Customer Reviews

The Mistaken Identity Collection

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Razor and Tie did a stellar job releasing this album last year. "Mistaken Identity" is Kim Carnes consummate pop masterpiece that topped the charts well over a month in the summer of 1981. The whole album is included here with a generous sampling of 6 bonus tracks (16 tracks in all) that serve as a soundtrack for the 1980's. The packaging includes the lyrics to the hit album along with some wonderful commentary of her career and great pictures of Kim.

Her name will always be equated with the bonafide hit single "Bette Davis Eyes," that topped the billboard chart an amazing 9 weeks. It remains one of the most popular pop singles of all time and solidified Kim's place in pop music history. Her seductive, raspy vocals liken her to a female version of Rod Stewart. Certainly, after this landmark release, her sound and identity were in fact, not mistaken (even though she never came close to replicating the album's success.)

The album proceeds with the uptempo "Hit And Run," a tale of love gone astray. This was also written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon who penned her signature song, "Bette Davis Eyes." "Mistaken Identity" was a moderate chart hit(#60) that showcased her raspy signature vocals. This is a slow, sultry number that segues into her country tinged, "When I Away From You." Carnes did score several country chart hits, most notably her duet with Kenny Rodgers, "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer," (#3) that consummately enhances the collection as a perfect closer. Carnes wrote the majority of Kenny Rodger's "Gideon" album in the late 1970's and a song on this collection "Don't Call It Love" became a country chart topper for Dolly Parton in the mid 1980's.

"Draw Of The Cards" was the other chart hit on the pop album(#28) which enhances the mystique of Carnes unique vocals, accompanied with a male chorus that sings the title, and includes Kim's sinnester laughter tracks that close the song. "Break The Rules Tonite" is a jaunty, uptempto rocker that seems like bar room music with an attitude. "Still Hold On" is a slightly jazzy number that Kim enjoyed so much, she included on her other greatest hits compilation "Gypsy Honeymoon."

One of the highlights of "Mistaken Identity" is the emotionally wrenching vocals of "Miss You Tonite." This is Kim emoting at her chilling best. It could be my favorite track on the entire album because it is just so moving that I receive chills up and down my spine when it is played. The album ends with "My Old Pals."

The additional tracks include a soulful cover of Smokey Robinson's "More Love" (#10) included on 1980's "Romance Dance" album. "Invisible Hands" from the 1983 "Cafe Racers." is included in a special dance remix that I prefer over the original top 40 track(#40). Also from that album included here is "I Pretend," which turned out to be more popular on the adult contemporary charts(#9) and is a lost classic of sorts. "Voyeur"(#28), the title track to her 1982 album is a neurotic slice of dance pop that is also fun to relive. (These tracks bring back wonderful memories from my childhood.) There is also the frentic "Crazy In The Night," a #15 chart hit that has a wonderful rock edge to it.

For the novice, this is a wonderful place to start. I prefer this collection to her early 1990's compilation "Gypsy Honeymoon." About nine tracks overlap on these 2 collections, but "Gypsy Honeymoon" adds certain insignificant album tracks and some new generic tunes. But in many ways, the entire "Mistaken Identity" album is essential listening. The only minor omissions from this worthwhile collection include a unique duet with Barbara Streisand on "Make No Mistake, He's Mine," "You're A Part Of Me"(with Gene Cotton), "What About Me," her star-studded duet with Kenny Rodgers and James Ingrum, as well as a couple of movie tunes,"Invitation To Dance"(from "That's Dancing") and "I'll Be Here Where The Heart Is"(the love theme from "Flashdance.")

Kim Carnes released Mistaken Identity in April 1981

BEFORE:
While she had just recently crossed over to pop-charts the previous year with More Love and her duet with Kenny Rogers, Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer (both of which are bonus tracks here), raspy-voiced Kim Carnes was a seasoned pro. Having written songs for the likes of Barbra Streisand. However, she hadn't yet really had the breakout smash she'd dreamed of yet.

AFTER:
BETTE DAVIS EYES!!! The song spent 9 weeks at #1 on the Billboard chart. The parent album also was a chart-topper. While she'd been around nearly 15 years at this point and was in her mid-30's, Kim Carnes seemed like an overnight sensation. The hits didn't just stop here. She also had hit singles with the trippy new-wave Draw Of The Cards (in my book, one of the weirdest videos ever, VH1 Classic airs it occasionally) and the AC-ish title track.

Kim Carnes is a very underrated artist, and while Bette Davis Eyes was an almost overwhelming success... it's not the only thing she ever did. The other 9 tracks on the album show how eclectic the raspy-voice blonde was. Ranging from rock to country to adult contemporary to even Kraftwerk-ish style new wave.. Kim briefly reached the top of the mountain. Unfortunately the fact she never could duplicate BDE's success became her eventual undoing as a pop star.

This album is almost a self-serving Greatest Hits when considered the bonus tracks. All of the bonus tracks were hits too, More Love, Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer, Voyeur, Invisible Hands, Crazy In The Night, etc... Making it an essential 80's album.

