Back in the 80's, a slow, subtle force impressed itself upon the music scene. That force was 'The Minneapolis Sound', and it manifested itself in many ways (Force MD's, The S.O.S. Band, Cherelle, New Edition, Janet, Herb, and even The Human League for goodness sakes!). That sound, ingeniously crafted by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, has its most glorious achievement in the album "Hearsay" by Alexander O'Neal. My introduction to this album came as a part of a frantic search to find out who sang this beautiful, haunting ballad called "Sunshine". Once I got my hands on the CD, it rarely left my player.
This 'party within a party' album is Jam and Lewis at their finest, and every R&B album could take a lesson from its construction. Just like any other party, all of the Intros happen at the beginning, as does all of the energy in the party. There we find all of the up-tempo songs like Hearsay, '(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me', 'Fake' and 'Criticize'. But to me, to hear the album working at its best, start with Track Number 5 (an INTRO) which leads right into 'The Lovers'. The funky, hook-driven beat of that song gets me through my drive home (even today!).
Then, as every party progresses and people start to groove on each other, you move into the more sultry songs. The duet with Cherelle on 'Never Knew Love Like This' is an R&B classic, and the songs 'Crying Overtime' and 'When The Party's Over' wrap up the party nicely, but the song 'Sunshine' is possibly the best love ballad ever written.
I tend to ramble a bit (I'm a BIG fan of Jam and Lewis), but I don't think there will ever be another R&B album that is this tight from start to finish. It's a shame that Alex slipped out of the hearts and minds of the oh-so-fickle U.S. music scene, but I'm glad to know I can get another copy of this CD now (my first one is so scratched up, I don't know if it will last!). If you are a fan of ANYTHING Jam and Lewis, you have to add this CD to the collection. And if you are a fan of great, classic 80's R&B, you MUST add this CD to your collection.
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Alexander O'Neal - Hearsay - 12" LP 1987 - Tabu Records 450936 1 - UK Press [...
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Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Date First Available : May 29, 2017
- ASIN : B00VVFR84O
- Number of discs : 1
- Customer Reviews:
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4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
486 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2004
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2011
I'm sorry to see that this r&b masterpiece is once again out of print. This is a great album featuring one of the most distinctive male vocalists in r&b, Alexander O'Neal. He had such a classy presence while performing and I remember being mesmerized by his soulful eyes while watching his videos. The brillance of this album is the "perfect storm" collaboration of a strong vocalist and the exceptional now legendary production duo of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
It's a concept album using a party as its backdrop and conversational interludes before some of the songs; the song placement almost perfectly mimics a party atmosphere - starting off with the high energy dance tracks and then cooling down with love ballads.
This is such a strong album that I have no tracks that I dislike - there is no skipping required of me but I do have some favorite tracks:
WHAT CAN I SAY TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME - smoking way to open, thumping percussion and the drums drive this track;
THE LOVERS - very thematic opening that segues into a mid-tempo anthem, "in this world of mass confusion one thing I find it seems the lovers win every time..."
FAKE - full on funk track on which the brother calls out fake females;
CRITICIZE - another smoking uptempo track;
NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS f/ Cherrelle - another great duet between these two (much like Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell and Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway, these two vocalists are a match made in heaven);
SUNSHINE - gorgeous ballad
I can't say enough good things about this album. It came out at a time when artists, producers & writers competitively sought to outdo one another so their music was excellent and music lovers were the beneficiaries. I only hope this doesn't stay out of print for too long so that people who are just discovering '80s r&b can get their hands on it.
It's a concept album using a party as its backdrop and conversational interludes before some of the songs; the song placement almost perfectly mimics a party atmosphere - starting off with the high energy dance tracks and then cooling down with love ballads.
This is such a strong album that I have no tracks that I dislike - there is no skipping required of me but I do have some favorite tracks:
WHAT CAN I SAY TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME - smoking way to open, thumping percussion and the drums drive this track;
THE LOVERS - very thematic opening that segues into a mid-tempo anthem, "in this world of mass confusion one thing I find it seems the lovers win every time..."
