Laura Branigan

I almost forgot how great this album is, but not now! It brings back great memories.

The CD arrived in a timely manner and was packaged to survive the trip through the US mail. Wonderful price; excellent audio; amazing movie!

Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture

Great music. This album has a history for me. I met a very overweight young woman who had to tend the family deli since her father was unwell.
The aspirations of the woman in the story became her mantra. My friend was motivated enough to start college in the little free time she had with the goal of a degree in marketing - her passion.

It sounds great but would it have killed the owners of the respective licences to include a select few bonus cuts, say Laura Branigan's GLORIA, which played a pivotal role in one of the film's scenes.

FAME and FOOTLOOSE (companion pieces to FLASHDANCE) were re-issued with additional tracks so what gives?

Even though this album is older than dirt I still love it. I bought it to download into my ipod when I'm walking. It is lively and energetic and you can even understand the words!

Okay-okay, first off let me explain my one star rating, and believe me it was a very hard decision to make (almost). The one star rating is in no way reflecting on Laura personally (great gal) or her music,(great songs) it is given only because of "The Platinum Collection", I mean to say only 18 songs that represent Laura's career-that's an insult to us fans, (and I'm one of them).

According to my research, we have over the years had various Laura Branigan collections starting with: "The Best of Branigan" in 1995, unique in some ways because it has 2 songs not on any of her albums, `Dim All The Lights' and `Show Me Heaven', "The Essentials" in 2002, "Gloria and Other Hits" in 2003, "The Very Best of Laura Branigan" in 2005, the "Platinum Collection" in 2006 and "Greatest Hits" in 2007.

Now, with this "The Platinum Collection", we have again a selection of songs all which are worthy, but I don't think the powers-that-be really had the fans in mind when they were compiling yet another collection of Laura's music-I think they were just interested in trying to make more money and see how much they would get from this (another) collection (how sad). Looks like it wasn't enough because in 2007 along comes the "Greatest Hits" of Laura Branigan. All these collections just seem to miss the mark (very wide), the "Platinum Collection" maybe decent but it's not a great compilation of songs that do Laura any justice as a lasting memory of her. I've see better platinum collections from other singers/bands. Roxy Music is one example their "Platinum Collection" not only has the band's music but it has Bryan Ferry's material also as a solo artist, another example is Queen's "Platinum Collection", I'm not a fan, but I like their stuff and having this compilation in my collection is great as a memory of the band and Feddie Mercury; Roxy Music and Queen's material is over 3 CDs long, while Laura's is only 1. So you see there are worthy platinum collections out there, so why can't there be one worthy for Laura?

Yes, I know what you're saying out there, `It's better than nothing...right?' Wrong, how many compilations are we going to go through until we have one that beats the rest? Some say "The Platinum Collection" is the best compilation to date, (wow I'm so overjoyed...please) but it's not perfect, sure it has the hits - `Gloria', `Self Control', `Lucky One', Solitaire', `How Am I Supposed To Live Without You', `Spanish Eddie' and the cover versions of `Power of Love', `Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow', and `I Find Someone', and the rest thrown in for good measure. All in all, it still is not a great representation of Laura's talent as a singer. All the songs are the standard material for present and future compilations. What is needed is the `Mother Load' so-to-speak.

So?...what am I trying to say? I'm saying this, we the fans and those who just like Laura's music want something more definitive, something that really is a showcase of Laura's time here on earth, (Laura passed away in 2004) and something that can be added to anyone's CD collection...I give you:

Laura Branigan - The Definitive Anthology

A 5 CD and 2 DVD set, (and I use the word definitive lightly in this instance). That's over 60 songs with 4 productions, video compilations and of other Laura performances on the DVDs, (as yet there is no DVD collection of Laura Branigan videos or concerts that I know of-why is that?). I think what I have to offer as an example below is much better than just a selection of 18 songs from the "Platinum Collection", which in my mind just doesn't cut it, it is a joke, (but I'm not really laughing). What is needed is a lasting tribute to a singer who loved to perform and give her all, sure we have a lot of Laura Branigan collections as stated above, but nothing really extensive or significant, and the "Platinum Collection" does not fulfil the criteria either. So I wonder what the next collection will look like and when will it be the right one?

Below is my selection, the big difference is it has music from various movies and television, which are important to us fans of Laura's music, and will complete and compliment any collection, naturally there maybe those who may not agree with my selection, (that's okay) there maybe a song/single amiss, (a favourite perhaps?) but at least it's a start in the right direction.


