Laura Branigan - The Essentials: Laura Branigan
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Artist: Laura BraniganEdition: Music CD
Format: Import, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2006-04-10
Music Label: Wea International
Soundtracks:
- Gloria
- Solitaire
- Self Control
- The Lucky One
- How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
- Spanish Eddie
- I Found Someone
- Shattered Glass
- Power Of Love
- Never In A Million Years
- Ti Amo
- Moonlight On Water
Music reviews of The Essentials: Laura Branigan
Music Review: An exceptional vocalist worth discovering
Rating: 5 Stars
I became a Laura fan after hearing her mega hit "Self Control." She get a lot of respect from me because she records the styles of music she wants to record! What is wrong with that? As some people have said, she lacked a powerful management team, which is the truth! So, although Laura has always been in great voice, she did the nurturing and attention needed in order to become an Icon like Whitney Houston, Madonna, Regina Belle, Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguliera, La India, Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle, Denise LaSalle and many other female vocalists did in any musicial genre. After her run with Atlantic expired around 1994, she took time off. Hopefully her eighth studio album will be released.
Okay, lets get back to the music. This is my breakdown of each track:
1. "Gloria" 10/10. Her debut single that was supposed to be relased in 1978. Stellar vocals & one of the 80's finest singles. It became such a massive hit thanks to her massive and loyal gay fanbase. Peak position: #2 on the Pop Singles chart, #4 Club Play Singles & #28 Adult Contemporart.
2. "Solitaire" 10/10. This is an awesome single that deserves recurrent radio airplay, as do many of her singles! This single is about a lover who does not appreciate her. We can all relate to that. It starts off subtly then builts into a show-stopping ending! Peak positition: #7 on the Pop Singles, #28 on the Club Play Singles & #16 Adult Contemporary.
3. "Self Control" 10/10. Now, this single proves that with the right production & guidance, that you can win! And, so she did with this song about seduction and surrendering to her lover, with was a man that live on the wrong side of the law. Because of the risque music video that accompanied it, it caused some controversy in 1984. Thus, "Self Control" became an international hit and the biggest single of her career. Peak position: #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 Adult Contemporary.
4. "The Lucky One" 10/10. This, the second single from the "Self Control" album became a Top 20 hit. She would have able to have another Top 10 hit if Atlantic released the "Self Control" like album track called "Satisfaction." Alas, what's done is done. "The Lucky One" is song about a man who takes is girlfriend for granted, big time. Peak position: #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
5. "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You." Laura's original truely trumps the weaker Micheal Bolton version. Laura's version is the one that still should played on radio! This song is about a man (her lover) having to leave her for reasons beyond his control. So, she explains why he should stay, but it's no use. Laura's version is a softer more yearing version which I prefer. This became her biggest U.S. hit on any chart. Peak position: #1 on the Adult Contemporary and #12 Pop Singles.
6. "Spanish Eddie" 9/10. This is an entertaining single about a mob king called "Spanish Eddie" who gets caught by the police.
This song peaked at #23 on the Hot Dance Music/Club chart. Peak position: #40 on the Billboard Hot 100, #26 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play, & #29 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
7. "I Found Someone." 9/10. Atlantic did next to nothing to promote this single. It became her lowest charting single during the 80's. A year later, 1987, Cher would cover this song and it would become a massive Top 10 hit. A beautiful slight sad love song with great vocals. Peak postion: #90 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #25 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
8. "Shattered Glass" 8/10. Here, Laura joined Stock/Atkin/Waterman for this peppy Euro-Dance-Pop single about her boyfriend who broke her heart and has done it to others because his heart is sort of cold. That's why everything he holds falls apart like shattered glass! It is not as strong as the S/A/W productions for Bananarama, but it is pleasant. It saw its biggest success in among her bi & gay fans. They helped bring the single to #1 or #13, depending on which chart peak position you believe, on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Peak position: #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #27 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
9. "(The) Power of Love" 9/10. This became her final Top 40 hit in 1987. It is a magnificent ballad with a deeply yearning vocal proformance. It was originally sung by Jennifer Rush, then covered by Air Supply, Laura Branigan, and most recently, Celine Dion. It could have benifitted with more polished production like in the Celine Dion version but, it is still great. Peak position: #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #19 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
10. "Never In a Million Years" 10/10. Finally, Laura gets material worthy of her great voice but fails to hit the Hot 100 altogether because Atlantic did nothing to promote it. This single is about a lost love that still weights in her heart. So, sings about the regret of losing him. It is a lush keyboard ballad in the same class as "Love Takes Time", "I Don't Wanna Cry" & "Can't Let Go" by Mariah Carey. Many think this was a non-hit but it became a surprise Adult Contemporary hit. Peak position: #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
11. "Ti Amo" 9/10. This is a tear-jerking dramatic ballad about a lost love. Peak position: #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
12. "Moonlight On Water" 10/10. This is a funky upbeat sythersizer & drum machine heaving Dance-Pop single. It is able a lover who does not pay enough attention to what is more important in his life. I'm sure this one generated heat in many danceclubs in the world! Peak position: #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. In conclusion, Laura is a diamond in the rough worth decovering or re-discovering. You seriously don't know what you are missing if you don't!
Description of The Essentials: Laura Branigan
The big-voiced pop diva busts out with 'Gloria', 'Solitaire', 'Self Control', 'The Lucky One', 'Power Of Love' & 7 more 80's hits! Digitally remastered. 2002.Pop CDs
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