Customer Reviews

Be Yourself Tonight (Reis)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The classic Be Yourself Tonight has now been enhanced by extra tracks and reissued in deluxe packaging with new photographs. I think the album was intended as the band's excursion into R&B and Soul, but it's much more than that in its stylistic variety, exquisite musicianship and moving songs.

The sonic delight starts with the uptempo Would I Lie To You, followed by the delicate pop of There Must Be An Angel, and reaches a climax on the duet with Aretha Franklin, a brilliant tour de force. Conditioned Soul is another gem with beautiful intricate and dramatic guitar infusions and Lennox at her vocal best on some of their most poetic lyrics.

Not as resigned as Savage, Be Yourself Tonight still has an undertone of sorrow, as in the tender Adrian. A great slice of 80's R&B follows in the form of It's Alright, followed by the most sorrowful of all, the entrancing Here Comes That Sinking Feeling with its doubled-up vocals (one set sounding like it's spoken over the telephone) which gives it an eerie feel.

The bittersweet Better To Have Lost In Love, is another highlight, haunting in its blend of hope and sadness. Some of Eurythmics most literate and profound work is found here, but it's serious stuff and not always as accessible as their other masterpieces like Sweet Dreams or Revenge.

Then again, it's nowhere near as difficult as In The Garden or as bleak as Savage. Be Yourself Tonight is an album of real soul. Of the additional tracks, my favorites include the French song Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles and the remix of Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves.

It's easy to forget the contributions of the Eurythmics to the pop scene, particularly in the 80s, but listening to "Be Yourself Tonight", arguably one of their best albums, you realize they had a knack for creating great pop hits ("Would I Lie To You?") but they could cross musical boundaries effortlessly -- electronic, synth, pop, soul, rock, and gospel can be heard here, and they come together seamlessly.

This album features some of the Eurythmics finest pop hits including the hard-rocking "Would I Live To You?", the shimmering "There Must Be An Angel...", the feminist anthem "Sisters are Doing It For Themselves", and the infectious "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back") which was not as popular as the previous three songs but stands on its own.

You could say this album has a warmer sound than the previous Eurythmics albums because of the move away from machines to guitars and a live sound, plus the appearances of Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, who appear on the album, which is one of the reasons why the album is often referred to as their "soul/Motown/R&B" record. There are also some great album cuts including "I Love You Like a Ball and Chain" and "Adrian".

The remastering on this is excellent and the additional cuts are interesting, but the original album is the real deal.

This record could plausibly lay claim to being the best pop album of the 1980's. It relies heavily on the backbones of Motown and 60's British Rock, which are the foundations of Anglo-American pop music, without ever being immitative or reductive. "Would I Lie to You," "There Must Be An Angel" and "It's Alright (Baby's Comin' Back)" are all superlative pop singles, and the latter provides a direct link with Annie Lennox's most important predecessor, Dusty Springfield.

While "Sister's are Doin' it for Themselves" has never been one of my favorites--I find the lyrics to be rather trite--there is no doubt that it is one of Eurythmics perennially popular tunes. And "Conditioned Soul" and "Adrian" are two of the very best Euryhmics songs never to be singles. Add to this the inclusion of their very best b-side, "Grown Up Girls," and you have a great remastered album.

With this album, Eurythmics became a rock band, and reached the peak of their powers. It is the one Eurythmics album that sounds like a universal people-pleaser. Not as experimental as their first three, but in no way less interesting, entertaining or satisfying. A truly superb pop album.

While I can't fault the original album I have to say that I am a little disappointed in the "Would I Lie To You" remix that is listed. Unless I am mistaken the mix that is listed as "The ET Mix" is not the ET mix at all but just an extended version. If you purchased this cd(As I did) to finally have a cd copy of the stellar ET mix that was only available on vinyl-look somewhere else.

Over the course of three albums, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart had carved a mighty impressive block of work. But for most, despite the great singles, Eurythmics were hampered by the limitations of a "new wave" sound. So when the MTV World Premiere (remember those?) debut of the video "Would I Lie To You" came on, what a shock to see Annie come out in a leather jacket as Dave coyly whispered in her ear..."just be yourself tonight"...and Annie wailed into Dave's ripping guitar chord with gale force soul.

