Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Запись не зря дразнили похоронным маршем. Кажется, она повлияла на некоторые современные.
Not his best work but as old timey background music it's pretty good
Unexpectedly good
A seriously melodramatic album featuring such hits like ‘god why don’t women like me’, ‘I’m a terrible alcoholic’ and the quite repetitive ‘he’s got the whole world in his hands’. Thought it was great.
When I started listening to 'Oldies' back in the early 80s, Dion was always one of my favorites and I was surprised to see this album pop up. Maybe not a 4, but close enough for me. Catchy tunes.
Other than the awful version of “He’s got the Whole World In his Hands” it’s quite nice
This is a vibe I really enjoy -- sort of doo-wop, sort of rock, sort of oldies. Thumbs up
让心安静的好听
when i saw that the run time was 1h18min, my expectations were a bit low but this album really surprised me. the songs complimented each other & nothing felt like it was out of place. lyrics & overall production were pretty good. my personal favourite was 'Runaway Man', but this album holds itself really well
An admirably strange and diverse record from a legacy artist. I have a friend of mine who’s a big Dion guy and I get it now. Second-degree Spector’s production touches are often cool and sometimes unwelcome. I guess Dion himself wasn’t pleased with this after it came out, but I think it’s a record to be proud of. Lots of guts and personality in his voice.
jkjkjjbk
I enjoyed this! I know Dion from the song "The Wanderer" so I was interested to hear his later work. I saved "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and "Runaway Man." Overall a fun ride!
Amazing record, classic rock with so much character that just keeps suprising me and comes back everytime
I liked this album. He is a great song writer.
I really liked this one. He reminds me a lot of Billy Joel. Has a soft rock vibe to it; Just a dude that can sing well with some catchy tunes.
Čudan album, fora
I was vaguely familiar with him before this but not much I really love the instrumentals this type of music is really beautiful to me and his voice is pleasant and fits the music I dont really have a favourite song in particular though I think they are all nice but nothing astounding just pretty music 4 stars 7.9/10
I found out about Dion from an episode of the Cher Show that’s posted on YouTube. It was a sample of Dion & The Belmonts- I Wonder Why. I thoroughly enjoyed that song and consequently, I enjoyed this album!
Really really good easy listening. A warning: Spotify pairs it with another album, Streetheart. So be aware Born To Be Wuth You is only the first 8 tracks
Surprising
I actually really liked this. Say what you like about Phil Spector, I love that goddam wall of sound!
Solid addition to the 70s folk rock canon.
Lush production, definitely where Father John Misty would pull sounds/influence from. While not overwhelming in catchiness, there is something about it I want to return to
Actually quite nice? Sounded like Father John Misty as times - which is 50ish years later. What a 75 banger.
This is in many ways an extremely perplexing choice for the list - it's the only Dion album on there, and it's not from his "peak" era of fame as a 60s doo-wop artist, the Wikipedia page is remarkably slight and doesn't really give you a whole lot of context on the album, at least not enough to explain why it would be considered "essential" aside from stating that some other artists found it influential in later years. That being said, I found it to be a really beautiful album. This style of baroque pop is right up my alley, the production is gorgeous and while there are a couple of less-good tracks (I could have done without "He's Got the Whole World in his Hands") I definitely can see myself putting some of these songs into my regular rotation. I'm glad I was prompted to listen to it by this generator and I hope that Dion has come to appreciate his work here more than he initially did. Faves: Born To Be With You, New York City Song
Really enjoyed this. Love the Phil Spector 70s production. Sounds like George Harrison, but more focused on New York. Really cool.
Love Dion, I understand this album was originally released in England only, great to be able to listen to it now.
I was not that familiar with this artist - great set of well constructed songs with great songwriting and lyrics.
