Customer Reviews

The Woman In Red: Selections From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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Even though The Woman In Red soundtrack is a thought of as a Stevie Wonder album, it is a combination Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick material. Mr. Wonder contributes four songs, Ms. Warwick has two and they duet on two more. The two duets ("It's You" and "Weakness") are very good and it's a treat to her two great vocalists sing together for the first time. "Love Light In Flight" is a sprightly workout and "Don't Drive Drunk" is a good intentioned songs and despite it's goofy chorus is quite catchy. "I Just Called To Say I Love You" is the song most remembered from the album as in late 1984 you couldn't turn on a radio and not hear it. The song suffered a bit from overkill, but listening to 17 years later, it is a great love song and has that timeless quality. The song went to number one and Mr. Wonder won an Academy Award for it.

I don't believe there are many who would say this was Stevland's finest hour. There was something about the drum machines and drum pads of the early 1980's which is now hard to take. But this album has two things going for it: the first is a movie which wasn't bad, and the second is an outstanding duet with Dionne Warwick in "It's You". With superb, understated orchestration by Jeremy Lubbock, I guess this song has been overshadowed by the McDonald/Labelle collaboration of the same period, "On My Own". It is just one of the happiest love songs I know.

Although I've had this album since it came out in 1984 - first on vinyl and more recently on CD - I only got to see the movie it's from a few weeks ago. I'd like to say it was worth the wait but I don't want to lie.

But this is about the soundtrack. It's a mixed bag. Some of the songs are simply stunning, especially ones like "It's You" and "Weakness" where Stevie duets with Dionne Warwick. The chemistry between them works so well, to this day I still wonder why they didn't do more stuff together. Talking about where Stevie flies solo, the title track I simply don't get while on the other hand, "Don't Drive Drunk" sends a very useful message with a manic kind of humour that makes it enjoyable every single time I hear it. "Love Flight In Flight" is classic Stevie and the instrumental track "It's More Than You" is a joy - especially to a jazz head like me. I also wonder why Stevie never did more instrumental or even jazz work. Despite what I remember reading him say in an interview many years ago, it's not like he hasn't got the talent.

Then there's the one track where Dionne flies solo and "Moment's Aren't Moments" is simply musical passion.

Finally there's the dire "I Just Called To Say I Love You" which was (and still is) anathema to many Stevie fans worldwide. The song makes me cringe every time I hear it. Ironic then, that it was one of his biggest selling singles of all time and the only one of his singles to get to number one here in the UK. Go figure.

Like I said, a mixed bag. But no Stevie Wonder fan's collection could be called complete without it. Highly recommended.

After an incredible string of albums that few contemporary artists can match (VERY few - Prince and the Beatles are the only ones that come to mind), this soundtrack was Stevie's first major stumble. Packed with a lot of tepid filler, there are only occasional glimpses of the genius here - most notably in "Love's Light in Flight," which at least has a strong melody and soaring arrangement. Decide for yourself what you think of the ubiquitous "I Just Called" - it's total schmaltz in my book. And "Don't Drive Drunk" is a mockery of the kind of socially conscious, political song that Stevie handled so well in the 70s.

Unfortunately, this album proved to be not so much a misstep as preview of things to come: Wonder has yet to regain the glory of his heyday. But his other 80s efforts (In Square Circle and Characters), though spotty, are better than this.

The mid-eighties were a busy time for Stevie Wonder,and this album is one project from that time. This album spawned one of 1984's biggest hits,I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU. In the music video,Wonder is seen on a telephone lip-synching the lyrics. On a 1986 guest appearance as himself on a Cosby Show episode,Wonder and Phylicia Rashad sing a duet of that song. Wonder pitches the lyrics,speaking,to Rashad starting with the second verse. DON'T DRIVE DRUNK was used in a couple of television commercials for anti-drunk driving. I like IT'S YOU,a duet between Wonder and Dionne Warwick. Warwick recorded some songs on this album,but all were penned by Wonder. One of them is MOMENTS AREN'T MOMENTS which would later appear of Warwick's 1985 album FRIENDS. Another hit from this album is LOVE LIGHT IN FLIGHT. Man,I love that digital percussion. Hey it was commonplace in the 1980's. All the other songs are good. Following the release of this album,Wonder would record WE ARE THE WORLD,by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.(He and Warwick were participants in the all-star ensemble USA For Africa,recording the song to fight famine in Africa) Then came Wonder's IN SQUARE CIRCLE album,and reteaming with Warwick,also joined by Elton John and Gladys Knight to record THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR for Warwick's FRIENDS album. Man,this album is great!

