Customer Reviews

Hearsay

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It's about time Alexander O'Neal's "Hearsay" got remastered and reissued. Featuring on-point production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, "Hearsay" is undisputedly one of the great r&b albums of the 1980s, and it should have never been out-of-print in the first place. Though he was a star in his own right a few years before this album, it features his breakthrough Top Ten hit, "Fake" which is just as scathing as it was back in the day. The followup single, "Criticize," finds O'Neal trying to shake off a nagging girlfriend (who CAN'T relate to that?), while Cherrelle shares the spotlight for the excellent duet "Never Knew Love Like This." If there's anything bad to say about "Hearsay," I can't think of it. It's a great album that gives me fond teenage memories, and it comes from one of the most respected male singers on the r&b scene. Hopefully this reissue will reignite an interest in O'Neal, and he'll jump back into the spotlight where he rightfully belongs.

Back in the 80's, a slow, subtle force impressed itself upon the music scene. That force was 'The Minneapolis Sound', and it manifested itself in many ways (Force MD's, The S.O.S. Band, Cherelle, New Edition, Janet, Herb, and even The Human League for goodness sakes!). That sound, ingeniously crafted by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, has its most glorious achievement in the album "Hearsay" by Alexander O'Neal. My introduction to this album came as a part of a frantic search to find out who sang this beautiful, haunting ballad called "Sunshine". Once I got my hands on the CD, it rarely left my player.

This 'party within a party' album is Jam and Lewis at their finest, and every R&B album could take a lesson from its construction. Just like any other party, all of the Intros happen at the beginning, as does all of the energy in the party. There we find all of the up-tempo songs like Hearsay, '(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me', 'Fake' and 'Criticize'. But to me, to hear the album working at its best, start with Track Number 5 (an INTRO) which leads right into 'The Lovers'. The funky, hook-driven beat of that song gets me through my drive home (even today!).

Then, as every party progresses and people start to groove on each other, you move into the more sultry songs. The duet with Cherelle on 'Never Knew Love Like This' is an R&B classic, and the songs 'Crying Overtime' and 'When The Party's Over' wrap up the party nicely, but the song 'Sunshine' is possibly the best love ballad ever written.

I tend to ramble a bit (I'm a BIG fan of Jam and Lewis), but I don't think there will ever be another R&B album that is this tight from start to finish. It's a shame that Alex slipped out of the hearts and minds of the oh-so-fickle U.S. music scene, but I'm glad to know I can get another copy of this CD now (my first one is so scratched up, I don't know if it will last!). If you are a fan of ANYTHING Jam and Lewis, you have to add this CD to the collection. And if you are a fan of great, classic 80's R&B, you MUST add this CD to your collection.

Finally, after years of waiting Alexander O'Neals biggest selling album has been brought back for people to once again enjoy. If You looking to party or to chill out - this album has it all.
Hearsay was first released in 1986 and is the follow up to the self titled Debut album.
This album gave O'Neal 1 top 10 hit and 3 top 30's.
Produced by the duo of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the sound of the 80's was captured on this one album which led to O'Neal selling out 8 straight nights at Wembley.

The Album kicks off with the first of 4 top 30 hits - What Can I Say to you love me - its a song which really gets the body moving and O'Neals voice shows us that he can sing as well on the funky numbers as on the ballads.
The song "Hearsay" is next with Alex venting his feelings about lies being told in a relationship and people trying to mess things up.
"The Lovers" is track 3. This another top tune.
Track 4 is the dancefloor smash - Fake. This is O'Neal at his best telling a woman how false she is.
It would now seem hard to follow "Fake up" but he does, with the top 5 hit - Criticize. "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is critize" Lyrics from O'Neals anthem. His voice is top notch here and this album is good enough to buy on that song alone!

The second half of the album mellows out, and O'Neal shows the world that his music is the music of love.
Cherrelle duets on "Never Knew Love Like this" and then "Sunshine" Hits us. Fella's if you want words to write in a card for your loved one - this is the song to nick them from. "I cant go a day without my sunshine".

And if someone you love has left you "Crying Overtime" will be suitable for your emotions.

The Last Track is rightly named "When The Party's Over"
A Track which is suitable for this album.
One big party - slow dances and all!

If you like Soul Music - Get this album.
If your in love - get this album
If You Like the sound of the 80;s - get this album.

If you like music - get this album.

As the record lable. Tabu (which o'neal was on)motto told us
"The Earth has music for those who listen"

Breathtaking.

Longevity in the music biz is something that should be savored. Too many solo performers or groups have a very short "shelf life". This is due to changes in tastes, as well as poor promotion by recording companies.

Sadly, Alexander O'Neal's fall into obscurity is probably the result of both. O'Neal possesses one of those earthy voices that can only be appreciated by fans of real R & B, not the pre-packaged, synthesized, hip-hop drivel that passes itself off as music today. He is just too good to be appreciated by today's audiences.

"Hearsay" allowed the man to get funky, wax passionate, and dip slightly into territory of the "begging man" as personified by Teddy Pendergrass and Lenny Williams.
The nine-track set reflects the music of the times as well as the talent of the man.

He doesn't need a "comeback"; the current musical scene needs a return to a time when music WAS music.

Alexander O'Neal was Oen of My Favorite Artists from the 80's.His VOice was Right on Time.He could do Up-Tempo&Of Course Nail the Slow Jams.together with Jimmy Jam&Terry Lewis this Album is a Knock out from start to finish.He is still the Best Vocalist from the Minneapolis Scene from the 80's to me.He is vastly Underrated to me as well.while Janet Jackson struck a Major Chord with Jam&Lewis&Cherelle hit it off well with there Sound it was O'Neal who made there Work Legendary for me.Great Album still.

