Customer Reviews

Ecstasy's Dance: Best of

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

N.M.W. for me was just a name that I would see as credited for writing some of the most smoldering R & B pop hits for various soulful female acts (too many to mention). He also contributed to some of Kenny G's early works. There is no denial that this man is a pure gifted musical genius. The ethereal love ballad Blue Side of Midnight is pure proof positive that Narada can write the tunes to swoon the ladies and inspire romantic moments ! His impeccable way of delving into light rock (White Night) while changing with the trends of music is astonishing.
While greatly underrated as a solo singing artist Narada is one of the music industy's most underappreciated talents of the last two decades...This is a wonderful introspective and retrospective collection which demonstrates his awesome knack for changing with the styles of music during the late 70's and thru the late 80's.

I remember first hearing Narada Michael Walden's LP, "The Nature of Things," when I worked at my college radio station. "High Above The Clouds" quickly became one of my all-time favorite songs, and still is to this day, 15 years later. I began to follow his production work for, among others, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Angela Bofill, Jermaine Stewart, Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand, and himself. I listened to his earlier works and was just amazed at the depth and beauty this artist could achieve. I was so happy for Narada when I found out he would produce the theme song for the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, "One Moment In Time," by Whitney Houston. Then he bombasted us with his production of the James Bond theme song, "Licence To Kill," by Gladys Knight, still one of the best "bring-the-house-down" Bond themes ever produced. Then came his work on the exquisite Barbra Streisand single, "We're Not Making Love Anymore," part of the "more" in her CD, "A COLLECTION...GREATEST HITS AND MORE."

I was ECSTATIC (hence the title---I did the dance) when I found this "Best Of" collection CD in my local record store. His work has become very hard to find in any format, but to find this treasure chest on CD sent my soul skyrocketing! I agree...something MUST be done to get Narada Michael Walden's past works released on compact disc. This collection includes a good cross section of all his albums. My favorites include "Divine Emotion," "Gimmee, Gimmee, Gimmee (duet with Patti Austin)," and, of course, "High Above The Clouds." Speaking of which, I sincerely believe that "High Above The Clouds," if presently covered by some mega-"diva," could be a HUGE CROSSOVER HIT, transcending the boundaries of POP, R&B, DANCE, ROCK, ADULT CONTEMPORARY, ALTERNATIVE, and MODERN ROCK genres. Somebody please send this song to A&R for WHITNEY HOUSTON, TAYLOR DAYNE, MARIAH CAREY, or someone who wants a great Narada-penned MEGA-HIT SONG. In the meantime, let this CD take YOUR soul high above the clouds!

This album is only an introduction to Narada Michael Walden's music. Apparently, he made the selection himself, and picked one or two tracks from each album. This is what you have to buy since the rest of his work will probably never be released on cd. And he will probably not release anything new, because he has been producing in the past fifteen years, with great success. Did you know that "I love your smile" is his, and that he discovered Shanice ? Did you know he's produced Aretha Franklin's "A rose is still a rose"?, Stevie Winwood's "Junction seven"?, Curtis Mayfield's "New world order", Patti Austin's self titled BEST album, Jarreau's "Heaven and earth",or that he played all percussion, tambourine, drums, on "Phoenix Rising" ?. Did you know he's produced "License to Kill" and "9 and 1/2 weeks" soundtracks ?

He is so busy with all this "Behind the frontline" thing that we will just have to do with what we have. I have several of his albums on tape and vinyl record, and I can hardly choose any as being the best, but probably the earlier ones (this compilation goes chronologically) are the greatest. Just listen to the creative and lyrical power on the first four tracks. That was his more "Creative" period (he had just left the Mahavishnu, and played with the rebel Jeff Beck on the album "Wired"). Also listen to the guitars of Carlos Santana and Hiram Bullock on these tracks ! Then comes the more commercial side of Narada with 6, 8, 9, 10, always nice to listen to. The close up, "so long", seems to confirm that if you don't have anything from him, you must get this outstanding cd, because there won't be another one ! Besides, it will give you an idea of why some artists sound so good on some of their albums and what this man's contribution to music has been in the past 25 years.

This is one of the gems of my collection. And yours ?

Ecstasy yes, this music lives on and on. You can hear it whenever, in whatever mood, whereever, and always it lifts you. It has been with me during the past 25 years and never has it become dull. Because it is inspired. When Narada sings lovesongs, it is spiritual love; actually everything in the songs refers to the path of enligthenment. It is like a modern western "kawali' music of the Sufi tradition - with fantastic guitar solos by the best players, spiralling violins, and bass and drums that kill. And overall, this music is put together with taste, enormous skill, to make it sound easy, and POWER.

