Alexander O'Neal [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Alexander O'Neal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 22, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B00006LHXQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,536 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Former lead vocalist of Flyte Time, a precursor to Prince's The Time, which also contained Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in its heyday. Contains the hit 'Innocent'. 24-bit digitally remastered. Tabu Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alexander O'Neal - The Beginning, May 16, 2003

By 

V. Ryan (London Uk) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alexander O'Neal (Audio CD)

Alexander O'Neal is a strange artist. Blessed with such a great voice and the oppertunity to work with such great producers in Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis he seemed to have faded out of the spotlight, despite still making great Soul Music.
This was the big mans first album in the year of 1985.
The album is split into two parts - like the follow up smash hit album "Hearsay". In those days it was all on double vinyl LP.
Do not be put off by the fact that there are only 7 tracks. There are more that 2 tracks which go on for over 5 minutes.
O'Neal shows us all for the first time that he can carry the soulful ballads like "If You Were Here Tonight" and then hit us with some uptempo funk like "Innocent"

The album kicks off with:
A Broken Heart Can mend
This track is beautiful. Its soul music in its element. Its from the soul and a message to all heart broken men - "It takes a little time, till you can love again, but I ain't got time to wait through another heart ache"

Track 2
If You Were Here Tonight
The best song on the album and my all time favourite song - By O'Neal and any other artist.
For me it is the best Love song ever written. It was a single and still gets air play today. Its one of those songs that people know but forget who it is by. Vocally O'Neal is at his peak. If you have seen him live then you will know how well he delivers this song.

Track 3
Do You Wanna Like I do
This song follows on from track 2. The same drum beat is evident in the background, but Alex uses his superbly toned voice to make this song sound all so different. A great track.

Track 4
Look At Us Now
A song for any person who is in a relationship. "Look at us now, will we always be together, whos to say?"
Once again - soul music is at its peak.

Track 5
Innocent
11 minutes of non-stop funk. O'Neal cranks up the volume and gives us a stomping track in Innocent.
Funny thing is with this song, is that it is very seedy!
"I'm Looking for a girl whos Innocent" but that can't take the shine off a great song. The innocent girl is a young Cherelle who Had already had a top 10 hit with "Saturday Love".

Track 6
Whats Missing
Keeping to the theme of Innocent, this is another funk based track, but much better lyrically. Here it a few times and you won't stop singing!

Track 7
You Were meant to be my lady (not my girl)
This track was way ahead of its time. Once again O'Neal is giving us a song about a girl he used to like but realised that she was meant to be his lady..er.. not his girl!
Great song to end this superb album on.

Overall - its just a great soul album. Mixing great ballads with uptempo funk means total class.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Underrated R&B Artist and Album of the 80's !, January 17, 2003

By 

Armando M. Mesa (Chandler, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alexander O'Neal (Audio CD)

I own one of the first original c.d. pressings of this rare O'Neal title and it has aged like a fine bottle of wine...The heart, the soul, the passion that O'Neal along with writers,producers Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Monte Moire put into it is unmatched by similar or rip off sounding artists of the time period !From the dream-like and seductively sweet melodic opening track A Broken Heart Can Mend to the futuristic pulsating R&B rhythm, lyrics and hooks on Alex 9000 suite and closing track the music is awesome ! Also, the slow romantic jazzy jams were placed first and then the party jams in the second half of the recording; this was unheard of back in 1985 for R&B artists or pop artists to do this in the 80's ! Today that would be considered marketing suicide. Yet, it worked. This recording was released a year before producers Jam and Lewis would release Janet Jackson's mega hit seller Control album. Lewis and Jam had previously collaborated with Cherelle, S.O.S. Band (another treasure of an R&B 80's group). But their most soulful and powerful vocal talent under the Flyte Tyme/Tabu record label was Alexander O'Neal's album output.This is one title not to be missed;Especially, in it's re-mastered digital format ! If you're curious or looking for pure R&B of the 80's, this is it...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the best!, December 5, 2002

By 

Timothy "blkangel1" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alexander O'Neal (Audio CD)

This album was one of the finest recordings ever released in the 80's. It is a shame that his albums are not available more since the CD was invented. many of his albums I own on LP, and would love to revamp my collection with all of his recordings on CD.