The Best of Tracey Ullman

Tracey Ullman

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 12, 1992)
• Original Release Date: May 12, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000032E2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #119,932 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Breakaway

2. Long Live Love

3. Shattered

4. Oh, What a Night

5. (Life Is a Rock) But the Radio Rolled Me

6. Move Over Darling

7. Bobby's Girl

8. They Don't Know

9. (I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear

10. You Broke My Heart in 17 Places

11. I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten

12. You Caught Me Out [*]

13. Baby I Lied [*]

14. Terry

15. Sunglasses

16. Helpless [*]

17. My Guy

18. Falling in and out of Love [*]

19. I Don't Want Our Loving to Die [*]

20. Dancing in the Dark [*]

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Before her Emmy award-winning series on American television, Ullman was already beloved as a recording artist in her native Britain. This "best of" features all 11 songs from her debut album, the best half of her second, and four single sides. Includes the 1984 smash "They Don't Know."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sixties revivalist in the eighties, September 14, 2003

By	Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Various compilations have been released on CD with slightly different track listings. This review pertains to the Rhino Best of compilation, the first eleven tracks of which are a straight re-issue of Tracey's original debut album.

Tracey first achieved fame in her native Britain as a comedienne, then had a brief career as a pop singer before moving to America, where she resumed her career as a comedienne. The public are always suspicious of established celebrities becoming pop singers, but make no mistake, Tracey can sing, as this and other collections of her music show. She knew her limitations and worked within them effectively and well.

Tracey recorded two original albums on LP. The first, You broke my heart in 17 places, was pure magic. The second, You caught me out, was quite a good effort with some magic moments. A compilation album was released containing the best tracks from the first two plus some other songs, including My guy, that didn't appear on either.

Tracey's biggest hit, They don't know, was a cover of a song by the brilliant Kirsty MacColl, whose own version of the song had mysteriously flopped. Tracey took the song to number two in the UK and number eight in the USA. It went to number one in Norway and several other countries. After that Kirsty supplied Tracey with other songs - You broke my heart in 17 places, You caught me out, Terry

Tracey had other hits in the UK, all covers. Breakaway (Jackie De Shannon) peaked at four. Move over darling peaked at eight in Britain just as Doris Day's original had done although neither made the USA charts. Sunglasses was first recorded by Skeeter Davis but was quickly covered by Sandy Posey. My guy was originally written and recorded by Madness as My girl. The minor hit Helpless is a Motown song originally recorded by Kim Weston.

Tracey recorded many other covers of songs from the late fifties to the early eighties including Long live love (Sandie Shaw). Shattered (Sandy Posey), Oh what a night (the Dells), Bobby's girl (Marcie Blaine in the USA, Susan Maughan in the UK), Life is a rock but the radio rolled me (Reunion), I'm always touched by your presence dear (Blondie), I close my eyes and count to ten (Dusty Springfield), Baby I lied (Deborah Allen), I don't want our loving to die (the Herd) and Falling in and out of love (Sinceros).

As befitting a comedienne, Tracey's music is upbeat, fun, music not to be taken too seriously but Tracey is no mere novelty singer. This is great party music but can be enjoyed in any setting.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars They Don't Know About Tracey - Fun Pop Album, October 1, 2000

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

I fondly remember the video for Tracey Ullman's hit single "They Don't Know" with its cameo by Paul McCartney. I tracked down the record at the library and made a cassette copy. Now I have this CD and am the proverbial happy camper. I have always liked girl groups, mainly because I think their songs are usually in my vocal range, plus there is more of a tendency to harmony than you get with boy bands (e.g., "Beatles" versus "Rolling Stones"). "The Best of Tracey Ullman: You Broke My Heart in 17 Places" is something of a throwback to the 50s-60s.

For me this collection starts off a lot stronger than it finishes. In addition to "They Don't Know," the tracks that get the most play at my house are Tracey's cover song: Jackie DeShannon's "Breakaway," Marcie Blane's "Bobby's Girl," the Reunion's "(Life Is A Rock) But The Radio Rolled Me," and the Blondie classic "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear." One thing you get with Tracey Ullman is high energy, which always reminds me of Bette Midler. The key difference is that with Ullman the songs are carried more by production values than by her voice, not that there is anything wrong with that. She's a fun singer and this is a fun album that can perk you up in the late afternoon at work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!!!, December 18, 2004

By	C. Noland "~BEBZ~" (CO, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My mother bought this cassette in our local pharmacy in the early 80's, and with me being born in only '79 it wasn't exactly on the "Hit" list with anyone else my age. It's not exactly "Main Stream". It didn't matter, I love this music! I love her songs! It's just great music! And her vocals are wonderful! I still know almost every word to every song. I am so glad I found this CD on here! I have been looking everywhere for it, and people are like "Tracy Ullman??? You mean that British chick who does a comedy show on HBO? She sings?!! Never heard of it."