Paradise (Inner City album)

Paradise (renamed Big Fun in the U.S.) is the debut album by Detroit-based dance music duo Inner City, released in 1989. The album was a great success in the UK and in U.S. clubs and was one of the first house music albums to cross over to the mainstream charts, particularly in Europe. Group member Kevin Saunderson (along with Juan Atkins, who produced one track) is renowned as one of the originators the Detroit Techno sound. Lead vocals on Paradise were performed by Paris Grey. The album was retitled Big Fun for its U.S. release, and the ballad "Power of Passion" was replaced with "Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin'" when that song became popular in the U.S. The original U.S. pressing, however, contains the former. A top-three success in the UK, Paradise spun off four top-twenty singles (three of which hit the UK top ten). The first four singles released from the album topped the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart. A remix album featuring songs from Paradise was released in the UK later in 1999.

Track listing

All songs produced by Saunderson, except for “And I Do,” produced by Atkins.

Paradise

1. "Inner City Theme" (K. Saunderson) — 2:50
2. "Paradise" (K. Saunderson, A. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 4:05
3. "Ain't Nobody Better" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 4:01
4. "Power of Passion" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 5:00
5. "Big Fun" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey, J. Pennington, A. Forrest) — 3:25
6. "Do You Love What You Feel" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 5:01
7. "Good Life" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey, R. Holmon) — 3:25
8. "Set Your Body Free" (K. Saunderson, A. Saunderson, C. Damier) — 4:01
9. "And I Do" (J. Atkins, P. Grey) — 4:18
10. "Secrets of the Mind" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 4:55

Big Fun

1. "Inner City Theme" (K. Saunderson) — 2:50
2. "Paradise" (K. Saunderson, A. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 4:05
3. "Ain't Nobody Better" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 4:01
4. "Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" (R. Lucas, J. Mtume) — 4:15
5. "Big Fun" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey, J. Pennington, A. Forrest) — 3:25
6. "Do You Love What You Feel" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 5:01
7. "Good Life" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey, R. Holmon) — 3:25
8. "Set Your Body Free" (K. Saunderson, A. Saunderson, C. Damier) — 4:01
9. "And I Do" (J. Atkins, P. Grey) — 4:18
10. "Secrets of the Mind" (K. Saunderson, P. Grey) — 4:55

Charts

Singles

• 1988 "Big Fun", #8 UK, #1 U.S. Dance
• 1988 "Good Life", #4 UK, #73 U.S., #1 U.S. Dance
• 1989 "Ain't Nobody Better", #10 UK, #1 U.S. Dance
• 1989 "Do You Love What You Feel", #16 UK, #1 U.S. Dance
• 1989 "Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin'", #12 UK, U.S. #76, #8 U.S. Dance