CD001

1] All Night With Me
2] Gloria
3] Lovin' You Baby
4] If You Loved Me
5] Maybe I Love You
6] Solitaire
7] Deep In The Dark
8] How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
9] I'm Not The Only One
10] Don't Show Your Love
11] The Lucky One
12] Self Control
13] Ti Amo
14] Heart
15] Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
16] Satisfaction

CD002

1] Spanish Eddie
2] Forever Young
3] When I'm With You
4] I Found Someone
5] Sanctuary
6] Tenderness
7] Angels Calling
8] Power Of Love
9] Shattered Glass
10] Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)
11] Spirit Of Love
12] Touch
13] Cry Wolf
14] Moonlight On Water
15] Bad Attitude
16] Never In A Million Years

CD003

1] Turn The Beat Around
2] Unison
3] Reverse Psychology
4] The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye
5] Over My Heart
6] Love Your Girl
7] Didn't We Almost Win It All
8] I'll Wait For You
9] Over You
10] Show Me Heaven
11] Dim All The Lights
12] The Challenge
13] The Winner Takes It All
14] If That's What It Takes
15] I Can See Again
16] I Know You By Heart

CD004

1] A Love Until the End of Time 1982(From the Series ChiPs)
2] Love is Forever 1983(From the movie Love is Forever)
3] It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 1983
(From A Solid Gold Christmas)
4] Santa Claus is coming to Town 1983
(From A Solid Gold Christmas)
5] Imagination 1983(From the movie Flashdance)
6] Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Duet with Doc Severinsen)1984 (From The Tonight Show)
7] Hot Night 1984(From the movie Ghostbusters)
8] Sharpshooter 1984(From the movie Body Rock)
9] Hollywood Wives 1985(From the mini-series Hollywood Wives)
10] If I were A River 1986(From Disney's Living Seas)
11] One Day 1986(From the movie Violets Are Blue)
12] Come Into My Life 1988(From the movie Coming To America)
13] Believe In Me 1988(From the movie Coming To America)
14] Your Love 1988(From the movie Salsa)
15] I Believe 1994(From the series Baywatch)
16] Looking Out For Number One* Year not known
(A hit on the US Dance Charts)

* I don't know the year when this came out, but it was released before Laura's first album.

CD005

This fifth CD would contain various 12" and special remixes of Laura Branigan's songs that were released on vinyl that are not available on CD.

DVD 001

1] Laura Branigan**
(Concert at Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, NV - 1984)

2] Cover Story
(Celebrity biography series, one episode devoted to Laura Branigan interview, behind the scenes footage and videos - 1985)

3] Record Guide `88
(Music series, one episode to Laura Branigan interview and videos - 1988)

4] SRO: In Concert
(Hour-long concert series, one episode devoted to Laura Branigan live in Atlantic City - 1990)

** I have this concert on video only which is still available on the internet. (At the time of writing this review)

DVD 002

1] Laura Branigan the Videos
(A collection of all Laura's video singles)

2] Laura Branigan Television Performances
(A collection of various TV spots of Laura as a guest artist in the US)

i] Gloria (Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1982)
ii] Gloria (Saturday Night Live 1982)
iii] Living a Lie (Saturday Night Live 1982)
iv] It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas/Santa Claus Is Coming To
Town*** (A Solid Gold Christmas 1983)
v] How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
(Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 1983)
vi] Self Control (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1984)
vii] Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (w/Doc Severinson & the NBC
Orchestra) (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1984)
viii]Self Control (Rock Rolls On 1984)
ix] The Licky One (Rock Rolls On 1984)
xi] Spanish Eddie (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1985)
xii] Forever Young (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1985)
xiii]Special Production Number (Night of 100 Stars II 1985)
xiv] If I Were A River (Disney's Living Seas 1986)
xv] Reverse Psychology (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1990)
xvi] Never In A Million Years (The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1990)
xvii]Gloria (The RuPaul Show 1998)

Also, there can be a selection of other live performances of songs from other countries outside the US. Example: `Deep In The Dark' performed live on Australian TV on the rock-pop music show Countdown in 1983, which I saw.

*** I actually was lucky enough to tape this performance from the TV.

Well Now that you studied my compilation wish list (please let there be a God), what do you think? Remember this is only an example/guide, but I hope you the reader will get my meaning.

One final word.

If you are desperate and want any music by Laura then by all means get the "Platinum Collection", (and maybe "The Best of Branigan") but if you are a fan don't bother, and besides you wouldn't buy it anyway since you will have all her records anyway-right? (well the ones that count) I just hope that the powers-that-be perhaps see what I offer and maybe, just maybe use my example to rethink their next Laura Branigan collection and do a respectable job that can be a lasting testament to a great singer.

The one song that comes to mind when I think of Laura Branigan is `Forever Young', and I think it's appropriate because Laura will always be forever young in song, music, spirit and soul.

CD arrived in a good amount of time and well in good condtion when arriving.

I've been a Laura Brannigan fan for many years. I have all of her old records, but I seldom play them as it's a pain to get out the old record player. Buying this CD allowed me to relive the great songs that she did while riding in my car, and it's been great hearing her again after so long. Highly recommended!

I bought this particular cd for my wife. I don't particularly care for the music myself, but my wife loves it. I, like I said, bought it for her. She absolutely adores it. The cd arrived prior to what I anticipated, and in new condition. I would recommend this cd for anyone who enjoys this music.

