Customer Reviews

Secret Dreams & Forbidden Fire

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Secret Dreams And Forbidden Fire is Bonnie's second Jim Steinman-produced album. Looks like the Meat Loaf got a little too rancid. Anyway, like Meat Loaf's Bat Out Of Hell, operatic choruses abound on this album more than Steinman's first Bonnie Tyler album, Faster Than The Speed Of Night, which while having its moments, was kind of uneven in consistency. Secret Dreams is more polished than its predecessor even though none of its songs blazed up the charts like "Total Eclipse." In fact Jim Steinman penned four of the songs here, including the first two singles.

However, the honour of penning the Bon-Jovi-like "If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man) belongs to ace songwriter Desmond Child, who also cowrote Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name". Compare the stylings of the music,as applied to these lyrics: "If you were a woman, and I was a man, would it be so hard to understand. That a heart's a heart and we do what we can" with "Shot through the heart, and you're to blame/You give love a bad name." Identical tempos and rhythms. This was the single following "Holding Out For A Hero" and it's one of the best songs here.

"No Way To Treat A Lady" is the second Bryan Adams-Jim Vallance song done by Bonnie, although if I recall correctly, this wasn't done by the Adams-Vallance team previously. The rhythms in the chorus make it a close cousin of Aretha Franklin's "Who's Zooming Who."

The centerpiece and crown jewel of this album is nearly eight minute opus "Loving You Is A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It", which is a combination of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" and "Faster Than The Speed Of Night," meaning that it's the big emotional hit of the album plus the racing intense operatic Meat Loaf style song. Bonnie would do another long epic in the same vein when she covered Air Supply's "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" on Free Spirit. Todd Rundgren's strident vocals compliment Bonnie's scratchy vocals brilliantly. This sad song recalling a relationship whose spark has gone out can be summed up in the line: "There were times when we had it all." Yes, it's a Steinman tune.

Then there's a cover of Freda Payne's "Band Of Gold," which was also covered by Belinda Carlisle on her debut album that same year. This version has the 80's techno beat and bass-like synthesizers and is more upbeat than Belinda's cover. "All that's left is a band of gold/All that's left of the dreams I hold" could well be a codicil to the "Dirty Job" song.

"Rebel Without A Clue" done by Steinman, opens with a heavy guitar, followed by the fast-paced 80's rhythm and synthesizers. It's a pale version of "Holding Out For A Hero", which is quicker and more intense.

"Lovers Again" is the ballad that Bonnie should have covered on Faster Than The Speed Of Night instead of "Tears." She's backed by an operatic gospelish chorus. This is a Desmond Child song here.

"Before This Night Is Through" is a nice mid-paced ballad that reminds me a bit of the rhythms of both the Police's "Every Breath You Take" and Blondie's "English Boys."

This album left me sated by the time I got to the finale of the Footloose single, "Holding Out For A Hero," which is a racy 80's-techno number, calling out for the archetypal hero to the rescue. This was played in the tractor chicken scene in Footloose. It's my second favourite song here after "Dirty Job."

A pity this didn't do as well as Faster Than The Speed Of Night, because in some ways, Secret Dreams has a more consistent sound. It's a great showcase for Bonnie's voice without turning her into another Meat Loaf. Besides, she doesn't weigh that much anyway. Seriously, Bonnie really rules on this album!

This is the little-known second cousin spawned by Jim Steinman's second project, the woman named Bonnie Tyler (His first being the thing named Meat Loaf). For those who remember 'Total Eclipse of the Heart', yes, that's her, and yes, that's Him writing the music and lyrics. Faster Than the Speed of Night contained two absolutley stellar Steinman tunes among a bunch of average to good tunes. Secret Dreams is a much more focused, solid effort. Steinman contributes four tracks this time, all are good, two are great (Rebel Without a Clue and Loving You's a Dirty Job). One of his songs, Holding out for a Hero, became a hockey-rink staple across the nation. But unlike the non-Steinman material on Faster the remainder of Secret Dreams is very good, catchy material as well. It's obviously not as good as Steinman's songs (and what is?) but 'If You were a Woman' was a huge UK hit and songs like 'Before this night is Through', 'Band of Gold' (a rocking cover of one-hit wonder Freida Payne's version) and the tear-jerker 'Lovers Again' round this effort out to an album that should have been far more successful than it's predeccessor.

This album was the follow-up to "Faster than the Speed of Night," the album that featured 'Total Eclipse of the Heart.' It contains no hits except for 'Holding out for a Hero' which is also available on the "Footloose" soundtrack, and it peaked at 106 on Billboard's Top 200, but it contains Jim Steinman's best writing and Bonnie Tyler's best recordings. Absolutely anyone who enjoyed "Bat Out of Hell" or "Bat Out of Hell II" should purchase this album. 'Ravishing' has all the great kick-off, epic rock power of the title track to "Bat Out of Hell." "Loving You's A Dirty Job, But Somebody's Gotta Do It" with Todd Rundgren is the earlier, female dominated version of "I'd Do Anything For Love, But I Won't Do That." "Holding Out For a Hero" is of course the song about pining away for the knight on a white charger, but "Rebel Without a Clue" is positively the best song here. Clocking in at 8:35, it is the titanic power-ballad about a prostitute turned vampire and her eternal lover. The two Desmond Child tracks are also fantastically perfomed and produced. "No Way to Treat a Lady," written by Bryan Adams, is a rather up beat point amid all this gloom and despair while "Band of Gold" remains sad but actually rocks. "Before This Night is Through" does not appear to be on this disc anymore. Columbia Records had put this album out of print for a few years, and now this track seems to have been deleted. A pity, but luckily the Steinman is still here. For four years, I've owned this album, and it is still my favorite. For every lover of epic rock or the power ballad, it is a must own.

