1980s. This Greatest Hits compilation, produced mainly by longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis charts the hits predominantly from his first two albums and a handful of songs from subsequent releases. The intro song, "Never Knew Love like This", with label mate Cherrelle epitomises his mid-tempo style, awash with overly slick MIDI instruments and catchy choruses. The big songs here are undoubtedly "Fake" and "Criticise" from the acclaimed second album Hearsay, slightly rougher and more macho than say, "The Lovers" but just as crammed with heartfelt sentiment and soulful tales of love. A welcome inclusion is the duet from Cherrelle's High Priority album, "Saturday Love", a classic of the "Minneapolis sound" that sits more than comfortably with O'Neal's own work. Greatest Hits may seem heavily packed with older material but it was these songs on the Tabu label that made him a latter day soul legend and with the all new remastering, this collection is just as valid now as it was almost twenty years ago. --Georgina Collins
hour will forever be the release of his 1987 master-piece Hearsay, which made him the undisputed king of finger clicking 80s soul and the double breasted suit, Saga suggests that he's far from done smooching with the ladies. Nor is he living on past glories. While "You're Gonna Miss Me" and "I'm There" are reminiscent of the super slick, synth bass soul of Hearsay's hits "Fake" and "Criticise", Saga Of A Married Man has the 50 year old crooner more than holding his own in the fiercely competitive world that is modern-day R'n'B. It's safe to say that the scatter-shot Timbaland style beats and string stabs of opening gambit and standout track "He Said She Said" aren't what most would expect from O'Neal. But he carries them off better than most. And with his silky smooth gospel tones and ability to sweet talk the ladies intact, tripping ballads "It Don't Matter", "It's OK" and "Last Night" put him well ahead of the likes of Montell Jordan and R Kelly in the lady killer stakes. The sickly "Happy Home" and his confusing stance on fidelity aside, as come backs go, Saga Of A Married Man is pretty damn impressive. --Dan Gennoe
Album Notes: Personnel: Alexander O'Neal (vocals); O'Nicholas Rath (acoustic guitar); Terry Lewis (guitar, synthesizer, bass, percussion, programming); Jelly Bean Johnson (guitar, drums, percussion); John Dell Selva, Bobby Schnitzer, Thomas Organ (guitar); David Eiland (saxophone); Monte Moir, Jimmy Jam (acoustic piano, synthesizer, percussion, programming, background vocals); Marcus Wise (tablas); Lucie Newell, Gwendolyn Traylor, Denise Saenz
Advantages: Some big hits Disadvantages: Some lesser songs which may not appeal to some people
...AlexanderO' Neal started in the 1970s and became big in the 1980s. Things dried up later on, though he had record contracts. This album is a new Greatest Hits collection as you can tell from the not very imaginative title. It's about 9 or 10 years since the last "Best of" was released. Alex has been better received in the UK than anywhere else and more or less lives here now.
The album cover shows a rather suave looking Alex.
Here's a track listing.
1. Never Knew Love Like This
2. Innocent/Alex 9000/Innocent II
3. Fake
4. All True Man
5. Criticise
6. Saturday Love
7. If You Were Here Tonight
8. Hearsay
9. (What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me
10. The Lovers
11. What's Missing
12. A Broken Heart Can Mend
13. What Is This Thing Called Love?
14. You Were Meant To Be My Lady (Not My Girl)
15. Love Makes...
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Advantages: Music from the greatest generation ever Disadvantages: No Frankie, Wham, Pet Shop Boys
...electro poppy type stuff.
19.: Criticize – AlexanderO'Neal
A wonderful soulful tune from AlexanderO’Neal which manages to break up the electro pop which pretty much dominates the first CD.
20.: Let's Go All The Way - Sly Fox
One hit wonders, although after listening to this pile of rubbish it is not surprising. Amazingly this managed to reach the giddy heights of number 3 in the UK charts, although much of that I suspect was down to the rude lyrics which they managed to sneak in (they managed to squeeze the F word in there !!).
21.: Straight Up – Paula Abdul
For those of you that watch American Idol, this is the same Paula Abdooooooool that Ryan Seacrest manages to introduce each week with such relish. Before she criticises the acts she should listen to her own work – it’s not pretty.
So now that that’s whetted your...
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Advantages: Lots of great songs from the eighties Disadvantages: A few not so great
...performances of Reagan and Gorbachev going toe to toe with one another. An upbeat rock / pop number. A great tune.
And the final disc
Track 1 - The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson
What can I say about Michael that hasn't been said before. This was released before he went completely do la, and isn't a bad track although nowhere near his best. Any track off Thriller would have been a far better choice.
Track 2 - Criticize - AlexanderO'Neal
A wonderful soulful tune from AlexanderO'Neal which manages to break up the electro pop which pretty much dominates the first CD.
Track 3 - Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
The Warrington warbler was one of the first squeaky clean artists to role off the Stock, Aitken and Waterman conveyor belt, later to be followed by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Fairly typical...
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very helpful 12.03.2008
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