Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Collection includes 7 studio albums and two compilations by an American singer-songwriter Belinda Carlisle.

Belinda Carlisle pursued a solo career after leaving the Go-Go's in 1984. As her solo career progressed, Carlisle removed any of the rough edges remaining in her style, transforming from a new wave rocker to a polished adult contemporary pop singer. The change was evident on her first album, 1986's Belinda. Featuring the number three hit single "Mad About You," the record went gold and established her as a viable hitmaker. The following year, Carlisle released Heaven on Earth, her greatest solo success. Continuing the immaculately produced mainstream pop of Belinda, the record featured the number one title track, the number two single "I Get Weak," and the Top Ten ballad "Circle in the Sand." Runaway Horses, released in 1989, was another successful album, spawning the hit singles "Leave a Light On" and "Summer Rain," yet it showed signs that her audience was shrinking. That suspicion was confirmed by the dismal performance of 1991's Live Your Life Be Free, which failed to make the charts. Real, released in 1993, didn't revive Carlisle's career and she subsequently joined the re-formed Go-Go's in 1994. The Go-Go's reunion was short-lived, even though it was widely praised. Carlisle returned to solo recording in 1996 with A Woman and a Man, which failed to gain much attention. A myriad of collections and compilations followed, as well as another Go-Go's reunion. Carlisle released a new solo album, Voila, in 2007.

Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Belinda Carlisle's first solo record was a distinct departure from the Go-Go's' energetic, catchy new wave pop. Carlisle refashioned herself as an inoffensive mainstream pop singer and the makeover worked commercially, as well as artistically. The pop on Belinda may not be as infectious as the Go-Go's' finest singles, yet it fit in well with the slick formats of mid-'80s radio and managed to be more memorable than many of the mainstream hits of the time, as the ingratiating hit "Mad About You" proves.

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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When Belinda Carlisle pursued a solo career, she took more than her share of criticism from rock critics – who complained that slick pop/rock collections like Belinda and Heaven on Earth lacked the bite of her work with the Go-Go's. But while nothing here packs quite the punch that "How Much More," "We Got the Beat," and "Turn to You" did, such memorable songs as "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," "Should I Let You In?," and "I Get Weak" show that the Angelino still had plenty of spirit. "Circle in the Sand" is in fact a gem – a haunting Shangri-Las-like song with an early-to-mid-'60s-ish quality that makes you wish you were back in the Summer of '64 on your way to the beach. If one were to own only one solo effort from Carlisle's MCA years, this would be the best choice.

Review by Alex Henderson, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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2009 issue UK 'Special Edition' 2-disc [CD/DVD] album set - From punk-rocker to pop singer, Belinda Carlisle's hugely successful career spans many genres and has earned her 7 solo UK Top 10 singles and 5 solo UKTop 10 albums. The height of her success came in 1987 with the seismic 'Heaven On Earth', the multi-platinum selling album spawning 5 of her Top 10 hits including the No 1 smash title track 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth'. This edition comprises15-track digitally remastered CD album featuring the 10-track album, alongside 5 Bonus Recordings of contemporary b-side remixes of 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth', 'Circle In The Sand', 'World Without You' & 'I Get Weak', plus a Bonus Region 0 NTSC DVD containing footage [previously only available on VHS] of Belinda performing all her hits and Go-Gos covers. Complete with a picture booklet with photos and visuals not included in the original release as well as liner notes including an interview from Belinda herself.

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Fair or unfair, Belinda Carlisle's solo recordings were destined to be compared to the Go-Go's. Carlisle resented the constant comparisons, but as great an impact as the group had, did she really expect anything different? Understandably, rock critics missed the harder-edged Carlisle, but in fact, the more polished and slicker one has had her moments. Runaway Horses, Carlisle's third solo release, isn't as strong as Heaven on Earth – let alone her work with the Go-Go's – but is generally likeable and appealing. Although not most critics' cup of tea, the good-spirited, romantic idealism of "Valentine," "Leave a Light On," "Whatever It Takes," and other sugary pop/rock and power pop confections is tough to resist.

Review by Alex Henderson, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Carlisle added a bit of dance flavor to her signature pop/rock stylings on her fourth solo set. Numbers like the catchy "Do You Feel Like I Feel" and the harder-edged "I Plead Insanity" are dancefloor-ready, yet still contain the robust vocal delivery and seeping guitar riffs necessary to please longtime fans. And the timeless melody of "Half the World" is the kind that made earlier hits like "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" and "Circle in the Sand" mainstays on radio long after their chart runs. The elegant arrangement of "Half the World," which includes Spanish guitars, mandolin and oboe, gives the song a universal appeal, whilst "Emotional Highway" has a slight Middle Eastern feel via Carlisle's sullen vocal and the moody surf guitars. Live Your Life Be Free shows the singer to be capable in a variety of musical contexts, and is a pleasing listen throughout.

Review by Justin Kantor, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Like Live Your Life Be Free, Real was a well-crafted and produced album alternating between ballads and light dance-pop. Like its predecessor, Real also suffered from a lack of memorable songs. While the record sounded good, it had nothing to support the state-of-the-art production.

