Second Take (The Complete RCA/UK Recordings) - Searchers (The)

Advantages: The Rock-Funk classic, Mirror, Mirror
Disadvantages: Few of the tracks are just mediocre

...was not renewing and taking up RCA Records' extravagent deal which obviously sent shockwaves through Motown. Ross had become increasingly frustated by the lack of artistic freedom she had over her recordings at Motown and she claims this was a big factor as to why she left Motown (not to mention the $20,000,000 they gave to her of course!). At RCA she was able to control all of her recording work and after having surrounded herself with several experienced studio technicians, set about producing her first album for RCA. The album in question was of course Why Do Fools Fall In Love, released in September 1981, six months after its origanal scheduled date. The title track inevitably was the projects first release as a single. It did seem slightly odd that as Ross was wishing to enter a new phase in her career and create a new sound with her music... Read review

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Advantages: Contains a few great tracks
Disadvantages: A few weak links

...-like arrangements, contains mild undertones of erotic fantasies. Diana was being artistically creative on Sweet Surrender though the rhythm is quickly shaken up on the startling and fantastic Funk-Rock driven track, Mirror, Mirror. She really takes a bite into this recording and her considerably stark delivery blends neatly into the driving production. Mirror, Mirror would be lifted as the projects next single release and this quickly secured her another Top 10 hit to her credit in the U.S though it barley trailed onto the U.K Top 40. However the surprise stand-out recording is served in Dianas gutsy, solo renedition of the classic Endless Love. Belting and bellowing out those long, lingering notes at the climax of this surprisingly (though arguably) more effective version, captures oe of her strongest performance on record. The album then takes... Read review

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Advantages: It's Bowie
Disadvantages: None come to mind

...out how best to eschew the tendencies in his own work that began to bore, frustrate, and depress him after “Station to Station” in fact “Heroes” was the first album since Aladdin Sane to include a lyric sheet. The now famous advertising slogan that Bowie’s old record company RCA came up with for this album proclaimed, “There’s old wave, there’s new wave and there’s David Bowie”. This was in the year that the angry slognanising of punk dominated the music press, but Bowie and Eno presented 2 albums that offered a more private musical world that would arguably go on to have just as a great influence as any Clash or Sex Pistols album. For a taster of the album an edited version of the title track was released as a 7” single on the 23rd of September 1977 in the UK catalogue... Read review

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