Ellen Foley - Another Breath (1983)

Ellen was now ready to start working on her third solo album. She hadn't written many songs for "Spirit Of St. Louis" because said Ellen: "I had indeed more songs of my own, but they didn't fit in with the theme of that album. There are songs which I'd written shortly after the release of "Nightout", and they were very much in that mood." In January 1982, Ellen and her tour band, plus Tom Mandel on keyboards, were locked in Songshop Studios in New York studio for four days - from January 5th. And they weren't allowed out until the demo-tape had been recorded for the new album, with original "Nightout" producer Mick Ronson back at the controls, with Joe Barbaria at the board. Some songs on the demo tape were Foley originals dating back to 1979/80 which had been in her live set for some time. She also formed a songwriting partnership with legendary songwriter Ellie Greenwich around this time, and they wrote a couple songs together for the new album (plus "Keep It Confidental" which was recorded by Nona Hendryx in 1983). Ellie Greenwich, of course, wrote hits for Ronettes, Crystals and Tina Turner back in the 60's. Ellen had first met her at the sessions for the Sorrows album "Teenage Heartbeat" in 1980. The demos were distributed to various producers, and Ellen was determined to get a full-time producer this time. She eventually went for Vini Poncia, who'd produced Martha Reeves, Kiss, Scandal and Melissa Manchester as well as writing songs for Ringo Star and Leo Sayer. Plans were made to record the album in the summer and Ellen had her own ideas of how the new album should sound: "The production... more vocally orientated, and the music - dance-rhythm influenced."

In April Ellen landed a part in "Tootsie", a new Dustin Hoffman movie. She had been trying to get back into films for some time and although it was not a big role, Ellen was thrilled to be back on a film set. She played the Production Assistant Jacqui (pictured below) on the Soap Opera where Hoffman dressed as a woman. Ellen spent six weeks on the movie, and postponed recording her new album until October.

During the filming, a crisis befell when Ellen lost her voice. Ellen: "I contracted a cyst on my vocal chord. I couldn't speak for a month. But with pills and prayers, it's been cleared up. But it was a bad time for me. Sydney Pollack would just snap, snap, snap and make alternations in scenes - I sat around making sign language to everyone on the set. But it was really neat to watch Dustin Hoffman come in with an army coat on, and become transformed into this woman with a 36C."

Recording of Ellen's third album, "Another Breath", started September 27 at the Media Sound Studios in New York. Ellen wanted to call the album "Lefty", but CBS wouldn't work with that. Her next suggestion was "Ellen Foley", but CBS wanted the album to have a title, so Ellen picked one song off the album, and named the album after it. She used her 1981 live band for the sessions, but her guitarist and keyboard player left Ellen earlier in the year, and had to be replaced. She found Phil Grande, "an unknown great guitarist," who became a permanent member of Ellen's band. Finding a keyboard player was more difficult, so she called for Tom Mandel, who was with Dire Straits at the time.

Mandel played on "Nightout" and Ellen's first tour, and he also played on the January 1982 demos, so he was her first choice. But after the sessions for "Another Breath" he went back on the road with "Dire Straits", so Ellen had to replace him for her live band.

"Another Breath" was released in February 1983 to great critical acclaim, and it sold pretty good in some European countries where Ellen always had a strong fan base, but CBS/Epic didn't give it the promotion it should have, and it did nothing in the most important markets, England and USA. So what did Ellen think of "Another Breath"? "It's my best record. The best production, the best songs, best everything. It's worked out just the way I'd have liked it." Ellen co-wrote three songs for the album, "Spy In The House Of Love", "Read My Lips" and "Run For My Life". Some UK and Continental singles had the non-LP "Beat Of A Broken Heart" on the flip-side; this was written by Ellen and Fred Goodman back in 1979.

While recording "Another Breath", Ellen joined Meat Loaf and Todd Rundgren, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, Carly Simon and Sting and many others, at the Media Sound studios to sing on Lynn Goldsmith's "Will Powers - Dancing For Mental Health" album. Lynn Goldsmith is a well-known photographer who had this idea to record an album with musical friends, many of whom were photographers as well. A wild idea, and it worked! Ellen herself doesn't know what songs she sings on: "The sessions were very hectic, with everyone throwing ideas around, totally disorganised but fun. Maria Vidal also sang on the album". The album was released in the spring of 1983.

Ellen also starred in a 9 minute short film comedy called 'Headshot' which dates from this period (the movie poster is pictured left), portraying an actor making a commercial who has to deal with the many demands from the director. It was briefly available on a video compilation called 'Star Shorts' which also featured short movies by Bill Murray among others.

Todd Rundgren also invited Ellen to act as his girlfriend in the promo video for the Utopia song "Crybaby" from their 1983 album "Oblivion". It was released oficially on the 1989 Utopia DVD simply called "A Retrospective 1977 - 1984".

In March, Ellen filmed a promotional video for "Boys In The Attic" in New York and London, directed by David Mallet, who'd finished David Bowie's "Let's Dance" video shortly before. Ellen then went on a 18 day promotional tour of Europe, taking in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Norway and Denmark. In Norway she performed "Boys In The Attic" and "Don't Let Go" live on national TV with a pre-recorded backing track and was interviewed while sharing a bed with the interviewer. It probably looked very fashionable at the time!

She planned to do a European tour in June/July, but the tour was cancelled when Ellen jumped at a chance to work with actress Geraldine Page that summer instead. She did however make a one-off live appearance at a graduation ceremony in New York in June, and sang two songs live on "Rock N Roll Tonite" (NBC) in July, backed by Garland Jeffries and his band. A US club tour with the Ellen Foley Band commenced throughout August/September (with new drummer Andy Kaufman). Work on an off-Broadway play called "Eve Is Innocent" followed shortly after. It ran for about a month, and Ellen, not forgetting her public, hoped to "hitch onto a big tour" with her band in November/December, as the opening act. She didn't, and her concert on 9 September 1983 in Cleveland was the last one with the Ellen Foley Band.