Customer Reviews

Long Play

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, if you have the album-do not read this as you will agree with me.It is one of her best albums.Actually, everything that they (Michael and Sandra) have done so far is really,really good. I do not understand why people say that Madonna is the best woman in pop music-probably becasue Sandra didn't take her clothes off! Well,but who is the prettiest?Yeah,that is Sandra.And who has the better voice? Yeah,Sandra. And who has the best albums?Yeah, Sandra. So-to everybody:I do not mind Madonna but when we talk about a talent and music-please do not mix them as there is only one woman and only one group that gave us so much joy during the years and they are: Sandra and fab Enigma. The album is sad and full of joy at the same time- a mix that is essential for every listener. Have you heard the new Enigma album?It is a must. I am really looking forward to buy the new Sandra album that will be released later this year.And I am sure it is worth buying it and that it will be better than Madonna's "electronic" music.Well done Sandra-you managed to prove you are the best one.

I was first turned on to Sandra about a year ago, through her "Voice of Enigma". For those of you that don't know, she is the one who speaks softly and sensually on certain tracks of the Enigma cd's. I could write a long review in praise of this woman, but it would go on forever, so I will be fairly brief. She is an incredible talent, that is virtually unknown in the USA, but extremely popular elsewhere in the world, and Europe. On this Cd, her debut solo effort, she shows off her fantastic vocal range, which is all of the following:soft, sexy, sensual, warm, happy, moving, emotional and flawless. Her husband Michael Cretu, produced and wrote every song. This man is a genius, and along with Sandra's beauty and angelic pipes....it's no wonder it was such a successful combo. The debut single ( Maria Magdelena) was #1 in over 30 countries. The songs are quite catchy, and you can't help being put in a great mood listening to them. My other favorite on this CD is "In the Heat of the Night" Do yourself a favor and discover Sandra, you will be very glad you did. She is one in a million.

I first encountered the music of Sandra while visiting relatives in Lima, Peru in 1987. I looked for this album all over Lima, and then when I returned to the States. Finally I found it in the record collection of an international student from Italy at Bates College. I taped it, but subsiquently lost it. I am so glad to find it again. True, the songs may seem Madonna derivative at first, but if you listen to lyrics of cuts such as Maria Magdalena and Little girl, you can quickly see how some of the dance pop of the 1980s could be venues of social criticism (A LA PET SHOP BOYS), particularly gender relations. Unlike Madonna. Sandra's voice is inviting, even seductive. Madonna must rely upon her Boy Toy image to project the Madonna-Whore dichotomy with which society defines women. Sandra projects this duality with her innocent-sounding soft voice and seductive dance music. If you have to get one Sandra Album, this is it. I picked up Everlasting Love becuase it was a US release, and her personality is lost with high tech dance music and ludicrous songs (such as HI Hi HI) which American marketing execs thought they could play up to get American teenagers to buy that album. Do not get it (I think you cannot anymore, anyway). GET LONGPLAY.

I am absolutely overjoyed that Amazon has this CD for sale. I was a club disc jockey for many years. I came to know Sandra's music when I toured the cosmopolitan nightlife of Caracas during the 1980's.

Sandra captured the spirit, joy and eroticism of the time with her unique vocal renditions. Every track in this CD was played at the clubs I spun at (Shock; Mirage; Illusion; Hawaii Kai; New York, New York; La Soca (Maracaibo).

Regretably, she never resonated in the U.S. I find that tragic as her magic is lost for many whom would otherwise fall in love with her unique brand of genius. Similarly, Modern Talking fell prey to the same type of phenominon.

This CD is simply required to have a complete understanding as to the wonderful pulse of the 80's. If you have never experienced Sandra, prepare to immerse yourself in a time where the music and the dance were as deep and alluring as the night.

This is Sandra's first solo album (apart from two singles in 1976 and 1984 and work with Arabesque). The album was produced by her lover (now husband), Michael Cretu. Sandra's voice might seem a little high compared to what some people are used to listening to, but it grows on you after a while. The Long Play (originally released in 1985) was highly a successful album. The song, Maria Magdalena became a major hit. It went to No. 01 of the sales charts in twenty-one countries, and made it into the top ten positions in five other countries. The next song to be released was In the Heat of the Night, which was another successful hit. The other song that was promoted, Little Girl, was not as successful as the other two, but just as good (the music video for Little Girl is by far one of Sandra's best music videos). Other highlights from the album include the very fast and upbeat song, Heartbeat (even though it starts off a little slow with what sounds like something that is supposed to resemble an actual heartbeat). The song, Change Your Mind, when listened to might sound like it was just used to fill up the album with another track. The other songs, On the Tray (Seven Years) and You and I, are okay. Sisters and Brothers is dedicated to her brother, Gaston Lauer. It may not sound as good as the others, but is one of my Sandra favorites. All in all, this is one good album worth purchasing.

