I Was Born to Love You

Eric Carmen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 29, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 29, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00004R5YM
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,919 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Was Born to Love You

2. Someone That You Loved Before

3. Every Time I Make Love to You

4. Cartoon World

5. Almost Paradise

6. Top Down Summer

7. Isn't It Romantic?

8. I Could Really Love You

9. (I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight

10. Walk Away Renee

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth the Wait!, May 15, 2000

By 

Susan M. Teaford (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was Born to Love You (Audio CD)

It's a shame that we've had to wait so long for a new Eric Carmen release, but this one was definitely worth the wait!

I bought this CD without hearing any of the songs on it beforehand. I've been a fan for more years than I care to admit, but this album is Eric at his best. The title track, "I Was Born to Love You" and "Someone That You Loved Before" have the kind of music and lyrics that we've come to know and love by Eric. And his voice is as smooth as ever. The melodies are moving, whether you're listening to the ballads or catchy little numbers like "Top Down Summer." Even the remake of "Walk Away Renee" sounds fresh and current. If you're a Raspberries fan, this album might be a little too mellow for you, but if you're looking for a great collection of fun tunes and romantic songs, this album is for you. Enjoy this one with someone you love!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A welcome return, but..., December 20, 2000

By 

Chuck Limmer (Glendale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Was Born to Love You (Audio CD)

...why does Eric continue to squander his still-intact vocal chops on mostly innocuous AC-with-a-beat? And why did he feel the need, after 16 years, to cover his hit ballad composition for Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, "Almost Paradise," as well as the more-recent duet of his "I Wanna Take Forever Tonight" by Peter Cetera & Crystal Bernard?

On the other hand, he also tosses off wonderful ersatz Beach Boys stuff like "Top Down Summer," a note-perfect version of the classic "Walk Away Renee" (in which Eric absolutely nails the airy, almost-ethereal harmonies on the chorus, unlike any other cover I've ever heard of the old Left Banke hit) and crisp, confident pop like "Cartoon World," an unexpected songwriting collaboration with John Wesley Harding. There's also the bouncy pop-rocker "I Could Really Love You," with acoustic and electric guitar parts by ex-Raspberry Wally Bryson; it ain't the 'berries, but it ain't bad.

What I don't get is how a guy with the songwriting chops to pen eleven Top 40 hits for himself and the Raspberries (and a few more for other artists), the ability to play pretty much all the instruments, obvious skill as an arranger and producer, and a great pop tenor--range seemingly unimpaired by time--could go a decade-and a-half between albums. I hadn't even heard a rumor of new material since the late '80s, when he was supposedly working with Jimmy Ienner to follow-up the 1988 hit "Make Me Lose Control" with an album for Arista. Since then, nada.

For me, then, the buying decision on I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU would be pretty simple: there are enough standout tracks to outweigh the filler, and it's been a 16-year wait since his last album of new recordings. Don't wait any longer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Master Back at the Top of His Game, March 3, 2000

By 

Michael S. Grollman (Princeton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Was Born to Love You (Audio CD)

It seems hard to believe I've been listening to music by Eric Carmen for nearly 30 years, but as I look back over the vinyl and CDs I realize its true. Thus, it was with great pleasure when I read that he was releasing a new album. Eric has always been a wonderful songwriter, crafting melodies that are impossible to forget and singing with deep soulfulness. These are gifts very few writers/performers are blessed with.

It is with great delight that I report that all of Eric Carmen's gifts are on display on his new album, "I Was Born To Love You". The titular track and "Someone That You Loved before" possess melodies that have you humming and singing along immediately and they should, to borrow a phrase from one of my favorite Eric Carmen songs, help him to "get back the bullet". These songs have hit written all over them. The other eight tunes are a joy, including an inspired cover of Left Bank's "Walk Away, Renee" a song that could have been written with Eric in mind! Of equal delight is Eric's voice. The years have taken his soulful voice and given it a new depth that caresses the lyrics and lends them wisdom and passion.

McCartney, Lennon, Brian Wilson. Idols of Eric Carmen's in the songwriting field. He can take his place alongside them as an gifted composer of some of the most durable songs in pop music. And "I Was Born To Love You" simply adds more to his catalogue of hits. Its been 12 years since his last album. Don't make us wait that long again, Eric. There's not enough great music like this around.