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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After a brief Go-Go's reunion, Belinda Carlisle returned to her solo career in 1996 with A Woman and a Man. And with her return to her solo career came the abandonment of any punky pop hooks – after all, she had outgrown that nonsense. So, A Woman and a Man is a measured, mature collection of adult pop, with cool keyboards and subtle arrangements that often make the record sound like background music. However, Carlisle has rarely been in better voice, and the music is certainly appealing, even if it's a little too relaxed. A Woman and a Man demonstrates that Carlisle should be able to grow old gracefully, and that was a possibility that looked unlikely around the time of Real.

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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U2 did it; so did George Michael. Who is to say that Belinda Carlisle can't release a two-disc set (despite having already released a greatest hits CD)? And who would have known back in the early '80s that Carlisle, as the punk-pop lead singer of the Go-Gos, would go on to be the underappreciated queen of catchy hooks for two decades? Every song here is hummable, sweet, and as perfectly formatted and accessible as a Saturday morning cartoon theme – which may be why some will think they all sound alike. Lacking her first solo hit "Mad About You," it can't exactly be given the title "The Ultimate Belinda Carlisle Collection," but this dance-heavy set is right up there. It is complete with most of the infectious hits everyone remembers – "Heaven is a Place on Earth," "Circle in the Sand," "I Get Weak," "Leave a Light On" – and those which most won't, mainly because Carlisle's popularity dwindled in America after 1989 and her marketing faded to being non-existent. She kept the music coming though, and if you liked her in the '80s, chances are you will like her later music. There are some truly worthy tunes here. "Live Your Life Be Free" is a roaring proclamation of love, an anthem along the lines of "Heaven is a Place on Earth." It would have been a big club hit had it been given any radio play. "In Too Deep" is an instantly lovable confection from her 1996 comeback album A Woman and a Man. "California" is musical rock candy with Brian Wilson on backup and trendy lyrics like "I remember I was in the tanning salon when I heard that River Phoenix was gone." Three new songs complete disc one: "Feels Like I've Known You Forever" is a polished, mature pop song; "A Prayer for Everyone" is one of her most complex songs musically, though not one of her best; and the third, "All God's Children," Carlisle had the writers tailor-make after she heard Cher's "Believe" and fell in love with that song. "All God's Children" is smooth and fast, terrifically produced, and thankfully avoids using any electronic echoes on Carlisle's vocals – it's "Believe" inspired, but not a clone. The second CD (a limited edition disc) features eight remixes of her earlier hits as well as two B-sides from 1991: the corny but lively "Only a Dream" and "The Air You Breathe," the latter of which would have boasted well as an actual single release at the time, blessed with a powered chorus and great vocalist. Rather than releasing another greatest hits package, Carlisle could have released all of her B-sides, songs from soundtracks, and remixes. Still, if you can only have one Belinda Carlisle album, Place on Earth: Greatest Hits is as ultimate as you'll find.

Review by Peter Fawthrop, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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After two other best-of albums that were far more inclusive than what's here, Collection comes up woefully short for any Carlisle fan. No Go-Go's, nothing from Belinda, nothing from Real, nothing from A Woman & a Man; in fact "Circle in the Sand" doesn't even make the cut. Only a small window from 1988 to 1991 gets the lion's share of the coverage, with a few tracks from the late '90s pasted on to balance it out. What does make it is decent, side-stepping her often uneven solo career with a focus on her lighter pop and rock tracks. But one can't help but be disappointed by the lack of variety and the key tracks that are needlessly missing. There are better collections dedicated to Carlisle that deliver more hits and provide an even view of her output.

Review by Bradley Torreano, Allmusic.com

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Belinda Carlisle - Albums Collection 1986-2007 [11CD+DVD] Combined Repost

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Belinda Carlisle's career has had several twists and turns, but none has been quite as interesting as her 2007 album Voila, a collection of luxurious covers of classic French pop tunes, all sung in French. Certainly, the very concept of the former new wave queen singing French pop qualifies as one of the more intriguing projects in her solo career, but it's also interesting that she's chosen this idea for her first solo album in ten years. Given that long gap between new albums, it's clear that Voila is no stunt or novelty, it's a passion project for Carlisle and it plays that way: it has the complexity and richness of a labor of love. Which doesn't necessarily mean that this album is filled with surprises, apart from its very existence. Brian Eno may contribute keyboards, but that doesn't mean that these are radical reinterpretations, nor are the selections necessarily left-field: there are a pair of Serge Gainsbourg songs, a Jacques Brel, and a few other songs that should be familiar to rock and pop listeners with a fairly deep grasp of '60s and '70s pop. Those listeners who were raised on punk, new wave, and alt-rock, but with a deep love of the '60s, are clearly the target audience for Voila, and the best thing about the album is that it will not disappoint. This is an elegant, stylish collection of adult pop, gliding by on its sleek synth textures and cabaret atmosphere. Even when it dips into Eurodisco – as it does on occasion, as on Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose" – it does so gracefully, and there's an appealing sly decadence to the feel of Voila; it may be a decadence sculpted out of films, LPs, and old photos, one that's knowing but affectionate, but that doesn't mean it's not an alluring, effective mood for the album, particularly because Carlisle sustains it from beginning to end, a problem that she didn't manage to conquer on her big hits of the late '80s. That is a change for her, but the true revelation of Voila is her singing: it's relaxed, assured, and nuanced, the best vocal performance she's had on record. She delivers these songs so smoothly, it's like she's been a chanteuse her entire life, and it's that deep musicality that makes Voila not just a rewarding detour but one of her best albums – and, with any luck, the first chapter in a new phase of her career.

Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com