This was the last one i needed to fill up my jim steinman collection , and it was worth the money..The jim steinman songs are great ..(as always).....i wish i had been around when it was originally released..( i was only four at the time..)
A must have for both Jim Steinman and Bonnie fans

when i heard Loving you is a dirty job.. and no way to treat a lady on a cheapo compilation i would wanted to find the original album these songs were on and after a while a found "secret dreams" and it was and is is a powerfull great album with excellent songs on it this second "Steinman" Produced album is just as good as the first one maybe even better "ravishing is a strange but fascinating opener "No way to treat a lady" a fine Bryan adams tune as with "straight from the heart" From That other album the song never bores "Rebel without a clue an epic Rocksong from 8 minutes and of course the powerfull and tearfull duet with todd rundgrenn "loving you is a dirty Job" together with "total eclipse" and "making love out" it's the best bonnie song of all time it's about a relationship that doesn't work Bonnie here sounds Desperate, Angry and sad she is one of those few singers that really give emotion to a song this is a perfect rock album you be listen to for a very long time.And as for Bonnie Herself: it's a pity and totall shame Radiostations Recordcompanies and CD stores are just ignoring one of the most remarkble and Passionate female singer off all time

I first had the cassette when it was released in the early eighties. It almost never left the deck. I was more than ecstatic to discover that Amazon actually had the CD in stock.

This is Bonnie Tyler's best compilation of songs to date. I cannot imagine this record without one single song of the eight songs included here. The music, the lyrics and that husky singing voice are what make this such a perfect CD. One would have liked to have Total Eclipse Of The Heart included as well though.

I totally agree that it's a 'Secret' because not many people know about it.

It has been gut-wrenching for me to write this review.One of my all-time favorite songs is "It's A Heartache" which was the first time I ever heard Bonnie sing.Believe it or not ,that was in 1978--almost 35 years ago.After all these years,I can't get enough of it,and can still play it over and over again.All through these years,I have followed Bonnie's career and keep hoping for a new song from her that even comes close to me liking as much.I guess the problem is me rather than Bonnie's other music and songs.After all, my music interest is traditional C&W,(as opposed to Country Rock),Bluegrass,Folk,Irish Music and Easy-Listning Pop,and Rock & Roll.
This album is Rock,or European Rock,and most fans of Bonnie's and Rock appear to love the songs included.Unfortunately,at least for me;I really can't "connect" to any of them,no matter how much I wish I could.
Bonnie has had a long career,has her preferences in what she records,puts on a great show,obviously has many devoted fans for her type of songs and music.
No doubt,"It's A Heartache" is the song she built her career on,but to me it is so different from her other music.
I recently checked to see what other Artists recorded the song and was surprised how many other had recorded it.The only other one I could find ,who even came close to Bonnie was Rod Stewart, with his similar gravelly voice.Some others such as Lorrie Morgan,Trick Pony,Ronnie Spector,Juice Newton,Zoe Skillen(young girl from Northern Ireland),an unusual duet by Bonnie and Karen Anton,who do it in English and French,all do interesting versions;but in my opinion it's still Bonnie and her amazing voice that makes the song.To me this song belongs to Bonnie just like "The French Song" belongs to Lucille Starr,"Satin Sheets" belongs to Jeannie Pruett',"Candyman" belongs to Sammy Daviavis Jr. Etc.
I suppose, of all the rest of Bonnie's songs that I like best has been "Total Eclipse of the Heart" but it doesn't even come close for me.
However,another song "Bitterblue" is a song I'm really getting to like.
So there you have it.I love Bonnie,her marvellously distinctive voice,her signature song,"It's A Heartache" and keep on hoping for somethin new;and though this is probably an excellent example of Bonnie's music,this album just doesn't ring my bell.At least the Lyrics were included with the album,otherwise I would still be trying to fathom the words of these songs.
And I guess that's my problem.I am not a big fan of Rod Stewart,but if Bonnie were ever to choose to publish an album of popular songs as did Stewart,Willie Nelson Ray Charles and others;I am sure,with her distinctive voice ,it would be a huge success.Dream on!Dream on!

Length:: 0:54 Mins

Bonnie tyler at her BEST & the writer Jim Steinman Words that hit the Heart

Pretty enjoyable, she has the raspy rock voice, but it has that 80's aura, which to me was not my favorite musical era. Bought it for the Todd Rundgren duet, which is interesting. Todd's voice is better now. They should do a follow up duet now.