Customer Reviews

St Vincent's Court: Romance Dance

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

 

 

While fans may argue whether or not the two albums comprising this disc are among Carnes' best, it's the combination of rare and previously unreleased material here that makes it a must-buy. "St Vincent's Court" was previously available on an Australian CD, but is long out of print. "Romance Dance" has never appeared in it's entirety in a licensed digital disc.

"St Vincent's Court" was Carnes' debut for EMI America, released in 1979. Though it was her fourth solo album, many people still hadn't heard of Kim at this point. Like her earlier platters, this album was a folksy mix of balladry and light Pop. The album wasn't a commercial success, spawning only a minor (Billboard Pop #56) hit in "It Hurts So Bad." But as fans know, this album has plenty of charms. Upbeat tunes are sprinkled liberally among the ballads, so the tempo never lingers long in one place. Produced in association with Kim and husband Dave Ellingson, SVC is a great mixture of homespun harmonies and memorable tunes.

"Romance Dance" ups the ante set by SVC, with producer George Tobin, Rock guitar and a thumping rhythm section. There really isn't a difference in the quality of material from SVC to RD, despite the cover tunes and the radio-ready production for the latter. That's why I think these albums complement each other in this CD. "Romance Dance" seemed to offer a compromise of sorts: Kim got to pick her own tunes, but the label picked her producer. The result was energetic and seldom less than tuneful. As Rock music goes, this is still pretty light fare. But there's no denying that Carnes was born to belt "Tear Me Apart," and that her band simply cooks the boogie out of it. The way she revels in "More Love" is so heartfelt that Mr Robinson must have forgiven her for "stealing" his song.

Highlights from SVC include "Jamaica Sunday Morning" (dreamy, graceful tune sung beautifully), "Paris Without You" (also ethereal in tone, desperately romantic), "Blinded By Love" (upbeat, tuneful and radio friendly) and the closer, "Goodnight Moon," a meditative and sentimental tune that offers listeners a "good night" of their own. My recommendations for "Romance Dance" include the two tracks already mentioned, plus "Changin" (quintessential Country-Pop KC), "In The Chill of the Night" (KC sure had blue-eyed soul before she got her Bette Davis Eyes), and "Where Is Your Heart" (dancy Pop featuring Bill Cuomo's synths and a great melody from Kim).

Sound quality throughout this disc is quite good. I noticed a couple of repeat "pops" in a few tracks (very minor), but no drop-outs or clipped highs. The packaging for this compilation uses plenty of photos, with samples from the albums included plus some rare snapshots that fans will find entertaining. The liner notes, written by Mike McLellan, offer an interesting (albeit abbreviated) history of Carnes and her career. As if that weren't enough, this release also includes a bonus track in "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer," the hit Carnes duet with Kenny Rogers. I think this disc is the kind of compilation I can heartily recommend to casual fans as much as fellow diehards.

Kim Carnes released her EMI-America debut, St. Vincent's Court in 1979.

BEFORE:
Kim Carnes was a seasoned songwriter. Her songs had been performed by the likes of Barbra Streisand. However, she hadn't had too much success as a solo artist although she had made the top 40 the previous year.

AFTER:
The album was not a success, however it spawned one country-rock classic with It Hurts So Bad. Critics knew however that there was something special brewing with her.

St. Vincent's Court was more country-tinged than Kim's later 80's ventures with EMI-America. The album is a great showcase for Kim's raspy voice (is it me, or does she sound identically to Rod Stewart on It Hurts So Bad?). Nothing essential, but still, a worthy album to own.

Kim followed this up with Romance Dance in June 1980.

BEFORE:
Having some country-pop success with It Hurts So Bad and Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer. Kim was a sure thing in the music industry as a songwriter.

AFTER:
with her new style, Kim Carnes proved she was a rising star. She scored a top 10 smash with More Love, and also came close to the top 40 with Cry Like A Baby. The addition of synthesizers to her repitoire worked in her favor, as Romance Dance was a success.

As a lover of Kim Carnes' 80's synth-driven pop, Romance Dance is where it all began. This album is every bit as good as Mistaken Identity and better than Voyeur (though I consider Cafe Racers her best). Her version of More Love made you forget about Smokey Robinson for the 3 1/2 minutes.

Neither albums are quite that famous to music history buffs, but Kim is a great underrated singer-songwriter who deserves to have people go back and discover her catalog. So much more to her than Bette Davis Eyes

This CD includes 4 charted Billboard hits:

(1) "It Hurts So Bad"
(2) "Cry Like A Baby"
(3) "More Love"
(4) "Dont Fall In Love With A Dreamer" (duet with Kenny Rogers)

This CD includes songs co-written by Kim Carnes which were covered by several artists:

(1) "What Am I Gonna Do" - covered by Brenda Lee (Take Me Back - 1980);
(2) "Stay Away" - covered by Barbra Streisand (Songbird 1978) and Engelbert Humperdinck (Don't you Love Me Anymore - 1981/Songs Of Romance - 1996);
(3) "Paris Without You" - covered by Don Potter.
(4) "It Hurts So Bad" - covered by Span Elizabeth and Big Nick & The Cydecis (Born Half Wild);
(5) "Changin'" - covered by Sami Jo.
(6) "And Still Be Loving You" - covered by Don Potter (Over The Rainbow) and Brian Taylor (Brian Taylor, 1977).

This CD contains the movie-theme of "Washington Mistress": "And Still Be Loving You".

