Move to This is the debut studio album by English singer Cathy Dennis. It was released on 22 October 1990 through Polydor Records. Dennis was discovered by her manager Simon Fuller in 1986, and worked on the record for three years with Daniel Poku. Together they released the single "C'mon and Get My Love" in 1989, which jump started her career.
Move to This peaked at number three in the United Kingdom, where it was certified Gold. Despite four of its five singles reaching top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, the album was only a minor success, stalling at number 67 in the United States.
Promotion
Polydor promoted Move to This in Italy with appearances at the San Remo International Festival and on television, alongside radio airplay prior to its national release. A coordinated TV and radio campaign supported the album, and the single "All Night Long (Touch Me)" entered the Sorrisi e Canzoni Top 50 singles chart.[1] According to Music & Media, the singer received significant radio support in Italy for her singles, and while her domestic sales were modest, her exposure led to the formation of a fan club and helped establish her presence in the Italian market ahead of her second album Into the Skyline.[2]
"Just Another Dream" was released as the second single in 1989. The initial release peaked at number 93 on the UK Singles Chart. It was re-released twice, first in 1990, and again in 1991. The first reissue only made it to number 95 on the UK chart, but reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.[5] The second reissue performed much better, peaking at number 13 in the UK, number 2 on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart,[6] and number 14 on the ARIA Charts, becoming Dennis' best chart performance in Australia.
The third single was "Touch Me (All Night Long)", a lyrical reworking of the 1984 song by Fonda Rae. Released in 1991, the single became Dennis' most successful to date. It hit number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart[7] and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[8] The single also reached number 5 in the UK and number 16 in Australia.
"Too Many Walls" was the fourth single, hitting number 1 on the BillboardAdult Contemporary chart[9] and peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[10] It also reached number 17 in the UK and number 57 in Australia.
"Everybody Move" was the final single, reaching number 40 on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart[11] and stalling at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[12] The single also reached number 25 in the UK.
According to critic Alex Henderson from AllMusic, the album shows more strengths than weaknesses, presenting Cathy Dennis as an interesting addition to the British R&B scene of the 1990s. In his view, even without a wide vocal range, she stands out for her charisma and warm delivery on danceable and infectious tracks, which mark the album's strongest moments. However, Henderson points out that the record loses impact on the adult contemporary-style ballads, which he considers uninspired. Still, he concludes that the work reinforces England's relevance in the dance music scene of that period.[13]
Betty Page of NME points out Dennis determination in collaborating with major names such as Nile Rodgers, Shep Pettibone, and Danny D, along with renowned American songwriters. According to the review, the album strikes a balance between upbeat pop-dance tracks and smoother ballads, though the latter tend to follow predictable formulas. Dennis's songs are described as light and accessible, recalling Madonna's early work but with a vocal strength compared to Sheena Easton. In conclusion, the critic notes that for Cathy to achieve long-term artistic success, she will need to infuse more individuality into her music, rather than simply repeating established models.[17]
Commercial performance
Move to This entered the US Billboard 200 on the week of 15 December 1990 at number 173.[20] It spent 40 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 67 on the week of 11 May 1991.[21] The album was certified Gold in the UK,[22] and according to Music Week (21 September 1991), by that date it was about to replicate the achievement in Japan and Australia.[23]
In 1992, Billboard reported that Cathy Dennis was among the first artists signed to the newly formed PolyGram Label Group (PLG). Her debut album generated three U.S. top-10 singles but failed to achieve gold certification in the U.S., partly because the radio remixes differed substantially from the album versions.[24] In a retrospective analysis, the website Talk About Pop Music estimates that the album sold over 400,000 copies in the United States, where it spent 40 weeks among the top 200 albums, and 250,000 in the United Kingdom.[25]
^"Golden debut"(PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 41. 12 October 1991. p. 4. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
^Talbot, Martin (21 September 1991). "Analysis"(PDF). Music Week. p. 11. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
^Stansfield, David (15 February 1992). "Brits around the world"(PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 7. p. B-8. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
^"Music Meeting"(PDF). Network. No. 161. The Network Forty, Inc. 7 May 1993. p. 22. Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
