Eurythmics - Music Shop - Absolute Radio

This could have been a great album. It starts with the stomping Would I Lie to You? A propulsive guitar-based pop rocker, this song dissolved the cool and cruel beauty of Lennox's incomparable vocals on Sweet Dreams and Touch and introduced an aggressive and raunchy tone. Alas, it was not to be for the Eurythmics to develop their sound in the fashion for the rest of the album, uniting the synths and soul with guitar driven pop rock. To follow this song with the abominable and silly commercial twaddle of There Must Be an Angel was unbelievable to me at the time of the album's release, and the years between have not softened my opinion. The rest of the songs are just okay-the second half is almost entirely filler. Ball and Chain almost succeeds in getting the rock'n'roll elements back in the mix, but sonically it feels lightweight compared to Would I Lie to You. Although the Eurythmics would become more guitar-orientated on Revenge, this album was a missed opportunity to develop that sound at an earlier stage and to greater success. The three stars are mostly for Would I Lie to You. The bonus tracks add very little to the re-issue.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The classic Be Yourself Tonight has now been enhanced by extra tracks and reissued in deluxe packaging with new photographs. I think the album was intended as the band's excursion into R&B and Soul, but it's much more than that in its stylistic variety, exquisite musicianship and moving songs. The sonic delight starts with the uptempo Would I Lie To You, followed by the delicate pop of There Must Be An Angel, and reaches a climax on the duet with Aretha Franklin, a brilliant tour de force. Conditioned Soul is another gem with beautiful intricate and dramatic guitar infusions and Lennox at her vocal best on some of their most poetic lyrics. Not as resigned as Savage, Be Yourself Tonight still has an undertone of sorrow, as in the tender Adrian. A great slice of 80's R&B follows in the form of It's Alright, followed by the most sorrowful of all, the entrancing Here Comes That Sinking Feeling with its doubled-up vocals (one set sounding like it's spoken over the telephone) which gives it an eerie feel. The bittersweet Better To Have Lost In Love, is another highlight, haunting in its blend of hope and sadness. Some of Eurythmics most literate and profound work is found here, but it's serious stuff and not always as accessible as their other masterpieces like Sweet Dreams or Revenge. Then again, it's nowhere near as difficult as In The Garden or as bleak as Savage. Be Yourself Tonight is an album of real soul. Of the additional tracks, my favorites include the French song Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles and the remix of Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves.

Rating: 5 out of 5

I remember hearing this album when I was in senior school around the time it would have been new out. I liked it then and in the last few years have toyed with the idea of picking it up on vinyl or CD. I approach this album as a casual fan and someone who picked up the 8 album boxset for a good price out of intrigue to hear their recorded album journey (well, most of it.)

A good test of how easy something is (for me anyway) is to play it when ill. I had not been holding back on playing the CD at home waiting for a bout of man flu, but at the latter end of recovery I gave it a spin on the home stereo expecting it to sound bright and compressed like many remasters seem to these days. It is to the credit of Ian Cooper at Metropolis Mastering that this was very easy to listen to. It sounds like every thing was taken from good sources, although there is a little tape damage or something audible in parts of the 12" mix of Sisters... but's I found that quite charming in a way.

So, the album:
Sounds nice, NOT harsh, NOT mega trebbly - hooray! I think it has stood up well over time, although the last two tracks of the album proper are easily skipped for me despite memory telling me I quite liked the last track: Better To...

The bonus tracks:
I'm not a mega fan so some may strongly disagree but it appears across this series that Eurythmics were not really champions of the classic b-side or 12" mix. Nothing made me run out of the room screeming, but there's maybe only one or two tracks that I'd want to pay more attention too in the near future. The two b-sides are generally "b-side"y. The 12" mix of Sisters is not very exciting - it shows to me that they really nailed the mix with the LP version. However, the 12" of Would I Lie To You? - although only about 30 secs longer than the LP version - is of interest, sounding more like a stadium performance than before. Conditioned Soul (live) didn't really do anything for me (I didn't get on with the backing vocals in places either) and Hello I Love You was interesting enough, but I've never been into the Doors (or their lyrics) so it wasn't a big deal for me, but it was an interestingly different arrangement.

In summary:
Sounds nice, bonus tracks not massively exciting - oh and no complete lyrics included.

Rating: 4 out of 5