Laura Branigan "Self Control (2013 Reissue, Expanded Edition, USA, Gold Legion)"

Self Control is the third studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on April 1, 1984, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, it charted within the top five in several continental European countries.

Four singles were released from the album, including Branigan's cover version of Raf's "Self Control", which was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in Canada and several European countries. Additionally, "The Lucky One" peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, while her cover of Umberto Tozzi's "Ti amo" reached number two in Australia and number five in Canada.

A remastered and expanded edition of Self Control was released on April 25, 2013, by Gold Legion, including remixes of "The Lucky One" and "Satisfaction", as well as the extended version of "Self Control".

In their review of the album, Billboard commended the album as "a superbly balanced set of powerful rhythm pieces and big, torchy ballads. The stand-out in the latter category is a heartfelt version of the Carole King classic "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." Several of the songs were translated from French into English, and have the continental flair that characterized Branigan's top 10 hits "Gloria" and "Solitaire."

Cashbox called it a "marvelously textured album" noting that "with the imminent success of the slow-grooving title track single, the album is sure to take hold of the public’s heart...this disc provides the powerful voiced songstress the variety of melody needed to show off her superior interpretive voice."

Allmusic noted that "Laura Branigan's third album capitalized on the Euro-dance-pop and affecting ballads that made her an international star while allowing her to grow as a vocalist. Her collections, always uneven in terms of material, benefit mostly from her stellar voice, and this is no exception."The Lucky One" and "Heart" start slow and build to a crescendo, perfectly showcasing her range without being obvious. The title track, about finding sex in the seamy side of town, sparked a bit of a controversy, but ended up being her second biggest hit. The song itself works, but Branigan was never a sex bomb, so the fact that she pulls it off is indicative of her power as a performer. "Ti Amo" is the album's theatrical ballad, which works well with breathy, dramatic vocals. She even pulls off a graceful cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" that is clear and simple"

Track listing

1. "The Lucky One" 4:10
2. "Self Control" 4:08
3. "Ti Amo" 4:18
4. "Heart" 4:08
5. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" 3:26
6. "Satisfaction" 3:56
7. "Silent Partners" 4:10
8. "Breaking Out" 3:50
9. "Take Me" 3:43
10. "With Every Beat of My Heart" 4:12

Total length: 40:01

2013 expanded edition bonus tracks

1. "The Lucky One" (John Robie Mix) 5:23
2. "The Lucky One" (Jack White Mix) 5:04
3. "Self Control" (12″ Version) Piccolo 5:00
4. "Satisfaction" (Special Dance Mix) 5:56

Total length: 61:24

Limited Edition of 1000 units in slipcase packaging, only available from the Gold Legion website.

CD is mastered from original master tapes, and features 4 bonus remixes.

Contains a 10 page booklet with essay written by Christian John Wikane.

Made in the U.S.A.

Laura Branigan "Self Control [2020 Reissue, Remastered, 2CDS Expanded Edition, UK, Cherry Pop, QCRPOPD 221]"

Self Control is the third studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on April 1, 1984, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Internationally, it charted within the top five in several continental European countries.

Four singles were released from the album, including Branigan's cover version of Raf's "Self Control", which was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in Canada and several European countries. Additionally, "The Lucky One" peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, while her cover of Umberto Tozzi's "Ti amo" reached number two in Australia and number five in Canada.

A remastered and expanded edition of Self Control was released on April 25, 2013, by Gold Legion, including remixes of "The Lucky One" and "Satisfaction", as well as the extended version of "Self Control".

In their review of the album, Billboard commended the album as "a superbly balanced set of powerful rhythm pieces and big, torchy ballads. The stand-out in the latter category is a heartfelt version of the Carole King classic "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." Several of the songs were translated from French into English, and have the continental flair that characterized Branigan's top 10 hits "Gloria" and "Solitaire."

Cashbox called it a "marvelously textured album" noting that "with the imminent success of the slow-grooving title track single, the album is sure to take hold of the public’s heart...this disc provides the powerful voiced songstress the variety of melody needed to show off her superior interpretive voice."

