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Laura Branigan

Profile:Born on July 3, 1957, in Brewster, upstate New York, Laura Branigan studied at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan during the mid 1970s.

Branigan's recording career began in the mid 70s with a group called Meadows, resulting in the forgotten release "The Friend Ship", but her solo career took off when Ahmet Ertegun and Doug Morris signed her to Atlantic Records in 1980, after she had toured with Leonard Cohen as backing singer for his "Death Of A Ladies Man" world tour. Her first LP for Atlantic, "Silver Dreams", remains unreleased due to a Contract Lawsuit with her management at the time, although a promo track Looking Out For Number One became a small club hit.

Her first commercial release All Night With Me charted at no 62, but her next release, a remake of Umberto Tozzi's Gloria led to worldwide acclaim, getting to no 2 in the USA, and the top ten in most other territories, earning Branigan the first of many nominations for a Grammy, amongst other awards. Branigan's music was heavily influenced by the singers she admired, Donna Summer, Aretha Frankiln, Gladys Knight, Stevie Nicks, and like Donna Summer she used European producers, arrangers and musicians (notably Jack White and Harold Faltermeyer) to create a eurodisco style with an American twist, whilst most of her big hits, Gloria, Solitaire Self Control, Power Of Love, were originally European compositions.

Although she had chart success with singles from her first three albums (the single Self Control gaining no 4 in the USA and Britain and No 1 in Germany), and had contributed tracks for Hollywood films ("Imagination" on Flashdance - Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture, "Hot Night" on Ghostbusters Original Soundtrack and "Sharpshooter" on Body Rock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)), Branigan's subsequent albums were not well received by the record buying public, as she became eclipsed in the pop world by the likes of Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Celine Dion and others.

Branigan's fans fell into 2 camps, with her MOR ballads appealing to a conservative crowd, but her up-tempo eurodisco/Hi-NRG-AOR soft rock/disco tracks ensuring she always had a large gay following. Indeed, she recorded two tracks, a cover of Ellie Warren's Shattered Glass and Hazell Dean's Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go) with Stock, Aitken & Waterman for her 5th album,Touch. Her powerful voice with its 4 octave range was suited to both queen of heartbreak ballads in a similar vein to Abba's Agnetha Fältskog, to booming anthemic Hi-Nrg/AOR rock.

After the release of her seventh album Over My Heart for Atlantic in 1993, Branigan semi-retired from the music industry to care for her husband, suffering from cancer. In the mid-late 90's she returned with a compilation The Best Of Branigan which included two new tracks, covers of Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven" and Donna Summer's "Dim All The Lights", the video of which comes complete with over the top drag queens. From then on she was to record very little new material.

In 2002 Branigan appeared on stage as Janis Joplin in "Love, Janis" and earned rave reviews. She appeared to go back into the studio to record a few tracks The Challenge, a cover of Abba's The Winner Takes It All, but she died suddenly in her sleep on August 26, 2004, from a brain aneurysm. Dance Street Records in Germany rushed out a small compilation Remember Me (The Last Recordings) soon after her death, which also included new club remixes of "Gloria" and "Self Control".

Alongside her recording career, Branigan landed acting parts in films (Mugsy's Girl in 1985, Backstage in 1988) and in TV shows including Chips and Monsters (1991).
