Customer Reviews

Hold an Old Friend's Hand

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The first single, "All This Time" sounds a lot like Madonna's "Crazy For You". The difference is, one reached the Top Five, the other didn't. Her brave face shows in light of an emotional sundering, with no regrets, and full of acceptance that they'll never meet: "The sun still shines, the sun still sets/the heart forgives, the heart forgets." My third favourite song here.

A mixture of synths, string and funky bass, "Oh Jackie" has her asking questions to the title character: "you never meant to let me go", "am I all alone", "tell me I'm not just somewhere you outgrew", where the answers all seem to be "yes."

The title track has her using her scratchy pre-teen Stevie Nicks voice in places. She offers the hand of friendship of someone who's hurt her in the past and she still feels for: "I promise not to throw you/you don't have to stay; I just want to hold you/won't you come on around and hold an old friend's hand." But there are other wise verses here that made her older than her teen years. This merited a Top Five at the very least, but it tanked on the charts. That she's able to convey such emotion at her age then shows a lot of maturity. This ties with another ballad here as my favourite song.

The single "Radio Romance", which is a sung radio dedication, has overtones of 60's Motown pop with a bopping 80's synth beat.

The "her" in "We're Both Thinking Of Her" happens to be the narrator's best friend. The idea here can be summed up in this line: "What's she got that I ain't got? She's got you." Nice fuzzy guitar here, and a rhythm beat reminiscent of Jeff Lynne's production.

"Walk Away While You Can" has a keyboard rhythm like Madonna's "True Blue" about a young girl advised to act out the title because the older man will use her and "your heart's in control and you don't understand."

"Drop That Bomb" has leanings towards the R&B pop of "Let's Hear It For The Boy", except I don't recall Deniece Williams using sound effects of a synth "bomb exploding."

"It's The Lover (Not The Love)" is yet another winning keyboard ballad--she was getting really good at these exhorts those hurt to try again: "Don't give up in time to find/the one who's right will come to you." The chorus is formed by adding "that deserted you" after the title.

"I'll Be The Girl" has funky keyboards like Lisa Lisa's "Head To Toe". There's some comfort when she sings "I'll be the pillow you cry on when you're feeling down/I'll be the laughter if ever you think you need a clown."

"Hearts Never Lie" has keyboards like Force MD's "Tender Love" and is the "Could've Been" of this album, with backing string synths and electric guitar. Chris Farren, her duet partner, sounds like a juvenile Steve Perry. The reconstruction of love is the theme here, be it "start[ing] all over/one emotion at a time."

The "Overture" is a brief acoustic guitar instrumental of the title song theme combined with some bits of "Hearts Never Lie." Fitting, as they are the two best songs here.

Even though Tiff doesn't write any of the songs, the songs are better in maturity and lyrical content, and her genuine voice is an excellent conveyor. An evolution over her self-titled debut. So come on around and hold her hand, or this album--you won't regret it.

Tiffany has never received the credit or attention she deserves. Her first album, while enjoyable, can be categorized as bubble gum pop, but her second album, Hold An Old Friend's Hand, is fantastic. There is a maturity to many of these songs that too few people ever bothered to look for; those who so easily dismissed Tiffany when she was 15 have deprived themselves of some wonderful music. All This Time is a serious, emotional song about love and loss. Tiffany has a dusky, Stevie Nicks-like edginess in her voice which adds a lot of depth and feeling to her slower songs. Hold An Old Friend's Hand is poignant and beautiful; it is the best song Tiffany has ever recorded, in my opinion. It's the Lover (Not the Love) is another incredibly beautiful slow song, sung with great feeling. Her duet with Chris Farren, Hearts Never Lie, is quite special and does much to show off Tiffany's real singing ability; beautiful lyrics and a beautiful blending of voices make it a powerful conclusion to a great CD. Tiffany can really touch your heart on these ballads, as hard as that may be for some to believe.

