Suspicious Heart

Suspicious Heart

Track Listings

1. We're Doing Alright

2. (We Should Be) Together Tonight

3. Suspicious Heart

4. Never Enough Night

5. Confidentially Yours

6. Desperate Hours

7. Dancing With Danger

8. Fist Full of Heat

9. Make It Glamorous

10. No Secrets

Tracks:

'Even Bravest Heart My Swell'
'I Am The Barber Everyone Wants, I Am!
'Must I Be Made To Suffer'
'Look Down, Oh Gentle Evening Star'
'You Have My Love And My Devotion
'Oh Wine, Deliver Me From Sadness' - Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
'Marriage Is Sacred' - I Was Right To Be So Suspicious'
'Turning My Gaze Upon This Proud Assembly'
'O Nadir, Best Of Friends'
Billy In The Darbies
'Though I'm Somewhat Out Of Practice' - Janice Watson
'Hello, Here's A Soldier Bold' - Janice Watson
'I Wonder What He'll Think Of Me!'
'In Visions, Illusions'

Customer Reviews:

A good collection.......2007-05-14

Unlike the huge names, collections by Allen are not many - plenty of his opera performances are recorded, but there are only a few collections. My voice teacher recommended I listen to him to understand better how to deliver power without weight, something we've been working on. Yes, it's all in English, but that's fine, and the quality of Allen's instrument comes through very well.

A Musician of Great Dignity and Style.......2005-07-27

Sir Thomas Allen is one of the enduring baritones who has been able to move throughout the operatic repertoire and the recital stage with intelligence, informed characterization, and immaculate musicianship. To have a recording of some of the roles he has inhabited at this point in his career is a gift (this CD was recorded in 2003). To have the added challenge of retaining the stature of the roles while sung in English translations at the request of Chandos is a credit to his abilities and communicative powers.

English is a difficult language to make musical, though saying that abruptly is countered by the fact that some of the most beautiful operas in history are by Benjamin Britten, a composer who truly understood his native tongue and kept it as fluid as the soaring melodies he wrote, as Thomas Allen proves here in 'Billy in the Darbies' from Britten's 'Billy Budd'. It is the other major arias from Korngold to Wagner to Tchaikovsky to Rossini, Bizet, Mozart, Gounod, Verdi, Thomas, Strauss, and Lehar that Allen proves that English translations do not detract at all from the performances!

For those purists who prefer opera sung in the original language (and for those who don't even need supertitles in the opera house!), then this recording may provide a temporary barrier to respecting Allen's singing. But once caught up in the ease with which he moves from style to style and comedy to drama, it is hard not to relinquish old preferences and not be wholly impressed with the beauty of the voice and the warmth and dignity of this fine musician. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, July 05

Passed the "Opera in English" test with flying colors........2005-07-04

For me, the test here was Figaro's Cavatina, from Rossini's Barber of Seville - sung in English, as is this entire compilation of 14 operatic favorites, sung by baritone Sir Thomas Allen. Could he pull it off? Could Chandos pull it off? The answer is an unequivocal, unqualified yes! The secret in singing classics in English, that were written and scored in another language, is in three things: pacing, vocal agility and appreciation for "fit", and what greater test for tongue and timing than Figaro? When you listen to this one song, you will understand why Chandos and its benefactor, Sir Peter Moores have such a passion for their Opera in English series. Sir Allen's voice is a matured unmistakably settled baritone voice that contains a lifetime's worth of understanding of the music and words he imparts through his magnificent delivery. For example, when he sings, Tchaikovsky's "You have my love and devotion" from The Queen of Spades, he delivers a smooth and deeply emotional rendition that lacks nothing in translation. Wagner's "Turning my gaze upon this proud assembly", from Tannhäuser is another example of how fine, full orchestration behind a seasoned voice that waxes eloquent with every phrase, can create a mood of relaxed familiarity with word and music, that may be lacking when sung in another tongue. Great Operatic Arias, serves up a smorgasbord of tunes that are familiar, made more so by the care and attention given to creating a place for the Opera in English series in every home library. The mood here is romantic, relaxed and with few exceptions consistent throughout. If you haven't heard Opera in English, this might be a good way to start, given the fact that the listener gets to sample how different composers might sound in other than German, Italian or French. You might be surprised to discover that when done with care, as is obviously the case here, the sound is about as good as it gets. As an added bonus, the booklet that comes with the CD is full of pictures, libretto in English, and biography that gives us a good insight into history of the singer and his identifying rolls.

