Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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EASTON, Sheena

(b Sheena Orr, 27 April '59, Glasgow) Singer. Drama student opted for pop career; signed with EMI, received boost on Big Time TV show: she was the subject of a BBC programme about manufacturing a pop star. First single 'Modern Girl' a minor hit '80; first post-TV release '9 To 5' was no. 3; 'Modern Girl' re-released reached top ten; '9 To 5' was retitled 'Morning Train' to avoid confusion with the Dolly Parton film, was no. 1 USA. 'One Man Woman' made no. 14 to round off a good first year, but the mundaneness of her songs began to tell: cleverly switched to ballads, relying on prod. Chris Neil to pick them: 'When He Shines' and 'For Your Eyes Only' (James Bond theme) '81 were last big UK hits. To USA to promote first LP (Take My Time UK; Sheena Easton USA); decided to concentrate on that market: mellifluous cover of Bob Seger's 'We Got Tonight' (duet with Kenny Rogers) was no. 6 USA '83, no. 28 UK. Her first four albums on EMI America charted in the USA; having cultivated a whiter-than-white image with no little success, she surprised everybody by enlisting disco king Prince to redirect her career: 'Strut' no. 7 USA '84; his comp. 'Sugar Walls' went top ten black chart (despite airplay restrictions due to supposed reference to female anatomy), bringing distinction as the first singer to have singles in Billboard top ten pop, black, disco, MOR and country charts: the album containing both, A Private Heaven '84, was her best performer, no. 15 in USA. She borrowed Madonna's street-urchin image and prod. Nile Rodgers for Do You '85, no. 40 album; switched to MCA for The Lover In Me '88, What Comes Naturally '91, No Strings '93, My Cherie '95. Onstage in Man Of La Mancha '91 in Chicago; made a fitness video '92.