The collection is fine, and includes many of the hits missed on previous collections. Still the collection in my opinion is missing some serious stuff from Miss Branigan's career. Some the songs on this cd may have been hits in others countries, but they were never hits in the US or Canada. I for one would enjoy seeing a 2 cd collection that actually includes all of her major hits, plus some of the lesser one. They also seem to always miss includeing tracks from the cd "Over my Heart".

This is A Good,but not great,collection of Many of the late,great,Laura Branigan's songs.While it does feature her hits "Gloria","Solitaire","Spanish Eddie"and"Self Control",it lacks many of her other good songs,like"Satisfaction","Hold Me",and"Imagination(from Flashdance)".Instead it includes many lesser songs including Laura's covers of"Power Of Love","How Am I Supposed To Live Without You",and"Dim All The Lights".However there are some good overlooked songs,like"Ti Amo","Is There Anybody Here But Me"and"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye".It's all in all ;A decent collection,but I was hoping for A little better.There still needs to be A better anthology honoring this wonderful female vocalist.

This is the same as The Best of Branigan package as "Greatest Hits"

If you want a "Greatest hits" compilation of Laura Branigan, you should look somewhere else. This compilation lacks "All Night With Me"," Satisfaction", "Shattered Glass", "Moonlight on Water", "I Found Someone", "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", "Never in a million years", "Shadow of Love", and several more.

This compilation opted to add new tracks("Show Me Heaven", "Dim all The Lights"), which should not be qualified as her Best/Great hits, the compilation should have opted to add more hits from her career instead of something new and untested as "Best/Greatest" hits. May be the new songs could have been added as Bonus tacks at the end of the CD, but they were scattered in the middle of the other hits songs.

If you want to have a "Greatest hits" compilation, I recommend "Laura Branigan Platinum Collection" or "Very Best of Laura Branigan".

Who can imagine the 80's without Laura Branigan? Few will deny that she had a big voice; she could belt with the best of them. But these recordings show that she had the heart to validate the power of the voice.

The CD opens with "Solitaire", which just might be my favorite track by Laura. I love the way she builds the song from quiet vulnerability to victory of operatic proportions. It rivals "Gloria" in sheer force. "Ti Amo" is a ballad in which she cries out in pain over the loss of someone she still loves desperately, as she does in her hit "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?" "Spanish Eddie" and "The Lucky One" are more upbeat musically, along the lines of "Gloria". "Is There Anybody Here But Me?" is a smooth mid-tempo number with a light Latin beat, decorated with romantic sax and atmospheric synths. In "Over You" Laura goes to great lengths to convince herself, us and her ex that she is over him. But is all that drama really denial? Does she protest a little too much? In "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye?", Laura is gentle and nurturing, rather uncharacteristic for her songs, which makes it all the more beautiful.

Two songs were hits by other artists. Laura sings "The Power Of Love", and I am amazed at the similarity of the vocal and instrumental arrangements to Celine Dion's version. I wonder how many people know that Laura's came first? Her emotional expression is a little more raw than Celine's, and frankly much better than I had expected. The other cover, "Dim All The Lights", follows Donna Summer's original pretty closely, and Laura acquits herself very well in this hit written and made famous by the Disco Queen.

The collection closes with Laura's 2 biggest hits: "Self Control", in which she paints a picture of a rather sinister but alluring and exotic nighttime world, and, of course, "Gloria", the unforgettable warning to someone who is indeed "...headed for a breakdown."

I read that at the time of her death, Laura had been planning a comeback. I believe she had it in her to succeed, and I am very sorry that we were denied the pleasure of witnessing that.

What a great CD. Very lucky to find this on Amazon website.

I am a huge fan of branigan's music I started listening to her when I was 11 years old and to this day feel as though shes probably 2nd best to Karren Carpenter and if was'nt for Branigans Power Of Love we would'nt even know who Celine Dion is today so why was'nt there a day of greaf,sorrow, and a celebration of Laruan Branigan on mtv or vh1 telling the world that she passed away it took me more than 2 years later to find out that she even died and for this I will never forgive mtv or vh1 for not announceing it!

I was very upset when a little over a year ago, I found out that Laura Branigan had passed away. She was a wonderful singer and far too underrated.

1984's Self Control represents Laura at her pinnacle of everything.

The album starts off with "The Lucky One", which begins as a ballad but becomes one of her most irresistable dance numbers. The song was a top 20 hit but IMO deserved to go top 10. "Self Control" is without a doubt Laura's quintessential recording. A sexy midtempo track that never grows old. This is not only my favorite Laura track, but one of my all time favorite songs ever recorded. "Ti Amo" is a great ballad that should've done better than it did as well. Of the non-singles, I am especially fond of "Satisfaction" and her cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"

7/3/57-8/26/04 - we miss you Laura, you didn't stay with us long enough :(

I remember buying this on LP when it first came out and the sound was incredible. Listening to this CD brings me back to that. Since the original was an audio recording that's all they could do when they brought this to CD and I think the sound is incredible. All of her songs that she ever sang are the best especially "Self Control". She did a remix of this song called "Self Control 2004" which is kind of cool but the original is the best. I never was able to see her live in concert because my parents couldn't afford it so all I could do is listen to her music and it's not the same. She will be greatly missed.

