Customer Reviews

Tropical Nights

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Minnelli never got her due on this neglected 1977 Columbia release, where she goes from rather hard-edged rock to disco to sublime balladry over the course of nine meticulously-produced tracks:

"Jimi Jimi": Liza ROCKS. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pet Shop Boys had this track in mind when they collaborated with Liza on "Results." Written by Jim Grady, who penned most of the songs on this album.

"When It Comes Down To It": Liza plunges into funk, with stellar results. Written by Minnie Riperton and Richard Rudolph.

"I Love Every Little Thing About You": written by Stevie Wonder, this is a duet with the album's producer, Steve March (Mel Torme's son). A nice summery song.

"Easy": An effervescent Grady ballad, with shimmering, sultry Liza vocals.

"I'm Your New Best Friend": an upbeat Grady rocker (co-written with Dave Miller). A pity this wasn't released as a single.

"Medley: Tropical Nights/Bali Ha'i": Definitely the gayest song on the album, a campy disco number that wittily borrows strains of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic from the musical "South Pacific." This was a staple at Studio 54 during both its' and Liza's salad days. Written by Mark Winkler.

"Take Me Through/I Could Come To Love You": Grady again, beginning as a ballad and morphing into jazz, with Liza doing some quite credible Ella-style scatting.

"Come Home Babe": the first of two mellow numbers written by Grady that close this set, with Liza at her most dreamily romantic.

"A Beautiful Thing": The precursor to the Liza/Pet Shop Boys version of "Rent" (on "Results"). Dark undercurrents, dramatic Liza vocals. A good choice to close the album.

It's no surprise DRG Records finally got the rights to "Tropical Nights" and released it on CD. There was a Japanese pressing on CD years ago, and it never went for less than $400 on eBay. Hard-core Liza fanatics have been salivating for this for years, and newcomers might be pleasantly surprised at how contemporary Liza's sound is here.

"Tropical Nights" has held up very well. And its release couldn't be better timed, as it appears Minnelli is headed for yet another comeback.

This is definately a must-have cd for any fan of Liza's. This is a rare chance to accuire this incredible material that has been out of print in the US since its original LP version 25 years ago. Liza is in perfect voice, and performs a wide variety of material on this disc. Dont let this chance pass you up!!

I was holding on to my LP of this album thinking they'd never release it on CD. Finally! I'm so happy to have it forever on disc. I agree that it's not her most spectacular album but I love the title song, (when she sings "oooh my macho muchacho, c'mon let's boogie" it's really sexy)... and the poignant and pained "Beautiful Thing" makes me cry every time I hear it. Nobody but Liza can tug at your heartstrings like that...all within one album. If you're a true Liza fan you'll want to have this one in your collection, most definitley.

1977 was a busy year for Liza."New York New York" was playing,(I love the soundtrack,and there is something about the movie.I think one of these days its going to be considered a Classic)Liza was getting ready for her Broadway award winning play,"The Act," and "Tropical Nights" was released.Whenever they would show Liza at Studio 54,you would hear "Tropical Nights/Bali Hai," but thats the only disco song on the fantastic CD.Liza was working with the Jim Grady band on most of the other cuts.The record has a great rock and roll sound,except for the last number,"A Beutifull thing," a Beutifull,Orchestrated ballad.The duet with Mel Torme's son,Steve March,"I love every little thing about you," is another great song,written by Stevie Wonder.I was hopping this would be release in 1977.The late Minnie Riperton's,When it comes down to it," is the funkiest I've ever heard Liza.I can't think of one cut thats not enjoyable."Tropical Nights,"is a must have for any true fan of this talented Artist.

THIS LP, FROM "77, FINALLY ON UNITED STATES CD, IS 1 OF LIZA MINNELLIS BEST! TO THINK THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING 70$, AND MORE, FOR THE JAPANESE RELEASE, FROM "89, IS AMAZING!! FINALLY, A U.S COPY OF THIS.... ALONG WITH LIZAS '89 CD, "RESULTS", A MUST HAVE!!! THIS ALBUM, NOW CD, WILL NOT DISAPOINT! TRUELY, A GEM.....

There is a lot of variety to this cd. Liza certainly does not disappoint her fans! Her voice is in peak condition on every cut. She sings everything from jazz ("Jimi Jimi" and "When It Comes Down To It") to camp-disco delights ("Tropical Nights/Bali Ha'i") to torch ("Take Me Through/I Could Come To Love You" and "A Beautiful Thing") to dreamy ballads ("Easy" and "Come Home Babe").

The title song "Tropical Nights" is highly-stylized fun with it's driving rhythms and campy lyrics ("my macho muchacho"). If only musical videos had been a part of this era! (The mental images are endless.) The cover photo is a camp classic! Check out that entourage!! Even the life preserver in the photo is named after the label that originally released the LP.

This collection was originally produced during the disco days of 1977. It was played in many New York dance clubs and is a fun departure from Liza's work with Kandler and Ebb. Although it didn't get promoted for success, it stands out among some of her better produced albums. Rik Pekkonen has produced and/or engineered audio with just about everybody who's anybody in the business. Co-producer Steve March (Torme) has many credits of his own in the music industry. He even sings a duet with Liza on "I Love Every Little Thing About You". This cd is a must for all Liza fans' collections.

I bought this on vinyl as a teen in 1977. With lines like, "my macho muchacho, come on let's boogie!" this album is a relic of the late 70s excess that spawned Studio 54, heavy drug use and disco. Later in '77, the classic Saturday Night Fever soundtrack came out. Stick with that one. Liza Minnelli is an amazing talent. If you want to hear something good from this time frame, get the soundtrack of "New York, New York," or her Broadway show The Act."

LIZA released this wondrous studio album the same year as the musical/dramatic classic "NEW YORK, NEW YORK" showing in 1977 this great SUPERSTAR was turning out richly varied projects that many are still enjoying to this day! LIZA'S vocals find her in top form on a wide variety of material that goes from soft and sensual to rock & soul. STEVIE WONDER is sure to have loved this sublime "I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU" which is the definitive verson of this classic and may be the reason STEVIE WONDER has been seen at LIZA concerts reacting with a great deal of excitement watching the legendary diva! LIZA smolders as only she can in a soulful gem "TAKE ME THROUGH/I COULD COME TO LOVE YOU" and makes a haunting classic out of the mesmerizing "A BEAUTIFUL THING"! Fasten the seat belts for a wild ride on a voice in the #1 Club Dance classic TROPICAL NIGHTS/BALI-HA'I" as LIZA soars to magnificent vocal heights in this awesome production that heated up dance floors and roller rinks for many years in the seventies and beyond! Every song is a winner and this is a collection to come back to over and over for years to come!!!
BRAVO LIZA!

It is very rare to find a Liza Minnelli album that is not a greatest hits one.
So this reissue was very welcome.
This album is not Liza's best but it certainly is her most ambitious album ever.
The title track is a very lavish production with a disco feel.
the rest is a mixed bag of ballads, love songs and a very poignant torch song:'a beautiful thing'
jimi jimi:is a rock production in which Liza feels at ease.
A great album from a huge superstar.

While not her best studio work, Tropical Nights does contain
some Liza gems. When it comes down to it & I love every little
thing about you are Liza at her mid-70's best. The track Tropical Nights while campy and a bit overdone, does prove that
Liza could have been a dance diva with the proper material and
people(realized in 1989's Results). Overall a must have for
true Liza Minnelli fans.