Carol Jiani

Carol Jiani (born Uchenna Carol Ikejiani ) is a Nigerian-born singer based in the United Kingdom, best known for her 1981 hit "Hit 'N Run Lover".

Career Uchenna Carol Ikejiani was born in Nigeria to an Igbo family. She moved to Canada as a college student in the mid-1970s.

In autumn 1978, she auditioned to appear on Joe La Greca's album Montreal. In early 1978, Jiani recorded two tracks for the project, "If You Believe in Me" and "Higher and Higher". These were released on an EP, with her credited under her birth name. Glenn LaRusso of Salsoul Records convinced her to shorten her name from Uchenna Carol Ikejiani to Carol Jiani to make it easier for North Americans to pronounce.

In 1980, Carol Jiani recorded two Sandy Wilbur-written pieces with La Greca, "Hit 'N Run Lover" and "All The People of the World". "Hit 'N Run Lover" was remixed by San Francisco-based Moby Dick Records for their Gold Standard imprint and would become Jiani's signature song, peaking at number 4 on the US Billboard Club Play Singles chart in 1981. A follow-up album, Ask Me was released the next year generating the singles "Ask Me", "X-Rated" and "You're Gonna Lose My Love". In 1982, Jiani recorded vocals for "Get Up and Do It Again". The song was a hit, as was the second version recorded by Mizz lead singer, Michelle Mills.

At the end of 1983, she released her last Joe LaGreca production, "Touch And Go Lover" for the Canadian label Telescope. The song was also remixed by Step Pettibone and for the US by John Robie. A total of 7 songs was recorded but the album was not released. Two more singles were released, "Dancing In The Rain" and a cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way". Eventually all songs were released in 1984 on a 12" in the UK by the label Streetwave.

In 1984, Jiani moved to England and soon signed with Record Shack to record "Vanity" with producer Ian Levine. Barbara Pennington had previously recorded the track but declined to release it to focus exclusively on soul music. Jiani's "Vanity", released in 1985, was a hit reaching number 1 on the UK Hi-NRG Club chart. Levine secured her a deal with MCA Records, and she released "Such A Joy Honey". According to Levine, "Turning My Back And Walking Away" was to have been her second single for MCA until she was dropped from the label. MCA gave the recording to Levine and the single was quickly released by his Nightmare Records label in 1987. In May 2010, "Broken", Jiani's collaboration with Jimmy D Robinson, peaked at No. 9 on Music Week'''s UK Upfront Club chart.

12 June 2015, Carol Jiani on vocals in Jason Parker Meets Naxwell feat. Carol Jiani "Hold That Sucker Down" 2018: "Deeper Love" Phoenix Lord Feat Carol Jiani.2018 "No More" Carol Jiani Feat Edge.

Discography

Albums

EP'sMontreal, Featuring Uchenna Ikejiani'', Salsoul Records SA 8519 (1978)

Singles 1981: "Hit 'N Run Lover" 1981: "The Woman in Me" / "Mercy" 1982: "Ask Me" 1982 "You're Gonna Lose My Love" 1982: "X-Rated" 1984: "Dancing in the Rain" 1984: "Touch and Go Lover" 1984: "Love Now Pay Later" 1985: "Don't Leave Me This Way" 1985: "Vanity" 1987: "Such A Joy Honey" 1987: "Turning My Back and Walking Away" 1988: "Hit 'N Run Lover '88" 1988: "Funkin' For The UK" with 3 Man Island 1989: "Car Wash" with 3 Man Island 1990: "It Should Have Been Me" 1990: "No Matter Where" 1994: "I Didn't Know" 1995: "Come and Get Your Love" 1995: "Superstar" 1996: "Kiss You All Over" 2000: "Hit 'N Run Lover 2000" 2000: "The Queen" 2005: "It's Raining Men" 2006: "Hit'n Run Lover 2006" 2007: "Somebody Else's Guy" 2007: "Stop the Music" with Laurent Pautrat 2007: "You've Changed" with Tommaso da Prato 2007: "First Time I Saw You" with Jazz Voice 2007: "Ask Me" with Maurizio Verbeni 2007: "Keep On" with House Bros 2008: "Never Knew Love" with Frank Savannah 2008: "Fascinated" with Mondo 2008: "Set Me Free" feat. DJ N Joy 2008: "Hit 'N Run Lover" with Didier Vanelli 2008: "No More Chances" with Mad'ness & Yuri Presents My Lover 2008: "You Are the One" with Stan Courtois 2008: "I Don't Wanna Talk About Love" 2008: "Are You Man Enough?" (duet with Evelyn Thomas) 2009: "I Am What I Am" 2009: "Fighting Fire With Fire" 2009: "Radio Active Love" (with Paul James) 2009: "Let Me Show You" (with Viken Mardikian) 2010: "Broken" (written and produced by Jimmy D. Robinson) 2011: "No More" 2015: "Hold That Sucker Down" 2018: "A Deeper Love" Phoenix Lord Feat Carol Jiani 2018: "No More" Carol Jiani Feat Edge Produced and Mixed by Seanzbeatz 2019: "Who's The Diva" Sanny X feat Carol Jiani with remixes from Paul Sawyer and The Cloudshapers 2021: "Fascinated" Phoenix Lord Feat. Carol Jiani 2023: "Fascinated" Stardate Feat. Carol Jiani 2024: "Loving You" Stardate Feat. Carol Jiani 2024: "Get on the Dancefloor" Rogajam Feat. Carol Jiani 2024: "Get Ready Be Happy" IsaVis, Nassi, AnAmStyle, Aldo Bergamasco Feat. Carol Jiani 2024: "My Story" DiCristino with a remix from Kry (IT) 2024: "Free Yourself" Stardate & Nicolas Lacaille Feat. Carol Jiani 2024: "Make Me Feel" Stardate Feat. Carol Jiani 2024: "You And Me" AnAmStyle Feat. Carol Jiani