Kathleen Atkinson

Born in 1957, Laura Branigan first set her sights on the stage and attended New York's American Academy of Dramatic Art before becoming a noted back-up vocalist. In 1982 she scored a major hit with the single "Gloria;" suddenly much in demand, she soon generated a second album with the hits "Solitare" and "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You"--and then in 1984 released SELF CONTROL. It would be her high-water mark as a recording artist.

Branigan was not a songwriter, but she and her managers knew a good thing when they heard it. Although the first half of SELF CONTROL is stronger than the second, there's not a weak cut in the entire collection. Although there are several ballads on the album, most might best be described as classic 1980s top 40 material, usually mixing an up-tempo dance-friendly beat with sharp guitars.

The collection opens with "The Lucky One," a song that did very well on the charts, fast-paced and crackling with cynical lyrics and tremendous energy; the memorable "Ti Amo" begins delicately but soon transforms into harder edges; a cover of the Carole King classic "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is delicately performed and remarkably fine. Even so, at least to my mind, the single most memorable track here is the title cut, a dark and disturbing pop-rocker concerning obsessive love; it has an unexpectedly sado-maschochistic edge that perfectly captures the mixture of self-indulgence and sexual paranoia of the decade.

Popular music of the 1980s was beset by excessive synthesizer and intrusive back-up vocals, and SELF CONTROL is no exception. Even so, Branigan's voice carries the weight of these flaws very well. Branigan was said to possess a five-octive voice, but her work here stays almost entirely in the alto range: solid, full-bodied, with an unexpectedly slow vibrato that adds a remarkable sense of emotion to her lyrics.

Branigan's music career gradually faultered as the 1980s wore on and she returned to acting, often appearing on television and in 2002 receiving solid reviews for a New York stage musical bio of Janis Joplin. With her career seemingly on an upturn, fans were shocked when she died suddenly in 2004 of a brain aneurysm. Fortunately, SELF CONTROL and other recordings remain to beguile us.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

if you want one laura branigan cd with her greatest hits on it, buy this one, they are all here. what power in her voice, she left too soon.

If you want a "Greatest hits" compilation of Laura Branigan, you should look somewhere else. This compilation lacks "All Night With Me"," Satisfaction", "Shattered Glass", "Moonlight on Water", "I Found Someone", "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", "Never in a million years", "Shadow of Love", and several more.

This compilation opted to add new tracks("Show Me Heaven", "Dim all The Lights"), which should not be qualified as her Best/Great hits, the compilation should have opted to add more hits from her career instead of something new and untested as "Best/Greatest" hits. May be the new songs could have been added as Bonus tacks at the end of the CD, but they were scattered in the middle of the other hits songs.

If you want to have a "Greatest hits" compilation, I recommend "Laura Branigan Platinum Collection" or "Very Best of Laura Branigan".

Yes, I have a few CD's of hers, but this one is my most favorite. What a voice this lovely lady has. You will enjoy this CD and will play it over and over many times. Thanks Laura for giving me enjoyable music... Rowdy Yates

I had this CD long time ago. "A friend" borrow it and never return it. Now I am buying it again!

From about '79 to '85, I've had a hit and miss exposure to secular music, mostly miss. As a result, I missed most of Branigan's career. The only songs I knew were hers was "Self Control" (and like a reviewer, I remember the controversy of the video, though I never saw it) and "Gloria". I really enjoyed both of those songs, which was why I listened to this project.

Actually, I like the fact that this collection ends with the two songs I know and love (unlike the Platinum Collection, which starts with them). I could have had the experience of being unimpressed with anything except those two songs, but if that was true I would not have given this five stars. Obviously, I learned that those two songs were just the tip of the iceberg.

Besides "Self Control" and "Gloria", I also enjoyed "Solitaire", "Ti Amo", "Spanish Eddie", and "The Lucky One." The song that blew me away lyrically was "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye?", an excellent tear-jerker dealing with the various types of separation we endure in life. (Pardon me as I wipe my eyes, just thinking about that song.)

Like Karen Carpenter, too many songs that could be sung, yet sadly were not. Great throaty/sexy voice--way appealing to many my age (46). Can I get an "amen" for Laura?

I am dedicating this cd to my first love of my life, There will always be a special place in my heart for him. From every song on the cd is breathtaking to hear her voice, the words it seems like to me she is standing in front of me singing. There are 12 songs and from number 1- till the end is perfect. You never get over your first love and Laura Branigan and Sheena Easton were the first singers in my life, you dont forget those voices ever. Laura Branigan I will never be Over You. Get this cd you will not be disappointed at all. It is magnificent! Laura you are an ANGEL in Heaven. Listen to that amazing and powerful voice.