URLs:http://www.laurabranigan.com
http://www.laurabraniganonline.com/
Name Variations: All | Laura Branigan | Branigan | Лора Бранигън | L. Branigan | Laura Brannigan
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Releases:
Looking Out For Number One (12", Promo)   Atlantic 1981
All Night With Me (7", Promo)   Atlantic 1982
Branigan (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   Atlantic 1982
Gloria (Maxi, Single) ◄ (12 versions)   Atlantic ... 1982
Gloria / Viviendo Una Mentira -Living A Lie- (12")   Atlantic 1982
Branigan 2 (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Atlantic 1983
How Am I Supposed To Live Without You (7", Promo)   Atlantic 1983
Solitaire ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1983
Solitaire / Gloria ◄ (3 versions)   Atlantic ... 1983
Solitaire / I'm Not The Only One (7")   Atlantic 1983
Solitaire / If You Loved Me / Squeeze Box (12")   Atlantic 1983
Satisfaction (12", Maxi)   Atlantic 1984
Satisfaction / Ti Amo (12")   Atlantic 1984
Self Control (7", EP)   AMIGA 1984
Self Control (LP, Pic, Ltd, Album)   Atlantic 1984
Self Control (Maxi, Single) ◄ (22 versions)   Atlantic ... 1984
Self Control (Album) ◄ (7 versions)   Atlantic ... 1984
Self Control / It's All Yours (12", Promo)   Atlantic 1984
Self Control/The Lucky One (7")   Atlantic 1984
The Lucky One (Maxi, Single) ◄ (6 versions)   Atlantic ... 1984
The Lucky One / Breaking Out ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1984
Ti Amo (Single) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1984
Hold Me (Album) ◄ (8 versions)   Atlantic ... 1985
Hold Me (Vocal/New Extended Remix) (Single) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1985
Maybe Tonight (Single) ◄ (3 versions)   Atlantic 1985
Spanish Eddie (Single) ◄ (7 versions)   Atlantic ... 1985
Cry Wolf (7")   Atlantic 1987
Power Of Love (7")   Atlantic 1987
Shattered Glass (Single) ◄ (3 versions)   Atlantic 1987
Shattered Glass / Statue In The Rain ◄ (4 versions)   Atlantic 1987
Spirit Of Love (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1987
The Hits (CD, Promo, EP, Smplr, Comp)   Atlantic 1987
Touch (Album) ◄ (5 versions)   Atlantic ... 1987
Come Into My Life (7", Promo)   ATCO Records 1988
The Best Of Laura Branigan (CD, Comp)   Atlantic 1988
The Best Of Laura Branigan (CD, Comp)   Atlantic 1988
Self Control / Gloria (7")   WEA Musik GmbH 1989
Laura Branigan (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   Atlantic ... 1990
Moonlight On Water (CD, Mini, 3)   Atlantic 1990
Moonlight On Water (Single) ◄ (5 versions)   Atlantic 1990
Never In A Million Years (CD, Single, Promo)   Atlantic 1990
Turn The Beat Around (Single) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1990
The Best Of Laura Branigan (CD, Comp)   Atlantic 1991
Tokio (CD, Mini, 3)   Atlantic 1991
The Best Of Laura Branigan Vol. 2 (CD, Comp)   Atlantic 1992
The Very Best Of Laura Branigan (Comp) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic ... 1992
It's Been Hard Enough Getting Over You (CD, Single, Promo)   Atlantic 1993
Love Your Girl (Single) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1993
Over My Heart (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic ... 1993
How Can I Help You To Say Goodbye (CD, Single, Promo)   Atlantic 1994
It's Been Hard Enough Getting Over You (CD, Single, Promo)   Atlantic 1994
Dim All The Lights (CD, Promo, Single)   Atlantic 1995
Dim All The Lights (The Stonebridge Mixes) (Single) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1995
The Best Of Branigan (Album, Comp) ◄ (2 versions)   Atlantic 1995
Back In Control (CD, Comp, RM)   Atlantic 1999
The Essentials Laura Branigan (CD, Comp, RM)   Atlantic 2002
Gloria / Self Control (Re-Recorded in 2004) (CD, Maxi)   Dance Street Records 2004
Self Control / Gloria (2004) (12", Pic, Ltd)   Dance Street 2004
Remember Me (The Last Recordings) (CD)   Dance Street Records 2005
