#81: Love Makes No Promises by Candi

City: Hamilton, ON
Radio Station: CKOC
Peak Month: May 1989
Peak Position in Hamilton ~ #12
Peak position in Vancouver ~ #26
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “Love Makes No Promises”
Lyrics: “Love Makes No Promises”

In the mid-80s, Candita Pennella fronted an Italian wedding band in Toronto named Sensation. Her nickname was Candi. The band consisted of bass player Nino Milazzo, drummer Paul Russo, keyboard player Rich Imbrogno and singer Candita Pennella. The band decided to change their name to Candi. They recorded an album in 1988 titled Candi. They released a single titled “Dancing Under A Latin Moon,” which made the Top 30 across Canada on the RPM singles chart and #68 on the Billboard Hot 100. Several follow up singles made the pop charts in Canada. Among these were “Missing You” and “Love Makes No Promises”.

“Love Makes No Promises” is a song about the rise and fall of a romantic relationship. The singer concludes, “I’m letting go of you.”

“Love Makes No Promises” peaked at #8 in Calgary, #12 in Hamilton, #19 in Montreal, and #26 in Vancouver.

Another song, “Under Your Spell“, missed the pop charts in Vancouver. However, “Under Your Spell” was nominated for Song of the Year at the 1990 JUNO awards. Pennella was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year in 1990 and again in 1991. In 1990 she lost to Rita MacNeil, and in 1991 she lost out to Celine Dion. To avoid the confusion that she was a solo act, the band revised its name from Candi to Candi And The Backbeat.

With a second album, they released the single, “The World Just Keeps On Turning”. “The World Keeps Turning” was nominated for a JUNO award in 1991 for Best Dance Recording. The song peaked at #10 in Hamilton and #13 in Vancouver. Candita Pennella was compared to Gloria Estefan and Madonna with Candi And The Backbeats slightly Latin infused rhythms and vocal phrasing. Another single, “Good Together”, climbed to #8 on the CKLG charts in the spring of 1991.

A followup single was “Friends Forever”.

Candi Pennella had a voice that resembled that of Madonna. But in 1992 Candi left the music industry and got married to her drummer, Paul Russo. Since she left the music industry, Pennella went on to become a public school teacher in Toronto, having over two decades of teaching under her belt.

May 13, 2024
Ray McGinnis

References:
David Ball, “This Week in Music History: February 18 to 24,” Canadian Music Hall of Fame, February 20, 2013.
“Candi And The Backbeat,” The Isle of Failed Pop Stars, November 24, 2009.

CKOOC 1150-AM Hamilton (ON) Top Ten | May 17, 1989