Customer Reviews

Rumpled Romeo

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

 

 

Dean Friedman demonstrates his smooth, distinctive tenor vocals on here (think Christopher Cross); plus, with his mixture of humorous and tender lyrics and almost relentless focus on romantic relationships, Dean brings to mind Rupert Holmes as well. It figures then that, much like Holmes, Friedman has been given the dreaded "one hit wonder" tag (for his lone top 30 hit "Ariel" in 1977). However, Dean's 1982 album "Rumpled Romeo" is damn good, proving conclusively that he had excellent songwriting ability. Throughout the album, the sound is VERY mellow and the production is quite stark (without sounding thin)--both of these elements are key to the album's appeal. Friedman does go ballistic with sound effects on a few of the tracks here, something that doesn't always work, but a majority of the album is supremely tasteful, and if you're a lover of great '70s soft rock, you should get a lot out of this--absolute gems include the yearning pop-rock confection "McDonald's Girl"; the super mellow, contemplative, beautifully melodic and atmospheric "Are You Ready Yet"; the splendidly tuneful "Hey Larry" which has a soaring chorus with an ultra-crafty vocal arrangement & superb harmonies; and the casually optimistic and laidback "Buy My Baby A Car". There's also the ever-so-slightly sappy, but still wonderfully tuneful and tender ballad "I Depend On You". "First Date" does drag considerably and is rather dull with its cut-and-paste lyrics, and "Love Is Real" is brought down by its sappiness, but both are still pleasantly tuneful and have a soothing quality. He also mixes things up with a couple tracks--the jazzy "Marginal Middle Class" is a highly amusing tune about wanting to be as 'middle-of-the-road' as possible; and the jokey "Special Effects" does go overboard with its sound effects, but it's still fun and amusing, and wisely kept at under 3 minutes. The one real loser of a track is the one that closes the main album portion--"I Will Never Leave You" is about a guy who declines an opportunity to go off in a UFO to a place where life is said to be superior, and it's a dull, overlong ballad loaded up with annoying, gimmicky sound effects. It seems that there are at least a few different CD versions of "Rumpled Romeo" around and I'm not quite sure how they perhaps may differ--a safe bet is getting the version on the Chiswick label which has 4 bonus tracks including the catchy "I Didn't Mean To Make You Cry" which has witty wordplay and is highly amusing and fun. If you're a fan of both Rupert Holmes AND Christopher Cross (like I am), you'll be in for a treat with "Rumpled Romeo".

If you are a fan of Deans, then Rumpled Romeo is for you. "I'd like an order of fries, a quarterpounder with cheese, i love the light in your eyes, will you go out with me please!" McDonald's Girl is just one of many great songs. FIRST DATE and LOVE IS REAL are incredible. Previously unreleased NOOKIE IN THE MAIL and LAKELANDS are must listen to songs. Songs 7-10 are kind of weak, but the rest of the CD is top notch! I can even deal with BUY MY BABY A CAR. If you don't own this, what are you waiting for? Email me if you are a DEANHEAD!

Dean Friedman demonstrates his smooth, distinctive tenor vocals on here (think Christopher Cross); plus, Dean, with his mixture of humorous and tender lyrics and almost relentless focus on romantic relationships, he brings to mind Rupert Holmes as well. It figures then that, much like Holmes, Friedman has been given the dreaded "one hit wonder" tag (for his lone top 30 hit "Ariel" in 1977). However, Dean's 1982 album "Rumpled Romeo" is damn good, proving conclusively that he had excellent songwriting ability. Throughout the album, the sound is VERY mellow and the production is quite stark (without sounding thin)--both of these elements are key to the album's appeal. Friedman did go ballistic with sound effects on a few tracks, something that doesn't always work, but a majority of the album is supremely tasteful, and if you're a lover of great '70s soft rock, you should get a lot out of this--absolute gems include the yearning pop-rock confection "McDonald's Girl"; the super mellow, contemplative, beautifully melodic and atmospheric "Are You Ready Yet"; the splendidly tuneful "Hey Larry" which has a soaring chorus with an ultra-crafty vocal arrangement & superb harmonies; and the casually optimistic and laidback "Buy My Baby A Car". There's also the ever-so-slightly sappy, but still wonderfully tuneful and tender ballad "I Depend On You". "First Date" does drag considerably and is rather dull with its cut-and-paste lyrics, and "Love Is Real" is brought down by its sappiness, but both are still pleasantly tuneful and have a soothing quality. He also mixes things up with a couple tracks--the jazzy "Marginal Middle Class" is a highly amusing tune about wanting to be as 'middle-of-the-road' as possible; and the jokey "Special Effects" does go overboard with its sound effects, but it's still fun and amusing, and wisely kept at under 3 minutes. The one real loser of a track is the one that closes the main album portion--"I Will Never Leave You" is about a guy who declines an opportunity to go off in a UFO to a place where life is said to be superior, and it's a dull, overlong ballad loaded up with annoying, gimmicky sound effects. It seems that there are at least a few different CD versions of "Rumpled Romeo" around and I'm not quite sure how they perhaps may differ--a safe bet is getting the version on the Chiswick label which has 4 bonus tracks including the catchy "I Didn't Mean To Make You Cry" which has witty wordplay and is highly amusing and fun. If you're a fan of both Rupert Holmes AND Christopher Cross (like I am), you'll be in for a treat with "Rumpled Romeo".

