Club Nouveau is an R&B-pop band that was formed by record producer/performer Jay King in 1986 in Sacramento, California, subsequent to the breakup of the Timex Social Club. Other members of Club Nouveau included original members Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Samuelle Prater, and Valerie Watson. Additional members include James L. Richard II, Kevin Irving, David Agent, Walter Phillips, and Mario Corbino. The band’s name (French for “New Club”) was changed from its original incarnation, Jet Set, to exploit the breakup of the Timex Social Club. The group was signed by Warner Bros. Records, on which Club Nouveau released its first three albums.

From its debut album, Life, Love, and Pain, which was released in 1986, the group scored four consecutive hits: “Jealousy” (essentially an answer song responding to Timex Social Club’s hit “Rumors”), “Situation #9,” a cover of Bill Withers’s “Lean on Me,” and “Why You Treat Me So Bad.” The latter was interpolated by the Luniz on that group’s hit single “I Got Five on It” and subsequently by Puff Daddy on “Satisfy You.” The latter two both made it to #2 on the Billboard R&B chart the next year, with “Lean on Me” becoming a big Billboard Hot 100 hit. “Jealousy” also made an appearance on the soundtrack of the film Modern Girls.

Foster and McElroy soon left to form their own production team and focus on working with other acts. Prater, who had performed the lead vocals on “Lean on Me”, eventually left as well to pursue a solo career. The replacements were David Agent and Kevin Irving.

1. Life, Love & Pain – 1986

2. Listen To The Message 1988

3. Under A Nouveau Groove 1989

4. A New Beginning 1992

5. Everything Is Black 1995 Compilations & Greatest Hits

6. The Collection Volume I 1998

7. The Ballad Collection 2001

8. Greatest Hits (edel) 2002

9. Greatest Hits (thump) 2003

10. Ballads and Love Songs 2005

Singles released

1. Rumors 1986 #1 R&B (Billboard) #8 Pop (Billboard)

2. Jealousy 1986 (video) #8 R&B (Billboard)

3. Situation No.9 1986 (video) # 4 R&B (Billboard)

4. Lean On Me 1987 (video) # 1 Pop (Billboard) # 2 R&B (Billboard)

5. Why You Treat Me So Bad 1987 (video) # 2 R&B (Billboard) # 39 Pop (Billboard)

6. Heavy On My Mind 1987 #42 R&B (Billboard)

7. It’s A Cold Cold World 1988 (video) #34 R&B (Billboard)

8. Envious 1988 (video)

9. Francis 1988 (video)

10. You Ain’t No Friend Of Mine 1989 (video) #12 R&B (Billboard)

11. Oh Happy Day 1992 (video) #45 R&B (Billboard)

12. When Will You Come Back To Me 1992 (video)

13. Let It Go 1995 (video)

14. What Kind Of Love 1998 (video)