Customer Reviews

Best Kept Secret

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
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Long before Celine Dion was belting out the power ballads, there was Sheena Easton. Her 1983 effort, "Best Kept Secret" contained some incredible moments. "Almost Over You", and "Just One Smile" are some of Sheena's greatest vocal moments. However, Sheena fails to deliver the goods on tunes like "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" and "I Like The Fright". I think this was Sheena's attempt to shed her goody-goody image and go for a more 'dance' feel to her music. While this cd is overall worthwhile, you will find yourself hitting the advance button on your CD player more than once. For a better range of what Sheena can really do, check out her earlier work on 'Madness, Money and Music'.

After the critically acclaimed, but commercially ignored "Madness, Money & Music," Sheena Easton decided to update her sound and image (see album cover) with 1983's "Best Kept Secret." Intent on pursuing dance music, she dumped long-time producer Christopher Neil in favor of Greg Mathieson (Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John). The move worked surprisingly well, as first single "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" made the Top 10 on both the pop and dance charts, and the album climbed to number 33 on the Billboard album chart. The rest of the set basically follows the same blueprint as "Telefone," upbeat dance tunes heavy on the synthesizers. There are two notable exceptions, however. As with most of Easton's albums, the stand-out tracks are the ballads. Included here are the exquisite "Almost Over You," (which also made the Top 40) and a superb cover of Dusty Springfield's "Just One Smile." The only misstep seems to have been the choice of "Devil In A Fast Car" as the third single over more radio-friendly cuts like "(She's In Love) With Her Radio," and "Best Kept Man." As a bonus, the reissue CD also includes Sheena's 1982 Top 10 duet with Kenny Rogers, "We've Got Tonight", which wasn't previously available on any of her albums. Definently one of Easton's best. Thanks, One Way Records!

Why would Sheena's bonus tracks on BEST KEPT SECRET be kept secret for so long? "I Don't Need Your Word" is a hidden gem that should have seen the light of day back in 1983. If you're an Easton fan, don't miss this one!

Sheena Easton's "Best Kept Secret," her fourth studio effort, was released in 1983 and one of her top selling albums. Three hits came off of it - "Telephone" (#9), "Almost Over You" (#25) and "Devil in a Fast Car" (#79).

Whereas her first three albums contained more of a classic rock/pop sound, akin to Heart or Pat Benatar, "Best Kept Secret" switched gears, aiming towards the dance-club scene. "Telephone" was very much in line with the musical style of the mid-1980's. The repetitive pre-programmed bass line and drum machine was similar to Peter Schilling's "Major Tom" or FR David's "Words." It's one of my least favorite songs on the album because it is so oversimplified. On the flip side, "Let Sleeping Dog's Lie" has that same repetitive bass, yet musically is much more creative, combining a balance of melodic synth lines with electric guitar and integrating several rhythm breaks separating verse from chorus.

From the original album material are several great ballads, which seem to be Sheena's hit-making material during the first several years of her career. The gorgeous hit "Almost Over You" featured writer/producer David Foster on piano - a hit-maker of many stars, including Chicago, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson - this list goes on and on. The two other ballads "Just One Smile" and "Don't Leave Me This Way" are just as good, exemplifying Sheena's vocal strength and range. The remainder of the original album is standard pop-filler, neither adding or taking away from the album.

Fortunately, One-Way Records included five bonus tracks on this album: two dance mixes of "Telefone" and three ballads, including the duet with Kenny Rogers. By far, the best tune is "I Don't Need Your Word." I originally heard this song on the LP version of "Madness, Money and Music" and am so glad it was not lost in the archives. It is Sheena at her best - just her and the piano - the instrumentation seemingly allowing her a greater freedom of interpretation and expression. If you're unfamiliar with the song, you owe it to yourself to listen to it.

As the title states, Sheena was an artist in transition, as she would not return to this style throughout the remainder of the 1980's. This is where my album collection of hers ends, as she entered what I term as the "Prince era" (1984-1991). I give her credit as she kept with the trends and remained successful; but at what price? Sometimes I think musical pop artists break away from what they do best as they try to remain on top of the charts. Her later hits never made the same impact on me as "A Weekend in Paris" or the Janis Ian cover of "In the Winter." It is this reviewer's opinion that her first four albums were the best musically and "Madness, Money, and Music" tops them all. Listen and decide for youself - it's all a matter of taste.