Although there was little press or public acknowlegement of this CD, it is one of the best of her career. I absolutely love every song on this album. Some have dissed the Gloria Estefan penned, "Love Your Girl" I find it very good. I am one of those fans who was not particularly impressed with her debut, Gloria, but once I got entrigued with her career in 1985, I discovered a love that will always last. May Laura sing with God's angels. The "Angels Calling" choir I call it.

Buy it, buy it, buy it!

This is probably Laura Branigan's second best CD (after "Touch"), and it features some of the best recordings she ever did. Her version of "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" will move you to tears, and "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" will rock your world. However, the most stunning performance here is the Branigan-penned tune "Didn't We Almost Win It All" ... pure pop perfection.

Laura Branigan may be gone, but her remarkable voice lives on with this excellent CD.

As anyone who is a fan of Laura Branigan knows, with the exception of "Self Control," most of her albums have one or two great cuts and a lot of filler. "Over My Heart" is the CD we fans have been waiting for. Every song is a gem is its own way and her voice has never sounded better. Her interpretation of "How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye," alone, is worth the price of admission. But this time, she doesn't stop there. "Over My Heart," "Didn't We Almost Win It All," "The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye," are all examples of Ms. Branigan at her best. Sometimes, even great albums fall through the cracks and this is one of those times.

1982 was a good year for me especially on radio, (it would be another year before I would get my own record player and start buying records) I was still into tapes. Anyway, it started with watching TV by accident and seeing and hearing this female singer singing "Gloria", at that stage I didn't know who she (Laura Branigan) was, but I was going to find out pretty soon.

The song "Gloria" was my song for 1982, and Laura Branigan was the girl (what a spunk) I liked to listen to the most, her debut album `Branigan' was a must for me, (I got my copy on tape first, then I bought record later) the album went gold and platinum in Canada and the U.S. in 1983-84.

`Branigan' the album only had 9 tracks when released in 1982 (what is it with 9-track albums?), nonetheless the first single off the album was "All Night with Me", which had climbed to number 69 on the Billboards charts, this soft ballad was the beginning of a successful career in music although the song had potential, it didn't really do anything, but Laura had to start somewhere; but it did prove that Laura had great vocal talent as her second single "Gloria" attested, this rock-pop-dance-groove with tight strong vocals was originally an Italian love song recorded by Umberto Tozzi in 1979; this was the song that made everybody stand to attention and take notice it was a hit all around the world and stayed on the Billboard's Hot 100 for a record-setting 36 weeks. It was a gold and platinum hit in Canada and the U.S. Laura was also nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance - by a Female Artist at the Grammy Awards in 1982 for her song "Gloria", and it seemed from then on Laura could only build on her success, which she did the following years as her maturity in the music industry flourished.

Laura's other songs on the album: "Lovin You Baby", with electro-ambient rock, and dominate piano, "Living a Lie", with tangy guitar and again with piano, "If You Loved Me", "I Wish We Could Be Alone" (written by Laura) and "Maybe I Love You", all with a soft mellow ballad feel, "Please Stay Go Away", the only hard-rock tempo style beat, (in my mind) although "Gloria" maybe in this category also, with finally "Down Like a Rock", again with the tangy guitar with an electro upbeat resonance, all with the classic 80's style feel-but diverse just the same plus naturally throughout the album Laura's strong vocal talents can be heard as physically powerful, gutsy, hard and energetic with a touch of feminine softness where it counts. Her second album `Branigan 2' would continue the tradition in sound and feel overall with the changing of the years and is also an improvement as each of Laura's albums would be better than the last. (You have to have listened to all of them to tell the difference)

Sadly, Laura passed away in 2004, but her eight albums (`Remember Me' released in 2004 would be classified as her last album) are a testament to her talent as an artist in song and as a live performer on stage, which I was lucky enough to witness about 1997-8 in Australia. (I was in the front row, no more than 12 feet away from her-an experience you can't beat)

The only way you are going to appreciate this lady is to listen to all her albums, so start collecting today.

I was waiting to buy all Laura Branigan's music starting with the music I had in cassettes. This is one of those I replaced. This has the one everyone knows "Gloria" My favorites are If you loved me, Please stay go away BEAUTIFUL and Down like a Tock is FUN You will like this CD!

This Cd has some of my favorite songs on it and shows what a powerful voice Laura Branigan had. She is missed!

I remember buying this on LP when it first came out and the sound was incredible. I couldn't afford to buy my own so I always went over to my best friends house to listen to it. Listening to the CD version brings me back to that. Since the original was an audio recording that's all they could do when they brought this to CD and I think the sound is incredible. All of her songs that she ever sang are the best especially "Gloria". She did a remix of this song called "Gloria 2004" which is kind of cool but the original is the best. I never was able to see her live in concert because my parents couldn't afford it so all I could do is listen to her music and it's not the same. She will be greatly missed.

Kathleen Atkinson

Although it contains Laura Branigan's smash hit "Gloria" the rest of her debut seems to go ignored, unfortunately. If you were to base the album off its big hit, that might not be an accurate indicator.

