Sheena Easton rocketed to overnight fame in 1980 with the BBC broadcast of ‘The Big Time’ – arguably the first pop reality show – subsequently breaking records with her first two singles ‘Modern Girl’ and ‘9 To 5’ simultaneously hitting the UK Top Ten. Within a year, she had topped the US Hot 100 with the renamed ‘Morning Train (Nine To Five)’, recorded the Bond theme ‘For Your Eyes Only’, released two platinum-selling albums and become an international sensation.

1982 proved another whirlwind year for Sheena – beginning with her ‘Best New Artist’ win at the Grammies, followed by first national US tour, the recording of her first TV special ‘Live At The Palace, Hollywood’ and capped with the release of her third album – the aptly-titled ‘Madness, Money and Music’. Produced by Christopher Neil, the album ranged from the hyperkinetic new wave-infused ‘Machinery’ via the smooth west coast yacht rock of ‘There When I Needed You’ to classic, Streisand-style balladry on the top 20 AC hit ‘I Wouldn’t Beg For Water’.

This Madness, Money and Music: Deluxe Edition (releasing September 22nd, 2023) also features eight bonus tracks – including the exquisite previously- unreleased ballad ‘Woman’ and rare 12” remix of ‘Ice Out In The Rain.’ The bonus disc marks the first official DVD release of Sheena’s Emmy-winning 1982 TV special ‘Act One’ which includes duets with special guests Kenny Rogers and Al Jarreau as well as rare covers of songs popularised by Billy Joel, Irene Cara, Donny Hathaway and more.

CD 1:
1. Weekend In Paris
2. Are You Man Enough
3. I Wouldn’t Beg For Water
4. Machinery
5. Ice Out In The Rain
6. I Don’t Need Your Word
7. Madness, Money and Music
8. There When I Needed You
9. Wind Beneath My Wings
10. You Do It
11. In The Winter
12. Please Don’t Sympathise
13. So We Say Goodbye [B-Side] Bonus Track]
14. Loner [B-Side] [Bonus Track]
15. Some Of Us Will [B-Side] [Bonus Track]
16. Woman [Studio Sessions / Alternate Versions] [Bonus Track]
17. The Lonely Stay Alone [Studio Sessions / Alternate Versions] [Bonus Track]
18. Weekend In Paris (Alternate Version) [Bonus Track]
19. Madness Money and Music (Alternate Version) [Bonus Track]
20. Ice Out In The Rain (12” Remix) [Bonus Track]

On this classic 1982 EMI fan-favorite album – remastered from the original master tapes, and which is also part of Cherry Red’s on-going re-issue campaign of the star’s EMI catalogue in association with RT Industries - it is also one that wisely emphasizes ballads and mid-tempo tracks, over fast-paced rockers.

Including the singles ‘Machinery’, ‘Are You Man Enough’ and ‘I Wouldn’t Beg For Water,’ as well as her original recording of ‘Wind Beneath My Wings,’ Easton can sure deliver these kind of tracks from the heart; although she was also more than capable of rocking out, of course.

But for me personally, her naturally acute tone combined with Christopher Neil’s production style often made for a soaring ballad, and one that caught both the ear and the imagination more than once.

So yes, there are some moodier, yet still impassioned tracks here amongst the midst, perhaps none more so than the intriguing ‘Weekend in Paris’ or the soulful ‘I Wouldn’t Beg for Water,’ but, again, it is the ballads that truly show her divine effectiveness.

Having once been labelled as having the most beautiful eyes in Scotland, this sumptuous album also features her powerful take on ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ (recorded seven years before Bette Midler’s number one version), and amongst her fans, and perhaps even innocent bystanders, ranks as one of her very best.

DVD:
Act One – TV Special
1. A Song For You
2. Feelings (Excerpt)
3. For Your Eyes Only
4. He’s A Rebel
5. Medley: Last Night At Danceland (with Al Jarreau)/ Boogie Down (Al Jarreau)/ Roof Garden (with Al Jarreau)
6. We’ve Got Tonight (with Kenny Rogers)
7. The Entertainer
8. Out Here On My Own
9. Madness, Money And Music
10. Wind Beneath My Wings
EMI Promotional Videos
1. Machinery
2. Are You Man Enough
3. Ice Out In The Rain

The bonus DVD is just an incredible selection of Sheena wonderment to behold, and is a right royal feast for the mind, body, heart and soul of everyone of her fans!

The first section is the 48 minute Act One – NBC TV Special from 1983, where the phenomenally-voiced entertainer opens on the impassioned A Song For You (although, to be fair, and I know it was the early ’80s, but she is dressed in a clownish purple dress, which tends to be very distracting early on), but as that ends and the director in the booth informs her there was a technical malfunction and to go an relax for ten minutes, Sheena then proceeds to walk around the NBC studios; her own voiceover following her every step.

Playing out like a personal home soap opera video, this is pretty much how it all lays out - musical performances, fake on-set TV interviews and Q&A’s (with herself), etc. An emotionally-charged Feelings (excerpt) is up next and is backed by the fluttering mauve dress performance of the Bond theme For Your Eyes Only, the gentle rock ’n’ roll vibe of the old classic He’s A Rebel, and then we get a most vibrant medley - where Sheena sings and dances on: Last Night At Danceland (with Al Jarreau), Boogie Down (Al Jarreau) and again with Al on Roof Garden.

After another on-set interview, albeit this time she is acting as the host behind the desk, she shares some sweet talk with Kenny Rogers before they then launch into a mighty powerful We’ve Got Tonight, a synth-tastic, pure ’80s vibed The Entertainer, the low slung balladry of Out Here On My Own, the show rounding out on the ferociously-confident Madness, Money And Music, coming to a close on, and with regard her opening purple clown dress, bringing itself full circle, the beautiful Wind Beneath My Wings.

Three EMI Promotional Videos wrap things up nicely here, in the form of the Devo-esque Machinery, the Hollywood Squares-imbibed Are You Man Enough and sultry Ice Out In The Rain.

The 24-page booklet includes rare photography and illuminating new interviews with producer Christopher Neil and songwriters Deborah Allen, Steve Thompson, Peter Vale and more by ex-Attitude editor Adam Mattera.

Official CD/DVD Purchase Link

www.sheenaeaston.com