FAKE - full on funk track on which the brother calls out fake females;
CRITICIZE - another smoking uptempo track;
NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS f/ Cherrelle - another great duet between these two (much like Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell and Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway, these two vocalists are a match made in heaven);
SUNSHINE - gorgeous ballad
I can't say enough good things about this album. It came out at a time when artists, producers & writers competitively sought to outdo one another so their music was excellent and music lovers were the beneficiaries. I only hope this doesn't stay out of print for too long so that people who are just discovering '80s r&b can get their hands on it.
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
Haven't herd this this songs in years since junior high school love it.
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2010
I bought this as a cassette back when it came out, back then, it was considered a collection with your albums. Well, someone stoled it from me, so I've been looking for this as a C.D...well, I found it. I will say, I paid cheaper for it on Amazon..from another seller, way under 20 smacks.
Used, but sounds and looks new...It is as great as it was when I bought this as a tape years ago.
The tracks on the CD are dynomite---lol!!
MY fav's..."Sunshine", "CritiZe", "Crying Overtime", "Fake", "To Make You Love Me", "Never Knew Love Like This"; with Cherrele. Also, the continuous party intro's thrown into it, before and after the song plays. It's a true album.
The C.D. is great, I also have a few more extra cuts, on the CD...so, forgive me I don't know what they are... on here, will add my comments on that with an update.... just got it today. It has a total of 11 cuts on it....For the record it is a legitmite C.D...I am sooooo very happy with this purchase. I will be blasting it in my car today---I am a true 80's doll, forever!!!
:)
Used, but sounds and looks new...It is as great as it was when I bought this as a tape years ago.
The tracks on the CD are dynomite---lol!!
MY fav's..."Sunshine", "CritiZe", "Crying Overtime", "Fake", "To Make You Love Me", "Never Knew Love Like This"; with Cherrele. Also, the continuous party intro's thrown into it, before and after the song plays. It's a true album.
The C.D. is great, I also have a few more extra cuts, on the CD...so, forgive me I don't know what they are... on here, will add my comments on that with an update.... just got it today. It has a total of 11 cuts on it....For the record it is a legitmite C.D...I am sooooo very happy with this purchase. I will be blasting it in my car today---I am a true 80's doll, forever!!!
:)
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2017
This is a really good album. Fake and sunshine are the best songs of them all.
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2014
This cd by Alexander O'Neal is as good as his debut with songs like What Can I Say To Make You Love Me, Criticize & Fake with brilliant production by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Once again his voice shines throughout the entire album especially with Cherrelle. I gave this a 5 star rating that's just where it should be. He was & still is a rare find in the vocals department, Pure Excellence without a doubt.
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2010
This classic album catapulted Alexander O'Neal to superstardom and sounds just as compelling today as it did back in 1987. "Fake", "Criticize", "The Lovers", "What Can I Say To Make You Love Me?" and "Sunshine" are all classic performances from one of 1980s R&B's most distinctive and iconic male vocalists. Yes, Alexander O'Neal's record sales and across-the board recognition may not have matched those of Luther Vandross and Freddie Jackson but he was just as powerful and gifted a singer.
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2020
This is the best CD ever
Old school music and I love it.
Old school music and I love it.
Top reviews from other countries
D. Larsen
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2023
Wow. Alexander ONeal. Voice and production funk-pop to die for. Classic.
ElDiablo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing FAKE. Nothing to CRITICIZE. ALEX BABY WAIT FOR ME! ALEX! FtyteTyme at the top!
Reviewed in Canada on November 4, 2018
Disc is fine, box is showing a bit of 'an album that was enjoyed a lot' 😁.
I had this album on cd almost 30 years ago, but had to sell my whole cd collection, over 2000 of them, to be able to pay rent and eat, at a pawnshop. The man gave me 300$ for ALL of them.
I am now rebuying every cd i lost. Couple a week.
Music is important to the mind, the body and the soul.
AND I am still alive because of it.