All of a sudden, everything changed. Eurythmics had crossed the bridge from being a very interesting band to a great band. "Be Yourself Tonight" was their most ambitious album to that date; proving that the duo had more up their sleeves than previously thought. Hints of soul that dotted "Touch" and "Sweet Dreams" burst through on "There Must Be An Angel" (featuring not only Stevie Wonder on harmonica, but most of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers) in a manner that only Culture Club had even come close to. But there was no way Boy George would have ever kept up with Aretha Franklin the way that the empowerment anthem "Sisters are Doing It For Themselves" had Annie cavorting with the Queen herself. Yet at the same time, the lovely "Adrian" found Annie making a soulman out of Elvis Costello.

Even without the star power of the guests, "Be Yourself Tonight" shown bright on its own. Other, lesser heard songs like "Baby's Coming Back" and "Conditioned Soul" found Dave and Annie working the ideas found on the original albums with the addition of organic horns amidst the swirling synths. To bring the album to a rousing close, there was "Better To Have Lost In Love" which was the most human song that Lennox/Stewart had written.

If it isn't obvious that this is my favorite Eurythmics album, let me state it for the record now. One or two of the other albums may have sold better or been a shade more popular, but "Be Yourself Tonight" was the album that still holds a place in my CD collection. To me, it was the pivotal moment when Dave and Annie broke their icey veneer and really did "become themselves."

"Be Yourself Tonight" marked a turning point for the Eurythmics. They jumped musical styles, and did it effortlessly. This might be deemed their Motown album as they certainly embraced more of a soul-oriented sound. This album proved that they were here to stay and that Annie and Dave were a force to reckon with. It was such a drastic change in style that when I first heard "Would I Lie To You?" in May of 1985 on the radio I didn't know who it was.

This time, half of the album made to radio with the hits "Would I Lie To You?", "There Must Be An Angel", "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" and "It's Alright". However, the other five tracks "I Love You Like A Ball And Chain", "Conditioned Soul", "Adrian", "Here Comes That Sinking Feeling" and "Better To Have Lost In Love" all hold their own. Another album where not a note was wasted and no excess.

The remastering by Dave Stewart is excellent here. I don't know about anyone else, but in my old Eurythmics cds, this album was the worst sounding--like it had been mastered beneath a pillow or on the other side of a thick wall. Now, it shimmers. The b-sides are better here with "Grown Up Girls", "Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles" and a solid cover of The Doors' "Hello I Love You". The remixes of "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" and "Would I Lie To You?" are a waste of time as they sound nearly identical to the originals. The live version of "Conditioned Soul" is not as good as the album version. Once again Dave added additional photos taken around the time that are amusing. And once again, no lyrics included.

All the extras aside, "Be Yourself Tonight" was another outstanding work by this duo, all of which was about to change with their next release, "Revenge".

Length:: 2:05 Mins

The climax of the Eurythmics' career is this, their fourth album (not counting the 1984-soundtrack). The band had been on a steady rise all the way from their first album, the ethereal & beautiful, but sometimes inconsistent 'In The Garden', through two almost-immaculate New Romantic classics; 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)' and 'Touch'. But 'Be Yourself Tonight' peaks just one place higher in 'the divine hierachy' (:p), being fully perfect. It includes the hits, & their three best songs, the raunchy & hard-rockin' 'Would I Lie To You', and the over-the-top-beautifully-sung 'There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)' (like fx Bowie's 'Golden Years', this seems to be an anecdote of bragging of the capabilities of one's voice FIRST, and then a damn good song second!), and the feminism anthem & duet with Aretha Franklin, 'Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves', a pure classic. The rest of the record is buoyed by strong tracks, especially 'Here Comes That Sinking Feeling', and overall, stands as their greatest achievement, and, The Smiths aside, this is probably the greatest record made in 1985!
As for the bonus tracks they differ in excellence, but most of them are fairly good. One exception is their cover of the immortal The Doors classic 'Hello, I Love You'. I think it's important to say this now, so nobody does it again (as if I could decide that!), & I say this as much to Simple Minds and to Adam Ant, as I do it to the Eurythmics - DON'T COVER HELLO I LOVE YOU, because it just never works. The Doors were not meant to be copied & you can't. And synth-versions of psychedelic classics is usually a bad bad idea, even if it looks promising on paper, synths after all being pretty psychedelic in themselves. But apart from such blasphemy (joke), which doesn't count (bonus tracks only count positive, never negative), this album RULES........ buy it, buy it now!!! :p