It sounds actually a bit different from her albums to follow. Some have said it has a cabaret sound, and although I don't totally agree, I can see some of those influences. Also, since it was still only 1982 at the time, there's some 70's traces as well.

1. All Night With Me -- Kicking off the album is a semi hit; an easygoing 80's pop ballad that has just a teeny bit of an upbeat rock vibe, sounding a bit like Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart". However, it also has some elements of the popular country sound at the time.

2. Gloria -- The huge hit - and biggest of her career - was sometimes typecast as "Euro-Disco" (whatever that means!). It's definitely a dance song, with its synthseizers and fast-paced beat, but it has an 80's pop/new wave-inspired sound, clearly setting it apart from the pack!

3. Lovin' You Baby -- Things really slow down for the only 'quiet' ballad on side 1. A softer, piano-based song somewhat like her later "With Every Beat of My Heart," but definitely sounds sadder (as in "no more Lovin' you, baby").

4. Living A Lie -- By stark contrast, this couldn't be more different than the songs surrounding it. It's definitely one of her loudest and fastest songs. With a synth/disco beat recalling a quicker-paced "Gloria" and a rock sound not unlike GET NERVOUS-era Pat Benatar, this is a total winner.

5. If You Loved Me -- The sound of quiet balladry returns with this slightly synthesized, theatrical, pretty love song. I'd call this the most touching song on the album. (Despite there being 5 ballads, they all manage to sound different from each other.)

6. Please Stay, Go Away -- One of the really upbeat songs, this slughtly guitar-driven number (which, interestingly, reminds me a bit of John Cougar-Mellencamp's AMERICAN FOOL album) is probably one of the biggest dance-styled tunes she did.

7. I Wish We Could Be Alone -- This is probably the most unique song. Another piano/pop ballad, lyrically akin to "Silent Partners" from SELF CONTROL, and musically like Lionel Richie's "Ballerina Girl". Even though it's one of those "extra marital affair"-kinda songs, it still feels really romantic, as opposed to risque, if that makes sense.

NOTE: This is one of the few songs she wrote completely herself, and it shows she had a knack with that too.

8. Down Like a Rock -- A slightly silly (with Laura using a cool, echo-y effect on her voice) and unique catchy, upbeat pop/rocker with a Journey-like guitar solo.

9. Maybe I Love You -- The closer is a nice pop/rock ballad, opening with just a piano and vocals, like Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes' "Up Where We Belong", it kicks into a mid tempo, louder sound on the second verse before mellowing out again periodically.

Basically, I also came to the conclusion that this is clearly one of Laura's most "interesting" and varied albums. In fact, now that I think about it, it has a real showtune-y vibe to it, especially on the ballads. To be honest, aside from the two opening songs (the hits) and "Living a Lie", the whole album really sounds like it could've come out 5 to 10 years before it actually did. I could even see a female singer-songwriter circa 1975 singing alot of the material here.

In short, I wouldn't start a LB collection off with this album (either get one of her hits CD's--preferentially THE ESSENTIALS, or for a studio album, SELF CONTROL), but if you're looking for more material beyond hits, and wanna know how Laura sounded starting out, you'll like this.

Thank you Wounded Bird Records for bringing some of Laura's less known 80s LPs back to CD, but why oh WHY did you not include the 12" version of the Stock Aitken Waterman produced "Shattered Glass" as a bonus track???

As a huge fan of Laura Branigan , This cd TOUCH is remarkable .The song Over Love is still clear with me, in my opinion you dont get over your first love, love deep down does not go away. Its magic. Like a Statue in the Rain .There is just something special with this one. A special TOUCH! Enjoy.
Dedicated to that special someone from my past to the future. Over Love, Angels Calling . Love always
R

This was the album that made me a fan. The ones before were good, but I hadn't been convinced. After "Touch", I became a full-fledged Laura fanatic. "Shattered Glass" was the first single to garner air and dance club play, and when I heard the artistry involved in the album, I was hooked. To this day, I play people Laura's version of "Power of Love" to convince them that, Celine's may have hit bigger (a matter of timing; she was hot at the time and a recording of her reading the phone book would probably have hit No. 1), but she didn't perform the song better than Branigan; I convert everyone I do this for. Other highlights are her cover of Hazell Dean's "Whatever I Do", the title track, "Shadow of Love", and her smart and funky cover of "Name Game". Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to see Laura live in concert twice before her untimely demise, and even got to shake her hand at the last show. Also fortunately, we have fine albums such as "Touch" to remind us of the talent and artistry of one of the only artists to come out of the 80s who can be considered legendary, Ms. Laura Branigan.

Not often does an album come around that HAS IT ALL!! This one does. Starting with Laura's captivating vocal style, this set just keeps getting better and better.

