Exposure, the debut album by American girl group Exposé, was released on March 2, 1987, by Arista Records. I had heard Point of No Return on the radio as well as seen the video on MTV and VH1 and wanted this album badly and my parents were the "tape it off the radio" sort of people, not realizing there was much more to albums than what you hear on the radio. As a kid growing up in the 1980's, if we wanted physical copies of something, we more than likely found ourselves buying it from record stores like Turtles, Peaches and Record Bar or from places like TG&Y, K-Mart and *Zayre or as a lot of us really broke kids discovered, by creating fake names to get 12 free tapes from Columbia House or 6 free ones from RCA/BMG Music Service. Sometimes we had the good fortune of having a friend that has or at least has a sibling with the tape who allowed us to borrow theirs to make a copy of our own on a blank cassette tape, hopefully on brands like Sony, TDK, Maxell or at the very least, Memorex. Unfortunately, I had no friends that had this album and it always slipped my mind while I was creating fake name accounts with Columbia House. This album marked a significant moment in the late 80's dance-pop scene, reaching number 16 on the Billboard 200 and earning a double platinum certification by the RIAA in May 1990. The group, originally formed in 1984, consisted of members Sandra Casañas, Alejandra Lorenzo and Laurie Miller who were later replaced with Ann Curless, Jeanette Jurado, and Gioia Bruno. Exposure's release is sort of an odd one because the original release featured the 1984 version of Point of No Return with Alejandra Lorenzo on lead vocals but later printings and the compact disc featured the 1987 re-recording featuring Jeanette Jurado's vocals on lead. If you own this album, you may or may not realize the track Exposed to Love is the only number that featured the original lineup rather than being re-recorded by Ann, Jeanette and Gioia.
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| Celebrating my birthday with Gioia Bruno |
The album features a mix of high-energy dance tracks and emotive ballads, showcasing the versatility of the three ladies known as Exposé. Among the standout tracks are Point of No Return, Come Go With Me, Seasons Change and my absolute favorite, Let Me Be the One which Gioia absolutely slays with her killer vocals. Each song on the album highlights the group’s ability to deliver catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics, making “Exposure” a timeless piece in the pop and dance music genres.
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| The private concert Gioia did for us |
I eventually purchased an actual CD copy of this album, in my late teens and have never parted with it. In 2017, it actually traveled with me from Atlanta to Mexico and Belize along with some of the original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and none other than the lady I adored as a kid, Gioia Bruno. Gioia was an absolute sweetheart during the cruise and not only shared a lot of her personal life and struggles but also insight of her solo career as well as her career as a 3rd of one of the most iconic girl groups of the 1980s. She was a riot to party with and also gave 2 epic private concerts for our group, one of which she sang happy birthday to me. I haven't been starstruck too many times in my life but upon meeting Gioia, I felt as if I was in the presence of royalty at first but her humble and genuine demeanor eased my nerves, she was also gracious enough to autograph my CD copy of Exposure, something I will always treasure.
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| Riding an elevator with Gioia |
Exposé’s success with “Exposure” not only solidified their place in music history but also paved the way for future girl groups in the industry. The album’s production, led by Lewis A. Martineé, combined with the trio’s dynamic performances, created a sound that resonated with a wide audience. Whether you’re revisiting the hits or discovering them for the first time, “Exposure” remains a quintessential album that captures the essence of 80s pop music.
I’ve loved this album for ages, so when I found out in 2015 that Cherry Pop, a British indie label, released a deluxe edition, I was thrilled. It not only had all the classic tracks I adored but also an expanded track list and a bonus disc with remixes and dub versions from singles and maxi-singles, some of which had never been on CD before. Plus, it featured songs by the original lineup and versions by Gioia, Jeanette, and Ann. No matter which version you have, you’ll definitely be tapping your foot, singing along, or even dancing your butt off.
