Search - Laura Branigan :: Branigan

One of the best debut albums of the year!

09/03/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Branigan" exploded onto the scene with the unforgettable pop-rock anthem "Gloria". The "meaty-beaty" dance tune was a top rate hit dominating the pop and club charts around the world. The song immediately catapulted Laura into the "Disco/Pop Stratosphere". The single to date remains the second best selling single in Atlantics archives. The singles success garnered Laura her first Grammy Award Nomination while also placing the single into the coveted list of early eighties records exceeding the 1,000, 000 mark in sales, eventually being certified "Gold". "Gloria" still remains one of the longest running singles in "Billboards top 100", remaining on the charts for most of '82 and the first half of '83. The cabaret-style album alternates pop/rocker's containing strong guitar riffs and solid ballads which usually serve Laura's 4 octave range extremely well. Laura's self-penned "I Wish We Could Be Alone" is a wonderful tune about trying to hide "a secret love". The first single which charted mildly, "All Night With Me", is a passionate plea for an "all-nighter", (only Laura can pull off this material with such "finesse" and "class" that it almost sounds "wholesome".) The album contains several treasures like "Down Like A Rock" a tale of being "wrung throught the wringer of love" and "Please Stay, Go Away" about the ambiguousness of a love/hate relationship. The album was certified "Gold" in '84."

Branigan is as good as they come!

Joseph M. Shovels | Florida | 12/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since the only song from this album that's heard on the radio is "Gloria" this album appears to be full of "filler material", but this is far from the truth! Branigan is as good as they come. In fact, this album is one of the best albums ever made; every song is solid, engaging, and memorable. This is a must-have CD for anyone who wants a `complete music collection'. The reason this CD is so captivating is due to Laura's remarkably strong vocals. Her voice is in full power, yet she never approaches the point of screaming or even coming close to straining her voice; in fact Laura has a tender vulnerability and innocence that adds great depth to these songs. The album contains only 9 songs, alternating between up-tempo songs to soft ballads, but all 9 songs were wonderfully written, arranged and sung. The ballads offer strong, and sometimes unusual, instrumentation with a solid base, yet they still allow her powerful vocals to take the spotlight. When Laura sings the up-tempo songs, both her vocals and the music are in full power. This CD is remarkable because Branigan is Laura Branigan's debut release and it is unusual for a new artists to have such strength and control of his/her voice. This CD includes her self-penned ballad titled "I Wish We Could Be Alone", as well as her #2 charting dance song "Gloria". "All Night With Me" is a touching ballad exposing the vulnerable side of Laura Branigan while "Living A Lie" shows Laura in a confrontational state of mind. Diane Warren, who at the time was a just starting to be noticed as a song writer, wrote "If You Loved Me" (she has written hits for numerous singers such as Celine Dion, Michael Boltin and Bette Midler). "If You Loved Me" is a dramatic plea to a lost love. An unusual piano introduction begins the dance song, "Please Stay, Go Away". Listen and enjoy... then listen again and again and again...- Joe"

Laura Branigan will be missed but her music won't!!!

Jacqueline Atkinson | USA | 01/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"