Mai Tai (band)

Mai Tai is a Dutch group (named after the tropical cocktail Mai Tai) that was formed in 1983 by the Dutch record producers Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma with three former backing vocalists Jetty Weels, Mildred Douglas and Caroline de Windt.[1]

Mai Tai
Background information
OriginAmsterdam, Netherlands
GenresSoul, Disco, Pop
Years active1983–1988, 1993–1996, 2004–present
LabelsInjection Disco Dance Label
Haring Records
MembersCarolien de Windt
Jetty Weels
Past membersMaureen Fernandes
Eve L'Kay
Lisa Noya
Marjorie Lammerts
Mildred Douglas

Career

1984–1988; classic line-up

Their debut single, "Keep on Dancin'" (1983) was only a hit in the Dutch nightclubs. In the summer of 1984 they released a second single, "What Goes On". It became their first hit in the Dutch Top 40, peaking at No. 24.[2] Following up tracks "Body and Soul" and "Am I Losing You Forever" also hit the charts, peaking at No. 23 and 24 in the Netherlands.[2]

In 1984, they released their debut album, which won a Dutch Edison Award and a Silver Harp. Their international breakthrough came with "History" from the debut album. This song was successful all over Europe, and became a No. 8 hit in the UK Singles Chart[3] and reached the Top 30 in Germany. It was also a hit in New Zealand and Australia and entered the U.S. Billboard dance chart, peaking at No. 3 in 1985.[4]

"Body and Soul" was re-released in the UK in 1985 and became their second UK Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9.[3] Subsequently, with their international breakthrough Mai Tai's popularity in the Netherlands started to decline.

In 1986 their song "Female Intuition" became a Top 40 hit across Europe, and made Top 10 in Denmark. The follow-up single, "Turn Your Love Around" from the second album, "1 Touch 2 Much", went straight into the Top 20 of the Dutch Top 40.[2] In 1987 Mai Tai released their modestly successful third album, "Cool Is the Rule" with the singles "Bet That's What You Say" and "Fight Fire with Fire"; were much less successful. After releasing one last single, "Dance in the Light", and a Best Of compilation in 1988, the group broke up.

Jetty Weels released a few solo singles in 1989 and 1990 under the name Oscare. Mildred Douglas released a solo album, "Face One", in 1990; she went on to collaborate with other artists including her guitarist brother Franky and the supergroup J.A.M. with Angela Groothuizen and Julya Lo'ko.

1993–present; reformations

In 1993, Weels and de Windt re-teamed with new member Lisa Noya (niece of the acclaimed percussionist Nippy Noya). Over the next three years they released several moderately successful Eurohouse singles.

From 2001 onwards Mai Tai occasionally reformed for various performances. Douglas appeared at selected dates and was replaced in 2004 by Marjorie Lammerts (later known as B-Yentl). This line-up participated in the Dutch heat of the Eurovision Song Contest and made it to the semi-finals.[5] Nevertheless, as a result of this exposure they recorded and released several singles, both in English and Dutch, over the next couple of years, as well as the album Onder Voorbehoud in 2007. Despite the success of the singles they split up.

In 2010, Weels re-recorded and released a remix of "Body and Soul" and enlisted two new members, Maureen Pengel and Edna Proctor. They also released a new version of The Pointer Sisters' "Automatic", and premiered this line-up in 2011 at the Disco legends Festival. The song "History" was featured on the video gameGrand Theft Auto IV (2008), which has an exclusive radio station called Vice City FM.[6]

Since the return of singer Carolien De Windt, the group consists of two original singers joined by Eve L'Kay together they released "Baby I Want You Back" and "One Night Man"

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album NL
[2]		 UK
[7]
1984 Mai Tai (Issued as History in some countries) 16 91
1986 1 Touch 2 Much 18 —
1987 Cool Is the Rule — —
2007 Onder Voorbehoud — —

Compilation albums
  • The Very Best of Mai Tai (1991)
  • History 1996 (1996)
  • Mai Tai History – The Essential Collection (1998)
  • 25 jaar Mai Tai (2009)

Singles
Year Song NLD
[2]		 GER
[8]		 UK
[7]		 US Pop
[4]		 US Dance
[4]		 US R&B
[4]
1983 "Keep on Dancing'" ― ― ― ― ― ―
1984 "Am I Losing You Forever" 24 ― 78 ― ― ―
"What Goes On" 24 ― ― ― ― ―
"Body and Soul" 23 ― 9 ― ― ―
1985 "History" 9 26 8 ― 3 37
"What, Where, When, Who" ― ― ― ― ― 69
1986 "1 Touch 2 Much" 45 ― ― ― ― ―
"Female Intuition" 12 — 54 71 ― 49
"Turn Your Love Around" 12 ― ― ― ― ―
1987 "Bet That's What You Say" 26 ― ― ― ― ―
"Fight Fire with Fire" 30 ― ― ― ― ―
1988 "Dance in the Light" 88 ― ― ― ― ―
1993 "Never, Never!" ― ― ― ― ― ―
"I Want U" ― ― ― ― ― ―
1994 "It's Not Over" ― ― ― ― ― ―
1995 "Are You for Real" ― ― ― ― ― ―
"History 95' (remix)" ― ― 93 ― ― ―
1996 "Afrodisiac" ― ― ― ― ― ―
2004 "Bring Back the Music" ― ― ― ― ― ―
2006 "Don't Forget to Live" ― ― ― ― ― ―
"Automatic" ― ― — ― ― ―
2007 "Don't Be Afraid" — ― ― ― ― ―
"Bijna" 89 — — — ― —
"100% Voce" 24 ― ― ― ― ―
2008 "Kronenburg Park" ― ― ― ― ― ―
2014 "Baby I Want You Back" ― ― ― ― ― ―
2015 "One Nite Man" ― ― ― ― ― ―

References
  1. Wynn, Ron. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. "MAI TAI IN DUTCH CHARTS". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 344. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "Mai Tai Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  5. "Dutch Semi-Finals 2004". natfinals.50webs.com.
  6. McWhertor, Michael (27 April 2018). "Grand Theft Auto 4 update removes a long list of songs". Polygon. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  7. "MAI TAI - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  8. "MAI TAI - HISTORY [SINGLE]". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). Retrieved 8 February 2021.
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