Customer Reviews

Alexander O'Neal

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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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.

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...

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.

If you listen to Alexander O'Neal, you are reminded of a time when R&B music had great talented singers who were in it for the craft and not the money. This is R&B music at its finest hour. When Alex tells you "A Broken Heart Can Mend", you belive it. This was Alexander O'Neal's debut album, and, arguably, his best. I have waited several years for this album to be re-released, and I tell you that it was worth it. This album is a classic and a great bargain at the price.

I grew up listening to Alexander O'Neal and have every single CD he has created. If some of you old-timers didn't know, Alexander use to be with the band called the "Majestics". Not sure how it happened but he left and Morris Day took over the band and was then called "Morris Day and the Time". Alexander's singing can be compared to Luther Vandross but with more funk.

This record is a great one.Short,sweet,soulful perfection.I owned 2 back in 1985.One for the house and one for the car.The singing is fantastic.The production is top notch.Easily Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam's artistic zenith.Folks that know this album were over joyed when it finally showed up on CD.We had to make do with the Best Of record which was in reality pretty good but nothing of Alexender's in MHO can touch this perfect SOUL session from 20 years ago.

he is very big in the u.k. It is no wonder, just listen to his rich voice. he has not recorded a bad song. saga of a married man is his latest. best neo soul out there.

Alexander O'Neal is a quintessential soul singer. From "Innocent" to "Look At Us Now," this CD is a collection of songs that will take you back to a great period in R&B music. This CD was a stepping stone not only for O'Neal, but also for Cherrelle, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. With a mixture of soul-stirring ballads and funky grooves, this CD will not disappoint.

TREAT AND REWARD YOURSELF TO THIS CD. IF YOU LOVE TRUE R&B, THEN

YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

YOU ALEX, JIMMY JAM AND TERRY LEWIS , Y'ALL ARE KICKING IT, WHAT

A GREAT COMBINATION.

Anybody who has heard of Alexander O'Neil knows that he is a hell of a singer. I really do believe he was the key artist who was responsible for putting the fledgling label Tabu Records on the map and also for making the world take notice of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis's production prowess. Alex's vocals are very distinct and when you hear them you know it's him. This album and Hearsay are his best albums. If you have nothing else by Alexander O'Neil, get this album and Hearsay. I have the original cd's for both albums plus the remaster for this one. You can listen to them both without skipping any tracks. I can't tell you how awesome these albums are!!! You will never hear an album like them again. This could easily be one of the best albums of the 80's along with Hearsay. I was only 7 years old when this album came out but I knew good music when I heard it. Now I'm 31 and they sound just as good now as they did back in the 80's.
I see they have gotten quite expensive on Amazon but they're worth the money if you can find them at a reasonable price. R&B will never sound this good again. - Brian C.