Well, when I was in my childhood the clip that stroke me was not the hit number like as follows:Telefon, Almost over you, etc. It was really sweet to listen to her songs:Just One Smile, Don't Leave Me This Way, Sweet Talk.... Furthermore, I'm so pleased with the bonus tracks in this CD.. those which are "Wish You Were Here Tonight"-this one has been definitely impossible to get in my life!!!!- With these beautiful musics I can be in my memory of the period that I was really mania of her.... Also, I wanna share this excellent time in her song with anybody that can be really open-minded toward me!!!! Perfect....

This 1983 disc produced two big hits: "Almost Over You," a classic ballad that showcased Sheena's tender handling of sensitive material, and "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)," a poppy, new wave-styled number that was a bit of a departure for the Scottish singer. This was Sheena's first album recorded with American producers, and it features a more "West Coast" sound than her first three discs.

The disc is solid on ballads, particularly Sheena's moving reading of Randy Newman's "Just One Smile." If some of the rock-oriented songs aren't particularly strong, including "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" (a Pat Benatar clone), the sassy "Best Kept Man" and technopop "Sweet Talk" make up for it. Not her best effort, but solid all the way around. And the bonus tracks are first rate: Her smash cover of "We've Got Tonight" and a powerful reading of "Wish You Were Here Tonight," also recorded by Ray Charles.

Sheena Easton's fourth album for EMI Records was released in the fall of 1983 and was a mix of timeless ballads and very '80s-sounding synth-heavy tunes.

The lead-off single "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" was one of those synth songs and it cracked the Top 10 on Billboard. The song is not one of Sheena's best-remembered hits despite the fact she sounds very passionate on it.

Next is the equally '80s-sounding "I Like the Fright", which is one of the campiest things Sheena's done. Here she squeals and yelps about being afraid of "things that go bump in the middle of the night". The drum machines on this one would make "Neutron Dance" jealous and it's a really fun song.

"Almost Over You" was a hit on the Adult-Contemporary chart but didn't make a big splash on the Hot 100, despite the fact it's one of Sheena's best ballads.

"Devil In a Fast Car" is a good mid-tempo rocker on which the guitar riff coils itself around the chorus like a serpent.

A beautiful but melancholy keyboard opens the almost gospel-like "Don't Leave Me This Way". The doo-wop backing vocals and overall sound of this one make it sound like it would be perfect on the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack.

The fast, pumping "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" is another '80s delight that combines synths with electric guitar. Sheena shows appropriate attitude on this one.

Another campy number comes in "(She's in Love) With Her Radio". The saxophone gives it a Quarterflash-type vibe and Sheena's performance on songs like this rivalled that of Patti Smyth of Scandal, Ann Wilson and other harder-edged ladies.

The quieter "Just One Smile" is another beautiful ballad featuring crystal-clear vocals.

My absolute favorite song on this album is the '70s rock-flavored "Sweet Talk" that features infectious scratchy-guitar work, a Willie-and-the-Hand-Jive chorus and a terrific ear-catching echo effect on Sheena's voice during certain passages.

Almost as good is the closing track. "Best Kept Man" is about a gigolo and opens with English Beat-type drumming and an almost eerie synth line. There's even an unusual Russian-sounding break in the middle.

**BONUS TRACKS**

The 12" single version of "Telefone" contains various embellishments and extended instrumental sections and IMO is more enjoyable than the single version.

"Wish You Were Here Tonight" and "I Don't Need Your Word" are both great ballads that should have made the final cut of the album.

Sheena's big Top-Ten duet with Kenny Rogers, a cover of Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight" is a no-brainer as a bonus track and great to have here.

Finally, we get another extended version of "Telefone". However, this one is the "dub" version, read: mostly instrumental with a few tweaks here and there, and is for completists only.

If you liked Sheena's first three albums, this one features more of an '80s sound with songs that would be right at home on an aerobics movie like "Perfect" or "Flashdance" as well as her trademark ballads. A worthwhile listen.

Best Kept Secret yeah right this cd is darn good so why would she ever called it best kept secret. I love the way she looks on the cover she's got that look on her face that says do you want to mess with me?

Rondall

It was during the promotion of this album when I first saw Sheena in concert back in August of 1983...Its great to listen to this cd once again and remember her singing most of these songs live.

I've seen her in concert several times since then, mostly when she was in Vegas, but will always remember this one album, songs and concert.

The Best album I ever bought.... Even it's a long time work