Allmusic noted that "Laura Branigan's third album capitalized on the Euro-dance-pop and affecting ballads that made her an international star while allowing her to grow as a vocalist. Her collections, always uneven in terms of material, benefit mostly from her stellar voice, and this is no exception."The Lucky One" and "Heart" start slow and build to a crescendo, perfectly showcasing her range without being obvious. The title track, about finding sex in the seamy side of town, sparked a bit of a controversy, but ended up being her second biggest hit. The song itself works, but Branigan was never a sex bomb, so the fact that she pulls it off is indicative of her power as a performer. "Ti Amo" is the album's theatrical ballad, which works well with breathy, dramatic vocals. She even pulls off a graceful cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" that is clear and simple"

Track listing

Disc 1:

1. "The Lucky One" 4:10
2. "Self Control" 4:08
3. "Ti Amo" 4:18
4. "Heart" 4:08
5. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" 3:26
6. "Satisfaction" 3:56
7. "Silent Partners" 4:10
8. "Breaking Out" 3:50
9. "Take Me" 3:43
10. "With Every Beat of My Heart" 4:12

Total length: 40:01

Disc 2:

2020 expanded edition bonus disc

1. "Self Control" (Extended Version) 5:06
2. "Self Control" (Edit) 3:57
3. "Self Control" (Classic Summer Mix 1992) 4:00
4. "Self Control" (117 BPM Club 1992) 4:56
5. "The Lucky One" (Single Version) 3:12
6. "The Lucky One" (Jack White Mix) 5:08
7. "The Lucky One" (John Robie Mix) 5:27
8. "Satisfaction" (Single Version) 3:41
9. "Satisfaction" (Special Dance Mix) 5:58
10. "When" (Single Version)  2:44
11. "Hot Night" (from the Ghostbusters soundtrack) 3:20

Total length: 47:29

Pre-order copies come with a limited edition post card

John Parr "Man With A Vision (Germany, Edelton, EDL 2589-2)"

Man with a Vision is the third studio album by John Parr, released in 1992. The majority of the album was produced by Parr, except "Man With a Vision", produced by John Wolff, and "Restless Heart", produced by Harold Faltermeyer. The album was released in the UK by Music for Nations, in Germany by Edelton, Switzerland by Blue Martin Records, and Austria and Scandinavia by Generation Records.

Two singles were released from the album, "Man with a Vision" and "It's Starting All Over Again". "Restless Heart" had been previously released for The Running Man soundtrack in 1987, and as a single in the UK and Germany in 1988. "Man with a Vision" was originally recorded by Seven in 1990, with Parr as producer.

Speaking to the Get Ready to Rock! webzine in 2011, Parr spoke of the litigation he suffered from in the 1990s:

"I was dead in the water long before Under Parr [Parr's 1996 studio album]. From the nineties onwards I was locked in the litigation. I was ducking and diving doing little deals here and there to try and stay afloat. All my income was frozen for almost twenty years so I had to really bob and weave. Man with a Vision was really a bunch of demos but as there were no deals on the table I was forced to release it through Blue Martin a small label in Switzerland. [After Under Parr], I walked away from music for the next ten years. It broke my heart. I was making records that only my family and friends heard - some of my best work I think, that nobody was going to hear. The guitar stayed untouched in the box for ten years and I never sang a note."

Tracklisting:

1. "Wilderness Years" John Parr 1:33
2. "Man With a Vision" Parr, Keith McFarlane, Simon Lefevre 3:59
3. "It's Starting All Over Again" Parr, Peter Goalby 3:25
4. "Restless Heart" Harold Faltermeyer, Parr 4:35
5. "Ghost Driver" Parr, Tom Whitlock 4:10
6. "Bedtime Story" Betsy Durkin Matthes, Parr 5:03
7. "Come Out Fightin'" Matthes, Parr 5:16
8. "Everytime" Parr, Goalby 4:54
9. "Killer on the Sheets" Parr 3:47
10. "Dirty Lovin'" Parr, Mark Scott 4:41
11. "This Time" Parr, Goalby 5:16
12. "Sarah" Parr 4:00

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack "Beverly Hills Cop"

Beverly Hills Cop: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1984 action comedy film Beverly Hills Cop. It was released in December 1984 by MCA Records. The soundtrack was mastered by Greg Fulginiti and features various artists whose tracks were included in the movie plus some other tracks not included in the movie but are similar in electronic style. The instrumental title tune, "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer, became a worldwide hit single and has since been covered by numerous artists.

The soundtrack was reviewed by Billboard magazine in the issue dated December 15, 1984 and debuted on the US Billboard 200 the week ending January 12, 1985 at number 177. It hit number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart on June 22, 1985.

The soundtrack won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media in 1986. The Grammy was awarded jointly to Marc Benno, Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey, Micki Free, John Gilutin, David "Hawk" Wolinski, Howard Hewett, Bunny Hull, Howie Rice, Sharon Robinson, Danny Sembello, Sue Sheridan, Richard Theisen and Allee Willis.

A key song in the movie, "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6, played during the strip club robbery scene, is not included in the soundtrack.