Average customer rating:

First time I heard of Van Stephenson
Music For The Recently Ditched
Terrific AOR album
A Giant in the making
AOR Heaven...

Suspicious Heart
Van Stephenson
Manufacturer: Hivau
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Righteous Anger
Secret Admirer (1985) (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00000B1JD
Release Date: 1999-09-20

Tracks:

We're Doing Alright
(We Should Be) Together Tonight
Suspicious Heart
Never Enough Night
Confidentially Yours
Desperate Hours
Dancing With Danger
Fist Full of Heat
Make It Glamorous
No Secrets

Customer Reviews:

First time I heard of Van Stephenson.......2006-05-15

I was working in a music store in Houston Texas and I was the assitant manager. My manager pulled this cassette from the dropped bin, which we marked down to it's lowest price. I got it for 2.99. That was the best $3dollars I've ever spent. I loved every song on the tape. I listened to this so much I made a copy to keep just in case something happened to the original. But to my dismay the cassette didn't last and someone had recorded over my copy. Though I remember every song. I thought this was a thing of the past, since I've looked for it everywhere and came up empty handed in each search, until now. From "Were doing all right", and "(We should be)Together" and " Desprate hours", and the title track, "Suspicious hearts". Every song on this tape at the time seemed to be talking to me and held something for me, for what my life was going through at the time. I couldn't believe I'd never heard of Van Stephenson before. I see that ebay and amazon have the cd's for sell. Though I think on ebay the price is much lower. I'd love to get this on cd and know it wouldn't ware out. If you like Don Henley, The Eagles, Boston, Styx, Journey, Foreigner, Surviour,etc, you would love this cd. It takes you to a time when music seemed to mean something and took you on a journey. Wheter it be personal or fantasy. I don't know if it was just me or if the music seemed to just fit my life at the time, but all the above seemed to be talking to me and some how knew what was going on in my life. To Van Stephenson where ever you are today, thanks for the music and the great songs. I don't think the critics ever gave you the credit you deserve. Your music is timeless and your songs hit straight to the heart. Your music always runs through my mind. If it didn't I never would of searched for it on the net. I'm glad I found some cd's. It's one I'll have to get and keep for a life time. Thanks again and may your songwriting and journey through life be blessed.

Music For The Recently Ditched.......2002-06-07

It must have been 86 or 87 when Suspicious Heart came into my life. I was already a huge fan of American AOR from the obvious - Boston, Journey, Syx - to more off-the-beaten-track acts such as Wrabit and Paul Sabu. Van Stephenson seemed like the sort of cult act that would appeal to me. The songs are superb, the production pristine, if a little sparing at time. But, again, it's those tunes - the yearning, heartache melodies that impress. The opener, We're Doing Alright, had some real poignancy for me. I was getting over yet another broken heart (Lordy, but there's been so many) and this song got me through with its quiet optimism and surging hook. Suspicious Heart, the title cut, is especially dark and beautiful, because, yes, I too had a suspicious heart, and it was proved right. If you've experienced enormous romantic disappointment and psychological damage because of an ice-cold ex-girlfriend who decided to screw with your mind for three years and is now unhappily married in a suburb of North London with a moronic husband and sporting a bad 80s haircut that looks absurd in 2002 on a 38-year-old woman then Van Stephenson's Suspicious Heart is the album for you. Enjoy.

Terrific AOR album.......2001-12-05

This album is AOR heaven! Van Stephenson and the star cast of session musicians make beautiful melodic rock tunes that are definitely meant to be cranked up. The only minor complaint I have is that sometimes VS seems to sing a little off key, and while he does fill his voice with the right amount of emotion, doesn't have the greatest vocal technique to pull off some parts in some of the songs. But, that is just a minor point. Overall he is awesome, Dann Huff is one of the greatest and most underrated guitarists ever, and "Suspicious Heart" is one of the best melodic rock songs, and albums, I have ever heard.