The Challenge (CD, Single)   Dance Street Records 2005
The Winner Takes It All (12", Pic, Ltd)   Dance Street 2005
The Platinum Collection (CD, Album)   Warner Platinum 2006
The Winner Takes It All (12")   Not On Label  
Appears On:
Body Rock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (LP) Sharpshooter EMI America 1984
Best (12") Heart Of Me (Centory Mix) EMI Music (France) 1995
Best (CD) Heart Of Me Pure Records 1995
Le Club Des Clubs 4 ◄ (2 versions) Heart Of Me (Remixé P... EMI (France) 1995
Best (CD) Heart Of Me (Centory R... Pure Records 1996
Best (2x12") Heart Of Me (Centory R... Pure Records 1996
Clone Zone - Dance Anthems Two (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) The Challenge, The Cha... Almighty Records, Clone Zone Music 2005
Tracks Appear On:
Forgotten Mega Hits (Vinyl, Comp) Gloria Dino Music (2) 1982
Hit Parade 5 (LP) Gloria Ariola 1982
Hot Classics, Issue 1 (12", EP, Comp, Promo) Gloria In 3D Hot Tracks 1982
Club Dancing 83 (LP) Gloria WEA 1983
Dynamite (LP, Comp) How Am I Supposed To L... Sono-Rodven 1983
Flashdance - Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture (Album) ◄ (19 versions) Imagination Casablanca Records ... 1983
Go For It 1983 (LP, Comp) Gloria CBS Records Australia 1983
Hit Explosion (LP, Comp) Gloria K-Tel International (USA), Inc. 1983
Hot And New (LP, Comp) Gloria WEA Musik GmbH 1983
Musica De Baile (12") Gloria WEA 1983
Musica Original De La Pelicula "Flashdance" (LP) Imagination Polygram Discos SA de CV (Mexico) 1983
Neonlights (LP) Gloria K-Tel International (Finland) Oy 1983
Series 2, Issue 4 (2x12", Promo) Solitaire (Special Remix) Hot Tracks, Hot Tracks 1983
Best Of DMC Vol. 1 (12", Comp) Gloria DMC 1984
Body Rock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) ◄ (3 versions) Sharpshooter EMI America ... 1984
December 84 - The Mixes (12") Self Control DMC 1984
Die Allerneueste... Ronny's Pop Show (LP, Comp) Lucky One CBS, CBS Grammofoonplaten BV 1984
Die Super Smash Hits '84 (2xLP, Comp) Self Control CBS 1984
Freeway N. 2 (LP) Self Control WEA Italiana SpA 1984
Ghostbusters / Original Soundtrack (Comp, Album) ◄ (15 versions) Hot Night Arista ... 1984
Hot Stuff (LP) Self Control Finnlevy 1984
More Adventures In Modern Sounds (CD) Self Control WEA Musik GmbH 1984
The Hits Album (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Self Control WEA International Inc. ... 1984
The Hits Hits Hits Machine (2xLP, Comp) Self Control Concept Records Pty Limited 1984
Thommy's Pop-Show Extra (LP) The Lucky One Ariola 1984
Video Hits 84 (LP) Self Control (Domínio... Discos CBS 1984
Διπλός Χρυσός (2xVinyl, Comp) Self Control WEA Records (Greece) 1984
Don't Stop The Music (2xLP) The Lucky One JCI Records, JCI Records, JCI Records 1985
February 85 - The Mixes (12") Gloria DMC 1985
High Energy (LP) The Lucky One JCI Records 1985
High Energy (Cass) The Lucky One JCI Records 1985
Hot And New '85 (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Satisfaction WEA Musik GmbH 1985
Music Gala Of The Year (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Self Control Arcade 1985
The Hits Album (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Self Control Arcade 1985
Club Privé II (LP, Comp) Silent Partners WEA 1986
Dance Traxx (2xLP) Gloria Atlantic, Atlantic 1986
Atlantic's Year In Review: 1987 (CD, Promo) Power Of Love Atlantic 1987
December 87 - Previews (12") Shattered Glass DMC 1987
Move Closer (2xLP, Comp) Self Control Arcade 1987
CD Price Attack! - Extraprice On CD (CD, Comp, Promo) Gloria WEA, WEA Musik GmbH 1988
Coming To America: Original Soundtrack Album (Cass) Come Into My Life ATCO Records 1988
Coming To America: Original Soundtrack Album (LP) Come Into My Life ATCO Records 1988
Hit Singles 1980 - 1988 (CD, Comp) Self Control Atlantic, BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. 1988
