Paul Sabu (born January 2, 1951)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. He is the son of actors Sabu and Marilyn Cooper.[1]
Career
Sabu first gained recognition in the late 1970s as a producer and performer of disco music.[2] In the 1970s and 1980s he produced disco albums by Ann-Margret, Debbie Jacobs, and Sister Power featuring Gwen Jonae.[2][3] Sabu is also known for his work with his band Only Child.[2] His music has been featured in movies and television series soundtracks, and he has been credited with production/mixing on 14 platinum and 11 gold records.
Notable mentions
- 2004 Kerrang Magazine voted Paul Sabu Top 5 favorite AOR vocalists of All Time
- 2005 Only Child's self-titled debut album from 1989 voted No. 22 on the Best AOR Albums of All Time
- 2011 Classic Rock Magazine awarded Paul Sabu the highest-rated AOR Album of All Time
Discography
Official releases
- Sabu: Ocean/Ariola Records (1979).[4]
- Sabu: MCA Records (1980).[5]
- Kidd Glove: Motown (1984),[6] also re-released (with bonus material) at Yesterrock.[7]
- Heartbreak: Heavy Metal America (1985),[8] also re-released (with bonus material) at Z Records.
- Only Child: Rhino/Capital (1988), also re-released (with bonus material) at Yesterrock.[9]
- Paul Sabu: Zero (1994),[10] also re-released (with bonus material) at Z Records as "In Dreams".
- Sabu: USG Records (1996).[11]
- Between the Light: USG Records (1998).[12]
- Strange Messiah: AOR Heaven (2007).[13]
- High & Mighty: AOR Heaven (2009).[14]
- Call of the Wild: Z Records (2011).[15]
- Bangkok Rules: Z Records (2012).[16]
- Banshee: Frontiers Music SRL (2022).[17]
Album / song producer and contributor credits
- Alexa - Alexa (1989) [18]
- Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid (1991), Spark In The Dark: The Best Of (2009)
- Ann-Margret - Ann-Margret (1980)
- AOR - L.A. Temptation (2012),[19] L.A. Connection (2014),[20] Return To L.A. (2015),[21] L.A. Darkness (2016)[22]
- David Bowie - Dance (1985) [23][24]
- Dennis Churchill Dries - I (AOR Heaven, 2015) [25]
- Fatal Smile - World Domination (2008) [26]
- Glass Tiger - Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) (1986)
- Heart - Heart (1985)
- Jesse Damon - The Hand That Rocks (2003),[27] Rebel Within (2006)[28]
- John Waite - Ignition (1982)
- Kelsey Lu - Blood (Sony Records, 2019)
- Kim Carnes - Crazy In The Night (1990)[29]
- Lee Aaron - Bodyrock (1989), Some Girls Do (1991), The Best Of (1997)
- Little America - Little America (1987),[30] Fairgrounds (1989)[31]
- Little Caesar - Little Caesar (1990)
- Malice - Crazy In The Night (1989)[32]
- Motels, The - Vacancy: Best Of (1990)
- Paul Sabu [33] - Kidd Glove (1984), Heartbreak (1985), Only Child (1988), Paul Sabu (1994), Sabu (1996), Between The Light (1998), Strange Messiah (2008), High & Mighty (2009), Call Of The Wild (2011), Bangkok Rules (2012), Banshee (2022)
- Quiet Riot - Quiet Riot 10 (RSM, 2014)
- Robbie Nevil - Wot's It To Ya (1986), Wot's It To Ya: The Best of Robbie Nevil (1999)
- (Eilleen) Shania Twain - Beginnings (1988),[34] Final Beginnings (1991)
- Secret Society - Induction (AMG Sony, 2018) [35]
- Silent Rage - Shattered Hearts (1987),[36] Don't Touch Me There (1989) [37]
- Special EFX - Frontline (1986)
- Tattoo Rodeo - Rode Hard Put Away Wet (1991)
- THEM - Manor Of The Se7en Gables (SPV/Steam Hammer, 2018) [38]
- Throne of Vengeance - Flesh Engine (2011),[39] Live Evil (2013) [40]
- Vapors, The - Turning Japanese (1980)
- VA - Elvira Presents Monster Hits (1994), Elvira Presents Revenge of the Monster Hits (1995), Hard Rock Zombies Soundtrack (2008)
- W.A.S.P. - Live... in the Raw (1987)
Music in film and TV credits
- Accused, The (1988)
- Baywatch (2001)
- Beverly Hills 90210 (3 Seasons)
- Child's Wish, A (1997)
- Ghost Town (1988)
- Ghoulies II (1987)
- "Hard Rock Zombies" (1985)
- Kids In The Hall, The (2010)
- Meatballs 4 (1992)
- New Mickey Mouse Club, The (1993)
- Million Dollar Mystery (1987)
- Music Is Communication (1986)
- New WKRP in Cincinnati, The (1991-1993)
- Real Men (1987)
- Reason For Living (1990)
- Sex and the City, Season 4 (2001)
- To Die For (1995)
- Twin Sitters (1995)
- Vice Squad (1982)
- Vice Versa (1988)
- Kindred: The Embraced (1996)
References
- ^ a b "Sabu becomes a father". New York Times. January 3, 1951. p. 22. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c Reynolds, Dave (January 20, 2024). ""Had I known I was going to create a piece of history, I would have approached things differently": how Only Child made one of the greatest cult hard rock debut albums ever". Louder. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
- ^ Gagliardi, Marcia. "The United States' top classic disco DJs share their essential disco tracks". Time Out United States. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
- ^ Steffen Presley, keyboardist
- ^ "Sabu – Sabu". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Kidd Glove – Kidd Glove". Discogs. August 6, 1984. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Kidd Glove - Kidd Glove". YesterRock. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ "Sabu – Heartbreak". Discogs. August 6, 1985. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "YESTERROCK release information November 2010". YesterRock. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
- ^ "Paul Sabu". Heavy Harmonies. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Sabu – Sabu". Discogs. August 6, 1996. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Sabu – Between The Light". Discogs. August 6, 1998. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Paul Sabu – Strange Messiah". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "VOICES OF ROCK High & Mighty". Rock Report. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
- ^ "Paul Sabu – Call Of The Wild". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Paul Sabu – Bangkok Rules". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ "Sabu – BanShee (2022, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ "Alexa - Alexa". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "L.A Temptation by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "L.A Connection by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Return to L.A. by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "L.A. Darkness by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ^ "Ultra Rare Bowie Proof Goes For A Song". David Bowie. September 7, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ Larkin, John (September 20, 2008). "David Bowie - Dance". John Larkin - Education, training and professional development. John Larkin. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "I by Dennis Churchill Dries". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ Kami. "Fatal Smile - World Domination (Special Edition) (Soundpollution)". Metal as Fuck. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "JESSE DAMON The Hand That Rocks". KISS Related Recordings. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ Skid (June 30, 2015). "Jesse Damon – Rebel Within". Sleaze Roxx. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Kim Carnes – Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes)". Discogs. August 6, 1985. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Little America – Little America". Discogs. August 6, 1987. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Little America Fairgrounds". Heavy Harmonies. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Malice - Crazy In The Night". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Personal & Group Albums". Paul Sabu. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Beginnings". CD Baby. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ "Secret Society - The Induction". Discogs. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "Silent Rage – Shattered Hearts". Discogs. August 6, 1987. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Silent Rage – Don't Touch Me There". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Them - Manor Of The Se7en Gables". Discogs. October 26, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "Flesh Engine by Throne of Vengeance". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ "Live Evil - About". Throne of Vengeance. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
External links
- Official Website
- Paul Sabu on Discogs