A Giant in the making.......2000-09-27

Released on CD by High Vaultage in 1996 along with forerunner "Righteous anger" (1984), "Suspicous heart" (1986) is every bit as electrifying as the name of the label would suggest. Originally one of the finest acts on MCA Records, i never quite figured out whether Van Stephenson should be filed under V (like Van Halen or Van Zant) or S for Stephenson, the band's lead vocalist. This is their third offering, their debut being the much sought after and hard to find "China girl" (1981), which i've never had the pleasure of hearing. Besides Van Stephenson, the core of this group consisted of two world renowned session musicians, guitarist Dan (or Dann, if you will) Huff and keyboardist Alan Pasqua, who were to go on to form an aptly named melodic rock outfit called Giant (together with bassist Mike Brignardello and Dan's brother David Huff on drums.) They too released two great albums, the 1989 "Last of the runaways" and 1992 "Time to burn", on which Dan Huff proved himself to be a more than adequate lead singer.) Van Stephenson's rhythm section was made up of bass player Dennis Belfield and drummer Mike Baird (ex-Airborne). They were not nearly such a hard rocking band as Giant, notwithstanding a few precious moments when they really let rip. (On for instance the title track of the "Righteous anger" album.) Their keyboard dominated, poprock flavored type of Adult Oriented Rock had sufficient power to satisfy the most ardent heavy rock fans, but was catchy and lightweight enough to appeal to a larger audience than just the regular AOR crowd. "Suspicious heart" was to be their last feat before they (or at least most of them) went their separate ways.

My first encounter with their music was hearing them perform "No secrets" while watching "Secret admirer" (a romantic comedy starring C. Thomas Howell and Lori Loughlin), a song which - like the movie - i loved right away. This is one of their more pop influenced cuts and the closing track on "Suspicious heart". For this song alone i would have bought the CD, never having owned a copy of the vinyl album. But there's plenty more to savor when listening to this underground classic. All songs are easy to get into and hard to let go. Overall this is a more constant, evenly balanced album than "Righteous anger". Its highs are not quite as high, i grant you (here there are no perfect 10s, like "Modern day Delilah" or "Others only dream" on their previous album), but its lows are not as low - actually, they're virtually non-existent. Van Stephenson's voice is like a smoother version of Bryan Adams (i heard it describe best by one of my fellow reviewers who used the phrase "razor wrapped in velvet"). In conjunction with Pasqua's pumping keyboards, Huff's superbly melodic guitar exploits, a strong beat and exquisite harmony vocals, "Suspicious heart" makes for a hugely addictive musical cocktail. There's the usual throng of guest musicians pitching in, among them some very familiar names. A crystal clear production by one Richard Landis provides the icing on the cake. "Fist full of heat" hits hardest of all. It is the most explosive rocker on offer and a personal favorite, along with the suspenseful title track (a prime cover version of which can be found on the debut album by Canadian brothers Worrall), "Dancing with danger", "Never enough night" and "Desperate hours". But i don't think an in-depth analysis of each song is called for at this point. Just order your copy while supplies last and find out for yourself why these guys have been rocking my world for as long as they have. Lyrics R included.

AOR Heaven..........2000-02-25

If Adult Oriented Rock is what you want - then put the kids to bed and welcome to AOR Heaven! "Suspicious Heart" has an overall edgy, restless desperation made evident by strong lyrics and plaintive guitars but mainly by Van Stephenson's razor-wrapped-in-velvet vocal delivery very much reminiscent of Don Henley. "Holding on to you for dear life tryin' to keep the light away" says it all in "Never Enough Night" and then he's off "Dancing with Danger". Look out! Sometimes love hurts! Ladies and Gentlemen, Van Stephenson has left the building - with a wink and a nod and a SCOWL!

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

Recommended Music:

Change [Import]

Stradivari Sampler, Vol. 3

Unsupervised

Music: François Couperin: Apotheoses de Lully; L'Apotheose d

Tito's Way [CD-single] [Enhanced]

Toca [Enhanced] [Import]

Typisch [Import]

Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz [Clean]

Walking Down Rainhill [Import]

The William Drake Organ

The Passenger

Tributo a los Grandes Vicente Fernandez

Uh-Uhh [CD-single]

Gospel Gold

Dream Catcher