Hit Singles 1980-1988 (CD, Comp) Gloria, Self Control Atlantic 1988
Larry Präsentiert Party Rock (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) Self Control CBS ... 1990
Mega Hits - Die Grössten Hits Aller Zeiten (Cass, Comp) Self Control WEA Musik GmbH 1990
Prime Cuts: Volume 03, Issue 02 (2x12", Promo) Moonlight On Water Prime Cuts 1990
The Best Of 1980-1990 Vol. 2 (3xCD) Self Control EMI Electrola 1990
Hot Tracks 10-4 (CD, Comp) Gloria In 3-D Hot Tracks 1991
Pop Classics - The Long Versions 2 (2xCD) Self Control Arcade 1991
Absolute Music 1 (2xLP) Self Control EVA Records (Denmark) 1992
Billboard Top Hits - 1982 (CD, Album, Comp) Gloria Rhino Entertainment Company 1992
Discotech Seventeen (CD, Comp) Self Control DiscoTech 1992
Ronny's Pop Show 20 (2xCD, Smplr) Self Control (Classic ... Columbia 1992
The Rock Collection: Hot Rock (2xCD, Comp) Self Control Time Life Music 1992
The Rock Collection: Rock Giants (2xCD, Comp) Gloria Time Life Music 1992
Now That's What I Call Music 1984 (2xCD) Self Control EMI Records, Virgin, Polygram 1993
Party Power Pack Vol. 2 (2xCD) Self Control Polystar Records 1993
Release #8 - 1993 (Cass, Smplr, Promo) Didn't We Almost Win I... Atlantic 1993
Super Maxi Dancer (2xCD, Comp) Self Control (Extended... Castle Communications 1993
The 80's Collection 1984 (2xCD) Self Control Time Life Music 1993
Totally '80s (2xCD) Gloria Warner Special Products, Razor & Tie 1993
Alles Geven - Vol. 1 (2xCD) Gloria Polydor 1994
Baywatch (CD, Comp) I Believe Scotti Bros. Records 1994
Celebration (CD) Gloria Time Life Music 1994
Sounds Of The Eighties - 1982 (CD) Gloria Time Life Music, Sony Music Special Products 1994
The 80's Collection - 1982 Alive And Kicking (2xCD, Comp) Gloria Time Life Music 1994
Direct Hit - Volume 15 (3x12", Comp, Promo) Gloria (Digital Mix) Direct Hit Remix Service 1995
Rock The Planet: Dance 80's (CD) Gloria Coyote Sound Cuisine, Inc., Warner Special Products 1995
The Very Best Of Pop Music 1982-83 (2xCD, Comp) Gloria Egmont Music Club 1995
The Very Best Of Pop Music 1984-85 (2xCD, Comp) Self Control Egmont Music Club 1995
Early Club Hits (2xCD, Comp) Self Control PolyGram 1996
Sounds Of The Eighties - The Mid-'80s (CD) Self Control Time Life Music, MCA Special Markets & Products 1996
The Best Of NRG For The 90's Volume 5 (2xCD, Promo) Dim All The Lights (Di... Hot Tracks 1996
The Megamixes 162 (2x12", Mixed) Gloria DMC 1996
The Very Best Of Pop Music 1983-84 (2xCD, Comp) The Lucky One Egmont Music Club 1996
15th Anniversary Collectors Edition (Part 1) (17xCD, Comp) Solitaire, Gloria In 3D Hot Tracks 1997
NRG For The 90's Volume 26 (12", Ltd, Promo) Dim All The Lights Hot Tracks 1997
Baggerhits '98 (2xCD, Comp) Self Control EMI Electrola 1998
Chart Toppers: Dance Hits Of The 80's (CD) Gloria Priority Records, Sony Music Special Products 1998
De Pre Historie - De Jaren 80 Volume 2 (Box + 10xCD) Self Control EVA Belgium 1998
De Pre Historie 1984 Volume 2 (CD) Self Control EVA Belgium 1998
Hoopers's Planet Disco (2xLP) Gloria Dance Pool 1998
Kiss FM Flashback - Best Of The 80's (CD, Comp) Self Control WEA, Warner Music Finland Oy 1998
Listen To The Music (2xCD) Self Control Warner Music (Benelux) 1999
Modern 80's - The Best Of Discopop Vol. 3 (2xCD) Self Control Polystar Records 1999
Simply The Best Of The 80's (4xCD) Self Control BMG UK & Ireland, BMG Direct 1999
I Love Disco Volumen 3 (3xCD, Comp) Self Control Blanco Y Negro (2) 2000
Kiss FM Hits - Suosikkisi 80 & 90 Luvuilta (CD, Comp) Power Of Love WEA, Warner Music Finland Oy 2000
The Mix Of The Century Vol. II (2xCD) Self Control ABCD 2000
Booming 80s (CD, Comp) Gloria Warner Music (Canada) 2001
De Muziek 10-Daagse (CD, Comp) Self Control IFPI (Belgium) 2001
The 80s 2 (3xCD, Comp) Self Control Warner Strategic Marketing, Warner Strategic Marketing, Warner Strategic Marketing 2001
Grand Theft Auto Vice City O.S.T - Volume 4 : Flash FM (CD, Comp) Self Control Epic, Rockstar Games 2002