Just Great! It's good for everyone, no matter what kind of music one hears. Filled with BIG hits such as maria magdalena, in the heat of the night, little girl and with sandra's songs hard to find in any other compilation.! Simply a Mustbuy!

I can't stand it, in every other review Madonna is always mentioned as either being a source or similar to Sandras work.
Let me tell you, I grew up listening to Sandra's music in Switzerland in the 80s well before I fell head over heels in love with Madonna. Sandra was huge, her records also, and her songs known to everyone. If I ever had noticed a similarity between Madonna and Sandra I would know, trust me. I am the authority on this:)
Speaking of the real genuine Sandra albums (the one she made in the 80s and in 1990), there is none that is worth less than 5 stars. There is not one song of her that isn't burned in my head after listening to them all of my childhood. If you think the covers look great on the cd try you should check out the vinyls!
At this point the tracks that really bring pleasure to me again are the album tracks, those who I had listened to a little less than the universal singles. Let me tell you that "Sisters And Brothers" is truly, huge, a fantastic melodic song like you've never heard. I can't get it out of my head.
You may want to choose to listen to it at night with a low volume because then you bring out the best of the album. Back then the bass was never huge as the 90s, and you may think they haven't aged well, but try the night thing, you'll fall in love with them all over again!

Warning for new listeners: Sandra's voice will sound very unusual at first. She almost sounds like a six year old; both shrill and nasal. However after awhile you become accustomed to it one actually begins to start loving it.

The Long Play is Sandra and Cretu at their utmost creative peaks. While later 80s albums are too Madonna deriative and her 90s input basically a more poppy enigma, The Long Play stands on its own. It reflects the mellow disco dance period of 80s Germany, and I'm reminded of Fancy, CC Catch and Modern Talking alot when I hear it. It's dance music too slow to dance to, but it makes GREAT chill out music. The production is perfect: each song oozes with shimmering synth effects and pulsing drum beats. The effects and voice are all reverbed, giving a vast echoey dancehall effect to it. For some the production may be TOO perfect, it is a very clinical record, each single beat and synthetic toned surgically placed to create a perfectly listenable soundscape. Those that prefer organic, unpolished music will be deterred. I however absolutely adore it. The songs are SOOO incredibly melodic and so hauntingly seductive.

Choice cut here is Maria Magdalena (her biggest hit and a #1 in 30 COUNTRIES!!) which is the album's most exuberant, danceable moment. GREAT melody. In The Heat Of The Night is a brooding, haunting number and the album's heaviest song. The verses build up slowly to the most mindblowing chorus you'll ever here, this song is INTENSE!! You And I and Heartbeat (That's Emotion) are pulsating, highly seductive tracks that make great music to pash to but also have that odd haunting feel to them that infuses the whoel album together. Sisters And Brothers is a shimmering bittersweet opus and Little Girl is a little Madonnaesque but all the better for it.

Seriously I couldn't reccomend this album more. BUY BUY BUY

The Long Play left me wanting more; the album was too short. Then, again, back in '85 before the popularity of the c.d. it was the norm for good dance and r&b albums to only consist of maybe 8 or 9 tracks ( like you could really fit bonus tracks on an L.P.). I can see where songs like Maria Magdalena inspired some of the newer up -to-date dance/ techno songs (the synthesized beginning of the Mortal Combat techno theme has an all too familiar sound that was used in the opening of Maria Magdalena ). In The Heat of the Night has a great pop-rock pulsating feel to it. Little Girl can only be described as a "sweet catchy tune". The rest of the album was well crafted and engineered by Michael Cretu and producer Armando Volker. This is great 80's dance music at its best. Don't miss out on this one !

Sandra's music to me is a guilty pleasure livng in America where she is much less known than in Europe, and where everyone is stuck on what's current. This is her first solo work after unsuccessfull but much underrated single Japan Ist Weit, and she proves her strong star potential. The music is just flowing through you, you can listen to it over and over. On this album she has some straight in your face diva numbers and some playful and tasty tunes. It is good for relaxing, dancing, drinking, lovemaking, background music, whatever. Absolute must for whoever knows and appreciates quality 8o's EuroPop. Her compilations are good, but this album is an true necessity for any Sandra fan. This is where it all started. And do not stop on this one, she recorded lots and lots of awesome songs after this album.