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Branigan

 
Album Review: Branigan

  • Artist: Laura Branigan
  • Rating: StarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1982 03
  • Total Time: 34:08
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Laura Branigan became an international name with the release of "Gloria" from this, her debut album. That remake of an Italian pop hit entrenched itself in Billboard's Top Ten, peaking at number two and securing itself as an anthemic classic. While it perfectly fit her aggressive, dramatic voice, the second single, the over-synthesized and borderline-boring ballad "All Night With Me," didn't do nearly as well, failing to even break the Top 40, practically ensuring that she would become another one-hit wonder casualty. (Luckily, Branigan deftly avoided that fate by recording and releasing Branigan 2, which had better production and better songs and was a more cohesive collection in which she seemed more comfortable.) The rest of this album, despite being worth checking out simply for Branigan's powerful voice, is middling at best. Though she finds nuances in lyrics and melodies that are not up to her talent, the production often bogs the album down, especially on the ballads. "I Wish We Could Be Alone" and "Maybe I Love You" are all right, but the aforementioned "All Night With Me" and "Lovin' You Baby" are so mediocre, the album, already a small collection at nine songs, would be stronger if they had simply been omitted. "If You Loved Me" fares best as it is more laid-back and the production supports the melody as opposed to overshadowing it. The theatrical "Living a Lie," the frantic "Please Stay, Go Away," and the groovy "Down Like a Rock" lift the album up so that "Gloria" isn't the only worthwhile cut. Branigan shows the young singer getting her footing so she can move on to more accomplished material that can keep up with her killer voice. ~ Bryan Buss, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
All Night With Me Chris Montan Laura Branigan (3:52)
Gloria Trevor Veitch, Giancarlo Bigazzi, Umberto Tozzi Laura Branigan (4:50)
Lovin' You Baby (Lyrics) Adrian John Loveridge, John Wonderling Laura Branigan (4:34)
Living a Lie Laura Branigan (3:41)
If You Loved Me (Lyrics) Diane Warren, Doctor Laura Branigan (3:15)
Please Stay, Go Away John Wonderling, Adrian John Loveridge Laura Branigan (3:33)
I Wish We Could Be Alone Laura Branigan Laura Branigan (3:18)
Down Like a Rock (Lyrics) Randy VanWarmer Laura Branigan (3:34)
Maybe I Love You Trevor Veitch, Alan Sorrenti, Greg Mathieson Laura Branigan (3:31)

Credits

Jon Joyce (Vocals (Background)), Lisa Sarna (Vocals (Background)), Carlos Vega (Drums), Joe Chemay (Vocals (Background)), Greg Mathieson (Producer), Laura Branigan (Vocals), Greg Mathieson (Keyboards), John Kovarek (Engineer), Julia Tillman Waters (Vocals (Background)), Leland Sklar (Bass), Greg Mathieson (Arranger), Jack White (Producer), Michael Landau (Guitar), Greg Mathieson (Synthesizer), Stephanie Spruill (Vocals (Background)), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Michael Boddicker (Synthesizer), Juergen Koppers (Engineer), Bob Glaub (Bass), Trevor Veitch (Guitar), Jim Haas (Vocals (Background)), Maxine Willard Waters (Vocals (Background))
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Wikipedia: Branigan
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Branigan
Studio album by Laura Branigan
Released March 1982
Genre Pop / Rock
Length 34:08[1]
Label Atlantic
Producer Greg Mathieson,
Jack White
Professional reviews
Laura Branigan chronology
Silver Dreams
(canceled)
Branigan
(1982)
Branigan 2
(1983)
Singles from Branigan
  1. "All Night With Me"
    Released: 1982
  2. "Gloria"
    Released: August 4, 1982

Branigan is the debut album by singer Laura Branigan, released in 1982.

The album included two singles: "All Night With Me", which didn't break the Top 40[1], and an English version of the Italian hit "Gloria," which made the singer a star.[2]

The album included ballads "If You Loved Me" and "I Wish We Could Be Alone," the latter written by Branigan. It also included the pop-rock "Please Stay, Go Away" and the straight-ahead rock of "Living A Lie".

The album went gold. Her Eurodisco version of "Gloria" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Contents

Track listing

  1. "All Night With Me" (Chris Montan) – 3:52
  2. "Gloria" (Bigazzi, Tozzi, Veitch) – 4:50
  3. "Lovin' You Baby" (Loveridge/Wonderling) – 4:34
  4. "Living A Lie" (Neal/St. Nichlaus) – 3:41
  5. "If You Loved Me" (Doctor/Warren) – 3:15
  6. "Please Stay, Go Away" (Loveridge/Wonderling) – 3:33
  7. "I Wish We Could Be Alone" (Laura Branigan) – 3:18
  8. "Down Like A Rock" (VanWarmer) – 3:34
  9. "Maybe I Love You" (Mathieson/Sorrenti/Veitch) – 3:31

Personnel

  • Lisa Sarna - background vocals
  • Leland Sklar - bass
  • Stephanie Spruill - background vocals
  • Julia Tillman Waters - background vocals
  • Carlos Vega - drums
  • Trevor Veitch - guitar
  • Maxine Willard Waters - background vocals

Production

  • Producers: Greg Mathieson, Jack White
  • Engineers: Juergen Koppers, John Kovarek
  • Arranger: Greg Mathieson

Charts

Chart data from Allmusic[3]

Album

Year Chart Position
1982 Pop Albums 34

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1982 "All Night With Me" Pop Singles 69
"Gloria" Pop Singles 2
Club Play Singles 4
Adult Contemporary 28

References

  1. ^ a b Branigan at Allmusic
  2. ^ Stephen Holden (September 18, 1984). "Branigan's Top-40 Style At Avery Fisher Hall". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/18/arts/music-noted-in-brief-branigan-s-top-40-style-at-avery-fisher-hall.html. Retrieved 2000-04-20. 
  3. ^ Branigan: Billboard Singles from Allmusic



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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Branigan" Read more

 

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