There was a time in 1987 when I thought Terence Trent D’Arby was just about the most exciting thing in music.
And, you know, I’m not sure I was that far off.
Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby is a fabulous debut album that sounds good to this day. I don’t actually own it anymore and I haven’t listened to it in more than 20 years, but skipping through the tracks on YouTube in preparation for this blog entry, I found myself enjoying them just as much as I did back when he seemed like the second coming of Prince and Michael Jackson.
Despite his talent, things didn’t really pan out for him. And I assumed he was another of those one-and-done stars who are now washing cars or selling insurance for a living.
But it turns out he’s been recording steadily all this time. He has released nine albums, one as recently as this year. In 2001 he changed his name to Sananda Maitreya because, I suppose, he never wanted anybody to listen to his music again.
‘Wishing Well’ was his biggest hit and certainly the song of his I remember best.
Underneath the sycamore tree
Cupid by the hour sends valentines
To my sweet lover and me
Slowly
Surely
Your appetite is more than I know
Sweetly
Softly
I’m falling in love with you
Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell
A wishing well of butterfly tears
Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell
A wishing well of crocodile cheers
Hugging like a monkey see monkey do
Right beside a riverboat gambler
Erotic images float through my head
I wanna be your midnight rambler
Quickly
Quickly
The blood races through my veins
Quickly
Loudly
I wanna hear those sugar bells ring
Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell
A wishing well of butterfly tears
Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell
A wishing well of crocodile cheers
Meet Me In Montauk 
I am still laughing at the second to last line of your entry. That is truly hilarious.
Meanwhile, wtf?? He has been recording for all of these years? Did you listen to any of the music? Did he start recording Christian hymns or spoken word poetry or is actual, D’Arbyesque music? I am beyond intrigued.
I, too, fell hard for this album, though I no longer own it and haven’t listened to a song on it (other than this one, which I played for the kids last year for some reason) for years. Listening to it this morning, the flame is rekindled. What a great song this is.
So… I’m off to find the web’s version of E’s True Hollywood stories to find out what happened to this guy!
I too am still laughing at the second to last line of your entry. I don’t know this artist before or after his new name, but I can dance to this song any day! That is if no one makes fun of my dancing–Amy 🙂
Okay, I’m just beyond intrigued by this:
What is the story?!!!
You are too funny commenting on his marketing prowess!
I agree with all that has been said–the man showed major talent on that album way back when, and today’s SOTD was as good as anything being put out at the time by the likes of Prince. It’s a shame that his publicist recommended the name change and to move toward a career focusing on polkas.:)