Fire In Her Heart: Madleen Kane’s Disco Classic Returns From Gold Legion

Madleen Kane’s 1978 debut albums played on words for its title, Rough Diamond.  But there was nothing too rough about the album’s sleek disco grooves or about the fashion model-turned-singer at its center.  In 2011, the Gold Legion label reissued Rough Diamond on CD with three bonus tracks.  Its follow-up, 1979’s Cheri, has just recently been given the Gold Legion treatment with one bonus cut of its own.

Born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and American father, Madleen Kane found her first successes in modeling.  The Elite model appeared in publications including Playboy, but soon it was clear that she had more on her mind than just conquering the fashion world.  Rough Diamond, first released in France by CBS and later in the U.S. by Warner Bros., established the 20-year old Kane as a chanteuse for the disco era.  Produced by the French team of Michaele, Lana and Paul Sebastian, the LP featured arrangements by Thor Baldursson, who counted among his many credits a stint arranging for The Salsoul Orchestra following original leader Vince Montana’s departure.    It included original songs by the Sebastians and Baldursson as well as reinventions of standards “C’est Si Bon” and “Fever.”

After the jump: hit the dancefloor with Cheri!