Search - Ronnie Spector :: Dangerous

Gems and zircons

Joey D | Brooklyn, NY USA | 10/15/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Ever since Ronnie Spector left Phil (or escaped) she's found it hard to jumpstart her career. Not only were her records few and far between, they were hard to find when first released. And if she didn't get a hit right away, she was gone - which is why there are so many record labels involved in her career. The UNFINISHED BUSINESS album gave her her best shot, because not only did it involve a major record label (Columbia), it came on the heels of her appearance on Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight", a gigantic hit. Unfortunately the material (which makes up the bulk of this CD) just wasn't good enough for her. She's a captivating singer, but she's no magician. Only "Love On A Rooftop" (which Cher later copped) captures the magic of her Ronettes records. "Who Can Sleep" (the single) is o.k. as is "Dangerous" and "Burning Love", but it's the bonus numbers that make this a keeper. Four or five years before this album she hooked up with Miami Steve Van Zandt, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and Bruce Springsteen, who were all big fans, and cut 3 of her best post-Ronettes records. "You Mean So Much To Me" was written by Bruce, produced by Steve, and found Ronnie dueting with Southside on the closer of the Jukes' debut album, and is a gem. Ronnie could be found performing this with Southside during their early live shows, such as NYC's Bottom Line, where the live version was recorded. Loads of fun. This recording was followed by the Van Zandt produced single of Billy Joel's "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" b/w Van Zandt's hypnotic ballad "Baby Please Don't Go" and both backed by the E Street Band. Since Joel based his song on "Be MY Baby", copping the opening drum riff, this seemed like a natural. But everybody's trying way too hard (except Ronnie, who hits the perfect groove) and the production, while fiery, is ultimately too much, leaving Billy Joel with the definitive version. Very good to be sure, but not GREAT. "Baby Please Don"t Go" however is a gem. With Clarence Clemon's soulful sax complimenting Ronnie's heartfelt vocal, this should be one of Van Zandt's proudest moments in music. And with it's inclusion on this CD,you won't have to hunt down [...] for this long out of print record (I think it was out of print the week it was released, that's how tuff it was to find when it came out. In the Village no less!). Th 45rpm stated these songs were from a forthcoming album, but when the record stiffed, no album appeared. I've always wondered whether an album was recorded, but I don't think we ever could have been lucky enough to have Ronnie make a whole album with Steve and Bruce & the guys. Rounding off the extra cuts is Eddie and Ronnie's "Take Me Home...". So you get about 8 solid cuts, which I guess in CD terms is about the norm, along with some beautifully produced but unworthy titles from one of Rock's great ladies.(Now if they had included Ronnie's version of "It's A Heartache" this would have been a must-have.)"

One of the best rock albums ever

Don Lynch | NY US | 12/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ronnie Spector has been and still is one of the best female rock'n'roll performers, a fact that seems to be ignored massively by the public, though she has her followers and fans. No one else could have cut a better recording of "Say GoodBye to Hollywood", Billy Joel wrote it with her in mind, her version was ignored while he later had a hit with this song. Although her 1999 rendition of "Don't Worry Baby" (also initially written for her by Brian Wilson) keeps the fresh essence of the Beach Boys' recording, it doesn't sound dated, she manages to make it sound fresh. If you listen to her "Dangerous" CD you'll find her 1987 album "Unfinished Business" entirely included in it, with wonderful lushy power ballads, it was the sound of late 80s, which makes strange to believe that failed to chart, she also recorded a reworked (dance beat) version of Elvis' "Burnin' love" whichs sounds truly well. The leading Single was Diane Warren's "Love on a Rooftop", produced by Desmond Child. It was a fruitful period for Diane Warren, and this is one of her best songs, later recorded by Desmond Child himself and by Cher for her album "Heart of Stone" (with "If I Could Turn Back Time" as opening track) which would be the starting point for a long string of hits and a new and increasing successful time which continues today. It is used to say that nothing is predictable in music business, anyway I think that Ronnie Spector needs to find the right producer who can take the best from her and a label that takes care of publicity to get the massive popularity she once had as lead vocalist of The Ronettes. She still has the voice, that voice that got the admiration of John Lennon, Joey Ramone, George Harrison, Johnny Thunders, Brian Wilson, Eddie Money, Billy Joel, Keith Richard, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Cher and David Bowie. Could they all be wrong?"

Powerful songs with a sensual voice

Rucho | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 08/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After reading about the Wall of Sound I became interested in hearing it. A few years ago I bought the CD "The Best of the Ronettes". I was delighted listening to great productions with full massive orchestration and careful arrangements, I think that's the way things must be done in pop/rock music. I wondered only one thing (and I wonder now as I still couldn't get an explanation) : Why weren't these songs recorded/remastered in stereo ? Wouldn't they sound with a greater and better effect ? Moreover, I discovered that the notably excellent voice of the lead vocalist Ronnie Spector made The Ronettes a very special and distinctive girl group. I bought a second CD by The Ronettes and there were no more. These girls deserve CD reissues of all their recordings. I started looking for Ronnie Spector's CDs and I bought "Dangerous 1976-1987" . Undoubtfully this woman knows very well how to rock. As in the case of the '60s band The Ronettes, I also find strange that for a gifted singer with a powerful, sensual voice as Ronnie Spector, there are only two CDs available. "Dangerous" joins the excellence of her voice with great production, polished arrangements and full orchestration. The style, for most of the songs, is that of mid to late '80s rock and power ballads. My favourite songs are: Say Goodbye To Hollywood, Love On a Rooftop, Dangerous, Burnin' Love (reworked version of Elvis Presley's song), Heartsong, True To You, Take Me Home Tonight (Be My Baby) and Who Can Sleep. If you like big budget produced uptempo power ballads, no doubt, you will enjoy this CD."