Terence Trent D039arby - Hardline According To Terence Trent DArby (10 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

A FLYING EGO THAT WAS JUSTIFIED

J. Johnson | CT | 08/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all,let me start by staying that TTD is the MAN! And he still is the man! That's right although after the success of this album he'd fall into commerical obvilion and let his big ol' ego get the best of him,Mr. Terence Trent D'Arby ran thangs.
Like Prince,TTD was a hypercreative genius who pushed boundaries and let his eccentricties be shown.In fact,the London-based,New York-born,Flordia-raised singer was dubbed "The British Prince".It started started with this 1987 debut right here.TTD proclaimed that it was the best solo album by a male artist in 20 years.Bragging that it was superior to "Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Band" and comparing himself to the Purple One and Sam Cooke.The funny thing is that he was RIGHT.This is one egomanaic who knew what he was talking about! "Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby" is a genius album.
Filled with diversity and just straight-up great prduction.TTD bragged that he was passonaite about his music.And the boy wasn't lying.There's not uninspired moment on this classic.From the #1 hit "Wishing Well" with it's funky drums to the smoldering cover of "Who's Lovin' You"(better sung by a grown man in my humble opinion) to the tender "Let's Go Forward".And then there's the calypso/African-rhythmed "Rain",old school styled "If You Let Me Stay",my favorite "Seven More Days",and the powerful opener "If You All Get To Heaven".All are highlighted by TTD's gritty,soulful voice.That's right there'd be NO Maxwell.No D'Angelo.No Remy Shand.No Lenny.No Seal.Without TTD.Along with Prince,TTD set the way.The man is a genius and it's sad that's he's forgetten in the US.Now christening himself Sananda Maitreya and residing in Italy,
TTD is basking in his own greatness.But this one guy whose huge ego is justified.Don't believe him? Just listen to this disc."

A Masterpiece!!!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 08/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A stunning debut if ever there was one. Terence Trent D'Arby's `Introducing the hardline' was definitely one of the best of 1987, years ahead of its time, and the fore runner to the D'Angelos, Maxwells and Seals of today.

Comprised of 10 of his compositions (produced and for the most part played by him), and an outstanding cover of the Smokie Robinson classic `Who's loving you', the album found success in the UK first hitting #1 and spinning off 4 top 20 hits. The success crossed over to the US in 1988 with the album hitting #4, selling over 2 million copies, and spinning off two top 5 singles, and winning the Grammy for best male R&B vocal performance.

D'Arby's rich gravelly yet elastic voice coupled with a retro soul/funk hybrid hearkened back to the soul greats of yesterday; Marvin, Stevie, James Brown, as well as contemporaries like MJ and Prince, a point he was never shy to loudly proclaim. He even proclaimed it the most important album since the Beatles' `Sgt. Pepper', cockiness that ultimately backfired.

Still, this is a stunning collection of music.

Opening track `If we all get to heaven' is a sweeping majestic questioning protest midtempo number, with his gravelly voice hitting some unbelievably high notes. It also features some Arabic influences.

`If you let me stay' is a retro sounding funky, energetic number, featuring a heartfelt plea to a lover. Wow!

Next is the US #1 `Wishing well', an upbeat dance number with razor sharp synths and that distinctive whistle.

`I'll never turn my back on you (Father's words)' is a lilting midtempo number with a reggae feel, and lyrics about a strained relationship between father and son.

The horn laden `Dance little sister' could have been done by the god father of soul himself. An energetic retro funk number that will get any grandma on the dance floor!

`Seven more days' is a slower lilting number. Beautiful.

`Let's go forward' is one of my absolute favourites on this CD. Awesome mid tempo number featuring the chameleon like nature of his vocals.

`Rain' is a lilting reggae-ish number.

The beautiful ballad `Sign your name' was a #4 US hit. Again, an outstanding vocal delivery, and wonderful percussion.

Then comes another highlight; the accapella `As yet untitled' with deeply moving lyrics about prejudice, and a very fiery, angry vocal delivery. D'Arby's performance on this song is simply beyond belief. Outstanding.