E.☺
I had this album on cd almost 30 years ago, but had to sell my whole cd collection, over 2000 of them, to be able to pay rent and eat, at a pawnshop. The man gave me 300$ for ALL of them.
I am now rebuying every cd i lost. Couple a week.
Music is important to the mind, the body and the soul.
AND I am still alive because of it.
E.☺
Heike Sandow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Da lohnt der Kauf der teuren Importe.
Reviewed in Germany on April 27, 2011
Schade schade: diese Platte von 1987 kann man in Deutschland nur als teuren Import kaufen (Stand April 2011). Selbst ein Download als MP3 bei Amazon oder bei anderen Downloadanbietern ist nicht möglich. Da scheint es irgendwelche Hürden bei den Rechten zu geben. Nach langer Überlegung habe ich mir HEARSAY als teure Import CD bestellt.
Es hat sich gelohnt.
Selbst heute, nach 24 Jahren, klingt HEARSAY immer noch frisch, druckvoll, tanzbar. Wie auf dem Tabu-Label in den 80ern oft üblich, gibt es eine Seite (ja, früher musste man die Vinyl Platten umdrehen) mit tanzbaren Songs, und eine Seite mit eher ruhigen Stücken.
Alleine für die erste Seite - also die ersten 5 Songs - lohnt der Kauf, denn hier sind ein paar der feinsten R&B Produktionen der 80er Jahre versammelt.
Schon der Opener WHAT CAN I SAY hat Hitcharakter - war allerdings nie eine Single. Die Produzenten Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis wussten damals sehr genau, wie man Dancefloor-Kracher produziert (sie zeichneten sich auch für Janet Jackon's CONTROL verantwortlich).
Wer also mal hören mag, wie vernünftiger Dancefloor in den 80ern funktioniert hat - lange bevor Usher und Co. Ihren ersten PC bekommen haben - der liegt mit HEARSAY mehr als richtig. Eine der besten Scheiben der 80er und ein absoluter Kauftipp.
Es hat sich gelohnt.
Selbst heute, nach 24 Jahren, klingt HEARSAY immer noch frisch, druckvoll, tanzbar. Wie auf dem Tabu-Label in den 80ern oft üblich, gibt es eine Seite (ja, früher musste man die Vinyl Platten umdrehen) mit tanzbaren Songs, und eine Seite mit eher ruhigen Stücken.
Alleine für die erste Seite - also die ersten 5 Songs - lohnt der Kauf, denn hier sind ein paar der feinsten R&B Produktionen der 80er Jahre versammelt.
Schon der Opener WHAT CAN I SAY hat Hitcharakter - war allerdings nie eine Single. Die Produzenten Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis wussten damals sehr genau, wie man Dancefloor-Kracher produziert (sie zeichneten sich auch für Janet Jackon's CONTROL verantwortlich).
Wer also mal hören mag, wie vernünftiger Dancefloor in den 80ern funktioniert hat - lange bevor Usher und Co. Ihren ersten PC bekommen haben - der liegt mit HEARSAY mehr als richtig. Eine der besten Scheiben der 80er und ein absoluter Kauftipp.
MICHAEL RIBY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brings back fond memories
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2023
Alexander played at Billingham Forum and he was fantastic. This album brings it all back
Hartmut Cyrny
5.0 out of 5 stars
Soul Feeling Gänsehaut
Reviewed in Germany on January 10, 2018
Mit meinen fast 60 Lenzen, dachte ich: Wird nur eine weitere Projektion sein, dieses geile Feeling damals in den 80ties, als ich Alex hörte. Welch Überraschung, als kürzlich die Scheibe in meinem Player lief. Gänsehaut pur bei dieser Soulscheibe, also kein konserviertes Gefühl. Und tanzen tue ich natürlich immer noch, auch nach dieser Musik. Immer schön, wenn ich auf Schatzsuche bei Ama gehe und verblüfft bin, was ich alles so wiederfinde bzw, neu entdecke. Auch jüngeren Musikhörern sei diese Scheibe wärmstens empfohlen.