Track listing

1. "New Attitude" (performed by Patti LaBelle) 4:36
2. "Don't Get Stopped in Beverly Hills" (performed by Shalamar) 4:20
3. "Do You Really (Want My Love?)" (performed by Junior) 3:44
4. "Emergency" (performed by Rockie Robbins) 3:28
5. "Neutron Dance" (performed by The Pointer Sisters) 4:12
6. "The Heat Is On" (performed by Glenn Frey) 3:45
7. "Gratitude" (performed by Danny Elfman) Danny Elfman   5:04
8. "Stir It Up" (performed by Patti LaBelle) 3:35
9. "Rock 'N Roll Me Again" (performed by The System) 3:15
10. "Axel F" (performed by Harold Faltermeyer)   3:00

Total length: 39:14

There is another version of this soundtrack that contains "BHC (I Can't Stop)" by Rick James in place of "Emergency" by Rockie Robbins.

Laura Branigan "Hold Me (USA, Atlantic Records, 7 81265-2)"

Hold Me is the fourth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on July 15, 1985, by Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard 200, though it fared better internationally, reaching the top 10 in Sweden and Switzerland, and the top 15 in Norway.

The album's lead single, "Spanish Eddie", earned Branigan her sixth top-40 entry in two and a half years, peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was moderately successful outside the United States. Subsequent singles "Hold Me" and "I Found Someone" failed to make an impact, peaking at numbers 82 and 90 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Nevertheless, "Hold Me" reached number 39 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart, while "I Found Someone" reached number 25 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

The track "When the Heat Hits the Streets" was used in a television advertising campaign for the Chrysler Laser, with Chrysler serving as a sponsor for Branigan's 1985–1986 Hold Me tour (a Chrysler Laser was prominently displayed in the "Spanish Eddie" music video).

According to Branigan, she said "the album is such a growth from my other albums. I really feel it’s the direction I want to go. My voice is definitely stronger and the material is just incredible. I honestly don't feel there are any fillers."

In their review of the album, Billboard commented that "Branigan's latest includes several tracks by co-producer Harold Faltermeyer, giving the collection an added edge beyond the mainstream ballads and rockers that have characterized her earlier recordings. First single is "Spanish Eddie," but the album should produce several other successful tracks, most notably "Hold Me" and "When I'm With You." 

Cashbox noted that "Laura Branigan's fourth LP for Atlantic combines all of the elements that have brought her a handful of hit singles, from uptempo dance oriented tunes such as this album’s first single, the melodic and colorful “Spanish Eddie,” to beautiful ballads like “Forever Young.” Producer Jack White and other contributors like Harold Faltermeyer have chosen some excellent material here and Branigan shines on every cut."

Allmusic were more mixed in their review, stating that "Laura Branigan began to falter in her quest to be the white, '80s Donna Summer with her fourth album, which failed to scale the sales heights of her first three, despite another clutch of dramatic, heavily produced Eurodisco tracks, three of which found their way onto the singles charts. The closest thing to a hit was "Spanish Eddie" (this album's remake of her first smash, "Gloria"), a song with an odd street-life lyric that made reference to Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row"...Elsewhere, Branigan again turned to songwriter Michael Bolton for "I Found Someone," and as she had with "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You," did it much better than its author, for what it's worth. But on the whole, Hold Me found The Branigan formula growing stale."

Track listing

1. "Hold Me" 4:43
2. "Maybe Tonight" 3:37
3. "Foolish Lullaby" 4:18
4. "Spanish Eddie" 4:08
5. "Forever Young" 3:52
6. "When I'm with You" 4:12
7. "I Found Someone" 4:00
8. "Sanctuary" 3:32
9. "Tenderness" 3:42
10. "When the Heat Hits the Streets" 3:43

Total length: 39:47

MANUFACTURED BY VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LTD. MADE IN JAPAN

Recording information:

Recorded at Image Recording, Hollywood / CAN AM Recorders, Taranza / Westlake Studios, Los Angeles / Bodifications Inc., Los Angeles / Preferred Sound, Woodland Hills.

Mixed at Image Recording, Hollywood.

Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood.

Jürgen Koppers, Brian Malouf, John Kovarek, Brian Reeves, John Van Nest, Ed Thacker, Dave Concors, Tom Whitlock, David Devore – engineering

Steve Krause, Rick Butz, Peggy McAffee, Samii Taylor – engineering assistance

Jürgen Koppers – mixing

Brian Gardner – mastering

Jack White – production (tracks 1–9)

Harold Faltermeyer – production (tracks 1, 7)

Mark Spiro – associate production (tracks 2, 3, 6, 9); production (track 10)

Aaron Rapoport – photography

Bob Defrin – art direction