For starters, take "Shattered Glass (written by Steve Coe & Bob Mitchell)--it is the quintessential dance track! Why? What better way than to have the golden touch of the Stock, Aitken Waterman imprint. Yup, the Hit Factory behind Kylie Minogue, Bananarama and Donna Summer have joined to make "Shattered Glass" an absolute classic! That's not all.

Taking the baton further, Laura puts her spin on yet another PWL/SAW creation--Hazell Dean's "Whatever I Do." This alone catapults this entire album into high gear. As Hazell Dean and SAW/PWL laid the foundation for this one, Laura makes sure this track gets noticed!!

Furthermore, Laura gives the ORIGINAL performance of "Power Of Love," and makes this one beauty of a song!! Just remember, Laura's version came way long before Celine's. This version by Laura is the winner in my book!

Other highlights include "Angels Calling, "Spirit Of Love" and "Touch" all for the classic Branigan sound of the 80s.

I actually bought the 45 spd. records of "POWER OF LOVE" and "SHATTERED GLASS" as they were subsequantly released as singles in 1987. They both received considerable radio airplay here in Chicago. Back in those days, I listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 religiously and I remember "THE POWER OF LOVE" reaching the top 40 but I don't think "SHATTERED GLASS" charted too high. That's a shame because it's an excellent STOCK,AIKEN,WATERMAN penned song. It was perfect for Laura's super-strong vocals as all of the song selections are. If you're fans of STOCK,AIKEN,WATERMAN as I am, check out the just released 3 cd compilation of their greatest hits;included are "VENUS"-BANANARAMA, "NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP"-RICK ASTLEY, "I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY"-KYLIE MINOGUE, "THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL"-DONNA SUMMER, "RESPECTABLE"-MEL & KIM and many others. However, "SHATTERED GLASS" wasn't included. Oh well, maybe in the next volume of "SAT" greatest hits. That's why I recommend this cd because it appears here along with another "SAT" cut. Long live LAURA BRANIGAN as her voice has been forever immortalized in all of her recordings. JULIUS-ALLAN

Im searching for some information of a song titled Tell Him. I do not know the original artist but discovered a few minutes ago that Laura sang it also. Its on youtube! As a huge fan of Lauras , if you have any information that could help me I would really appreciate it very much. I would like to get a copy of the song on cd and the name of the original artist to compare voice and sound. Of course nothing compares to Lauras powerful vocals but just want to hear and have a copy for myself. Please help? (Tell Him).

After the more mellowed sounds of Touch, and with the transition period of 1989/1990, what was Laura Branigan to do? She found new producers, even self-produced some, found some new sounds, went back to her old style, and did some songs that was not worthy of her, given her talent.

"Moonlight On Water" finds her going back to the upbeat synth pop that made her a big name with her first four albums. The theme of leisure time spent with someone special being more important than a Mercedes or that big promotion is something done previously: "Instead of dreamin' 'bout all that money/we got much simpler things to do" she sings. One of the better songs here.

"Bad Attitude" is something Laura is not impressed with, preferring someone who's not a raw diamond. The chorus is a mixture of funky synths, accompanying R&B vocals and a fiery guitar. This is a newer kind of sound for Branigan.

In the keyboard ballad "Never In A Million Years" Laura's voice is still in peak form, the way she did the heartfelt cover of Alphaville's "Forever Young" on Hold Me or "Will You Still Love Me" on Self Control. Another highlight cut.

"Smoke Screen" is a mid-paced number about the defense mechanisms one uses to protect one's feelings after being burned. The synths, drum machine and backing vocals in the chorus makes this more a Taylor Dayne song, a la "I'll Be Your Shelter."

"Let Me In" sounds like something Janet Jackson or Paula Abdul would be better off doing. As for Laura, sorry, no sandwich from the picnic basket.

Given her great cover songs from the past, one would expect her to make Vicki Sue Robinson's disco standard "Turn The Beat Around" a winner, but it's a bit uninspired, as the tempo's slowed down, so that's unexcusable. Gloria Estefan did a much better cover of this, more to the spirit of the original.

Her cover of "Unison" is remarkable for the same reason that Celine Dion not only also covered it that year, but took that as the title of her English-language debut. There isn't that much difference between the two versions, as it is an unremarkable mid-paced dance song.

"No Promise-No Guarantee" is better suited for Jennifer Rush--what that woman could do with this!--but Laura and her accompanying vocalists do an admirable enough job of a song averring to open one's heart and world despite no promises and no guarantees.

With the guitar and synth song, "Reverse Psychology" sounds like either an 80's movie song that failed to hit a soundtrack or something Jennifer Rush might have rejected.

OK, she had to get one of three cover songs bang on, and she does so with her heartfelt cover of Bryan Adams' "The Best Was Yet To Come", which has a synth instead of electric piano, but I hear the Laura Branigan I'm used to, as well as the Pasadena Boys Choir making this a more haunting version than Bryan's. "What's so good about goodbye, when the best was yet to come?" she asks. A great way to end the album.

