Search - Juice Newton :: Old Flame/Dirty Looks

Another fantastic Juice Newton collection from Raven Records

Invisiboy2001 | Chicago, IL United States | 06/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, a standing ovation for Raven Records for issuing Juice Newton's "Dirty Looks" album on CD! The album was released in 1983, one year before the CD format became an industry standard, and the album never made it to CD ... until now! Thank you, Raven Records!!! And more cheers to you for a wonderful remastering job on these two classic albums!



Now, about the music ...



If someone wanted to experience Juice Newton's stylistic and vocal ranges, I'd recommend the two albums contained on this CD compilation. Juice Newton is one of very few artists in music history who successfully blended pop and country and achieved multi-platinum crossover success - and the music here shows just how talented this extraordinary vocalist is.



The 1985 RCA release "Old Flame" is a decidedly country effort (and Newton's biggest hit in the genre). A huge commercial success, the album features three #1 country smashes and three additional Top Ten hits. Here, Raven has compiled all 11 tracks that appeared on various editions of the original album (the final track was "Let Your Woman Take Care Of You" or "Both To Each Other", depending on which version of "Old Flame" you happened to buy). If you are familar with country radio from the mid to late '80s, you'll undoubtedly recognize Newton's cathartic reading of Timi Turo's "Hurt" and the up-beat, rollicking "You Make Me Want To Make You Mine" (the latter of which garnered Newton a Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocalist). Other hits are here as well, such as the sparely produced yet powerful title song. Mixed in with the half-dozen hits are five other great songs, including Newton's should-have-been-released-as-a-single cover of Steeler Wheel's "Stuck In The Middle With You", as well as a folk-rock version of The Byrds' "Feel A Whole Lot Better". All in all, "Old Flame" is a solid country album with a roots rock edge to it. Sure, some of the tracks feature sonic licks specific to the '80s, but Newton's exemplary vocals are the focus here -- and this is one lady who sure can sing! Also, when "Old Flame" was recorded, Newton had recently recovered form surgery on her vocal chords, and there is an undeniable gruffness to her voice, which really works for the songs on this album.



After presenting "Old Flame", this collection travels back in time to 1983 and embraces the "Dirty Looks" album, Newton's final album for Capitol Records. While not as commercially successful as Newton's platinum "Juice" (1981) and "Quiet Lies" (1982) albums, the album cemented Newton's reputation as an artist equally comfortable singing pop and country. The album starts jarringly with the over-produced title track, a rock-infused single that stalled at #90 on the Hot 100, making it Newton's lowest-charting of all 11 of her pop-chart singles. Luckily, the album relaxes and gets focused starting with the second track, "Tell Her No", the album's only bona-fide hit single (AC #14/Pop #27). From that point on, "Dirty Looks" is a deftly produced, rollercoaster ride of pop styles, including a roots rock number: the unforgettable "Keeping Me On My Toes". On this standout track, Newton gets huge points for sassily singing delicious lyrics like, "There was a hot-lipped, big-hipped part-time waitress/Shaking it across the floor/You were observin' everything she was servin'/I think that she has served you before". Other great tracks are "Runaway Hearts", "Twenty Years Ago" (later covered by Kenny Rogers, who topped the charts with it!), "Til I Loved You" (later a hit for Restless Heart, a group that got its name from a 1984 Juice Newton song!), and the gorgeous lullaby "For Believers", written by Newton's longtime musical partner Otha Young. It's a real shame that Capitol Records refused to promote the "Dirty Looks" album (Newton had decided to leave the label, and Capitol was ticked off), because the company deprived the public of some really great pop music!



If you are a Juice Newton fan, buying this CD is a no-brainer. Or if you are just interested in getting to know her remarkable country-pop, cut your teeth on Raven Records' "Juice/Quiet Lies" CD release, followed by this collection. The four albums contained on the two disks showcase one of the most popular artists of the `80s at the peak of her career. (Note: If you choose to buy "Juice/Quiet Lies", do yourself a favor and don't buy the domestic release by Collectables. That company's version is not re-mastered, whereas Raven Records' version is BEAUTIFULLY re-mastered and sounds terrific and crisp!)



(Note to Raven Records: Only two of Juice Newton's solo albums have yet to be released on CD: 1979's "Take Heart" and 1978's "Well Kept Secret" (Newton's rocking solo debut). My fingers are crossed in hopes that you will issue those! And an excellent bonus track would be "Let's Keep It That Way," a one-off single that was Juice Newton's first Top 40 hit! Please, please, please?)"

DE review of Juice Newton's "Old Flame"/"Dirty Looks" CD (20

D. Eklof | Liberty, MO USA | 10/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To those who thought that Juice Newton would never re-release "Old Flame" (RCA Records, 1985), or "Dirty Looks" (Capitol Records, 1983), are in for a treat, as both of these single album releases are combined on a double CD format for the first time! For those who don't know, "Old Flame" was released by RCA Records twice in 1985, and once in 1988. The first RCA version in 1985 was the original release, the second RCA version in 1985 replaced "Let Your Woman Take Care Of You" with "Both To Each Other (Friends & Lovers)" duet with Eddie Rabbitt, and the third RCA version in 1988 didn't have the Eddie Rabbitt duet, and also took off the songs "One Touch" and "With You." Also, the beginning guitar riffs on the original 1985 CD version of "Cheap Love" were also cut off - now you can have all three versions of this great RCA release on one CD, which contained the hits "Cheap Love", "You Make Me Want To Make You Mine", "Hurt", "Old Flame", and "What Can I Do With My Heart", plus the remake of the classic pop song "Stuck In The Middle With You." As for "Dirty Looks", the title track was a minor pop hit, and Juice's remake of "Tell Her No" was her last top 40 pop hit. "Stranger At My Door" was a minor country hit, and the songs that later became hits for Restless Heart ("Till I Loved You"), and Kenny Rogers ("Twenty Years Ago") are also featured on this release, that I believe was never issued on CD before.



All in all, any Juice fan will just LOVE these two long forgotten releases brought back to CD for everyone to enjoy. Now if Raven Records can do the same with "Can't Wait All Night", "Emotion", and some of Juice's other out of print product, they will really be on to something big!"

Great Showcase of Juice

Richard Frost | Monterey, Ca | 08/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a CD with two great records, Old Flame (Country/rock) and Dirty Looks (rock). Both records are standouts

in Juice's career. Whether she is singing a country/rock ballad or an out and ourtrocker, she succeeds. This is

a great package tthat contains excellent sound quality coupled with great songs. This belongs in your collection

if you enjoy Juice, Great CD!"