Dean Friedman demonstrates his smooth, distinctive tenor vocals on here (think Christopher Cross); plus, Dean, with his mixture of humorous and tender lyrics and almost relentless focus on romantic relationships, he brings to mind Rupert Holmes as well. It figures then that, much like Holmes, Friedman has been given the dreaded "one hit wonder" tag (for his lone top 30 hit "Ariel" in 1977). However, Dean's 1982 album "Rumpled Romeo" is damn good, proving conclusively that he had excellent songwriting ability. Throughout the album, the sound is VERY mellow and the production is quite stark (without sounding thin)--both of these elements are key to the album's appeal. Friedman did go ballistic with sound effects on a few tracks, something that doesn't always work, but a majority of the album is supremely tasteful, and if you're a lover of great '70s soft rock, you should get a lot out of this--absolute gems include the yearning pop-rock confection "McDonald's Girl"; the super mellow, contemplative, beautifully melodic and atmospheric "Are You Ready Yet"; the splendidly tuneful "Hey Larry" which has a soaring chorus with an ultra-crafty vocal arrangement & superb harmonies; and the casually optimistic and laidback "Buy My Baby A Car". There's also the ever-so-slightly sappy, but still wonderfully tuneful and tender ballad "I Depend On You". "First Date" does drag considerably and is rather dull with its cut-and-paste lyrics, and "Love Is Real" is brought down by its sappiness, but both are still pleasantly tuneful and have a soothing quality. He also mixes things up with a couple tracks--the jazzy "Marginal Middle Class" is a highly amusing tune about wanting to be as 'middle-of-the-road' as possible; and the jokey "Special Effects" does go overboard with its sound effects, but it's still fun and amusing, and wisely kept at under 3 minutes. The one real loser of a track is the one that closes the main album portion--"I Will Never Leave You" is about a guy who declines an opportunity to go off in a UFO to a place where life is said to be superior, and it's a dull, overlong ballad loaded up with annoying, gimmicky sound effects. It seems that there are at least a few different CD versions of "Rumpled Romeo" around and I'm not quite sure how they perhaps may differ--a safe bet is getting the version on the Chiswick label which has 4 bonus tracks including the catchy "I Didn't Mean To Make You Cry" which has witty wordplay and is highly amusing and fun. If you're a fan of both Rupert Holmes AND Christopher Cross (like I am), you'll be in for a treat with "Rumpled Romeo".

This is a most beautiful album but thank heavens for programmable play as one or two of the tracks are absolutely dreadful-notably Special Effects and Buy My Baby A Car. Still, there is the wonderfully optimistic Hey Larry for everyone who can still remember falling in love for the first time, First Date which evokes more of the same feelings and the exquisite Lakelands which is matchless. And you even get the delightfully fey McDonalds Girl thrown in too. Don't miss him if you ever have the opportunity to see him live. His shows are every bit as intimate and as warm as his music.

Great Cd, for all ages but especially for 30 somethings, Best served with a bottle of wine and the one you love.

If "Love is real" doesn't fill up your head with memories of young love, Then you need to check you have medical insurance. Hey Larry is one of my fav tracks but all will take you down memory lane....Except nookie in the mail ! Don't quite understand where that song is coming from ! A must have for you collection.

I am sitting hear listening to my new CD. I received it a number of months ago but have only now taken the time to listen..........and now how sorry I am not to have played it much earlier. This is one of the finest pieces of contempory/jazz CD's I have ever heard. A must for anyone serious about their music.

Well I didn't like this cd very much and for the price I paid it wasn't really worth just one song....