For those who remember the days of Studio 54, and rapid fire dance mixes, there are a few memeories on this CD!!. "I Should Have Loved Ya!", Tonight I'm Alright", "I Don't Want Nobody Else" bring back many memories for me. Although they did not receive much radio air play, these songs lit up the dance floors of many disco's. They are just a piece of memorabilia to add to any collection. Also, the rest of the CD is quite good!!!!

I have been listening to my "big brother" Narada for more than 10 years now. I can listen to his tenderly, deeply enchanting as well as great funking recordings with utmost delight time and time again. His music invites your spirit to be free and to enjoy the serenity and peace that exist in your soul. The power of his drumming is always there - powerful, lyrical, mischievous, and yes, so ingenious.

Narada Michael Walden has been around for a while. He produced the CD I reviewed prior to this one, Sister Sledge's All American Girls, way back in 1981 and has since produced memorable tunes and/or #1 hits for people like Stacey Lattisaw, Angela Bofill, Phyllis Hyman, Brenda Russell, Regina Belle, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight, just to name a few. Yes, he definitely had a penchant for the ladies but he did work with a couple of dudes too, including Herbie Hancock and Al Jarreau.

This 1996 compilation only hints at what was on offer on the nine albums he released between 1976 and 1988. For the record, there was 1976's Garden of Love Light, 1977's I Cry, I Smile, 1979's Awakening and The Dance Of Life, 1980's Victory, 1982's Confidence, 1983's Looking At You, Looking At Me, 1985's The Nature of Things and 1988's "Divine Emotions".

I copped this off of Amazon solely for "I Should Have Loved Ya" (his biggest selling single - the sax solo in the middle of the song and the electric piano solo at the end are among my favourite musical moments of all time, and the bass line by T.M. Stevens is just sick!) and "Tonight I'm Alright", both from "The Dance Of Life". I have the album on vinyl and these two NMW tunes have been favourites of mine for years. The CD version of the album is so hard to lay hands on however and I've been searching to no avail for years.

I'm pleased to see though, that the CD version of "Victory" is due to be released early next year. Alongside "Divine Emotions", it's the only other NMW album I owned (and really loved) and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. My LP version got warped after I stupidly left it in the back seat of car one hot summer day, many years ago. My copy of "Divine Emotions" is on cassette and I see no sign of a CD version of that one coming down the pike any time soon either, so to me it remains a very precious cassette indeed.

I was even happier though, to find out that there's a lot more on offer on this disc than the two songs I'd really wanted. NMW has always been very good at creating what I call "pop r&b instrumentals" and there are quite a few on here that I'd never heard before and really like, such as "White Night" for instance, with stunning guitar work by Ray Gomez, and "First Love" & "The Awakening", which both feature Carlos Santana on guitar. It's not quite jazz but it's just as pleasing to the ear and just as satisfying to the soul.

I also really like "I Cry, I Smile" (with Hiram Bullock on guitar), "Delightful", "Blue Side Of Midnight" and I tell you; "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme", his duet with Patti Austin, is just brilliantly infectious. NMW isn't the best among male vocalists but he rocks the drums like no other and his incredible strength as a producer is clearly evident here. His music is strong, clear and even - dare I say it - comes across as rather spiritual. He has chosen at least one song from each of the nine albums mentioned above to put on this compilation, so this is a good way to dip your toe into the world of Narada Michael Walden and see if you like him.

I think he's a vastly underrated hero but he's a hero of mine, nonetheless.

this Brother has been bad for a long,long time.working with a whose who of the business.in fact when i was looking at my disc of Rick James's Street songs he is credited with playing drums on it.this disc has my jam i shoulda loved ya.divine emotions is tight as well.he reminds me of the great Norman Conners another drummer who is very well respected and still Vital to Contempary Music.

Narada Michael Walden; Where does one begin, do you talk about his present day successes, or do you cherish the stepping stone days that placed him on high, and his association with "Guru Sri Chinmoy"...Narada Michael Walden best work is when he discovered he had the gift, that is the gift of composition. With his first album "Garden of Love Light" that gift was realized, his proceeding albums were eagerly anticipated as well, if you want to hear a real treat, by all accounts should have put him over the top back in the seventies! try to find "I Smile, I Cry", this work is one of the most poetic albums I have ever heard. Truly "Lisa" was the inspiration behind this work of art...Narada I know you will see this review, and when you do, let it be the inspiration you need to lobby Atlantic Record Company, to re-release your whole collection. I truly believe one day your collection will be re-released, I don't believe you will allow your legacy to be over shadowed by the present day definition of artistry.

Much Love, One Love Faatih

P.S. Do you still think about the seed sowing early days, 5th and brennen, Greg Di, Frank, what ever happened to "the Rod"....Peace Be with You Always

I wrote Ray Faiola @CBS to find out about the theme song to the hit show Now and Again. And was given Narada's name. I just wish he would release the theme song to the public.