If My Heart Had Wings

Melissa Manchester | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 24, 1995)
• Original Release Date: January 24, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002IUR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #425,595 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. House That Love Built

2. In a Perfect World

3. If My Heart Had Wings

4. Heart of Love

5. To Be in Love with Me

6. Here to Love You

7. Higher Ground

8. Crazy People

9. Moments Like This

10. Don't Let Me Walk This Road Alone

Editorial Reviews

CD reissue of the 1995 'comeback' album for Melissa Manchester, her first album of new material in a decade, featuring a return to emotional ballads and dramatic production. 12 tracks including 'The House That Love Built', 'Don't Let Me Walk This Road Alone' and 'Crazy People'. Wounded Bird. 2006. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb album, November 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: If My Heart Had Wings (Audio CD)

Simply the best female singer-songwriter of the past 25 years. Virtuoso vocal performances. (Many of today's would-be divas could take many lessons from Melissa). "Don't Let Me Walk Alone," the duet she does with Wentley Phipps, is equally as good as the BeBe & CeCe Winans version. Melissa's version of "Higher Ground" far outshines both Streisand's and Vanessa Williams' versions.

And why "In a Perfect World" was not a major hit is beyond me.

Melissa Manchester is a national treasure and quite simply the best all-around singer out there today.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, December 17, 2005

By 

Davalon "Davalon" (Tokyo) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: If My Heart Had Wings (Audio CD)

Melissa Manchester is what used to be called "a recording artist." She is also what used to be known as "talented." The fact that some of her CDs are selling on this site for $.58 is a crime.

"If My Heart Had Wings" and "A Perfect World" are stunning examples of songwriting expertise, a soaring, clear, magical and emotional voice and lyrics that, if not always perfect, never fail to touch the heart.

It is beyond my comprehension why Melissa Manchester was never a bigger star than she was. But I have a theory: She was too good. She was too intelligent, too mature, too thoughtful, too tender, too much for pop music. She writes songs which require the listener to have a degree of maturity and intelligence. And of course, with absolutely brilliant songs on the radio these days like "My Hump" -- how could anyone of Melissa's stature ever hope to compete?

This album harkens back to a time when the company president (Clive Davis) cared about what his artists put on their albums. He would sit and listen to the songs. The artists had a higher authority to answer to. And the fact is that Clive was brilliant -- and still is. But now, all we get are people who are consumed with what they look like and "singing" about their sex lives. It is so incredibly boring and dull and repetitive that I would just as rather not listen to the radio again as long as I live.

If you consider yourself a music lover and you can appreciate the beauty of a true singer, then treat yourself to this album. It is not perfect. Melissa still tries to get that quasi-black sound on some of her songs, and some of the lyrics are borderline Hallmark. But on the other hand, when she gets it right, no one does it better. I mean no one. Melissa -- the world of pop music desperately needs you and I for one miss your presence on the radio. Please get a theme song into some movie so people will wake up and hear the divineness of you before it's too damn late. You are loved!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Melissa's best music since "Better Days & Happy Endings", October 6, 2000

By 

Thomas Lapins (Orlando, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: If My Heart Had Wings (Audio CD)

Her choice in songs are solid. At least four of them should have been top 40 hits: "In A Perfect World", "If My Heart Had Wings", "Heart Of Glass" and "Higher Ground". One reviewer mentioned that "In A Perfect World" should have been the theme song for "Titanic". It indeed has the perfect lyrics and power to match Dion. "The House That Love Built" tells us of an "older and wiser" Melissa. The message of this one really catches on after several listens. "If My Heart Had Wings" truly has wings. Both the lyrics and the arrangements soar. Her voice never sounded better and more sincere. "Heart Of Love" is one of those melodies that you can't get out of your head. I recently heard it in the background of some so so movie. Melissa sounds very happy and in-love in this one. "To Be In Love With Me" is another one with some thoughtful and introspective lyrics. The more you play this one the more you appreciate its reason for being on this CD. Melissa's version of "Higher Ground" beats Streisand's version, and that says a great deal. "Don't Let Me Walk This Road Alone" closes this CD on a perfect note. The CD has a central theme. Melissa sings about love, loss and hope as she always does. However, now we have a more mature perspective. "Crazy People" shows us she can still be sassy. This collection is forty plus minutes of pure pleasure, and a must for any Melissa Manchester fan from the 70's and 80's.