There are some pure pop songs on here, such as Radio Romance and Drop That Bomb, but I enjoy these songs quite a bit; their fast pace is energizing, and there are some really great lines hidden among the otherwise shallow lyrics. I'll Be the Girl and Oh Jackie have a pop sound, but they seem to possess something more interesting than the pure pop tracks mentioned above. Walk Away While You Can lies in the middle between uptempo pop and ballad; while it's a nice song, it doesn't really move or excite me. We're Both Thinking of Her is the one song in which Tiffany really lets loose with unrestrained passion and sharp edginess. The juxtaposition between this fiery track and her moving slow songs says much about the wonderful variety of music offered on this CD. The fun songs are great, but clearly it is the ballads that make this album so special and meaningful.

Length:: 1:52 Mins

Tiffany's follow-up to her very successful 1987 debut, "Tiffany" was the less-successful but still well-received "Hold An Old Friend's Hand." While, like her debut album, this album contains some mindless pop guilty pleasures such as "Drop That Bomb" and "Radio Romance," it also contains some rather startling insight that was hinted at in her first album. These moments of maturity present themselves in some songs that decidedly diverge from the 80's synth-pop norm and are instantly more personal. The track that utilizes this the most is the title track. The song "Hold An Old Friend's Hand" is surprisingly mature for a teenager, and Tiffany delivers the dark opening lyrics, "The sun don't wanna shine, on this old hill, or anything that's mine," (one may wonder at the "old" hill description, but it works, because her voice sounds surprisingly well-worn and older than her years) and the even more startling imagery of "I go out to sell my soul" with a sort of dusky, tough voice that simultaneously sounds vulnerable. It isn't until the lead-in to the chorus that the mood brightens. With a bit more lilt to her voice, Tiffany sings, "Hey, that's o.k., come on around and get yourself together..." and the mood has shifted to that of reassurance. Heavy stuff for a teenager, but Tiffany often sings with a maturity beyond her years. "All This Time," the biggest pop hit off of this album, is another example of how Tiffany's darker vocal tones can suggest a woman beyond her years. This song is leaps and bounds beyond the plantitive "Could've Been" off of her debut; "All This Time" is an understated plea, suggesting that Tiffany has, in a sense, made peace with her losses, as the words "all in all I've no regrets". The ballad "The Heart Never Lies," a duet, is pure pop confection, as are most of the uptempo tracks (the one exception being the fiesty delivery behind "We're Both Thinking Of Her"). While this album does not completely abandon the tight production that limited the scope of Tiffany's own voice on the first album, it does give her more of an opportunity to display the raw, if unappreciated, talent in the more subtle, darker tones presented in this album.

"Hold An Old Friend's Hand" was realsed on November 21st 1988 and sold 2 million units. It features slightly more mature songs and a very mature 17 year old singer was behind the mic. The only hit from this album is the awesome ballad "All This Time" which hit #6 on the Billboard charts. I thought it was so sad that Tiffany's fans were drifting away from her. This album isn't as great as "Tiffany" but it's still pleasing to the Tiffany fan. It's still bubble gum pop but we have some guitar solos. I was pleased with more synth songs than "Tiffany" but we don't have any "I Think We're Alone Now's" on here but that's okay.

1. "All This Time"- This is an example of the more mature songs on this album. Tiffany has just lost a lover and she doesn't know what to do with "All This Time". Highest chart positon was #6.
10/10

2. "Oh Jackie"- I don't know what to think about this song. I think it might be about a best friend who Tiffany fought with and now her friend Jackie is on the radio. It might be about a boyfriend. It's a great song with synths and strong vocals. 9/10


3. "Hold An Old Friend's Hand"- It's the title song, which I don't see why it didn't chart. Lovely song about a boyfriend who Tiff wants to come back into her life. I think this is a cover version of a Tracy Nelson song in 1974. I love the saxs on this song. 10/10


4. "Radio Romance"- Great song about Tiff wanting her best friend's boyfriend and dedicating a song to him on the radio. She sings " I see you baby, every single day holdin' on to my best friend but ya don't see me, so I make the same request now every single night, goin' out from me to you on the dedication line". 10/10

5. "We're Both Thinking Of Her"- My favorite song on the album, a simple song about Tiffany's boyfriend wanting to leave her for her best friend. 10/10.

