Moti Special
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Hamburg, West Germany |
| Headquarters | Hamburg , West Germany |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Moti Special was a new wave ensemble from West Germany, established in 1981 in Hamburg. The group consisted of Danish guitarist Nils Tuxen, German-Romanian keyboardist Michael Cretu, bassist and vocalist Manfred "Thissy" Thiers, along with drummer Reinhard "Dickie" Tarrach, all of whom were seasoned session musicians. The band's name was inspired by a visit to an Indian restaurant with German-Israeli artist Moti Argaman, deriving from a distinctive spicy "special" dish.
History
Though formed in 1981, Moti Special's breakthrough came in 1985. Their debut single, "Stop! Girls Go Crazy," did not enter the charts; however, their next release, "Cold Days, Hot Nights", climbed to number 3 in West Germany. Following this, the single "Don't Be So Shy" reached number 9. That same year, their first album, Motivation, attained the 20th spot on the German album charts.
Michael Cretu departed the band to concentrate on his solo career and production projects, including work with '80s vocalist Sandra.
The group reemerged in 1989 with the single "In Love We Stand" and the album Dancing for Victory, though these releases did not replicate their earlier chart triumphs. At this stage, two Swedish session musicians joined: Frank Adahl (vocals/keyboards) and Anders Mossberg (bass), leaving only Tuxen and Tarrach from the original lineup.
Cretu later achieved global acclaim as both a solo artist and producer, most notably founding Enigma. Additionally, he collaborated with Thiers on the 1988 album Belle Epoque, released under the name Cretu & Thiers.
Manfred Thiers has maintained his career as a session bassist and contributed to the 2005 album The Voice of Leonard Bernstein, performing alongside prominent artists. He is also part of the live touring ensemble for Schiller, participating in major concert tours.
In 2006, DJ and producer Arnold Palmer released official remixes of "Cold Days, Hot Nights" under the shortened title "Cold Days," which reached the top five on the German Dance chart. Despite its popularity in clubs, a full commercial release has not yet been made available.
Albums
- Motivation (1985)
- Dancing for Victory (1990)
Singles
- "Stop! Girls Go Crazy" (1984)
- "Cold Days, Hot Nights" (1984) West Germany No. 3, Switzerland No. 4
- "Don't Be So Shy" (1985) West Germany No. 9, Switzerland No. 10
- "Stop! Girls Go Crazy (Remix)" (1985) West Germany No. 53
- "In Love We Stand" (1989)
- "Behind Closed Doors" (1990)
- "Dancing for Victory" (1990)
- "Megamix '98" (1998) Germany No. 66
- "Cold Days" (2006), promotional release credited to Arnold Palmer vs. Moti Special