Customer Reviews

Memphis Princess

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

 

 

If you are a Deborah Allen fan, and specifically, her 80's Prince produced Telepathy LP, you will love this CD. It is truly not country. There are some excellently written, produced and recorded trax on this CD. Any true DEBFAN will be happy to add this to their collection. She records Blues, Country, Dance, and Pop, this crosses several lines and Genres. Remember to listen to the unlisted Track 15, a slower, edgier version of her smash, 'Baby I Lied', which was also on her Best of CD. Look for more releases soon from Renaissance Records and Deb, and check out the deborahallenbabyilied fan site.

While this CD "MEMPHIS PRINCESS" by Deborah Allen, is not typically Country.. It crosses many different genres. A 12 track CD with 2 bonus tracks and a hiden track; a kind of different version to her 80's pop-country hit "BABY I LIED." But nevertheless the song is still as good as it was back in the 80's! Deborah Allen is a very talented song writer, as she has written/co-written almost every song on this CD, with the exception of the first track "TIRED OF BEING ALONE," written by fellow musician, Al Green. Deborah Allen is also a very talented songstress!! Please, believe me when I tell you, it may not be country.. but with the different genres it still shocases Deborah's beautiful vocals!

One thing this versatile artist has never been short on is raw talent. She proves it again in Memphis Princess. R

The sound quality is the 1st challenge of this cd! I am a huge fan! But this one isn't one of Her best. It sounds like a bunch of leftovers put together just for fans...I hate to say that but...This one is for fans only!

I'm a huge Deborah Allen fan. Cheat the Night, and Let Me Be the First are two of my all time favorite albums. I still listen to them all the time, I have all her albums (even Trouble in Paradise!). I've missed her for years- and always look for her songs on other albums.

I often thought her "Best of" album would have been great if she covered the songs she wrote for others.

When I saw that she was writing and producing with Rafe Van Hoy again, I got even more excited to hear memphis Princess.

I will say this album may grow on me more (3.5, maybe?), but I can't help but wonder if she worked with a really strong, current producer to indulge (and reign in) all her talent, she would deliver an unforgettable album.

I'm not sure why this is considered the "blues"- but it isn't country. It kinda sounds, at times, like some of the cheesier 80's rock. Lots of synths.

That said. I can't wait to hear what comes next.

Hey, Rick Rubin...you listening? Trust me on this one.

Prime Cuts: Tired of Being Alone, Natural Tears, Baby I Lied (Hidden Track)

If tendency has a face, it would have to be Deborah Allen's. After racking a decade of hits in the 80s with radio darlings such as "Baby I Lied," "I Hurt for You," "Heartache and a Half" among others, her popularity began waning in the early 90s. Forking out money from her own pockets, she recorded "Delta Dreamland." Released by the now dysfunctional Giant Records, Allen struck big time again begining with the sultry "Rock Me (In the Cradle of Love)." "All That I Am," the follow-up Giant release was so good that many of the tracks ended by in LeAnn Rimes' multi-platinum "Blue" set. Despite being released from Giant Records, Allen continued to record for Curb Records and a few self-released CDs. However, it has been some time since her last effort. Hence, expectations were high with the release of "Memphis Princess."

However, as far as the production of the CD goes, disappointments are in spades. Instead of releasing a state-of-the-art set that could give Faith Hill and Gretchen Wilson a run for their monies, Allen and her hubby Rafe Van Hoy regress back to the paltry days of the urban cowboy days with démodé drum programming and cheesy synth work. Devoid of any rustic instruments a la fiddles and steel guitars, this is not a country record. But that's not the major problem; this is just such a ropey attempt at 80s pop that it brings ignominy to the word "soul."

Nevertheless, the redeeming moment of this set is still Allen's voice. Never loosing an iota of her vocal nuances, she can purr with that seductive charm on one hand. On the other hand, when she croons a ballad, she knows how to vocally mine the depths of a broken heart displaying a vulnerability that lesser artists can only dream of emulating. Like most of the Allen's canon of work, most of the writing chore comes from the lady herself with her husband as well as a few outside writers. However, "Memphis Princess" is introduced by the album's only cover, Al Green's "Tired of Being Alone." Performed with an understated passion, Allen's performance here is tour de force. And truth be told, it's the best cut on the set. Also, packing plenty of punch at the heart is the keyboard-laced ballad "Natural Tears," finding a broken hearted Allen at romance's tail end. As a hidden track, coming in after the CD's last track, is Allen's rendition of her big hit "Baby I Lied." With a more stripped down backing, this track dealing with love's gimmicky, is still poignant and refreshing.

Unfortunately, the rest of the album borders on tedium. With generic titles such as "I Love You," "Falling in Love," and "Woman," there are no shafts of insights offered on these paeans. "Falling in Love," though it has a nice melody, does not really have anything to say beyond the narrow confines of its title. The wailing electric guitars, the ear popping drum machine and that awful synth on tracks such as "Fantasize Me," "You Don't Want to Touch My Heart" and "Woman" are just on the overkill, making listening an agony. Out of gallantry for the lady, I shall refrain from further expositions of such a torture. This Memphis princess has had released some stellar material over the years, unfortunately this one will not be part of her tierra of great works.