Customer Reviews

The Essentials: Laura Branigan

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

 

 

I became a Laura fan after hearing her mega hit "Self Control." She get a lot of respect from me because she records the styles of music she wants to record! What is wrong with that? As some people have said, she lacked a powerful management team, which is the truth! So, although Laura has always been in great voice, she did the nurturing and attention needed in order to become an Icon like Whitney Houston, Madonna, Regina Belle, Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguliera, La India, Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle, Denise LaSalle and many other female vocalists did in any musicial genre. After her run with Atlantic expired around 1994, she took time off. Hopefully her eighth studio album will be released.
Okay, lets get back to the music. This is my breakdown of each track:
1. "Gloria" 10/10. Her debut single that was supposed to be relased in 1978. Stellar vocals & one of the 80's finest singles. It became such a massive hit thanks to her massive and loyal gay fanbase. Peak position: #2 on the Pop Singles chart, #4 Club Play Singles & #28 Adult Contemporart.

2. "Solitaire" 10/10. This is an awesome single that deserves recurrent radio airplay, as do many of her singles! This single is about a lover who does not appreciate her. We can all relate to that. It starts off subtly then builts into a show-stopping ending! Peak positition: #7 on the Pop Singles, #28 on the Club Play Singles & #16 Adult Contemporary.

3. "Self Control" 10/10. Now, this single proves that with the right production & guidance, that you can win! And, so she did with this song about seduction and surrendering to her lover, with was a man that live on the wrong side of the law. Because of the risque music video that accompanied it, it caused some controversy in 1984. Thus, "Self Control" became an international hit and the biggest single of her career. Peak position: #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 Adult Contemporary.

4. "The Lucky One" 10/10. This, the second single from the "Self Control" album became a Top 20 hit. She would have able to have another Top 10 hit if Atlantic released the "Self Control" like album track called "Satisfaction." Alas, what's done is done. "The Lucky One" is song about a man who takes is girlfriend for granted, big time. Peak position: #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

5. "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You." Laura's original truely trumps the weaker Micheal Bolton version. Laura's version is the one that still should played on radio! This song is about a man (her lover) having to leave her for reasons beyond his control. So, she explains why he should stay, but it's no use. Laura's version is a softer more yearing version which I prefer. This became her biggest U.S. hit on any chart. Peak position: #1 on the Adult Contemporary and #12 Pop Singles.

6. "Spanish Eddie" 9/10. This is an entertaining single about a mob king called "Spanish Eddie" who gets caught by the police.
This song peaked at #23 on the Hot Dance Music/Club chart. Peak position: #40 on the Billboard Hot 100, #26 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play, & #29 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

7. "I Found Someone." 9/10. Atlantic did next to nothing to promote this single. It became her lowest charting single during the 80's. A year later, 1987, Cher would cover this song and it would become a massive Top 10 hit. A beautiful slight sad love song with great vocals. Peak postion: #90 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #25 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

8. "Shattered Glass" 8/10. Here, Laura joined Stock/Atkin/Waterman for this peppy Euro-Dance-Pop single about her boyfriend who broke her heart and has done it to others because his heart is sort of cold. That's why everything he holds falls apart like shattered glass! It is not as strong as the S/A/W productions for Bananarama, but it is pleasant. It saw its biggest success in among her bi & gay fans. They helped bring the single to #1 or #13, depending on which chart peak position you believe, on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Peak position: #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #27 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

9. "(The) Power of Love" 9/10. This became her final Top 40 hit in 1987. It is a magnificent ballad with a deeply yearning vocal proformance. It was originally sung by Jennifer Rush, then covered by Air Supply, Laura Branigan, and most recently, Celine Dion. It could have benifitted with more polished production like in the Celine Dion version but, it is still great. Peak position: #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #19 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

10. "Never In a Million Years" 10/10. Finally, Laura gets material worthy of her great voice but fails to hit the Hot 100 altogether because Atlantic did nothing to promote it. This single is about a lost love that still weights in her heart. So, sings about the regret of losing him. It is a lush keyboard ballad in the same class as "Love Takes Time", "I Don't Wanna Cry" & "Can't Let Go" by Mariah Carey. Many think this was a non-hit but it became a surprise Adult Contemporary hit. Peak position: #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

11. "Ti Amo" 9/10. This is a tear-jerking dramatic ballad about a lost love. Peak position: #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

12. "Moonlight On Water" 10/10. This is a funky upbeat sythersizer & drum machine heaving Dance-Pop single. It is able a lover who does not pay enough attention to what is more important in his life. I'm sure this one generated heat in many danceclubs in the world! Peak position: #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. In conclusion, Laura is a diamond in the rough worth decovering or re-discovering. You seriously don't know what you are missing if you don't!

