Signing with Capitol Records out of L.A. when she was 17, her self-titled debut album in 1977, produced by David Foster, won her a Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. She was nominated for the same award a second time, for her 1978 sophomore release Pretty Girls, although she did not win.
After Lisa Dalbello's third album, in 1981, she took a break from recording to re-evaluate her creative and personal priorities. However, David Bowie's former Spiders From Mars guitarist Mick Ronson saw a CBC documentary on her while working at a recording studio in Toronto and convinced her to record another album.
That album, whomanfoursays (a homophone for "human forces"), was co-produced by Dalbello and Ronson. It was also her first album recorded as Dalbello, and marked her transformation into an edgy rock artist. The transformation worked -- the album was even more successful on the Canadian pop charts than her earlier albums had been. The album spawned the hit singles "Gonna Get Close To You" and "Animal".
Ronson and Dalbello planned to record a second album, however, over Dalbello's strong objections, Ronson was passed over by both her record label, and her manager at that time, Roger Davies. Disappointed, and in an attempt to ensure the creative integrity of the Ronson/Dalbello production follow up, Dalbello submitted 4 self-produced song demos to her U.S. label and manager, only to have them rejected because they wanted a "real" producer.
Partly out of frustration and partly as a practical joke, Dalbello re-submitted the song demos under a pseudonym, "Bill Da Salleo", which was nothing more than a simple anagram of her name. To her surprise, her label and manager excitedly called her up saying that they loved the "new" demos and believed "Bill" was the perfect producer for the project.
Dalbello continued to produce the album under the pseudonym, managing to keep both her label and manager from visiting the sessions by booking the studio time late at night, and only broke the "news" of "Bill's premature death" to her Canadian A&R person Deane Cameron, just prior to delivering the album to the label, and shortly after Cameron called her out of concern that the label had no signed production agreement between Bill Da Salleo and themselves. Cameron, a maverick in Canadian music circles who was the first record label A & R person to have signing autonomy from his U.S. label counterpart out of L.A., reportedly laughed out loud, proclaiming that Dalbello had truly kicked the L.A. A&R offices' asses.
EMI released the album She in 1987. That album's singles, "Tango" and "Black on Black", were Dalbello's biggest hits. A version of "Black on Black" was also featured on the 9½ Weeks soundtrack. The success of She allowed her to tour extensively, particularly throughout Europe.
In 1991, not long after she moved from Toronto to L.A., Ronson and Dalbello discussed collaborating again. However, everything was put on hold because of a downturn in Ronson's health. Sadly, Ronson died of liver failure in 1993.
Three years later, Dalbello released whore in 1996 for EMI in Europe where she returned to tour for the rest of that year. She has not released another album since then and has instead focused on producing and writing for other artists such as Heart, Patti LaBelle -- whom she also produced, as well as Julian Lennon and Nena; some of the artists and writers she has co-written with are her friends Bryan Adams, Julian Lennon and Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart, as well as David Foster, Carole Bayer-Sager, Holly Knight, Chaka Khan, Branford Marsalis, Damhnait Doyle and Dan Hill.
In addition to having appeared on Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson's solo album Victor, contributing the lead vocal to the song "Start Today", and having recorded a duet with Duran Duran’s John Taylor, her vocals have appeared on records for Cher, Heart, Alice Cooper, Patti LaBelle, Toto, Nena, The FIXX, Rupert Hine's "Thinkman" project and Canadians Rough Trade, Kim Mitchell, Corey Hart and Glass Tiger.
Heart have covered "Black on Black", and Queensrÿche have covered "Gonna Get Close to You".
From the age of 14 and throughout the span of her recording career, Dalbello has performed vocals and voiceovers on some of the most well known TV and radio commercials in North America, for which she now also writes and arranges music. Her voice work also expanded into areas of documentary work as well as character voices for the Television anime series Sailor Moon. She performed the song "Always" for a popular Cheer detergent commercial that aired in the United States in 2003. Her song, "Faith In You (With All Your Heart)", was used to promote the launch of the Ford Focus automobile in North America; commercials featuring it played in movie theaters and on television.
Since 2002, she has been the brand announcer voice for the Canadian cable news network, CBC Newsworld. Additionally, her voice can be heard introducing CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge on the network's flagship nightly news and current affairs program, "The National".
Hollywood
Dalbello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ride San Fernando Valley
I know I could in Hollywood
Hotdamn the L.A. Freeway
Wear mink from Montego Bay
I know I could in Hollywood
In a single's bar
Gonna iron out my kinks
Play Matahara here
And the Sahara there
Won't you spin me for a drink?
You know what really blew my mind
Is that I could not be denied
That's when I began to emancipate
CHORUS
In Hollywood, Holly-Hollywood
Hollywood, Holly-Hollywood
I'd do it good
In Hollywood
"Hello Darling...