Laura Branigan's self-titled debut finds her scrambling in all directions. Getting back to her old sound and doing the emotional ballads was a good moves, and her voice is still at its peak, but a bad choice of songs, instrumentations that aren't catchy, and a lack of oomph in a sagging midsection really hurt this album. A flawed yet worthy attempt to find a place in 1990.

After a few chart-topping albums, Laura's career started to decline by critics, but I still think her music was great. Her 1990 self-titled album is no disappointment. While the style of her music started to slighly change, the material seemed to mature. It doesn't have the same quality that Self Control does, but if you are a fan of Laura's you will find that it is still excellent. Unfortunately, none of the songs reached the top of the charts. My favorite tracks are: Moonlight on Water, Bad Attitude, Never in a Million Years, Turn the Beat Around, Unison, and No Promise, No Guarantee. I would definitely recommend this album.

This is Branigan at her best and features great vocals and good production. Uptempo songs include: "Moonlight On Water", "Bad Attitude" and "Turn The Beat Around" (which is far superior to Gloria Estefan's version). Wonderful ballad, "Never In A Million Years" is heartfelt. If you like Laura Branigan, buy this.

Although not a avid fan of Ms. Branigan, I do have 5 of her albums. However, this album is by far her best. From "Never In A Million Years" to "The Best Was Yet To Come". If you like any of Ms. Branigan's music, you must have this album. Although most will remember her for "Gloria", this album is her true work of art!

Thank you Wounded Bird Records for bringing some of Laura's less known 80s LPs back to CD, but why oh WHY did you not include the 12" version of the Stock Aitken Waterman produced "Shattered Glass" as a bonus track???

As a huge fan of Laura Branigan , This cd TOUCH is remarkable .The song Over Love is still clear with me, in my opinion you dont get over your first love, love deep down does not go away. Its magic. Like a Statue in the Rain .There is just something special with this one. A special TOUCH! Enjoy.
Dedicated to that special someone from my past to the future. Over Love, Angels Calling . Love always
R

This was the album that made me a fan. The ones before were good, but I hadn't been convinced. After "Touch", I became a full-fledged Laura fanatic. "Shattered Glass" was the first single to garner air and dance club play, and when I heard the artistry involved in the album, I was hooked. To this day, I play people Laura's version of "Power of Love" to convince them that, Celine's may have hit bigger (a matter of timing; she was hot at the time and a recording of her reading the phone book would probably have hit No. 1), but she didn't perform the song better than Branigan; I convert everyone I do this for. Other highlights are her cover of Hazell Dean's "Whatever I Do", the title track, "Shadow of Love", and her smart and funky cover of "Name Game". Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to see Laura live in concert twice before her untimely demise, and even got to shake her hand at the last show. Also fortunately, we have fine albums such as "Touch" to remind us of the talent and artistry of one of the only artists to come out of the 80s who can be considered legendary, Ms. Laura Branigan.

Not often does an album come around that HAS IT ALL!! This one does. Starting with Laura's captivating vocal style, this set just keeps getting better and better.

For starters, take "Shattered Glass (written by Steve Coe & Bob Mitchell)--it is the quintessential dance track! Why? What better way than to have the golden touch of the Stock, Aitken Waterman imprint. Yup, the Hit Factory behind Kylie Minogue, Bananarama and Donna Summer have joined to make "Shattered Glass" an absolute classic! That's not all.

Taking the baton further, Laura puts her spin on yet another PWL/SAW creation--Hazell Dean's "Whatever I Do." This alone catapults this entire album into high gear. As Hazell Dean and SAW/PWL laid the foundation for this one, Laura makes sure this track gets noticed!!

Furthermore, Laura gives the ORIGINAL performance of "Power Of Love," and makes this one beauty of a song!! Just remember, Laura's version came way long before Celine's. This version by Laura is the winner in my book!

Other highlights include "Angels Calling, "Spirit Of Love" and "Touch" all for the classic Branigan sound of the 80s.

I actually bought the 45 spd. records of "POWER OF LOVE" and "SHATTERED GLASS" as they were subsequantly released as singles in 1987. They both received considerable radio airplay here in Chicago. Back in those days, I listened to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 religiously and I remember "THE POWER OF LOVE" reaching the top 40 but I don't think "SHATTERED GLASS" charted too high. That's a shame because it's an excellent STOCK,AIKEN,WATERMAN penned song. It was perfect for Laura's super-strong vocals as all of the song selections are. If you're fans of STOCK,AIKEN,WATERMAN as I am, check out the just released 3 cd compilation of their greatest hits;included are "VENUS"-BANANARAMA, "NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP"-RICK ASTLEY, "I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY"-KYLIE MINOGUE, "THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL"-DONNA SUMMER, "RESPECTABLE"-MEL & KIM and many others. However, "SHATTERED GLASS" wasn't included. Oh well, maybe in the next volume of "SAT" greatest hits. That's why I recommend this cd because it appears here along with another "SAT" cut. Long live LAURA BRANIGAN as her voice has been forever immortalized in all of her recordings. JULIUS-ALLAN