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Ghost Canyon

Title - 'The Time - Expanded Edition'
Artist - Bros

Bros were another band that I loved back in the late 80's, but couldn't admit it! They were formed in 1986 and consisted of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss, and their best mate, Craig Logan. Managed by former Pet Shop Boys manager Tom Watkins, their career was fast and furious, and unexpectedly burnt out in much the same manner.

The Time (1989) was Bros' second album , a follow up to their impressive debut album, Push from the year before. Funnily enough, Push was released after their first single, 'I Owe You Nothing' was initially released in 1987, but only managed to peak at #80 on the UK Singles Chart of that year! But when Push came out their second single, 'When Will I Be Famous?' suddenly became their powerhaus breakthrough single, reaching #2 on that very same chart!

The boys were hot, Wham! (their counterparts) were waning, and so after some hit singles off of their previous album, the record company wanted to ride the wave of female adulation for the brothers, sooner rather than later. Which is why The Time turned out to not be right for the boys, after all. It was also their first album as a duo due to the departure of Logan earlier in the year.

Now, don't get me wrong, as the album did reach #4 on the UK album charts, enabling the guys to release four singles from it: 'Too Much,' 'Chocolate Box,' 'Madly in Love,' and 'Sister,' but The Time was just not recognized by the British public as being "all that good." It did well in other parts of Europe, and especially in both Australia and Canada, but after 'Too Much' reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart, subsequent singles didn't get so lucky: 'Chocolate Box' (#9), 'Sister' (#10) and 'Madly In Love' (#14).

This 16 track CD, featuring the 11 original tracks of the album plus five (5) bonus tracks, kicks off in fine style with 'Madly In Love,' a cut that fairly bounces off the record player! [Is that MJ on backing vocals?!] Showcasing, as the entire album does, the brotherly duo's pitch perfect, and always so smooth vocal harmonies, the addictive, and hyper 'Too Much' is next. The cheating girlfriend storytelling of 'Chocolate Box' is followed by their silky smooth ballad, 'Money,' which in turn is backed by both fillers 'Street Wise' and 'Club Fool.'

'Black And White' is another storytelling venture for the brothers, with 'Don't Bite The Hand' and 'Space' nothing more than more album fillers, in truth. The songwriting spark returns, however, in the slow pace of 'Sister,' a track that was heard all over the radio back in the day. It was actually written about Matt and Luke's stepsister Carolyn, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in London in 1988. The original album then comes to a close with the never-judge-a-book-by-its-cover vibe of 'Life's A Heartbeat,' which itself was originally released as the B-Side to the 7" versions of the single 'Chocolate Box.'

The five (5) bonus tracks are a true gems for all Bros fans, it has to be said, but I also believe they must have surfaced before on Bros 12"s and various European CD singles thereafter, me thinks. First up is 'Too Much (Extended Version,' then comes 'Astrologically,' which is followed by 'Chocolate Box (Swing Mix),' with the whole expanded album now being rounded out by both 'Sister (Remix)' and then 'Madly In Love (Joe Smooth 12" Version).'

Bros went on to release their third, and final album in 1991, Changing Faces, but it only peaked at #18 on the UK Albums Chart, producing just the two singles to raid - 'Are You Mine?' and 'Try' - both of which failed to chart in the Top Ten in the UK Singles charts. Bros then, unsurprisingly, split up in 1992.

CD Purchase Link

www.CherryRed.co.uk





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