The 1986 Listening Post - Corey Hart - Fields of Fire

Corey Hart - Fields of Fire

#385/2064

September 16 1986

Corey Hart

Fields of Fire

Genre: Schmaltz Rock

2.25 out of 5

Requisite 80s cover:

“Can’t Help Falling in Love”. When that classic is the only breakout track on your album you have officially wasted 50 minutes of my life. Thanks.

I think I’ve said this before and I will say it again: Corey Hart is a 4th place finisher on Pop Idol if it was around at the time. 

Not only are these songs dull, they are long and dull. It takes all the way to the middle of Side Two to hear any breath of life from Corey in the John Parr/Robert Palmer-esque “Is It Too Late?”.

The answer is, Yes, Corey. Yes. By far. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/fields-of-fire/1445958870

The 1985 Listening Post - Corey Hart - Boy in the Box

Corey Hart - Boy in the Box

#209

June 14 1985

Corey Hart

Boy in the Box

Genre: Pop Rock

3.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Boy in the Box

Komrade Kiev

Never Surrender

Corey Hart. What is he? What was he? He wasn’t a band. He didn’t play an instrument but he wrote the songs. “Komrade Kiev” is a crunchy power pop that reminds me a bit of Murray Head’s hit from Chess but it’s even more prog-rocky. I don’t know what to make of this, so I’ll just say…I heard it. And the songs, when they hit, are excellent. 

“Never Surrender”…Jon Bon Jovi WISHES he could write a power ballad like this. 85 Allen would’ve gagged. 15 Allen sees it a bit differently. It’s just a well written, expertly crafted piece of ear candy. 

There’s a bit of flabby treacle here, what else would you expect? He tries to rock again on “Silent Talking” and gets real Sting-y at the end on “Water from the Moon”. It’s a mishmash. 

Like I said, I heard it. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/boy-in-the-box/1443721310

The 1983 Listening Post - Corey Hart - First Offense

Corey Hart - First Offense

November 1983
Corey Hart
First Offense
2 out of 5

How did Corey Hart happen?
This is Martin Briley with less joy.
From wikipedia: “After meeting Billy Joel in a New York City recording studio, Hart was signed to Aquarius Records and went to England to record his first album.” And now it makes much more sense.
Sit and listen to this in one sitting. You will find you can get a lot done. Cancel various subscriptions, order take out, read a dense and dry book on Hitler’s ascent called Hitler: Ascent.
And then you’ll realize it was on and that you can’t remember a damn song.
I’d rather listen to Corey Haim.
Or Corey Feldman.