Grand Theft Auto Vice City Official Soundtrack Box Set (7xCD, Comp) Self Control Epic, Rockstar Games 2002
The 80's Collection - Hits Don't Stop (2xCD, Comp) The Lucky One Time Life Music 2002
Clubland III - The Sound Of The Summer (2xCD, Mixed) Self Control Universal Music TV 2003
Méér...Typisch Tachtig! (4xCD) Self Control Sony Music Media (Netherlands) 2003
Best Of Love Songs (Box + 3xCD) Power Of Love Warner Music (Germany) 2004
Best Of The 80's (Box + 3xCD, Comp) Self Control Warner Music (Germany) 2004
Dancefloor Killers 2004 (2xCD, Comp) Self Control 2004 (Min... House Nation 2004
Gay Happening Volume 10 (CD, Comp) Self Control 2004 (Min... Dance Street Records 2004
Italian Disco Paradise (2xCD) Self Control 2004 More Music 2004
Italo Boot Mix 2004 (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) Self Control 2004, Sel... Dance Street Records 2004
Italo Boot Mix 2004 / 2 (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) Gloria 2004, Gloria 20... Dance Street Records 2004
Promo Only Club Video: October 04 (DVD, Comp) Self Control Promo Only 2004
Summerhitmix 2004 (2xCD, Mixed, Comp) Self Control 2004 ZYX Music 2004
Trance 2005 The Vocal Session (2xCD, Comp) Gloria 2004 ZYX Music 2004
80's In Techno Vol. 2 (2xCD, Comp) Self Control (Flip & F... EQ Music, EQ Music 2005
Boldog Karácsonyt! (CD, Comp) Power Of Love Warner Music (Hungary) 2005
Clasicos De Los 80's Vol. 2 (3xCD, Comp) Gloria Contraseña Records 2005
Clone Zone - Dance Anthems Two (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) The Challenge, The Cha... Almighty Records, Clone Zone Music 2005
Love To Love You, Baby. A Tribute To Donna Summer (CD) Dim All The Lights Koch Records 2005
25 Lat Listy Przebojów Trójki - 1984 (CD) Self Control The Music Marketeers (Polska) 2006
Disco Hits - The Greatest (2xCD) Self Control ZYX Music 2006
Summer Holiday Hits (3xCD) Self Control Universal Music TV 2006
100 Hits - Woman (Box + 5xCD, Comp) Gloria Demon Music Group 2007
100 Hits 80s Pop (5xCD, Comp) Self Control, Gloria Demon Music Group 2008
Absolute 80's (3xCD, Comp) Self Control EVA Records (Sweden) 2008
Fantastic 80's! - The Complete Collection (5xCD, Comp + Box) Self Control Warner Music TV, Rhino (UK) 2008
Like Never Before (CD, Mixed) Self Control / Breathe... Sleeping Giant Music 2008
Pop & Rock Klub80 Volume 2 (2xCD, RM, CD-) Satisfaction (Extended... 4EverMusic 2009
Classic Cuts 26 Pop/Dance (CD, Comp) Gloria (7") Music Factory  
Classic Cuts 33 Eurobeat/HI NRG (CD, Comp) Gloria (In 3D Mix) (12... Music Factory  
The Men & Women Of Rock (LP) Self Control Dino Music (2)  
Музыкална Стълбица 1 (LP, Comp, Mixed) Самоконтрол Балкантон  
Unofficial Releases:
Bits N' Pieces IV (12", Mixed) Gloria Best Records (5) 1982
Disco Teen Beat (12", Mixed) Gloria Special Disco 1982
Hard As A Rock II (12", Mixed, Comp) Gloria Overseas Records (2) 1982
Lalala Mix (12", Mixed) Gloria Black Records (4) 1982
Hot Mix 82\83 (12", Mixed) Gloria Hot Records (9) 1983
Disco Breaks Part 6 (12") Self Control Galaxy Kingdom Records 1984
Jolly Two (12", Mixed) Self Control Not On Label 1984
Breaktime (12", Mixed) Shattered Glass Educational Remix Productions 1987
Self Control (Remix) (12")   All Nite Music USA 2005
T.Rexx Presents: The PWL Megamix - A Ton Of PWL Hits Vol. 1 (Original Version) ◄ (2 versions) Shattered Glass (Exten... Not On Label 2008
T.Rexx Presents: The Retro Classixx Mixx Vol. 6 (CDr, Promo) Self Control 2008 (Clu... Not On Label 2008
80's En Megamix (CDr, Promo, Mixed) Self Control Not On Label (DJ T.Rexx Self-released)  
80's New Wave Hits Vol. 18 (12") Self Control New Wave Hits  
Happy Days / Keep On Rocking / Soliatire / Fantasy (12", Comp, W/Lbl) Solitaire (Hot Tracks) Not On Label  
Mega Mode / Gloria 3D (12", Mixed) Gloria 3D Megatrax  
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