6. "Walk Away While You Can"- About how Tiffany's friend is with an older guy and she's warning her to walk away while she can. "Better walk away while you can, 'cause your hearts in control and ya don't understand,your still a young girl, he's almost a man better walk away while you can". 10/10


7. "Drop That Bomb"- Cute song about Tiff telling her fans to go after that boy they want. I think the way Tiffany sings the song is kind of annoying. I think this would do better on Debbie Gibson's "Out Of The Blue". I think this song is the type of song that Tiffany didn't want to sing anymore. I reccomend this one to
Debbbie Gibson fans. 5/10

8. "It's The Lover (Not The Love)"- I've aways liked this song because I thought Tiffany really wanted us to know that there is hope after breaking up with someone. I thought she was there for us when she sang this song. 10/10

9. "I'll Be The Girl"- Another "Drop That Bomb" type of song. This one seems like another lost Debroah Gibson song. I do like the part in the middle where she sings, "I'll be the pillow that you cry on' and "I'll be the laughter if ya ever need a clown". I thought Tiffany was tired of singing this song also. Debroah fans would also like this song. 5/10

10. "Hearts Never Lie" (Duet with Chris Farren)- This is like the "Could've Been" or "Feelings Of Forever" of this album. Chris Farren's voice goes well with Tiffany's. Beautiful. 10/10

11. Overture- Beautiful guitar pieces of "All This Time", "Hearts Never Lie" and "Hold An Old Friend's Hand". 10/10


Overall score: 8/10: Great songs. More mature vocals. Two sound like lost Debroah Gibson songs. Her next album "New Inside" is a totally different sound after breaking with George Tobin. This album is not boring but not as great as "Tiffany".

Taylor Hodgkins 6/9/06

Tiffany is an absolute joy! I have loved her since I was 11 in 1987 and became a diehard fan in 1989 at 13. That's when I started collecting her music and I had her 2 albums. This album is a followup to her debut, and is wonderful. I played it over and over. I also loved looking at the pictures on the inside covers. Tiffany is very pretty and interesting to look at! I love the color of her hair. Even if you could call it pop bliss, her songs are fun and sweet. I agree totally with another reviewer that Tiffany never received the attention and credit she deserves. After 1989 Tiffany seemed to have dissolved, and I was saddened to see this happen. She was one of the best. I think this is and her debut are the best of Tiffany!

This recording is still great after 11 years. Originally released on October 21,1988 -i am still in love with TIFFANY. Her music and beauty have surpassed the ages. For me at least. I have adored her for 12 years now. And for anyone who really liked her or just sort of liked her music-this album is THE one to check out. Blissful ballads-"All This Time","Hearts Never Lie", or "Overture". Up-beat pop infections-"Radio Romance" or "We're Both Thinking Of Her Tonight". While her time as THE teen queen of the late 80's was unfortunately all too brief-TIFFANY is forever imprinted at her light pop best on this album. I beg any real fan to check out her overseas releases. Or her recent tribute to U2 on "We Will Follow-A tribute to U2". Her selection is a high club techno cut that proves her versatility. TIFFANY-Even after 'All This Time' we still love you.

I have no more comments to add,except I think this is a great cd.My favorite song is Hold An Old Friend's Hand.A great voice,with a melody for every mood.Tiff is often seen as a teenager who can't sing,but she CAN sing.Tiffany rules! See what she's been up to at our Tiffany site at www.heartbeatz.de

Erik,one of the two webmasters of Here In My Heart,one of the Tiffany fansites.Celebrity Link certified,US Fanclubs certified.

I got this on Christmas '88 and I enjoyed it. I don't like it as much as I liked the first one, but I still like to listen to it. I now have it on CD and I have to admit that I haven't listened to it yet, but I'll get to it.

that's what i feel like saying, another year has gone by and i am still as much of a tiffany fan as i was when i was 11 years old, when this was originally released. tiffany remains one of the most overlooked vocalists of the last 2 decades. written off as a novelty 'teen' act her vocal talents have withstood the test of time. though i prefer her debut, the follow up is a true musical gem. tracks like the ultra mellow title track, the first single 'all this time', the guiltiest pleasure of the entire album-'drop that bomb', the synth driven 'we're both thinking of her' (which remains my fave tiffany track), 'oh jackie' was an instant fave and remains so to this day. i could just go on and on. though tiffany has stated that some of these songs she would never personally listen to, they still remain a part of many a tiffany fan. if 'new years day' is any indication of what is to come...i can not wait.