (April 3, 2022)."P.M. Dawn & Salli Richardson-Whitfield TONIGHT (04-03-22) on UNSUNG & UNCENSORED".Eurweb.RetrievedJanuary 25,2023.
  16. ^Seldon, Alana (April 2, 2022)."Eternal, Original Member of PM Dawn, Says His Brother Prince Be's Legacy Lives on in Music".TV One.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  17. ^ab"Artist Chart History – P.M. Dawn (albums)".Billboard.
  18. ^abcdAustralian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  19. ^ab"PM Dawn ARIA Chart history (complete to 2024)".ARIA.RetrievedJuly 28,2024– via Imgur.N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  20. ^ab"Canadian Charts > P.M. Dawn".collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/index-e.html RPM Magazine. Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2012.RetrievedApril 26,2011.
  21. ^ab"Discografie P.M. Dawn".dutchcharts.nl.RetrievedSeptember 12,2020.
  22. ^ab"New Zealand Charts > P.M. Dawn".charts.nz.RetrievedApril 26,2011.
  23. ^"swedishcharts – Swedish Charts Portal".swedishcharts.RetrievedMarch 30,2022.
  24. ^ab"Discographie P.M. Dawn".hitparade.ch.RetrievedSeptember 12,2020.
  25. ^ab"Official Charts > P.M. Dawn".Official Charts Company.RetrievedJuly 20,2017.
  26. ^ab"The Amaerican Certifications of P.M. Dawn".RIAA.RetrievedApril 26,2011.
  27. ^ab"The British Certifications of P.M. Dawn".British Phonographic Industry.Archived fromthe originalon January 15, 2013.RetrievedApril 26,2011.
  28. ^ab"The Canadian Certifications of P.M. Dawn".Music Canada.Archived fromthe originalon May 24, 2012.RetrievedApril 26,2011.
  29. ^"Artist Chart History – P.M. Dawn (singles)".Billboard.
  30. ^"Discografie P.M. Dawn".ultratop.be.RetrievedSeptember 12,2020.
  31. ^"lescharts – Les charts français".lescharts.RetrievedMarch 30,2022.
  32. ^"German Charts > P.M. Dawn".musicline.de PhonoNet. Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2012.RetrievedApril 26,2011.
  33. ^ab"Gold and Platinum search results: P.M. Dawn".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedMarch 25,2014.
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