Marta Marrero, more famously known as Martika, is an American singer-songwriter, who released two internationally successful albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, selling over four million copies worldwide.

Her first album, 1988's self-titled Martika, spawned the monster worldwide hit, 'Toy Soldiers', which she co-wrote with her producer Michael Jay, and became a top 5 hit in the United Kingdom. In the US, the song spent two weeks at #1 in 1989 and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

In 1991, Martika approached Prince to do some new tracks and among these was her second (and last) US Top 10 single, 'Love... Thy Will Be Done', which also became a Top 10 hit in the UK and #1 in Australia. Her second album, Martika's Kitchen, peaked at #111 on the Billboard Top Albums chart, and the title track received only minor airplay and reached #93 on Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Having now been re-released by Cherry Red Records as an expanded and remastered version, Martika's self-titled debut bares more musical fruit than ever before. For me, the whole CD is fantastic, but the crowning glory is quite obviously, her one hit wonder moment, 'Toy Soldiers.' Even though this song talks about depression, its raw, gritty message struck a chord with Martika's audience and shot up the charts to Number One.

Martika's singing voice was amazing. Crystal clear with great pitch so it bugs me that all these years later we constantly see (and hear) all these kids that only have a tenth of her talent all being "electronically enhanced" to top the charts now! The first four songs are all brilliant, and all just bounce out of the speakers: 'If You're Tarzan, I'm Jane, 'Cross My Heart,' 'More Than You Know' (which reached #18 in the US), and the hit single, 'Tin Soldiers.'

And as much as calling her a one hit wonder is rather unfair, even I will freely admit, she only ever had a number one with 'Tin Soldiers.' That said, 'I Feel the Earth Move' hit #35 (and should have gone much higher), but was also a remake of Carole King's song from her album, Tapestry. Actually, both that and 'More Than You Know' also hit the top 20 on the US Dance charts and the UK Singles Chart.

Further releases from this wonderful-even-today debut album were 'Water, a modest hit in the UK and Australia, and the last track on the original album, 'Alibis.' Indeed, the album was certified Gold in the US in 1989, and sold three million copies worldwide. Not too shabby!

As for the expanded portion of this album, well, we get 'Exchange Of Hearts,' 'I Feel The Earth Move (12" Club Mix),' 'More Than You Know (Dance Mix Pt. 1),' 'I Feel The Earth Move (Seismic Rhythm Mix),' 'Quiero Entregarte Mi Amor (More Than You Know - Spanish Version)', and finally, 'Siento La Tierra Temblar (I Feel The Earth Move - Spanish Version).'

www.martikamartika.com