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Richard Morel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard Morel is an American singer-songwriter,[1] DJ,[2] remixer and record producer from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts.[3] He has worked extensively with Washington D.C.–based duo Deep Dish, co-writing, co-producing, performing and singing on many of their tracks, most notably on their albums Junk Science and George Is On. Richard Morel's songs are represented by Downtown Music Publishing.

Dance music

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As a dance music producer and remixer, he has released an extensive number of club hits using the names Morel and Pink Noise. Notable artists he has provided remixes for include Mariah Carey, t.A.T.u., Pet Shop Boys, Tina Turner, New Order, Depeche Mode, Filter, Yoko Ono, Seal, The Killers, Blaqk Audio and Amanda Lear.

Record label

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In 1995 Morel started his own independent record label called Outsider Music. He released "Peterbilt Angel" and the "4-Track" CDs on Outsider. Morel has collaborated with Ute Lemper and Daniel Ash for Outsider Music releases. In 2007 Michael Alago (A+R maverick who signed Metallica and White Zombie) began working with Morel at Outsider Music.

In 2002 he released Queen Of the Highway on Deep Dish's Yoshitoshi label. The album, which contained not only house music tracks but also had modern rock, pop and hip-hop elements throughout, impressed many critics. Queen Of the Highway is an audio portrait of punk photographer Mark Morrisroe whom Morel befriended. The autobiographical and introspective lyrics helped to earn the album its critical praise. Included on the record are some of his past club hits: "True (The Faggot Is You)," "Funny Car (Love Is Dead)" and "Cabaret." Technically, the album is released by a band also called Morel, fronted by Richard.

Dance events

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Also in 2002, he began running a monthly dance event in Washington, DC with friend and veteran punk/alternative/indie icon Bob Mould, titled Blowoff. The Blowoff dance event was so popular that it spurred Blowoff events in other cities such as New York City, Chicago, and San Diego. Blowoff is also the name of an electronic duo that Morel and Mould have been recording an album under.

After several more club hits and remixes, Morel returned with a second album, Lucky Strike, in 2004. Again praised by critics, the follow-up was an extension of sounds and lyrical content of his first. Included here are his club hits "If You Love Me," "Under a Disco" and "Escape (Driving To Heaven)," a collaboration with producer 16B.

Touring unit

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In 2005, Morel became part of Bob Mould's new touring unit (along with another notable DC musician, Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty), formed to support the release of Mould's Body of Song album. Morel also contributed remixes of the track "(Shine Your) Light Love Hope" to the bonus disc included in the limited edition version of the album.

Collaborations

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Morel co-produced and co-wrote several songs with Cyndi Lauper for her 2008 album Bring Ya to the Brink including the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play No. 1 single "Same Ol' Story".

In 2010, Richard Morel produced Amanda Lear's new EP I'm Coming Up. Morel is openly gay.[1]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Peterbilt Angel (1995)
  • Four-Track (1997)
  • Queen of the Highway (2002), Yoshitoshi[4]
  • Lucky Strike (2004), Yoshitoshi[5]
  • Blowoff (2006)[6]
  • The Death of the Paperboy (2008)

Singles

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  • "Flawed" (2008)
  • "If You Love Me" (2005)
  • "Stoning Of Steven" (2004)
  • "Cabaret" (2003)
  • "Funny Car" (2002)
  • "Dreaming of LA" (2001)
  • "Wake-Up" (1998)
  • "True (The Faggot Is You)" (1998)

Collaborations

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[with Deep Dish]

  • "Mohammad is Jesus..." (2011)[7]
  • "Everybody Is Wearing My Head" (2008)[8]
  • "Stranded" (2007)[9]
  • "Sacramento" (2005)[10]
  • "George Is On" (2005)
  • "Junk Science" (1998)

[with 16B]

  • "Escape (Driving To Heaven)" (2001)

[with Tom Goss]

  • "Bears" (2013)

Remixes

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[as Pink Noise]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gdula, Steve (May 28, 2002). "Morel majority: dance maven Richard Morel is openly gay, but he insists on making music for everybody". The Advocate. p. 64. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  2. ^ Doig, Will (February 21, 2002). "Outside, Looking In". Metro Weekly. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  3. ^ Johnson, Martin (May 5, 2002). "Trance Encounters; Reincarnated Dance Club Genre Is Homeward Bound". The Washington Post. p. g.2. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2010. Richard Morel grew up in Boston absorbing a wide variety of classic literature classical music rock and R&B from his family....
  4. ^ "Queen of the Highway". Allmusic. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Lucky Strike". Allmusic. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Blowoff". Allmusic. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "Mohammad is Jesus..." Allmusic. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Everybody Is Wearing My Head". Allmusic. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  9. ^ "Stranded". Allmusic. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sacramento". Allmusic. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
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