The 1985 Listening Post - Laura Branigan - Hold Me

Laura Branigan - Hold Me

#289/923

July 15 1985

Laura Branigan

Hold Me

Genre: Pop

2.25 out of 5

There are only so many ways that I can liken pop chanteuses to American Idol but I think it really is appropriate with Laura. She’s a vocalist who picked some good songs and had the backing of a label and offers very little to move the medium forward in any way. The title track with it’s dominating saxophone could be a Quarterflash song. Because that’s how you wanna model your career: after a band that had one hit, half a decade earlier. 

The songs are dull, the presentation equally so. 

I couldn’t wait for this to be over. 

Oh, man. “When I’m With You” bites so hard on “One Night in Bangkok” it made me sick. 

The rest of it is so pedestrian 80s pop that it’s completely disposable. 

Skip it. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBJ7ztNazTVCbSaoK1omod3Hg22wtB-oq

The 1984 Listening Post - Laura Branigan - Self Control

Laura Branigan - Self Control

#77

April 1 1984

Laura Branigan

Self Control

3.25 out of 5

Highlights: 

Self Control

Heart

In the battle of Sheena and Laura and Madonna (and Patty and Kim and and a host of these new wave blue eyed disco divas) Laura is...tight there. 

This is a collection of songs that, to be honest, anyone could have sung. It’s a testament to anonymity. 

Branigan would’ve come in 7th on American Idol. But I probably would have voted for her. 

That said, her hit singles are perfect MOR stuff and hit me right in my I-need-something-to-cook-to needs.

Although this link includes “Gloria”, that song wasn’t on this release. It’s a welcome addition, though. ;)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/self-control/1384487463

The 1983 Listening Post - Laura Branigan - Branigan 2

Laura Branigan - Branigan 2

I honestly had no idea that Laura Branigan ever released AN album, let alone more than one.
The weirdest thing here is Deep in the Dark, wherein Ms. Branigan of "Gloria" fame, writes english lyrics to sing over Falco's "Der Kommissar".
Really.
No. Really.

3/1/1983
Laura Branigan
Branigan 2
2.5 Stars

Best Tracks:
Solitaire
Deep in the Dark

https://open.spotify.com/album/7KYSQrbIraNspxKXbXoJ8e…