This CD includes some excellent songs covered by Kim Carnes:

(1) "Cry Like A Baby";
(2) "Tear Me Apart";
(3) "More Love"

More information about Kim: http://www.kimcarnes.com and http://go.to/kimcarnes

I used to have most of these songs on vinyl. I particularly love "Jamaica Sunday Morning". That song really takes me back.

This is the only release of Romance Dance on CD and it is a classic. This release is two albums recored on one CD...so I queston if the sound quality suffers a bit by cramming 21 songs on one CD. Amazon's version is over priced---look to buy from one of the other vendors for 1/2 the price for the exact same CD.

Length:: 2:11 Mins

I have been unable to hear Kim's 2nd and 3rd albums as they either have never been issued on CD, or they are very hard to find.

Let's pick up with Kim's 4th album "St. Vincent's Court". First of all, what an interesting choice for an album title. I wonder what the significance is?

Musically, ST VINCENT'S starts off very strong with "What Am I Gonna Do." While the signature rasp does pop in and out of the vocal track, Kim sounds much younger and smoother on this track. The music is very 1970s California Rock...complete with gorgeous harmonies. The track builds to a frenzied cresendo. Classic Kim Carnes.

The other classic song on ST VINCENT'S COURT is the single "Hurts So Bad". I have heard it oft mentioned that Kim sounds a lot like Rod Stewart in this one. I suppose so. But regardless, this is top notch songwriting from Miss Carnes. "Hurts So Bad" aches with true regret and experience. Nearly the perfect pop/country song...

The rest of ST. VINCENT'S COURT honestly didn't catch my ear. Perhaps under closer scrutiny I would understand the nuances and emotion of the album...but from the few listens I gave it it felt a bit...dull. "Jamaica Sunday Morning" is a pretty ballad...and "Skeptical Shuffle" is a bit different than anything else I have ever heard Kim do. On its own merit, I'd probably rate ST VINCENT'S COURT 2 and a half stars.

Lucky for us, this reissue also includes the entire ROMANCE DANCE album for the first time on CD. And it is here that Kim Carnes offers us a masterpiece.

ROMANCE DANCE was produced by George Tobin, who would later be the man responsible for Tiffany's rise to fame. On another technical note, Val Garay engineered the album...and it was him who would produce Kim's next album...the breakthrough MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

ROMANCE DANCE is one of those albums you can listen to from front to back without a breath. Tobin but some muscle in Kim's music on this album...and the results are glorious. I love this album so much I am going to review it track by track:

"Swept Me Off My Feet" - a bit Rod Stewart-ish in her phrasing...but an unstoppable album opener. You can hear the fury and passion in Kim's vocal. The mandolin makes for a nice touch. I think at one time in our lives...we have all played the part of the fool...

"Cry Like A Baby" - a cover of the old Box Top's chestnut. Sure, this song is hummable, and fun to sing along to on the highway. This is one of three songs that Kim didn't write on the album. And although this song made for a good single, it lacks the emotional wallup of the rest of the album.

"Will You Remember Me?" - certainly one of Kim Carnes best songs. The lyrics may be a bit simplistic...but the compassion of the delivery makes any complaints forgivable. A song of loss and heartbreak. The verses are quietly mediative...and then Kim lets loose on the chorus. A final stake through the heart is driven at the end of the song. Just as the song is fading out...the tempo shifts into double time...making for a "Layla"-like instrumental coda. This is emotional release of the highest calibre. A breathtaking song.

"Tear Me Apart" - This song continues the late 70s cowboy rock feel of the album. This wasn't written by Kim, but she puts enough of herself into this one to pull it off. This one rocks hard...cowbell and all.

"Changin'" - This song kind of picks up where "Will You Remember Me" leaves off. This song is a mature meditation on the break up of an affair. There's a lot of reasons to love this song. Kim's piano playing. The gorgeous lyrics. I was sitting in my car eating an icecream cone one day --and it was the first time the final verse's lyrics really popped out at me "sometimes dreams are like sand in the hand--hold on too tight and then they're gone..." So true... This song is further evidence that one of the best aspects of Kim's music is the harmonies she uses on her choruses. When the chorus kicks in during this song, you basically have no choice but to be moved...

"More Love" - this was the charting single...a cover of the Smokey Robinson hit. I can't stand Smokey Robinson...and honestly I'm not familiar with his verion of this song. That's fine by me... As far as the Kim Carnes version...it's very very early 80s. I can take or leave this song...

"In The Chill Of The Night" - another breezy late 70ish rocker. This song reminds me of "Night Moves" by Bob Seger. I wouldn't be surprised if Tobin used that song as a blueprint while producing this song. It's not a rip off...but an homage maybe. Almost a classic but not quite...

"Where Is Your Heart" - and this is the moment where synths are introduced into the Carnes realm. With a synth line similar to the Pointer Sister's "He's So Shy" this song is an uptempo pop confection.

"And Still Be Loving You" - this is the ballad the closes ROMANCE DANCE. It hasn't grabbed me as of yet...

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This CD reissue has the Kenny Roger's duet "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer" tacked at the end. I'm not a big fan of Kim's duets...but for those who like the song...it's a bonus.

And on her next album...life would change forever for Kim Carnes.

kim has a great voice but sorry her stuff sounds very dated, u can listen to bonnie tylers old stuff and it hasnt dated. still sounds as good as her new stuff