BELINDA CARLISLE: A Woman & a Man CD 1996. + Bonus song “listen to love”. Check videos “In Too Deep”, “Always Breaking My Heart”, “Love in the Key of C”, “California”

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Description

Belinda Carlisle A Woman & A Man
Label: Chrysalis
Catalog#: 7243 8 53545 2 6
Format: CD, Album
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 1996

1 In Too Deep 4:05
2 California 2:59
3 A Woman And A Man 5:12
4 Remember September 4:32
5 Listen To Love 4:09
6 Always Breaking My Heart 3:12
7 Love Doesn’t Live Here 4:09
8 He Goes On 3:13
9 Kneel At Your Feet 4:18
10 Love In The Key Of C 3:50
11 My Heart Goes Out To You 3:35
Length 43:14 (Original version)
1996 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Chrysalis Records Ltd.
Written-By Allen Rich* (tracks: 11), Anders Baggee* (tracks: 11), Belinda Carlisle (tracks: 9), Billy Steinberg (tracks: 2), Charlotte Caffey (tracks: 9), Christopher Garcia* (tracks: 5), Ellen Shipley (tracks: 4), John Inglesby (tracks: 5), Maria Vidal (tracks: 2, 3), Neil Finn (tracks: 8), Per Gessle (tracks: 6, 7), Ralph McCarthy (tracks: 5), Rick Nowels (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 10, 11), Robbie Seidman (tracks: 3), Tom Caffey* (tracks: 9)

Singles from A Woman and a Man
“In Too Deep”  Released: July 1, 1996
“Always Breaking My Heart” Released: September 9, 1996
“Love in the Key of C” Released: November 18, 1996
“California” Released: February 17, 1997

A Woman and a Man is the sixth studio album by American singer Belinda Carlisle, released in the United Kingdom on September 23, 1996 by Chrysalis Records. It was the first album Carlisle had released since departing Virgin Records. The album is full of songs that show how Carlisles style had matured compared to her earlier releases, written by Rick Nowels, Maria Vidal, Ellen Shipley, Charlotte Caffey, Neil Finn and Roxette cofounder Per Gessle who also produced one of the tracks.

Allmusic reviewed the album as mature collection of adult pop, with cool keyboards and subtle arrangements that often make the record sound like background music and that Carlisle has rarely been in better voice
It made its debut on the UK Albums Chart on September 30, 1996 at number twelve. It became a successful album, in Uk it outselling her previous album, Real, and reviving her career in the singles chart producing two top tens and a top twenty. It spent a short time in the top seventy-five falling out of it after just five weeks and was in the top two hundred for thirteen weeks accrediting gold by BPI.

The singles had a fair share of success in most music markets. “In Too Deep” was the first song released from the album and became a top ten hit in the UK and a top twenty in Australia. “Always Breaking My Heart” was the second song released from the album, written and produced by Per Gessle of Roxette. It too was a top ten hit in the UK and Carlisles second hit from this album. “Love in the Key of C” the third song released, became Carlisle’s tenth top twenty hit. “California” managed to chart in the top forty in the UK.

The album opens with the lead single In Too Deep which gave her a #6 UK hit in the summer of 1996. The song opens with some wonderful strings and piano and really gets off to a strong and catchy start, as Belinda effortless slides those familiar sultry tones over the top. This is quite a warm and gentle song, with lots of space between vocals and instruments, allowing you to appreciate each of them. Long-term collaborator and songwriter royalty Rick Nowels is on duty here, which he retains for most of the songs on this album, and most of Belinda’s albums to date.

This is followed by the album’s fourth and final UK single California which gives her a down-tempo track to work with. Here she refers to the death of actor River Phoenix at The Viper Room in California in 1993. Despite its sad underlying theme, it is quite a nice little song but it failed to reach the success of the other singles, and got stuck at #31.

Next up is the titular A Woman And A Man, which opens with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra before giving way to vocals and a fairly upbeat but light song. The wah-wah and backing vocals help to give the track some pace as it flicks from verse to chorus. The orchestra really gets to shine here, almost giving it a disco feeling about 2/3rds of the way through. It’s a nice song.

Remember September follows this and it opens with some eerie guitar and strings, almost sounding like a weird 80’s pop ballad as some keyboards trickle in over the top.

Next is Listen To Love. The song is catchy once the chorus comes in, with plenty of tambourine, and this builds up each time you hear it. The song feels perfectly paced, has plenty of layered instruments and backing vocals without drowning out Belinda’s vocals. It really is a jolly little tune, as it tries to encourage the listener with the ‘come on now, come on now’ and ‘open up your heart, listen to love’ lyrics. This probably could have been a hit if it had made it to being a single.

Second single Always Breaking My Heart is next, and this is the first of the two songs to feature Roxette‘s Per Gessle on songwriting duties. He is, of course, also on those growling guitars that open the track, backing vocals, and behind the production desk, and I find it easy to imagine this having been a Roxette song. Belinda’s rockier vocals really feel at home here, and the catchy chorus gives her a chance to show off that familiar vocal power that we’ve known throughout her big hits. Thankfully it paid-off, giving her a #8 UK hit single in the autumn of 1996, alongside the album release.

The second Per Gessle collaboration Love Doesn’t Live Here follows this, and again opens with guitar that emerges throughout the track, but it’s not him, it’s Steve Farris from Mr. Mister. This song is nice and softer in comparison.

He Goes On is next and it’s another mid-tempo track, but quite a nice gentle stroll through a reminiscent Belinda remembering some bloke she’s met. Steve Farris is back here on guitar, and at times I could imagine this song being a Christian country music track.

Piano opens Kneel At Your Feet and it’s soon joined by Belinda’s breathy vocals over some feint synthscape. Eventually guitars join in before finally bringing in the drums, backing vocalists, and bass. This is another nice song and definitely album territory. It would probably have worked nice as the closing track.

Penultimate song Love In The Key Of C is one of my favourites here, and I love it’s swaggering beats. Beautiful vocals from Belinda are set here against a mixture of guitars, sweeping strings, and percussion. It’s a cosy meandering song, that seems to flow effortlessly right through. This was the album’s third single in late 1996, and is Belinda’s last top 20 UK single to date, hitting the #20 spot.

The album closes with My Heart Goes Out To You, which shows Belinda’s softer vocals set alongside a fairly dreamy song. They’re complimented by some acoustic guitar and perfect backing vocals. This was definitely the right choice for the final track.

VERDICT

This album is far more gentle than some of Belinda’s earlier offerings, and whilst her vocals here are just as expertly wielded, they’re richer and softer against a less rock-fuelled sound.

The album gave her a reasonable commercial hit in the UK where it was certified Gold, but it failed to find success anywhere else, including in her native USA.

  • 1996 UK CHART PEAK: #12, certified Gold.

Additional information

Weight 0.25 kg

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