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Wikipedia / The Flirts

The Flirts are a project concept group formed by Bobby "O" Orlando, to front his performances as an artist, musician and songwriter. The group consisted of Orlando and featured a revolving roster of female session singers and models. Under The Flirts name, Orlando churned out hits "Passion", "Danger", "Helpless" and "Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)". While many of the girls were just models for the group, Andrea Del Conte, Rebecca Sullivan, Debra Gaynor, Tricia Wygal, and Christina Criscione used their real vocals. Today, the group features a relatively stable trio that performs at 80s music festivals and other venues mainly in the U.S. with some international appearances.

Concept and first chart success

Orlando conceived the idea for the Flirts, wrote the songs, played the instruments, and produced the tracks. He then auditioned women to be the faces of the group. Orlando often called in the services of professional session singers to sing the female vocals for the tracks because most of the performers were trained as dancers, models or actresses. The Flirts went through numerous lineup changes, and with every album release and tour, some women left while others stayed. Orlando released six studio albums under The Flirts name from 1982 to 1992 and numerous singles.

"Jukebox" received significant airplay on MTV in 1982. The song rose to number 28 on the Billboard US Dance Chart. The follow-up single "Passion" peaked the same year at number 21 and became a huge success in Europe, reaching number 22 in the Netherlands and number 4 in Germany.

"Helpless (You Took My Love)" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard US Dance Chart, and reached number 13 on the German Top 75. Members of The Flirts performed in the German feature film .

In 1985, "You and Me", which Orlando co-wrote with influential hip hop producer Clifton "Jiggs" Chase, topped the US dance chart.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title

Album details

Peak chart positions

SWE

10¢ a Dance

  • Released: September 1982

  • Label: "O"

  • Formats: LP, cassette tape

38

Born to Flirt

—

Made in America

  • Released: June 1984

  • Label: Telefon

  • Formats: LP, cassette tape

—

Blondes Brunettes & Redheads

  • Released: October 1985

  • Label: CBS

  • Formats: LP, cassette tape

—

Questions of the Heart

  • Released: October 1986

  • Label: CBS

  • Formats: LP, cassette tape

—

Take a Chance on Me

  • Released: 1992

  • Label: Vono Disc

  • Formats: CD

  • Switzerland-only release

—

"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title

Album details

Flirt with the Flirts

  • Released: 1983

  • Label: Rams Horn

  • Formats: 2xLP

  • Netherlands-only release

Passion of Disco – The Remix Album

  • Released: 14 November 2014

  • Label: Hargent New Media

  • Formats: CD

  • Hungary-only release

Compilation albums

Title

Album details

The Best of the Flirts

  • Released: September 1991

  • Label: "O"

  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, cassette tape

Greatest Hits

  • Released: March 1994

  • Label: Unidisc

  • Formats: CD

  • Canada-only release

Physical Attraction

  • Released: 2001

  • Label: Trilogie

  • Formats: 3xCD

Singles

Title

Year

Peak chart positions

US Dance

BEL(FL)

DEN

GER

NL

SWI

"Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)"

1982

28

—

1

—

—

—

"Passion"

21

36

14

4

23

4

"On the Beach"

1983

—

—

—

—

—

—

"We Just Want to Dance"

—

—

—

—

—

—

"Calling All Boys"

21

—

—

57

—

—

"Danger"

—

—

—

—

—

30

"Helpless (You Took My Love)"

1984

12

—

—

13

—

15

"Telephone"

—

—

—

—

—

—

"Dancin' Madly Backwards"

1985

47

—

—

46

—

—

"Voulez Vous"

—

—

—

—

—

—

"You & Me"

1

—

—

—

—

—

"New Toy"

1986

5

—

—

—

—

—

"Miss You"

15

—

—

—

—

—

"All You Ever Think About Is (Sex)"

—

—

—

—

—

—

"A Thing Called Love"

1988

—

—

—

—

—

—

"After School" (featuring Full Force)

1989

—

—

—

—

—

—

"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Featured tracks on compilations

  • "Danger" - Disco Discharge: Pink Pounders (2010)

  • "Passion" - Disco Discharge: Gay Disco & Hi-NRG (2009)

  • "Passion" - Grand 12 Inches 4 (2007, Sony)

  • "Helpless (You Took My Love)" - I Love Bobby O (2006)

  • "Passion" - Back to Mine: Pet Shop Boys (2005)

  • "Passion" - I Love Disco Energy (2003)

See also

References