in february 1984,i met my first wife-then in early april of '84 we lost the legendary marvin gaye.stevie then releases the nice classic soundtrack 'the woman in red'-this album reminds me of my marriage.the song 'it's you'reminds me of the time when my ex used 2 sing this song of which i couldn't blame her because the song is beautifully written and sung by both dionne and stevie alongside that of the the other beautiful duet,'weakness'/another beautiful track is the cocktail instrumental-'it's more than you'featuring ben bridges on guitar.the title track 'the woman in red' is one of wonder's most underrated funk tracks.it has a groove that is so funky-the song's funk and wonder's funkafied vocals make this song as one wonder's many funkjams-an important funkjam in wonder's funk catalog.'lovelight in flight'is another one of wonder's funk grooves with wonder's soaring vocals.'i just called to say i love you' was the album's first single and biggest hit.

most of the listening public are familiar with the edited version of the song when it is played on the radio.but 2 me the album version is much better because it is better and longer featuring wonder on the vocoder giving the song a sparkling glitter.on 'moments aren't moments'stevie let's dionne warwick sing the vocals-while stevie himself assists with synthesizers and drums giving the song a mellow relaxed mood.the final track 'don't drive drunk'stevie gives warnings of the perils of driving while being inebriated.the song is serious while at the same
time being funny.goofy backing vocals add to the tune's seriousness.'the woman in red'was stevie's 2nd film soundtrack album.

i love the sound track but....where is lets just!! its on the credits but NOT on the soundtrack!!!!! WHY!! i wish 2 purchase it can ANYONE help!!

THIS IS A GREAT SOUNDTRACK TO A HILARIOUS MOVIE. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW GOOD THIS SOUNDTRACK IS I LOVE THIS ENTIRE ALBUM ALL OF THE SONGS ARE GOOD. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM TO ANYONE WHO LIKES STEVIE WONDER. DIONNE WARWICK SINGS WITH HIM ON A FEW SONGS. MY FAVORITE SONGS ARE: DON'T DRIVE DRUNK, I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU, IT'S YOU, THE WOMAN IN RED, WEAKNESS, MOMENETS AREN'T MOMENTS, AND LOVE LIGHT IN FLIGHT. THIS IS A DYNAMITE SOUNDTRACK!!!!

THE WOMAN IN RED SOUNDTRACK has been one of the best albums he put out that made him cross the line. My reason love for him is that he put great hits with a positive sound to it.

Lemme put it straight, this is nothing you don't want to give away for what matter of reason, this is something you should into your album collection 'cause it brings memories back in the same year I was born.

It includes duets with Dionne Warwick in "It's You" and "Weakness" (two of my favorites) and also a song she did by herself which Stevie produce for her entitles "Moments Aren't Moments". It features the trumpet solos from Larry Gittens whom he work with Stevie over the years always have good notes similar to Donald Byrd I like a lot.

I wish that one day I'll play the flugelhorn he's playing right now to this very day.

Yep this is an album I should keep 'round 4 a very long time. It'll take me far.

And especially it includes the smash that won an Oscar "I Just Called To Say I Love You."

This soundtrack is great but missing one of the best songs from the movie. It's called "Let's Just..." I believe it's by Larry Gittens. The song plays when "Teddy" goes to "Charlotte's" apartment and they start to get undressed. The lyrics go something like "Baby, let's just take off our clothes and get naked from our head to toes..." I can't find this song anywhere! If anyone finds it, please let me know. Thanks!