This Is Perhaps The Best Album By The Eurythmics, Packed With Rocking Beats And Driving Guitars Full Of Outstanding Lyrics And Soulful Ambience. And The Greatest Vocals Ever Given By Annie Lennox, Super Powerful. The Bonus Tracks Are A Great Addition To This Newly Re-Mastered Album, But A Few Key Tracks Are Missing From This Updated Version, Which Has Been The Only Problems With All The Re-Mastered Reissues, Adding Lesser B-Sides Instead Of The Better And Much More Interesting B-Sides. A Few That Should Have Been Included Here Are:

1. Would I Lie To You [The ET Re-Mix Version].
2. There Must Be An Angel [Special Dance Mix] (Yes There Was One).
3. Here Comes That Sinking Feeling [Alternate Version].

The rating says 3 stars, although I rate it FIVE! Totally worth the money and the time I waited for the CD to arrive. The album + 6 Bonus Tracks simply rock! Annie's great in French, and I just adore "Grown up Girls" and "Tous Les Garcons...". They're both really fun songs. The ET Mixes (extended mixes) of "Sisters..." and "Would I lie to you" are amazing! Even "Conditioned Soul" LIVE is great. Never expected it to sound so good, actually. And last but not least, track 15, a cover version of "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors is super. Would definitely make any live Eurythmics concert rock...especially with an updated backgroud arrangement.

The 20 page booklet is full of excellent, never before seen photos of Annie & Dave, from that particular era. The interior of the gatefold packaging features a celestial image if Annie, as well as a her pale apparition in "It's alright", back to her "rocker chick" image as seen on the album cover. Dave looks great too...with his tough-guy image too. Throughout the booklet, Dave is decked out in leather, jeans and beard. This seems to have been a really fun era for Eurythmics, although their album "Savage" appealed to Annie the most. Overall, this is definitely one of the best Deluxe Editions of a Eurythmics CD I've purchased. Sound & Recording quality is excellent, once again. Although the song styles are eclectic, "BYT" goes together really well (including the bonus tracks). Actually, I expected this edition of the album to be a flop, considering the bonus tracks on other Eurythmics Deluxe Editions have left nothing to the imagination. I was totally wrong this time. Thank You, guys!

Tracklisting:
01- Would I Lie To You? - 4:25
02- There Must Be An Angel (Playing with my heart) - 5:22
03- I Love You Like A Ball And Chain - 4:04
04- Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves - 5:54
05- Conditioned Soul - 4:30
06- Adrian - 4:29
07- It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) - 3:45
08- Here Comes That Sinking Feeling - 5:40
09- Better To Have Lost In Love (Then Never To Have Loved At All) - 5:06
Bonus Tracks
10- Grown Up Girls (from 'There Must Be An Angel' 7") - 4:32
11- Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles (from 'It's Alright...' 12") - 3:25
12- Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves ET Mix (from 'Sisters are...' 12") - 7:48
13- Would I Lie To You - ET Mix (from 'Would I Lie To You' 12") - 4:54
14- Conditioned Soul - LIVE (Previously Unreleased) - 5:07
15- Hello I Love You (Previously Unreleased) - 2:50

Album Credits:
- 25 page glossy booklet with bio & beautiful photos
- Glossy Gatefold digipack packaging
- Silver CD with black & red lettering (titling)
- FBI Anti-Piracy Warning on backside of packaging
- www.eurythmics.com
- Printed in the USA
- Project Manager: Charlie Stanford at Blue Cube Consultancy
- Music Consultant: Neal Wickens
- Sleeve Notes (Bio): Phill Savidge
- Remastering by: Ian Cooper at Metropolis Studios, London
- Design & Art Direction: Laurence Stevens - LSD Studio