eShop USA > Music > Branigan
Branigan
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price: $9.98Our Price: $8.98 You Save: $1.00 (10%)Prices subject to change.
Customer Reviews
Rating:  - Branigan
I was waiting to buy all Laura Branigan's music starting with the music I had in cassettes. This is one of those I replaced. This has the one everyone knows "Gloria" My favorites are If you loved me, Please stay go away BEAUTIFUL and Down like a Tock is FUN You will like this CD!
Rating: - Great
This Cd has some of my favorite songs on it and shows what a powerful voice Laura Branigan had. She is missed!
Rating: - Laura Branigan will be missed but her music won't!!!
I remember buying this on LP when it first came out and the sound was incredible. I couldn't afford to buy my own so I always went over to my best friends house to listen to it. Listening to the CD version brings me back to that. Since the original was an audio recording that's all they could do when they brought this to CD and I think the sound is incredible. All of her songs that she ever sang are the best especially "Gloria". She did a remix of this song called "Gloria 2004" which is kind of cool but the original is the best. I never was able to see her live in concert because my parents couldn't afford it so all I could do is listen to her music and it's not the same. She will be greatly missed.
Kathleen Atkinson
Rating:  - A unique debut album.
Although it contains Laura Branigan's smash hit "Gloria" the rest of her debut seems to go ignored, unfortunately. If you were to base the album off its big hit, that might not be an accurate indicator.
It sounds actually a bit different from her albums to follow. Some have said it has a cabaret sound, and although I don't totally agree, I can see some of those influences. Also, since it was still only 1982 at the time, there's some 70's traces as well.
1. All Night With Me -- Kicking off the album is a semi hit; an easygoing 80's pop ballad that has just a teeny bit of an upbeat rock vibe, sounding a bit like Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart". However, it also has some elements of the popular country sound at the time.
2. Gloria -- The huge hit - and biggest of her career - was sometimes typecast as "Euro-Disco" (whatever that means!). It's definitely a dance song, with its synthseizers and fast-paced beat, but it has an 80's pop/new wave-inspired sound, clearly setting it apart from the pack!
3. Lovin' You Baby -- Things really slow down for the only 'quiet' ballad on side 1. A softer, piano-based song somewhat like her later "With Every Beat of My Heart," but definitely sounds sadder (as in "no more Lovin' you, baby").
4. Living A Lie -- By stark contrast, this couldn't be more different than the songs surrounding it. It's definitely one of her loudest and fastest songs. With a synth/disco beat recalling a quicker-paced "Gloria" and a rock sound not unlike GET NERVOUS-era Pat Benatar, this is a total winner.
5. If You Loved Me -- The sound of quiet balladry returns with this slightly synthesized, theatrical, pretty love song. I'd call this the most touching song on the album. (Despite there being 5 ballads, they all manage to sound different from each other.)
6. Please Stay, Go Away -- One of the really upbeat songs, this slughtly guitar-driven number (which, interestingly, reminds me a bit of John Cougar-Mellencamp's AMERICAN FOOL album) is probably one of the biggest dance-styled tunes she did.
7. I Wish We Could Be Alone -- This is probably the most unique song. Another piano/pop ballad, lyrically akin to "Silent Partners" from SELF CONTROL, and musically like Lionel Richie's "Ballerina Girl". Even though it's one of those "extra marital affair"-kinda songs, it still feels really romantic, as opposed to risque, if that makes sense.
NOTE: This is one of the few songs she wrote completely herself, and it shows she had a knack with that too.
8. Down Like a Rock -- A slightly silly (with Laura using a cool, echo-y effect on her voice) and unique catchy, upbeat pop/rocker with a Journey-like guitar solo.
9. Maybe I Love You -- The closer is a nice pop/rock ballad, opening with just a piano and vocals, like Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes' "Up Where We Belong", it kicks into a mid tempo, louder sound on the second verse before mellowing out again periodically.
Basically, I also came to the conclusion that this is clearly one of Laura's most "interesting" and varied albums. In fact, now that I think about it, it has a real showtune-y vibe to it, especially on the ballads. To be honest, aside from the two opening songs (the hits) and "Living a Lie", the whole album really sounds like it could've come out 5 to 10 years before it actually did. I could even see a female singer-songwriter circa 1975 singing alot of the material here.
In short, I wouldn't start a LB collection off with this album (either get one of her hits CD's--preferentially THE ESSENTIALS, or for a studio album, SELF CONTROL), but if you're looking for more material beyond hits, and wanna know how Laura sounded starting out, you'll like this.
Rating:  - Greatest hits on CD 1982-2004
I love your greatest hits on CD and we will miss you Laura and
on August 31 2004 you'll be survived by your mother,two brothers
& a sister.
Featured Listmania!
| |
 |
