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Product Details
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| 1. If You All Get To Heaven |
| 2. If You Let Me Stay |
| 3. Wishing Well |
| 4. I'll Never Turn My Back On You (Father's Words) |
| 5. Dance Little Sister |
| 6. Seven More Days |
| 7. Let's Go Forward |
| 8. Rain |
| 9. Sign Your Name |
| 10. As Yet Untitled |
| 11. Who's Lovin' You |
It started started with this 1987 debut right here.TTD proclaimed that it was the best solo album by a male artist in 20 years.Bragging that it was superior to "Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Band" and comparing himself to the Purple One and Sam Cooke.The funny thing is that he was RIGHT.This is one egomanaic who knew what he was talking about! "Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby" is a genius album.
Filled with diversity and just straight-up great prduction.TTD bragged that he was passonaite about his music.And the boy wasn't lying.There's not uninspired moment on this classic.From the #1 hit "Wishing Well" with it's funky drums to the smoldering cover of "Who's Lovin' You"(better sung by a grown man in my humble opinion) to the tender "Let's Go Forward".And then there's the calypso/African-rhythmed "Rain",old school styled "If You Let Me Stay",my favorite "Seven More Days",and the powerful opener "If You All Get To Heaven".All are highlighted by TTD's gritty,soulful voice.That's right there'd be NO Maxwell.No D'Angelo.No Remy Shand.No Lenny.No Seal.Without TTD.Along with Prince,TTD set the way.The man is a genius and it's sad that's he's forgetten in the US.
Now christening himself Sananda Maitreya and residing in Italy,
TTD is basking in his own greatness.But this one guy whose huge ego is justified.Don't believe him? Just listen to this disc.
Needless, to say, Craig David really is flattering - and kidding - himself to an inconceivably crazy extent if he truly believes that he is the new TTD. There is nothing to choose between them. This record still sounds great some seventeen years later, unlike Craig's own debut of just three years ago, which has completely lost it's novelty value, and now sounds weak, tired and bored with itself.
The opening track, the thundering "If You All Get To Heaven", sounds rather uncannily like The Christians (another popular band of that era), while hit single "If You Let Me Stay" has a hard, rocky edge to it, but still remains rooted firmly to Terence's soul influences.
"Wishing Well" (another of Terence's big hits) is a cool, laid-back groove that anticipates the bluesy soul-funk of Maxwell and D'Angelo by a good decade or so. Terence also scored another hit single with "Dance Little Sister" from this album, which, like "If You Let Me Stay" sounds like Stevie Wonder with an electric guitar behind him.
"Seven More Days" is a terrific ballad, about two lovers separated by distance, but who still care about each other, while my personal favourite from this album - "Let's Go Forward" - is an emotional, heart-wrenching number which sees Terence perfect his crooning skills to a glistening sheen.
There's "Rain" and "I'll Never Turn My Back On You (Father's Words"), with a seductive, Carribbean-esque lilt, and the starkly contrasting block harmony opus, "As Yet Untitled" (was that title meant to be a joke?!).
The unforgettable "Sign Your Name" - his best-known song - which was played to death on radio between 1987 and 1989 (and still gets played today!) is here, and it's melodic soul-funk strains and perfectly smooth vocal harmonies haven't aged one bit.
The album closes with a terrific cover of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Lovin' You?", bringing one of the all-time great debut albums to a majestic end.
If you haven't yet heard this terrific album, then for goodness sake, buy it now.
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