Precious Wilson; Eruption's One Way Ticket & I Can't Stand the Rain The Disco & Soul Diva's Journey

Precious Wilson tells the remarkable story of Eruption, Boney M, Frank Farian and her decision to build a solo career on her own terms.

Born in Jamaica and raised in Britain, Precious recalls encountering racism as a child, discovering the freedom of singing and joining the group that became Eruption. After travelling to Germany, the band was discovered by Frank Farian and began touring and collaborating with Boney M.

Eruption achieved worldwide success with “I Can’t Stand the Rain” and “One Way Ticket,” but Precious was initially extraordinarily naïve about the realities of the music business. She explains how tensions developed within Eruption, why she eventually left and why she declined the opportunity to become a member of Boney M—even though she had already sung, toured and worked closely with the group.

Precious also discusses her relationship with Frank Farian, the creative contributions Eruption made to their recordings, her solo career and the resilience required to survive nearly 50 years in music.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
01:37 Precious Wilson’s childhood in Jamaica
04:49 Her relationship with her father
05:41 Moving from Jamaica to Britain
07:21 Her mother and the Windrush generation
09:30 Experiencing racism in Britain
12:01 Why her mother told her to work twice as hard
13:02 Church, family and the Jamaican community
15:07 Discovering her singing voice
15:54 Going to school in America
18:33 How America encouraged her musical ambitions
18:56 What singing gave her emotionally
20:49 How Eruption originally came together
22:26 Conflict and changes within the early band
24:04 Becoming stranded in Germany
25:17 The encounter that changed Eruption’s future
26:09 Meeting and working with Frank Farian
29:01 Being young and naïve about the music business
29:43 Touring, singing and working with Boney M
31:11 How Eruption differed from Boney M
33:06 Creating Eruption’s spectacular visual image
35:52 Eruption’s first recordings
38:33 Recording “I Can’t Stand the Rain”
40:21 How international success changed their lives
42:15 Eruption and Boney M become separate touring acts
43:05 Creating “One Way Ticket”
46:37 Songwriting and creative control
47:37 Why Precious left Eruption
49:14 Tensions within the group
49:55 Working with Frank Farian after Eruption
50:34 Choosing a solo career
51:42 Writing and recording her solo material
54:41 What Frank Farian learned from Precious
55:41 Recording “I Can’t Stand the Rain” in two takes
57:37 “I’ll Be Your Friend” and The Jewel of the Nile
59:08 Being remembered for the biggest hits
60:35 Surviving nearly 50 years in music
61:17 How music became her life
62:44 Her mother’s influence and support
63:02 Steve and Precious discuss absent fathers
63:50 Resilience and refusing to give up
65:08 End screen

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