Customer Reviews

Runaway Horses

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first got this, I was simply taken aback at how this outstripped her previous two solo albums, which knocked me dead. Any doubts I had that she would lose her touch was put to rest when I listened to this over and over during my stay at NMSU.

"Leave A Light On" is by far the best solo song she's done, this lush song combines Go-Go's pop with stylings from her first two solo albums. And guess who does the slide guitar solo midsong? George Harrison. George also does twelve-string and bass on "Deep Deep Ocean."

"Vision Of You" is the best ballad she's ever done, and the Spanish guitar by Rick Nowels enhances the wistful mood this song evokes. Her sugary voice is put into its best effect here.

"Summer Rain" is a mid-paced dance number that bursts into a crescendo with the catchy chorus. The brisk string arrangement throughout the song adds much to this, the second single.

"Shades Of Michelangelo," the closing ballad, outdoes "Love Never Dies" from her Heaven On Earth album, but struggles for top honours with "Vision Of You." This heartfelt song has idealistic musings, where she's "painting a perfect world/with shades of Michelangelo." Belinda wrote this song with her ex-bandmate Charlotte Caffey.

Rick Nowels, best known for his work with Stevie Nicks, works wonders for Belinda as he did for the "Welsh Witch." He produced the album. Even Ellen Shipley, one of Stevie's backup singers, contributes. In fact, both of them co-wrote most of the songs on this album. However, X.Y. Jones' guitar work introduced a slightly harder edge to Belinda's sound, and it's a wonder here.

Kenny Aronoff, best known as John Cougar Mellencamp's drummer, drums on most of the tracks. And Bryan Adams has backing vocals on "Whatever It Takes."

Granted, the three singles can be found on her greatest hits album, but getting Runaway Horses shows Belinda at her peak, every song a hit. Extra credit goes for vocal improvement and that sensual album cover.

It's rare for me to find a CD on which I love every song. However, Belinda Carlisle consistantly pulls off this arduous task with her beautiful melodies and witty lyrics: "How can a candle ever burn so bright, casting a shadow on my life? I am blinded by your light, even without you!" I've made it a commitment of mine to own every CD she's published in America and abroad, and as an experienced listener I can safely say that "Runaway Horses" is by far her best non-anthology album. Belinda will brighten your day with "Leave a Light On," take you for a wild ride with "Runaway Horses," and show you true beauty with "Vision Of You." My personal favorite song of all time, "Summer Rain" has an atmospheric melody that makes you feel like you're with Belinda at the train station that fateful night... you truly must hear it to believe it. Belinda shows off her diversity with "La Luna," bringing back memories of Gloria Estefan's slower Latin-based songs. "(We Want) The Same Thing" is one of Belinda's "hardest" rock songs, a strange and wonderful mix of her own and Pat Benetar's styles. The next three songs, "Deep Deep Ocean," "Valentine," and "Whatever It Takes" offer the simple and catchy tunes that Belinda's fans have come to expect. In the final track, "Shades of Michaelangelo," Belinda once again dishes up a melody that allows you to almost see her splashing paint on her musical canvas with a sudden spurt of artistic flair. Without a doubt, Belinda is the musical equivalant of Michaelangelo.

This CD is definately worth it... I would pay over three times that much if necessary. The only drawback to this CD is the fact that it's only 48 minutes long... why oh why couldn't it be 480 minutes? :)

I put this CD player at my desk, not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised at the depth and content of the songs. It's a very good listen! It's priced reasonable folks, get a copy and enjoy it. Four stars!!

What a shame they discontinued the great CD by Belinda! Every song, including her own, is a winner. I own every Belinda CD but this one but that won't be for long and once I do get it, I will treasure it. Be great if someone picked up on the rights to these songs and released them!

Probably the greatest pop album ever recorded, Runaway Horses showcases that Belinda's career was only beginning with the previous effort, Heaven on Earth, and not ending. The album slid quickly off the US charts, yet reached double-platinum status in the UK and Australia, and is probably better remembered than its more sucessful predecessor.

Every song is lavishly produced, with sweeping vocals from the lady who must be a gift from the heavens, and every song is so easily single worthy. Its a shame this album wasn't promoted to death - its likely that it would be remembered as one of the greatest pop albums ever recorded, and that's saying a lot.

Leave a Light On and (We Want) The Same Thing both sport high tempo, amthemic beats that made 'Heaven is a Place on Earth' such a success, while La Luna, Summer Rain and Valentine settle for the softer approach, each telling tales of lost or unrequaited love. La Luna and Summer Rain stand as two of the greatest and most loved songs of her entire career - the latter being Belinda's personal favourite to this day.

Everyone can take something away from this album. The lyrics are beautiful, the orchestrations beautiful, and Belinda sounds every bit as stunning as she looks. Why did her US career take a nosedive after this epic? Who knows. Belinda's downfall (which began just after this album's launched when it slid further and further down the charts) is one of the music industry's greatest crimes. She has more talent in one of her fingernails than any modern day chart topper you can care to name, and a superb lineup of songs.

I guarantee anyone who buys this album will not be disappointed. It is, quite simply, of an insurmountable level of excellence. A work of musical art that does not deserve to be forgotten.

Every song on this album is perfect and uplifting in their own, individual way. Every song plays like one long, thumping chorus. My favorites are the one-two knockout punches of "Leave a Light On" and the title cut, the deeply moving "Vision of You", and the heartfelt "Valentine."

As a progressive rock fan, any dipping into straight pop is, at best, a guilty pleasure for me. This album is simply wonderful and I often find myself cruising down some lonely stretch of Texas highway, singing along with Belinda. It helps quite a bit that Belinda Carlisle has an absolutely dreamy voice - that's right, pop singers used to be able to sing! Where this album really stands out, though, is that the songs are actually quite complex, by pop standards, and that the musicians are really allowed to shine - the violin solo on La Luna, short though it may be, is gorgeous. I would own this album for that violin solo alone ... but almost every other song on the album is just as beautifully embellished. The only song on the album I dislike is (We Want) The Same Thing - too poppish for my tastes - but I can't think of any other pop album that has so many strong tracks. If one must own a Belinda Carlisle album, this is the one!

One of the best CD's she's ever came out with. There really isn't any song thats better than the next because their all AWSOME!!! I'd say "Summer Rain" is the best in my opinion cuz i relate to it. "VISION OF YOU" i relate to also and love that song as well. This cd captures the essense of BELINDA CARLISLE!!! She is truly amazing. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this cd. Dancy, exciting, upbeat, and romantic!!!!!
~Kevin

Belinda Carlisle has a stunning and unique voice that I love. I've got all of her solo cd's and this is one of the best of them.
There is a great mix of songs on here, from boppy to beautiful ballads. If you are the ballad type, then the best songs are Vision Of You (one of her best songs ever) and Shades of Michaelangelo. The best upbeat songs are Runaway Horses, La Luna and of course Leave A Light On. Yes I do love Summer Rain, but it's so overplayed. There isn't a bad song on the whole disc. I really wish she'd do new music - especially if it's going to be anything like this.

This album was released in the early 90's when Belinda's career was still at a high point. MTV played "Leave a Light On" and Vh1 "Summer Rain," two of the stand out tracks of this album. Her voice sounds more mature and for the first time she wrote a song- "Shades of Michealangelo." "Valentine" and "La Luna" add to the albums strength. The best song off the album was never released in the states though, the title track "Runaway Horses."