Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Euphoric dance pop that deserves wider recognition, 9 May 2009
Despite having a massive hit with the jittery dance pop of 'Happenin' All Over Again', this album was withdrawn from release in 1990 following the commercial failure of several follow up singles. For fans of the Stock, Aitken & Waterman sound - particularly of their work with Donna Summer and Sybil - this album is hugely enjoyable. Bouncy, Italian-flavoured production (somewhat similar to Black Box) dominates this collection. There is defiant optimism in tracks like 'If I Have To Stand Alone' and 'Better Off Without You', evidence of S/A/W's ability to write to the personal strengths of their artists. 'Beyond Your Wildest Dreams' is a blisfully soulful mid-tempo track in which Lonnie gets to opportunity to show her voice can be nuanced and emotional. 'Best of Friends' is similarly warm and has a lovely moment at the end of each chorus where the line "But that's where the story ends" is accompanied by S/A/W's famed use of minor chords. Strongest track is 'How Could He Do This To Me?' which was (according to the excellent sleeve notes) not included in the version of this album that was released overseas, despite being a hugely catchy pop stormer that could surely have brought Lonnie the recognition she deserved. It almost explodes out of the speakers and has so many hooks that you will be humming along before you've reached the second chorus. It's a brilliant pop album and fingers crossed that somehow this new release will bring it to a much wider audience.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yay back to the 90s, 6 Jul 2009
I had this album back when it was first released - had it on vinyl and got it in germany as it wasnt released here in the UK. It still sounds amazing now. Lonnie has an outstanding voice and for me - anything produ ced by SAW is a masterpiece! Fave track on here is prob 'Thats no reason' and prob the lease favourite is 'beyond your wildest dreams' - which I really never understood why this was released as a single. Good bonus remixes and extra tracks on here too! Now I cant wait for Sinitta's greatest hits and remixes which is due in september! SAW revival!!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely storming... plus update, 18 Jun 2009
Of the three simultaneous SAW single artist re-releases (Princess, Mandy Smith, Lonnie Gordon), this is way, way ahead of the other 2, although they in themselves are pretty good. The 'Euphoric' review tells you all you need to know, but I'd just like to add my own 5-star rating. A massive diva voice blasts out of the tracks, with some of the best SAW tunes from that period (or ever). I get the impression from the detailed sleeve notes that Lonnie and SAW had artistic differences - I can't imagine her being bossed around, shall we say, and you'd probably need earplugs if you had a row with her - and went their separate ways, but this is a fantastic meisterwork of its poppy, fizzy, unpretentious, tuneful and catchy kind. I'll probably never tire of it.
UPDATE Sept 2009 - I never tired of it. I must have played this in my car about 50 times recently. I have to skip the non-SAW tracks, though - they are awful. All the extended SAW remixes are pretty good, too. They don't mess around with the tunes TOO much. The 'Latino' (?) mix of HAOAgain that I still have on - wait for it - cassette is missing, but it's not very good anyway. A couple of the less familiar / unreleased SAW tracks on this CD are FANTASTIC, keeping to the the 'unlucky in love' theme of the singles. Pence per listen, probably the best value CD I have ever bought. Recommended for SAW / disco diva / 3-minute pop song fans.
I have played the Mandy Smith CD, bought at the same time, 3 times, and skipped most tracks. (And I mislaid the Princess CD so can't yet comment on how good / bad it is.)
BACK TO THE OLD REVIEW...
Two re-issue omissions still worth tracking down for any converts: the SAW Sonia album (not any of the others, unfortunately) has some great tunes; and the Sybil album with a few SAW tracks on it, inc. Good And Ready, and Harold Melvin's The Love I Lost, but with an SAW-arranged twist. Plus the slow SAW ballad Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, also on the Lonnie album in a very similar version.
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