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Hold Me (Laura Branigan album)

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Hold Me
Studio album by
Laura Branigan
ReleasedJuly 15, 1985 (1985-07-15)
Studio
Genre
Length39:47
LabelAtlantic
Producer
Laura Branigan chronology
Self Control
(1984) 		Hold Me
(1985) 		Touch
(1987)
Singles from Hold Me
  1. "Spanish Eddie"
    Released: July 1985
  2. "Hold Me"
    Released: 1985
  3. "Maybe Tonight"
    Released: 1985
  4. "I Found Someone"
    Released: February 7, 1986
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Hold Me is the fourth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on July 15, 1985, by Atlantic Records.[2] The album peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard 200, though it fared better internationally, reaching the top 10 in Sweden and Switzerland, and the top 15 in Norway.

The album's lead single, "Spanish Eddie", earned Branigan her sixth top-40 entry in two and a half years, peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] and was moderately successful outside the United States.[4] Subsequent singles "Hold Me" and "I Found Someone" failed to make an impact, peaking at numbers 82 and 90 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Nevertheless, "Hold Me" reached number 39 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart,[5] while "I Found Someone" reached number 25 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.[6]

The track "When the Heat Hits the Streets" was used in a television advertising campaign for the Chrysler Laser, with Chrysler serving as a sponsor for Branigan's 1985–1986 Hold Me tour (a Chrysler Laser was prominently displayed in the "Spanish Eddie" music video).

According to Branigan, she said "the album is such a growth from my other albums. I really feel it’s the direction I want to go. My voice is definitely stronger and the material is just incredible. I honestly don't feel there are any fillers."[7]

Reception

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In their review of the album, Billboard commented that "Branigan's latest includes several tracks by co-producer Harold Faltermeyer, giving the collection an added edge beyond the mainstream ballads and rockers that have characterized her earlier recordings. First single is "Spanish Eddie," but the album should produce several other successful tracks, most notably "Hold Me" and "When I'm With You." [8]

Cashbox noted that "Laura Branigan's fourth LP for Atlantic combines all of the elements that have brought her a handful of hit singles, from uptempo dance oriented tunes such as this album’s first single, the melodic and colorful “Spanish Eddie,” to beautiful ballads like “Forever Young.” Producer Jack White and other contributors like Harold Faltermeyer have chosen some excellent material here and Branigan shines on every cut."[9]

Allmusic were more mixed in their review, stating that "Laura Branigan began to falter in her quest to be the white, '80s Donna Summer with her fourth album, which failed to scale the sales heights of her first three, despite another clutch of dramatic, heavily produced Eurodisco tracks, three of which found their way onto the singles charts. The closest thing to a hit was "Spanish Eddie" (this album's remake of her first smash, "Gloria"), a song with an odd street-life lyric that made reference to Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row"...Elsewhere, Branigan again turned to songwriter Michael Bolton for "I Found Someone," and as she had with "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You," did it much better than its author, for what it's worth. But on the whole, Hold Me found The Branigan formula growing stale."[10]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hold Me"
  • Beth Andersen
  • Bill Bodine
4:43
2."Maybe Tonight"
3:37
3."Foolish Lullaby"
  • White
  • Spiro
4:18
4."Spanish Eddie"
White4:08
5."Forever Young"
White3:52
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
6."When I'm with You"
  • White
  • Spiro
  • Faltermeyer
4:12
7."I Found Someone"
  • White
  • Faltermeyer
4:00
8."Sanctuary"
White3:32
9."Tenderness"
3:42
10."When the Heat Hits the Streets"
  • Linda Schreyer
  • Cappy Capossela
Spiro3:43
Total length:39:47

Notes

[edit]
  • ^[a] signifies an associate producer

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Hold Me.[11]

Musicians

[edit]

Technical

[edit]
  • Jürgen Koppers, Brian Malouf, John Kovarek, Brian Reeves, John Van Nest, Ed Thacker, Dave Concors, Tom Whitlock, David Devore – engineering
  • Steve Krause, Rick Butz, Peggy McAffee, Samii Taylor – engineering assistance
  • Jürgen Koppers – mixing[a]
  • Brian Gardner – mastering[b]
  • Jack White – production (tracks 1–9)
  • Harold Faltermeyer – production (tracks 1, 7)
  • Mark Spiro – associate production (tracks 2, 3, 6, 9); production (track 10)

Artwork

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Charts

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Notes

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  1. ^ Mixed at Image Recording (Hollywood, California)
  2. ^ Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)

References

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  1. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Hold Me – Laura Branigan". AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  2. ^ "For the Record". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 28. July 13, 1985. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books. Laura Branigan's 'Hold Me' album will be marketed July 15...
  3. ^ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Laura Branigan – Spanish Eddie". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  5. ^ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  6. ^ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  7. ^ "Laura Branigan" (PDF). Cash Box. July 27, 1985. p. LB. Retrieved December 9, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  8. ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 27 July 1985. p. 64. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "Album Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 27 July 1985. p. 10. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hold Me - Laura Branigan | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  11. ^ Hold Me (liner notes). Laura Branigan. Atlantic Records. 1985. 81265-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 45. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0578". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "European Top 100 Albums". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 35. September 2, 1985. p. 18. OCLC 29800226.
  15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Laura Branigan". Sisältää hitin – Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish) (2nd ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 37. ISBN 978-952-7460-01-6.
  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Laura Branigan – Hold Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  17. ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  18. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Laura Branigan – Hold Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Laura Branigan – Hold Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Laura Branigan – Hold Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  22. ^ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  23. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Albums". Cash Box. Vol. XLIX, no. 14. September 21, 1985. p. 22. ISSN 0008-7289.
  24. ^ "Topp 40 Album Sommer 1985" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
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