This is by far Alexander O'neals best album ever. This album is in my all time Top 3 best 80s R&B albums ever made. From start to finish this album will keep you moving. I have had a copy for many years now and it has never gotten old. Good music never gets old. It only gets better with time. I recommend anyone to check it out. From the moment you listen to the sweet beginning of "(What can I say) to make you love me", you won't be able to stop listening to the music until you get to the end. Man, what happen to that sweet Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis 80s pop sound. I guess it is just memories now.
Enjoy!

I have fond memories of hearing the up tempo hits such as Critisize,What Can I Say To Make You Love Me and Fake to select just a few from this superb album,in the clubs of Liverpool and Chester in the late eighties.This truely was Alex at his best,and having seen him on tour recently,whilst a little older he still manages to pull in the crowds,the performances always include several tracks from this album,basically because it's Simply The Best!

I have been looking everywhere for this cd for years because my cassette tape has seen better days. I was so excited to see that they released the remastered cd. This cd is definitely Alexander O'Neils BEST ever. Every, and I stress every, song on this cd is great. My favorite songs are Fake and Hearsay....what am I thinking I LOVE THEM ALL!!! If you like his other songs from previous cds then you will definitely like this CD. I guarantee you will be pleased. =0)

Smooth, sultry and sharp is the three "S's" to describe Mr. Alexander O'Neal. Way before Keith Sweat, Brian McKnight and R. Kelly, Alexander O'Neal was the romantic crooner of his time. With a smooth, though forceful approach, Mr. O'Neal's voice can make me drop everything and take notice, his voice is that captivating. With the help of musical geniuses (and two sickingly great men who can turn ANYTHING into a hit) Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Alexander O'Neal crafted this musical masterpiece back in 1986. "Hearsay" is a journey in it self, from slick funk grooves to heart on sleeve balladry, the album follows Alex through the joys and pain of love.
The start of "Hearsay" has party sounds and voices, much to the likings of Marvin Gaye's tunes. It starts off the album in a "this album is going to blow your mind" type of vibe. It builds you into what is to come next. And that something is "What Can I Do (To Make You Love Me)". In three words: Funky, funky, funky!
"The Lovers" is THE ultimate expressway crusing song. I have pledged to myself that when I get my first car, I'm going to pop this in when I graze my city's skyline. The thundering keyboards, forceful syncopated vocals and tight drum beats make you feel the love, for real. Soulful and empowering is the title track, as Alex shows his impressive vocal range. The biggest hit off of here, "Fake" is a snarky, snappy and down right funky tune about a girl who is well...fake! Hilarious lyrics and jamming keyboards make you understand why this song was such a huge hit. The next hit, "Critize" features some funny dialouge and the beautiful backing vocals of Lisa Keith. I like how Alex and her trade off vocals, nicely done. This song is a pulsating piece of pre-New Jack heaven. My girl, Cherrelle (I LOVE this woman, when I listen to her I wonder how in the hell did she not become a bigger success!) shows up on "Never Knew Love Like This". I always enjoy when Alex and Cherrelle duet cause they always sound so passionate. A soulful gospel-esqe tune awaits your ears! "Sunshine" is nothing but gorgeous as it is a beautiful yet dark ballad. It mesmerizes you from the start and has Alex really belting it out. "Crying Overtime" sounds like a precursor to some stuff that Boyz II Men would do later in the 90's, it really sounds like "On Bended Knee" (which Jam and Lewis wrote). It's a lush, heart on sleeve tune and once again Alex does it justice with his voice. "When The Party's Over" is cool and sultry and is a perfect way to end this fantastic album.
It's truly a shame that this album has mostly been negelected as much as Alexander himself. I just don't understand how Alexander and Cherrelle were shut out of the music business! Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have done their best work with them and I understand that there is such a thing as "The Janet Jackson Factor". I'm a fan of Janet too, but since I've dug deeper in the Jam and Lewis catalog and un-earthed Cherrelle and Alex, I've come to believe that the only reason why Janet became such a star was because of well...being Michael's little sister. Not that her music wasn't good (her music is good, no doubt-she has talent) but if you pair her stuff with Cherrelle's and Alexander's it pales in comparison. I usually tend to push "Control" aside to make way for "Hearsay" and Cherrelle's "Affair". And I'm being truthful.
After "Hearsay", Alexander never achieved much star power even though he did guest star on Cherrelle's 1988 masterpiece "Affair". And I never can understand why? Maybe he was overshadowed by Luther Vandross, who had really began to become huge with his hit "Here and Now"? Or maybe people were moving into a more hip-hop state of mind at this time? I have no idea why Alexander O'Neal became a music casuality. I know he still performs and has released some albums after this but he now resides in England and performs mostly there. How I wish he would come back and show some of these young R&B crooners how to really sing! Get "Hearsay" to hear a SINGER and get caught up in the funky jamming sounds of Jam and Lewis, especially since it's been digitally remastered in all it's glory. You will not be dissapointed!

JEN'S TOP 5
1. Critizie
2. The Lovers
3. Fake
4. Sunshine
5. Never Knew Love Like This

If there are any objections sustained on the standing up for the truth guidelines of Funk law and order, please be the first to fulfill the ignominy of such. Chief Sun Star Ali hears and feels the very essence of the far east coast connection, and some
reel reel Mean Mugging. Prepare once again the sound system, for
the "Deeper Prophecy is Clear!" Flick the lights, for the 'Last Dance' is near.
In it's day this album must not be overlooked