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Ghost Canyon

Title - 'Bonnie Tyler - The RCA Years' [4CD]
Artist - Bonnie Tyler

In truth, Bonnie Tyler needs little introduction: from the late 1970s to the late 1980s, she was one of the most popular British singers with a truly unique and amazing voice, a string of classic hits and a legion of fans.

The Welsh singer, known for her distinctive husky voice, Tyler came to prominence with the release of her 1977 album The World Starts Tonight and its singles 'Lost in France' and 'More Than a Lover'.

Furthermore, her 1978 single 'It's a Heartache' reached number four on the UK Singles Chart, and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

In the 1980s, Tyler ventured into rock music with songwriter and producer Jim Steinman. He wrote Tyler's biggest hit 'Total Eclipse of the Heart', the lead single from her 1983 UK chart topping album Faster Than the Speed of Night and also wrote Tyler's other major 1980s hit 'Holding Out For A Hero.'

She had success in mainland Europe during the 1990s with Dieter Bohlen, who wrote and produced her hit 'Bitterblue' and in 2003, Tyler re-recorded 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' with singer Kareen Antonn (their bilingual duet topped the French charts).

Rocks and Honey was released in 2013 and features the single 'Believe in Me' which she performed representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden and her latest album Between the Earth and the Stars was released on March 15th, 2019.

Both 'It's a Heartache' and 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' are among the best-selling singles of all time, with sales in excess of six million each.

Tyler's work has earned her three Grammy Award nominations and three Brit Award nominations, among other accolades.

Released with the artist’s blessing, Bonnie Tyler - The RCA Years does exactly what it says on the box! Containing CD miniatures of the singer’s first four albums, recorded for RCA Records between 1976 and 1981, each CD is housed in a replica of the original LP sleeve and each boasts various bonus tracks; collectively offering Bonnie’s entire RCA output in one place for the first time.

Disc: 1 - The World Starts Tonight
1. 'Got So Used to Loving You'
2. 'Love of a Rolling Stone'
3. 'Lost in France'
4. 'Piece of My Heart'
5. 'More Than a Lover'
6. 'Give Me Your Love'
7. 'The World Starts Tonight'
8. 'Here's Monday'
9. 'Love Tangle'
10.' Let the Show Begin'
11. 'My! My! Honeycomb' [Bonus]
12. 'I've Got So Used to Loving You, Baby' [Bonus]
13. 'Baby I Remember You' [Bonus]

Interestingly enough, soon after Bonnie recorded this album, she had an operation that changed her voice forever. However, although the difference is noticeable, it's not too dramatic for her voice was always husky.

That said, this album is filled with love songs, all but two of them written by the Scott-Wolfe partnership who, together with David Mackay, produced the album.

It yielded the UK top ten hit, 'Lost in France', and the UK top thirty hit, 'More Than A Lover' and also contains Bonnie's cover of the classic pop-rock song, 'Piece Of My Heart'.

This album was definitely difficult to find before becoming part of this wondrous box-set, but most of the tracks have been re-released on various compilations.

Nevertheless, it's nice to be able to listen to Bonnie's debut album in its entirety once again, this time containing the three (3) bonus tracks: 'My! My! Honeycomb,' 'I've Got So Used to Loving You, Baby' and 'Baby I Remember You.'

Disc: 2 Natural Forces
1. 'It's a Heartache'
2. 'Blame Me'
3. 'Living for the City'
4. 'If I Sing You a Love Song'
5. 'Heaven'
6. 'Yesterday Dreams'
7. 'Hey Love (It's a Feelin')'
8. '(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman'
9. 'Here Am I'
10. 'Baby Goodnight'
11. 'Don't Stop the Music' [Bonus]
12. 'It's About Time' [Bonus]
13. 'Don't Stop the Music' (German 7" Version) [Bonus]

I mean, come on now. If you are a fan of Bonnie Tyler this album won't disappoint. I originally purchased it just to have 'Living for the City and 'It's a Heartache,' but I was so impressed with the album I kept the vinyl on my turntable for weeks!

