Michael Bolton - Greatest Hits 1985-1995

Michael Bolton

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 1995)
• Original Release Date: September 19, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002BA5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,820 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Known for a terrifying rendition of Otis Redding's hit "(Sittin' On The) Dock of the Bay" (among others), Michael Bolton tears up every classic soul tune he can get his hands on. Ray Charles' "Georgia on My Mind" and Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" take on completely new meanings in the hands of this former hard rock singer. This 2 CD, 17-cut retrospective includes all the songs that catapulted him to mega-stardom and plenty of others that show him as just another sincere fool for love ("I Promise You" and "I Found Someone"). Just as Meatloaf turned up the juice on the histrionics of Bruce Springsteen, Bolton takes the soul singer out of the smoky nightclub and into the hockey arena for the whole world to hear. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proof to the contrary, August 14, 2001

By	John Jones "Musician" (Chicago IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There's no passive in-between when it comes to Michael Bolton: people either love him or hate him. Like Celine Dion, he's an easy target for the latter: his lyrics are blindly lovestruck, his production slicker-than-slick, and he's got the nerve to cover songs that were considered definitive in their original form. And then there's those superemotional, bombastic vocals. But those who have an ear for a well-crafted pop tune with a passionate vocal no doubt have a soft spot for Bolton, and this generous, 17-track set argues their case considerably.

Bolton's writing chops and vocal skills are in equally fine form on ballads like "That's What Love is All About," "Soul Provider," and "Missing You Now," and even adult rock is in safe hands on the likes of "How Can We Be Lovers," "Time, Love and Tenderness," and the Bob Dylan co-write "Steel Bars." As far as the remakes are concerned, Michael tears into "Georgia on My Mind," "When a Man Loves a Woman" and the chill-inducing "Sittin On the Dock of the Bay" with such authority and passion it's obvious he loves the songs deeply; comparisons are inevitable but completely unnecessary, as Michael clearly has no intention of creating new classics but rather paying tribute to old ones.

And for a greatest hits package, Bolton serves up a healthy dose of new tunes: the country-tinged "I Promise You," the atmospheric "This River," and the aptly-titled "A Love So Beautiful" are lush ballads to treasure, and "I Found Someone" finds him cleverly remaking his own tune a la "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (the songs, both written by Bolton, were originally made hits by Cher and Laura Branigan, respectively). But a real surprise is found in the eyebrow-raiser "Can I Touch You...There?," as Michael lays down a sensual vocal over a sparse, hip-hop flavored track laced with pan flutes and ethereal keyboards. The dark, moody cut proves once and for all that even a middle-of-the-road pop artist can't be completely pigeonholed. In fact, the album as a whole proves that notion, as it becomes unavoidably obvious that even though Michael Bolton may have had the hair and vocal register to invite criticism, he also had the songwriting technique and pure, honest passion to silence it. Fans of mature pop music can't do much better.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Soulful Voice, October 6, 2005

By	F. Wells (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews

I think that Michael Bolton has a beautiful soulful sounding voice. I don't understand why so many people are upset about him recording his versions of Otis Redding, Ray Charles, and Percy Sledge. I love Otis, Ray, and Percy, but I also love Michael Bolton. I feel that he is honoring these R & B stars when he sings their songs. I don't see anybody bashing Whitney Houston when her remake of Dollie Parton's I Will Always Love you became a mega hit. All of these reviewers that criticized Bolton and gave him one star must have some other motive behind their opinion of him. (maybe like being a little jealous) Michael Bolton is handsome and talelnted with a great voice. He's also intelligent and sensitive. So all of you player-haters just stop hating on this handsome hunk of talent, and just let the man do his thing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite CD, October 8, 2006

By	skinnywinny (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews

I have a gazillion CD's but this one is my absolute favorite. I hate loud music but when I put this on I crank it up, can't get enough of it. No one can come close to the power and soul in Michael's voice. I am a professional singer myself and am a pretty good judge of vocal ability. I strongly recommend this recording.