Branigan 2

Infobox Album | Name = Branigan 2
Type = Studio album
Artist = Laura Branigan


Released = March 1983
Recorded =
Genre = Pop / Rock
Length = 37:15
Label = Atlantic
Reviews = Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:9ye997u7kr0t~T1 link]
Producer = Jack White, Robbie Buchanan
Last album = "Branigan"
(1982)
This album = "Branigan 2"
(1983)
Next album = "Self Control"
(1984) |

"Branigan 2" is the second album by singer Laura Branigan, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music).

The first single released from this album was "Solitaire", which started climbing the charts in the spring of 1983. At the time, the dramatic European synth-pop sound was on the rise, and the singer's stirring vocal performance drove the song to the upper reaches of the charts.

In addition to cementing for Branigan a place in pop history and ensuring that she was much more than a one-hit wonder, her second album's two big hits began the careers for two then-unknowns who themselves became industry legends. While "Solitaire" was originally a French song, its English version provided the first major hit for lyric writer Diane Warren, who co-wrote many of Branigan's early songs. The second single from "Branigan 2" was the ballad "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," which was the first major hit for its co-writer, Michael Bolton, who would later pen three more songs for Branigan, who helped to make him an in-demand writer. While "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" just missed the Top Ten on the Pop charts, it spent three weeks at Number One on the Adult Contemporary airplay charts.

"Branigan 2" also included the ballad "Find Me", which was welcomed by fans of "How," as well as the energetic "I'm Not The Only One", with basswork by Dennis Belfield and duel vocal by Joe Esposito. The insistent belter "Don't Show Your Love" was the answer to those calling for the "Gloria" girl to give them another reason to hit the dancefloor. But some of Branigan's most playful performances are on this album as well, from the entendre of The Who's "Squeeze Box" to the free spirited "Lucky".

One of the album's most striking tracks, ushered in with synthesized whip-snaps and underpinned by a catchy, staccato guitar riff, "Deep In The Dark" takes her further into Europop territory, turning out to be a rewritten cover of Falco's "Der Kommissar," itself covered by pop group After The Fire. Branigan made it her own, coldly laughing as she emotively tells the tale of a girl's revenge, all to that killer hook.

Track listing

#"Solitaire" (Martine Clemenceau, Diane Warren) – 4:07
#"Deep in the Dark" (Bowersock, Ponger, Ponger) – 3:50
#"Close Enough" (Buchanan, Lang) – 3:41
#"Lucky" (Bi) – 3:58
#"Squeeze Box" (Pete Townshend) – 3:00
#"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Michael Bolton, James) – 4:29
#"I'm Not the Only One" (Doctor, Warren) – 3:22
#"Mama" (Bigazzi, Umberto Tozzi, Warren) – 3:56
#"Find Me" (Connors, Shire) – 3:22
#"Don't Show Your Love" (Connors, Holdridge) – 3:30

Personnel

*Laura Branigan - vocals
*Dennis Belfield - bass
*Michael Boddicker - synthesizer
*Robbie Buchanan - synthesizer, keyboards
*Lenny Castro - percussion
*Joe Esposito - background vocals
*Jim Haas - background vocals
*Eddie Hawkins - background vocals
*Jon Joyce - background vocals
*Michael Landau - guitar
*Doane Perry - drums
*Joe Pizzulo - background vocals
*Carlos Vega - drums
*Marty Walsh - guitar

Production

*Producer: Jack White
*Associate Producer & Arranger: Robbie Buchanan

Charts

Album

Singles