Essential [Import]

Don Johnson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sbme Import
• ASIN: B000024JDD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,133 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tell It Like It Is

2. Voice on a Hotline

3. Heartbeat

4. Other People's Lives

5. Heartache Away

6. What if It Takes All Night

7. Can't Take Your Memory

8. Angel City

9. Star Tonight

10. Lost in Your Eyes

11. Coco Don't

12. Gotta Get Away

13. Your Love Is Safe With Me

14. Lonely Too Long

15. The Last Sound Love Makes

16. A Better Place

Editorial Reviews

French compilation for the TV (Miami Vice) & film star includes his 1986 hit, 'Heartbeat'. 16 tracks. Sony.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essentially pretentious?, May 20, 2004

By 

K.E.R. (Mill Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential (Audio CD)

I don't think so. I had the original 'Heartbeat' album years ago and was looking to replace it just for amusement value. When I had trouble finding a copy, I ordered 'Essential' instead. I'm glad I did. The extra tracks on this album gave me a whole new take on Don Johnson's music. "What if it Takes All Night" and "Your Love is Safe With Me" roll so smoothly that they stay with you long after the last notes fade. "Tell It Like It Is" and "Better Place" are even better. My instant favorite, however, was "Other People's Lives". The tracks from the 'Heartbeat' album are still fun, but these 4 have put this cd toward the top of my list for almost any occasion. The stiffness that sometimes ruled 'Heartbeat'is gone and Don Johnson's distinctive sound rolls out like a flashback to a better level of listening.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honey sweet!, December 8, 2003

By 

Nelmarie Eloff (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential (Audio CD)

DAMN!!! This guy have a voice sweet as honey! I specialy love the song Lonely too long! Also the one Lost in your eyes!!! I'm a big DJ fan, and the first song I heard....I was hooked!!! This guy got too release more albums! If I had a voice like that, Enrique would not even be mentioned in the same sentence. Don, keep up the good work and thank you for the music!!!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent selection of songs for this compilation, November 24, 2005

By 

Preston (nc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential (Audio CD)

I recently ordered this CD of 16 songs by Don Johnson. Loved every song on it! Though there are some times where Don comes off sounding like Jon Bon Jovi and Steve Perry, he has his own vocal style on these songs. They put 9 songs from his 1986 album Heartbeat and 7 from the 1989 album for this CD. The first 3 songs are solid, especially Heartbeat. Can't Take Your Memory sounds fabulous. But it's on tracks 9 and 10 where Don shows his best on the Bob Segar written Star Tonight with Willie Nelson singing along and the Tom Petty written Lost In Your Eyes. Tom even sings background on this song. For Don to perform with top notch stars is an understatement. Many critics bashed his singing career during the time he starred in Miami Vice. But how many actors you know can get to record with Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Ron Wood and others for his solo albums? Don did, and it surprised many people. I also like Angel City, Coco Don't, the jazzy What if it Takes All Night, Lonely Too Long,Other People's Lives (one of ubiquitous songwriter Diane Warren's best written songs) Last Sound Love Makes and A Better Place. I feel it's best to get this one collection than the individual albums--this is a more complete overview of Don's music in the '80s. The producer did a good job selecting and placing the songs in a cohesively done way. Johnson shifts from rock to pop to even blues within the songs he recorded and you can feel it here.