Kim Carnes is a great singer/songwriter/producer and this compilation cd definitely proves it. From the smash hit "Bette Davis Eyes" to the danceable "Invitation to Dance" to the haunting "Mistaken Identity" this woman really knows how to entertain. Listening to this cd in my car on long rides evokes thoughts of my youth when Kim was hip and supercool during the early 80's. She sang with Tina Turner, and Rod Stewart live before millions of people, hawked Diet Coke,and was one of MTV's first video stars. In fact, she first showed the world the one handed sequined glove in her Bette Davis Eyes video years before Michael Jackson. If you want to relive a bit of your past, get this cd and enjoy!

Finally some of Kim's singles of the 80's available on CD. I Pretend is one of the most overlooked singles of the 80's. Kim's voice and delivery of each song is awesome. This collection show range and depth. Miss You Tonight is truly love lost at its best !

Although Kim Carnes is quite harshly labled as a 'one hit wonder' with her smash hit 'Bette Davis Eyes', quite easily one of the best pop highlights in rock history, don't forget she also broke the top ten twice before that. #4 with 'Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer' a very emotional duet with Kenny Rogers, and #10 with 'More Love' a Smokey Robinson cover.

This is probably the most comprehensive complilation CD, as it contains not only her 3 major hits but also lesser but equally magical top 20 numbers as the quirky but oddly haunting 'Crazy In The Night' and the eerie 'Voyeur' proving Kim to be fully capable of more than country or rock ballads. Alongside a few tracks from her bestselling album 'Mistaken Identity' and a few other impressive singles that never quite made it, probably the best representation of a unique voice and remarkable talent.

I dont understand why Ms. Carnes is not a rock legend and superstar. But then she is in a category all her own. If you aren't a pop singer or a teenpopper then you are doomed from the start. She was a modern day Janis Joplin meets Carly Simon but her reign was shortlived. I wish she would come back and show these youngsters how real music is done! Her most notable hit "Bette Davis eyes" was her signature but there are many more hits on all her albums. If you like pure Rock then get this raw voiced Diva it is worth all the money!

At the time, this album was a breath of fresh air...very different and daring in a lot of ways. If you love Kim's singing and songwriting, then check out her recent CD "Chasing Wild Trains" which is perhaps my favorite.

Length:: 1:39 Mins

"Mistaken Identity" has 10 tracks, 5 of them written or co-written by Kim Carnes.

Album charted as "Pop Albums #1" on 05/02/1981.

4 tracks charted on Billboard tracks:

- "Bette Davis Eyes" (Pop singles #1, AC #15, Mainstream Rock #5);
- "Draw Of The Cards" (Pop Singles #28);
- "Mistaken Identity" (Pop singles #60);
- "Break The Rules Tonite" (Mainstream Rock #46).

4 tracks were covered by others artists:

- "Bette Davis Eyes" (New Edition, Gwyneth Paltrow, etc)
- "Still Hold One" (Kenny Rogers);
- "Don't Call It Love" (Dolly Parton);
- "Miss you Tonite" (Alaska).

May 16, 1981 - "Bette Davis Eyes," written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon shot to number one in the American charts and reached number seven in Britain.

"Bette Davis Eyes" topped the US charts for an astonishing 9 weeks, earning to Kim her first RIAA gold record in 06/16/1981. "Mistaken Identity" was her first platinum album in 07/16/1981.

February 14, 1982 - "Bette Davis Eyes" won "Record Of The Year" and "Song Of The Year" at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards. Other nominations included "Mistaken Identity" for "Album Of The Year", "Bette Davis Eyes" for "Best Vocal Pop Performance (Female) and Val Garay for "Producer Of The Year (Non-classical).

What Kim Carnes have said about "Mistaken Identity":
"The title of my album MISTAKEN IDENTITY is really a statement of the direction I want to go," she explains. That does not mean she wants to be misunderstood but rather that she feels she has been misunderstood for too long. "Last year everyone pegged me as a country singer because Kenny is. But I want to keep a variety of styles because they all reflect different sides of me. I've always loved rock'n'roll. I'm not a manufactured product. I've made a point of changing."

Kim Carnes had 6 hits charted on Billboard before her smash hit "Bette Davis Eyes". After, she has had 18 charted songs.

She would return to the Top of The Charts with "What About Me" (AC #1), "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" (as songwriter, Country #1) and "The Heart Won't Lie" (as songwriter, Country #1).

Once you get past the (still) great pop moment of "Bette Davis Eyes", you discover an amazingly entertaining collection. Some of the best love songs of the era are here, like the gorgeous, heart-breaking "Still Hold On", and the synth-driven "Miss You Tonite". The rest of the tracks are all good.."My Old Pals" is all piano and regret, "Hit and Run" is countrified genius, and "Draw of the Cards" weird and haunting. Sadly, Kim never seemed to get back to this level of songs. Five years on from '81, she was trapped in best forgotten pop dreck.