Closing out the collection is `Who's loving who', again stunning!

So was he right to toot his own horn?? Er..YES!!!!

Definitely a CD worthy of any music collection. A strong album from start to finish, and miles better than most of the music coming out today. A masterpiece!

"

This is GOOOD!!!

David Farber | 02/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am writing this review now, around 13 years after I first bought it. I used to listen to this one as I walked to and from 8th grade. What a great album. The big hit 'Wishing Well' isn't even the best on the album. 'Sign Your Name', 'Lets Go Forward', 'Seven More Days'.......these songs are superb. There's nothing like blastin a little Terence Trent in your ear to drown out the loud streets of NYC. I was on the subway once and had my earphones blasting. Some woman says to me, "damn that Terence Trent is good aint he?????'. I said "Sure is Woman!" and I smacked her Five!"

Terence's career started off very well, but then...

shy_boy2112 | 03/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"... his next couple of albums failed to break the markets worldwide, and he vanished from the public's eye.Needless, to say, Craig David really is flattering - and kidding - himself to an inconceivably crazy extent if he truly believes that he is the new TTD. There is nothing to choose between them. This record still sounds great some seventeen years later, unlike Craig's own debut of just three years ago, which has completely lost it's novelty value, and now sounds weak, tired and bored with itself.The opening track, the thundering "If You All Get To Heaven", sounds rather uncannily like The Christians (another popular band of that era), while hit single "If You Let Me Stay" has a hard, rocky edge to it, but still remains rooted firmly to Terence's soul influences. "Wishing Well" (another of Terence's big hits) is a cool, laid-back groove that anticipates the bluesy soul-funk of Maxwell and D'Angelo by a good decade or so. Terence also scored another hit single with "Dance Little Sister" from this album, which, like "If You Let Me Stay" sounds like Stevie Wonder with an electric guitar behind him. "Seven More Days" is a terrific ballad, about two lovers separated by distance, but who still care about each other, while my personal favourite from this album - "Let's Go Forward" - is an emotional, heart-wrenching number which sees Terence perfect his crooning skills to a glistening sheen. There's "Rain" and "I'll Never Turn My Back On You (Father's Words"), with a seductive, Carribbean-esque lilt, and the starkly contrasting block harmony opus, "As Yet Untitled" (was that title meant to be a joke?!).The unforgettable "Sign Your Name" - his best-known song - which was played to death on radio between 1987 and 1989 (and still gets played today!) is here, and it's melodic soul-funk strains and perfectly smooth vocal harmonies haven't aged one bit.The album closes with a terrific cover of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Lovin' You?", bringing one of the all-time great debut albums to a majestic end.If you haven't yet heard this terrific album, then for goodness sake, buy it now."

The boy done good, dammit

shy_boy2112 | 07/12/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I can still remember the shock of seeing Terence Trent D'Arby for the first time, It was on a now defunct British TV programme called 'The Tube', and he was singing 'If You Let Me Stay'. 'My god, look at at MOUTH', I thought; then 'My God, look at that NAME', when the supertitle came up. Reams of press hype followed, led of course by good old Terry himself. So when I got a copy of this album, I thought I already knew what to expect: (a) The Hit Single; (b) The Second Single Which Sounds Remarkably Like The First (If It Ain't Broke...) and (c) 10 filler tracks.Boy, was I wrong. 'Introducing the Hardline...' is an album that's strong almost from start to finish. And I soon found out what that mouth was for: Just listen to 'As Yet Untitled' and the delightfully over-the-top 'Who's Loving You' for celebrations of sheer vocal prowess. The man also showed that he's a mean crooner on slower tracks like 'Sign Your Name' and 'Let's Go Forward', as well as showing his obvious debt to James Brown on songs like 'Dance Little Sister'. Musically, 'Hardline' simultaneously pays homage to D'Arby's musical influences and adds refreshing touches of originality on tracks like 'If You All Get to Heaven' with its Arabic undertones and the brassy 'I'll Never Turn My Back On You.' What a pity Bigmouth Didn't Strike Again after this impressive debut."

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