Marty Balin - Hearts & Other Favorites
Product Information
Track List: Hearts & Other Favorites
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Album Details: Hearts & Other Favorites
- Release Date:
- 01/01/1992
- UPC:
Pro Reviews: Hearts & Other Favorites
| EXPERT RATING: From AMG Reviews This best-of Marty Balin's two EMI albums, released in 1990, features four songs from the 1981 Balin LP and five from the harder-to-find 1983 Val Garay production of Lucky. Some say that the signing of David Bowie to EMI during his 1983 Let's Dance phase came at a cost to artists on that label, Balin included. It would account for this small output from such a major talent. "Hearts went Top Ten in 1981, followed by the Top 30 "Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)" four months later, both written by Jesse Barish, who also penned "Do It for Love" off Lucky, included on this set as well. It is rather astonishing that there is only one Marty Balin composition here, and it is a co-write at that. He's one of four songwriters who came together to pen "All We Really Need" from Lucky, making a clear statement that both EMI releases focused on Balin the singer. There are two things wrong with this picture. In the first place, the guy who wrote "Miracles," "With Your Love," and a number of classic Jefferson Airplane tracks only has one co-write each on his two solo albums. Meanwhile, Jesse Barish, author of "Count on Me" and other tracks on both the Spitfire and Earth Jefferson Starship albums, gets double the output on both of Balin's solo discs than the star himself. The second item is that the record should have been issued in 1982. The Lucky recordings were made between August and December of 1982, with too much time in between. Val Garay was hot with the number one worldwide smash "Bette Davis Eyes" for Kim Carnes two months before "Hearts" hit; for an artist of such depth, both in the songwriting and the vocal departments, it was shameful that EMI couldn't put a follow-up together more quickly, and one that was more in line with what the artist was all about. Why not include the excellent "I Do Believe In You" from the Hearts album, along with that disc's Balin co-write, the very fine "Lydia," and add the fourth Barish track, "Music Is the Light," while at it? Hearts Other Favorites is a chance for the label to put the hit song on another title from this important artist. Decent liner notes and a couple of new tracks would have been easy to obtain had EMI used a little effort. "From Elvis to Marilyn"? With big corporations it is more like from Balin to Bowie. The front cover of this re-release is the Aaron Rapoport photo from Lucky with new lettering and design. The collection is a pleasant set of music from a counterculture figure going adult contemporary. It segues perfectly with Hamilton, Joe Frank, Reynolds, which isn't a bad thing; it just isn't what Jefferson Airplane fans could have ever imagined in the '60s. - Joe Viglione, All Music Guide |
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Marty Balin Biography
While remaining best known for his contributions to the pioneering San Francisco psychedelic band Jefferson Airplane, Marty Balin also enjoyed a successful solo career, scoring a Top Ten hit in 1981 with "Hearts." Born Martyn Jerel Buchwald in Cincin...Full Marty Balin Biography
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