This is Zsa Zsa talking to you out there"
You know I really could have cried
When Mama said "Be good... Goodbye!"
I hardly could in Hollywood
Wanna deja vu
With a working crew
Well if you like it do it twice
I hit the hit parade
And start to generate
Live a social paradise
And when my time is up
I'm gonna fill my cup
Then I'll drown myself in sweet whiskey fizz
CHORUS
In Hollywood, Holly-Hollywood
Hollywood, Holly-Hollywood
I'd do it good
In Hollywood
Dalbello's song "Hollywood" is a longing anthem for the American dream. As the title suggests, the song is about the allure of Hollywood and the possibilities that come with moving there. The opening line, "I'd buy a Martoni Marquis, ride San Fernando Valley," is a direct reference to the luxury that comes with living in Hollywood. The lyrics suggest that Hollywood offers everything someone could want or need to succeed, such as expensive cars and a glamorous lifestyle. This song paints a picture of someone who is willing to leave their old life behind and start fresh in a new city where anything seems possible.
The song's chorus is the most memorable part, with the repetition of "Holly-Hollywood" creating an anthemic feel that makes it easy to sing along to. It reinforces the idea that Hollywood is the place to be and emphasizes the singer's yearning to be part of this world. The line, "You know what really blew my mind is that I could not be denied," suggests that there are no limits to what can be achieved in Hollywood, and that anything is possible with the right attitude. The song speaks to a longing for success and the feeling of freedom, both of which seem attainable in Hollywood.
Overall, "Hollywood" is a song about chasing dreams and leaving the past behind. The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve greatness and is drawn to the allure of Hollywood's glitz and glamour. The song is a reminder of the appeal of a life of luxury and the limitless possibilities that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd buy a Martoni Marquis
If I lived in Hollywood, I would have enough money to buy a luxury car like a Martoni Marquis.
Ride San Fernando Valley
I could drive around the scenic San Fernando Valley in Hollywood.
I know I could in Hollywood
Living in Hollywood would make all these luxurious things possible for me.
Hotdamn the L.A. Freeway
The L.A. Freeway is really exciting and cool to drive on.
Wear mink from Montego Bay
I could afford to wear luxurious fur from exotic places like Montego Bay if I lived in Hollywood.
Wanna toot-toot la
I want to have a good time in a lively atmosphere, probably in a singles bar.
In a single's bar
I want to go out to a bar that is popular amongst singles to have a good time and maybe meet new people.
Gonna iron out my kinks
I want to work on myself and fix any flaws I might have.
Play Matahara here
I want to have fun and play games like Matahara in Hollywood.
And the Sahara there
I want to travel and experience different cultures in places like Sahara in Hollywood.
Won't you spin me for a drink?
Can you please buy me a drink?
You know what really blew my mind
Something that really surprised me.
Is that I could not be denied
I felt empowered and free in Hollywood, where I could do anything I wanted.
That's when I began to emancipate
That's when I started to feel liberated and free to make my own choices.
In Hollywood, Holly-Hollywood
The chorus explains the desire to live in and experience the glamour of Hollywood.
I'd do it good
I would enjoy myself and appreciate all of the opportunities that Hollywood presents.
Hello Darling...
This is Zsa Zsa talking to you out there
Zsa Zsa is a Hollywood icon, and the reference symbolizes the glamour and fame of Hollywood.
You know I really could have cried
I was really sad and upset.
When Mama said "Be good... Goodbye!"
When my mother left me and wished me to be a good person.
I hardly could in Hollywood
I would have a hard time being a good person in such a tempting, luxurious environment like Hollywood.
Wanna deja vu
I want to relive a moment or experience something again.
With a working crew
I want to be surrounded by talented people who can help me achieve my goals.
Well if you like it do it twice
If I enjoy something, I would do it again and again.
I hit the hit parade
I become famous with a chart-topping single.
And start to generate
I create something that generates money, fame, or interest.
Live a social paradise
I would achieve a social status that is like pure paradise.
And when my time is up
When my life is over.
I'm gonna fill my cup
I'm going to have a lot of fun and enjoyment in my life until the very end.
Then I'll drown myself in sweet whiskey fizz
I'll indulge in something sweet and alcoholic before I die.
Contributed by Nathaniel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheMiggitymark
She's a great songwriter. Underrated for sure.
@reinermbivz3278
Great 😎👍🎶
@John-sk8cm
I couldn't love you more for uploading this wonderful album. I have the vinyl copy but no longer have a record player. Thank you 💞 Subscribed.
@jowabro
What is this from? Is there a CD version with all three versions of the title track? I have an original pressing of the LP, and it only has the version you call "alternate version" (track 11). How did you get all three versions? Thanks.
@templocal
All are vinyl rips! Greets!