Definitely a melancholy album, but Bonnie's raspy vocals are amazing throughout. Interestingly, Natural Force was actually the European title for the album whereupon here in the US it was released entitled It's A Heartache.

Containing all ten of the original tracks this newly-created version for this box-set now adds three (3) additional bonus cuts: 'Don't Stop the Music,' 'It's About Time,' and 'Don't Stop the Music' (German 7" Version).

Disc: 3 - Diamond Cut
1. 'If You Ever Need Me Again'
2. 'Too Good to Last'
3. 'What a Way to Treat My Heart'
4. 'The Eyes of a Fool'
5. 'Bye Bye Now My Sweet Love'
6. 'Louisiana Rain'
7. 'Baby I Just Love You'
8. 'Words Can Change Your Life'
9. 'My Guns Are Loaded'
10. 'I'm a Fool'
11. '(The World Is Full of) Married Men'
12. 'My Guns Are Loaded' (Single Version) [Bonus]
13. '(The World Is Full of) Married Men' (12" Version) [Bonus]
14. '(The World Is Full of) Married Men' (Disco Version Acapella) [Bonus]
15. 'Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean' (Live at the World Popular Song Festival 1979) [Bonus]
16. 'I Believe in Your Sweet Love' (Single Version) [Bonus]
17. 'I Believe in Your Sweet Love' (Full Length Version) [Bonus]

Where I'm not a big fan of country, when Bonnie Tyler brought out this album of country-tinged rock in 1979 luckily for this fan there was enough rock to outweigh the country to still make it enjoyable to the rocker in me.

For my money, artists like Bonnie Tyler and The Eagles are responsible for creating the modern sound of country music. Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and Taylor Swift owe Tyler and company a HUGE debt of gratitude for creating a style of music that has become the standard of today; and for allowing country and rock music to blend together and rise to the top of the pop charts.

With any of these songs easily able to find their way onto the current country charts of today, Diamond Cuts contains the UK hit single 'Married Men' (#35) plus the French Top 20 smash 'My Guns Are Loaded'.

Simply put, on this newly-created CD from Cherry Pop (that now contains six bonus tracks, including a rare live cut), if you want to see where today's country hits got their start play this CD!

Disc: 4 - Goodbye To The Island
1. 'I'm Just a Woman'
2. 'We Danced on the Ceiling'
3. 'Wild Love'
4. 'The Closer You Get'
5. 'Sometimes When We Touch'
6. 'Goodbye to the Island'
7. 'Wild Side of Life'
8. 'A Whiter Shade of Pale'
9. 'Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean'
10. 'I Believe in Your Sweet Love'
11. 'Come on, Give Me Lovin''
12. 'Get Out of My Head'
13. 'Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean' (Single Version) [Bonus]
14. 'Sola a la Orilla Del Mar' [Bonus]
15. 'I'm Just a Woman' (Single Version) [Bonus]
16. 'Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean' (Alternate Version) [Bonus]
17. 'Sayonara Tokyo' [Bonus]
18. 'Gonna Get Better' (1981 Version) [Bonus]

Goodbye to the Island is the fourth studio album by Bonnie Tyler and, as we now know, it became her final work with RCA Records after it was released in January 1981.

Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe wrote the majority of songs for the album, and co-produced the record with Hugh Murphy.

The album's lead single, 'I Believe in Your Sweet Love' was released in November 1979, but only reached #138 on the US Record World chart the next month.

Tyler actually won the World Popular Song Festival with 'Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean' when she represented the United Kingdom and so it was then released as a single in November 1979.

This new version of the album comes complete with six (6) lovely bonus tracks including and alternative version of 'Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean' and the always-brilliant to hear 'Sayonara Tokyo.'

Bonnie Tyler - The RCA Years follows the earlier success of the Cherry Pop 2-CD Remixes & Rarities and has been assembled by the same team.

www.CherryRed.co.uk





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