Laura is one of those singers that when listened to her sing a song it was although she was just singing just to you. The intimacy in her voice enabled her to create a one on one bond with millions of listeners.
The Essentials CD feautures excellent examples of that talent. The heartbreak meltdown performance on "How I Am Suppossed to Live With Out" or the passion filled "Ti Amo" and her seductive purring like a cat delivery on "Moonlight On Water".
For us die hard fans the track listing was definitely lacking on this collection(as was her 1995 Best of Branigan)
Missing on this one are two songs that were released as singles and charted.
Lauras first single that charted (released previously to Gloria) "All Night With Me" (peaked #69 in April 1982 on Billboards Hot 100) and "Hold Me" #82 October 1985).It would have been nice if they included "Imagination" a track she contributed to the "Flashdance" soundtrack.Although not released as a single its one of the most memorable songs used in that movie. Also songs fr her 1993 album "Over My Heart" where ignored.There were no charted singles from it, but there were some that were worthy enough to be called "Essential" if u ask me.
This a Perfect CD for your average 80's music fan to pick up if they are interested in getting all of Lauras biggest hits on CD,but also a chance for those listeners to discover there was so much more to her than her first big hit "Gloria"
By the late 80's and into the early 90's Lauras singles were losing their steam on the charts but she was still making well produced catchy pop songs (and vocally she matured and grew as well)
For some tracks on her 1987 album titled "Touch" she teamed with UK hitmakers Stock/Aitken/Waterman (who also made hits for likes of Banarama,Rick Astley and Kylie Minogue).One of the results of that teaming was the single "Shattered Glass" a catchy,glossy,smooth pop song that hooks you on the first listen.
Her first single fr her self titled 1990 release "Moonlight On Water" stalled on the singles chart at #59.Its a total injustice that this gem of a song did not chart higher.Also another standout was the follow up single to Moonlight,the tender heartfelt ballad "Never In A Million Years". I noticed alot of reviewers have said that they could not figure out why this song was included on Essentials. Yes it did not chart on Billboard Hot 100 singles chart,but if did chart on Billboards Adult Contemporary Chart and peaked at #22 in November of 1990,and for some unknown reason that info was not included on the Essentials CD sleeve.

This latest Laura Branigan compilation is a definite improvement over the last 1995 collection, restoring a few missing tracks and removing the bloat that kept that previous hits CD from rockin. Yes, it would have been nice to have Hold Me and All Night With Me included, as many have stated, but what greatest hits is without a gap or two? The important thing is the little word REMASTERED, never before used on a Laura hits CD, even the pretty cool European "Very Best Of" released in the early 90s. This one is a keeper, great for the curious as well as the hard core fans (who obviously own all her albums anyway). Pop it into the car stereo, pump the volume and get ready to cruise the night with the glorious voice of a true talent in your ears.

So my recent purchase The Essentials has alot of her hits on this cd, I decided like other singers which recorded some of the songs and I still prefer laura singing them . Celine has recorded her version of the Power of Love, Cher did I Found Someone and Michael bolton recorded How Am I Supposed To Live Without You. They all did great and are top recording artists but Laura her way was the best. Its something with her voice that is breathtaking. I miss you laura. Your #1 fan

Laura I love your songs on CD such as Gloria,Self Control,The Lucky One,Solitaire,How Am I Supposed to live without you,Spanish Eddie,I Found Someone,Hold Me,Cry Wolf,Touch,Shattered Glass and other greatest hits on CD we miss you very much I'm getting a CD for my cousin for Christmas
thanks for the memories Laura.
Love,Neal

First off, let me say that it is wonderful to finally see some remastered Laura Branigan music get released! This great CD includes the biggest hits, as well as some lesser known gems like "Shattered Glass" and Branigan's terrific version of "I Found Someone."

Overall, this collection is a more accurate depiction of Branigan's chart success than the 1993 release "The Best of Branigan," which ignored some of the older hits in favor of newer material. I have only two complaints about this collection: the album version of "Spanish Eddie" is included, rather than the vastly superior single mix, and the radio hits "All Night With Me" and "Shadow of Love" are strangely absent.

The sound quality of this CD is astonishing. WEA Studios has done an excellent job remastering the music, as well as layering it with Branigan's formidable vocals. Wait until you hear the remastered version of "Solitaire" ... absolute pop perfection! (Even the relatively poorly produced song "The Lucky One" is given new life with the beautiful remastering job.)

I recommend even the mildest Laura Branigan fans to pick up this CD. It's a wonderful collection of work by one of the most talented and underrated vocalists of the '80s. (However, poor choice on the album's cover photo. Laura is a beautiful, sexy woman...and the photo looks like an awkward school picture! Very weird!)

I chose to buy " THE ESSENTIALS " Laura Branigan CD to get her greatest hits over " BEST OF BRANIGAN " because " ESSENTIALS " contains nearly all of her chart hits. " MOONLIGHT ON WATER ", " SHATTERED GLASS ", and " I FOUND SOMEONE " [ later a bigger hit for Cher ], are all songs I love & they are on here, but not on " BEST OF ". And of course, you get all her biggest hits too - " GLORIA ", " SELF CONTROL ", " HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU ", " THE POWER OF LOVE " and more.

A curious thing is that other artists went on to have bigger success chart wise with some of these hits, but Laura Branigan really did it first & best .

The sound quality is great on this cd, vastly improved over the 1995 BEST OF BRANIGAN.
The hits, for the most part, are here. But, I really would have loved to have seen a COMPLETE greatest hits with the other 2 charted singles "Hold Me" and "All Night With Me" and maybe left off "Never In A Million Years". Also would have been nice to have included a few from her now out-of-print 1993 "OVER MY HEART" cd ("Over You", "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye", "Didn't We Almost Win It All"). It's great to get the hits all together on one cd, and it would have made this a 5 star rating had they included all the hits. Very interesting to hear the songs she did first, only to have others take them and do better on the charts ("I Found Someone" by Cher, "The Power of Love" by Celine Dion & "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" by Michael Bolton.).
Very unfortunate choice in the cover picture...the 80's weren't always tasteful!

I purchased Essentials the day it was released. Even though I already have all of Laura's albums and The Best of Branigan, this one could easily become a favorite - it has all of Laura's essential hits on one disc, and the sound is great. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Laura, the eighties, or just wants to listen to music by an artist with an incredible voice.

This CD features all 12 of her singles from 1982-1990. She is in good voice throghout. Of course some of the songs like "The Lucky One" and "Shattered Glass" are going to sound a bit dated, they are songs from the 80's, the musicial renissance of the 20th Century. She has true vocal talent and a voice unlike any other vocalist. I appluade her for having her own individualized sound! I love all the songs, a must for fans of 80's pop and dance club music.