Freight Train Heart [Import]

Jimmy Barnes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 28, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Mushroom Records
• ASIN: B000006Z8V
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,548 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Freight Train Heart became a huge hit for Jimmy Barnes, and with good reason. It followed on directly from the blue-collar rock of Bodyswerve and For the Working Class Man, yet managed to create its own identity. While it may have lacked complete originality ('Driving Wheels' is a simple update of 'Working Class Man'), Barnes managed to make this set of songs an instant classic, thanks to the strength of singles like 'Waitin' for the Heartache'. Slightly more polished than For the Working Class Man (but never losing sight of its pub-rock origins), Freight Train Heart nevertheless runs neck and neck with that album for the title of Barnes' best release. 1987 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ..a classic 80's album due for re-release !, May 23, 2003

By 

N. Page (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freight Train Heart (Audio CD)

Something of an Australian folk hero, although originally from Glasgow, Jimmy Barnes is the original 'working class man', the title track and signature tune from his first US release. Having come to prominence with Australian band Cold Chisel, 1987's `Freight Train Heart' was Barnes' second album for Geffen. Mixed for an American audience and recorded with American musicians with some notoriously top flight song-writers-for -hire enlisted during the writing process, `Freight Train Heart' was, if we're being honest here, one of the albums of the eighties and should be in every discerning AOR-fan's Top 30. An Australian Number 1 album, several times platinum, FTH actually flopped in the US, despite being chock-full of absolute classic AOR-radio friendly rock songs.

Barnes' voice kinda resembles that of Sammy Hagar's and just oozes cool; it has been described as one part pure AC/DC rasp, one part eternal romantic, and one part master storyteller. The musical accompaniment is faultless; Journey-like in terms of sheer quality. Hardly surprising given that most of the songs were co-produced by ex-Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain in tandem with `Escape' producer Mike Stone. Some of Cain's usual cohorts (Neal Schon, Randy Jackson) provide backing here and have co-write credits with Barnes. With Desmond Child and Jim Vallance also contributing, of course the record sounds highly commercial, but Barnes' commanding voice keeps proceedings rooted in rock. The vocals have a huge emotional quality without ever being overwrought, even on "Waitin' For The Heartache", a balladic anthem co-written by Desmond Child. As usual Neal Schon provides a stunning array of biting solos throughout. Other highlights are the blues-ballad "Too Much Ain't Enough" and the epic "Last Frontier".

This album had a sizeable budget behind it, and it shows. Hook-laden although never syrupy. A huge accomplishment. An album for everyone and a classic. Probably as mainstream as AOR ever got. If you missed it first time, it's due for re-release in 2003!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great music for driving through Hell., August 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Freight Train Heart (Audio CD)

If you can imagine a singer with a nastier voice than John Fogerty (which is pretty hard to do)then you have an idea what Jimmy Barnes sounds like. Having said that, you might think this guy must sound like a surface grinder, but you'd be wrong. Jimmy Barnes is one of the great Hard Rock singers of all time. After the first listen I figured, Too Much Ain't Enough(the CD's only hit) was the only high point, but, since CD's cost so damn much, I rarely pass judgment one until it does time in my car. First impressions sometime suck and this was one of them. The CD starts out with David Lindly playing what can only be discribed as slide guitar from hell then never lets up until the end. Listening to Freight Train Heart is like getting paid to wreck your Math teacher's house while he's on vacation. It's great traveling music. I pop it in everytime I cross the George Washington Bridge going into New York City just to get into that New York State of Mind Billy Joel sings about. You know, Music to Loot Pilage and Run People Over By. Freight Train Heart is a must have for every hard rock lovers car stereo. WARNING: Should be played only while steering wheel is in your hand and gas pedal is on the floor.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 STARS AIN'T ENOUGH FOR JIMMY BARNES, February 3, 2000

By 

Mike S (Front Royal,Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freight Train Heart (Audio CD)

Excellent CD. This is a fast and hard driving album with a great musicians backing Jimmy's powerful awesome singing voice. It kind of has a Journey-like sound because Jon Cain co-produced and plays keyboards along with Neal Schon on guitar. Tony Brock of The Babys and Rod Stewart fame lays down a solid drum beat. TOO MUCH AIN'T ENOUGH is a great ballad and the rest of the CD are hard rocking songs that are top notch such as WAITING FOR THE HEARTACHE, SEVEN MORE DAYS, and LAST FRONTIER. Every song is great and once you start listening you won't be able to stop. Jimmy's voice is one of best singing voices I've heard.