Private Dancer
Tina Turner
1984
Tracks
1. I Might Have Been Queen
2. What's Love Got To Do With It
3. Show Some Respect
4. I Can't Stand The Rain
5. Private Dancer
6. Let's Stay Together
7. Better Be Good To Me
8. Steel Claw
9. Help
I was sort of dreading listening to this album, not because I hate Tina Turner, but because if I hear a few chords of "What's Love Got To Do With It," it is guaranteed to be stuck in my bed for the next week and a half. Oh well, my cat will just have to get over it.
Anyway, there is no denying that Turner has an amazing voice. Other than that, I was not too impressed by this album. I found the "Help" cover to be rather unnecessary, with the other tracks being fairly unremarkable. Even my untrained musical ear could tell that she relied way too heavily on synth.
Her vocals are the only thing that saves this album from complete 80s drudgery.
RATING: 3/5
Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
1984
Tracks
1. Mick's Blessings
2. Whole Point Of No Return
3. Me Ship Came In
4. Blue Cafe
5. Paris Match
6. My Ever Changing Moods
7. Dropping Bombs On The White House
8. Gospel
9. Strength Of Your Nature
10. You're The Best Thing
11. Here's One That Got Away
12. Headstart For Happiness
13. Council Meetin'
Perhaps it's my advancing age, but I did not dislike this jazz album as much as I usually do. It was upbeat and cheery, and I only wish that Studio Council had stuck to its strengths. A few of their tracks really grated; I kept checking to see how much more of "Strength of Your Nature" I had to endure. Would it have killed them to write a few more lines in that song?
Still, it was an experiment and I appreciate what they were trying to do with blending so many genres. But maybe stay away from hip hop...or whatever that song was.
RATING: 3/5