Fav: In And Out Of The Shadows Least Fav: (He’s Got) The Whole World In His Hands Always love it when an album is unexpectedly great :)
Love Dion
Never heard of Dion. I listened to this album 4 times. Not sure still. 4/5
For some reason, I quite like this, and I can’t really work out why. I imagine that should I ever be in a coma, it will feel like this. There is no edge to these tracks at all. I think they would be worse for not having big Phil’s wall of sound around them and Dion’s voice is warm and not unpleasant. It’s got a smooth, gentle vibe with a vaguely country twang, and a quasi-religiosity. I’m not surprised to read that Bobby Gillespie is a big fan, and I can hear some of the influence on Primal Scream in parts. It’s a big change from his early Dion and The Belmonts days, like jumping out of a speeding car into a box of extra soft cushions, and it’s a bit naff. There is no way it should be in the book, but i did enjoy it.
Pretty good
soft, echoey 70s pop rock music. fair number of tracks are covers. it's said that this album didn't really get much attention when it was first released, but critics started to love it once the 90s rolled along. also produced by phil spector, so it has quite the distinct classic produced sound. this guy's voice tugs at the heartstrings of listeners, especially older generations. the right place to play this album would be a slow dance at a honeymoon, anniversary, or vacation getaway with your lover. some stuff is very choral at times, other times it's simply beautiful... almost sad, nostalgic beauty. it's an interesting spectacle of a listen, a few diamonds in the occasional rough when it comes to classic pop. he's a very talented musician, and even in his 80s he's recording music today that sounds practically the same.
I’m at a 4. There’s an immediately striking line on the Wikipedia page for this album: “On its completion in 1974, Dion effectively disowned the record, stating that the production made it sound like ‘funeral music’.” I think he’s got a point, although I do think it’s a little bit hyperbolic & carries a far more negative connotation that I got out of listening to this. Yes, this is a Phil Spector disasterclass at times, but I only found 3 of the tracks here to truly suffer from the wall of sound effect: the opener, “Born to Be with You”, “(He's Got) The Whole World in His Hands” & the closer, “Good Lovin' Man”. Even with the wall of sound bearing itself down on these tracks in a way that feels far too noticeable, they each have their own little issues. “Born to Be With You” has all the potential in the world, but it just comes across as utterly plain. For as much as it tries to do, the production really holds it back. To my ears, it’s too long for what it is, spinning the wheels to a 7 minute runtime that doesn’t feel as satisfying as it could be. Past that, the instrumentation isn’t consistently rich enough to evoke the vibe it’s going for, even though Dion’s vocals meet the mark. It’s not his fault at all. It’s never really his fault at any point on this album; his vocals are STRONG, and often overcome some of the bad production choices to still make a good chunk of these tracks really nice. “(He's Got) The Whole World in His Hands” is simply caked in reverb, to a point where it’s obnoxious. I like the vibe of the track, but I see exactly where Dion would call this thing “funeral music” – it’s got a weirdly ethereal vibe due to the reverb, but not in a wholly spiritual way like I’m sure Phil Spector may have intended. It just comes across as nearly culty. With a better producer in tow here, I think this track has just as much potential, but there’s just too much meddling involved. “Good Lovin' Man” is honestly a fun track, and I like the 50s throwback style a lot here, but it’s just so overblown with the wall of sound that everything feels muddled, down to the backing choirs & instrumentation & even a good chunk of Dion’s higher registers. Under the hands of a better producer, this could be a super fun way to end the album, but with Phil’s hands on this thing, it just feels off. As far as the other 5 tracks go (“Make the Woman Love Me”, “Your Own Back Yard”, “Only You Know”, “New York City Song”, & “In and Out of the Shadows”), I like them all a lot. Phil Spector takes a playbook out of how Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” uses a more subtle wall of sound (just go listen to the pre-chorus, you’ll hear what I mean), and it’s used to really strong effect. Honestly, a lot of those tracks feel very Elton-y, which is probably why I liked them. Granted, “In and Out of the Shadows” is HEAVY on the wall of sound, but since it blends much more with Dion’s more powerful vocals, the whole thing has a bombastic feel that makes it all work. “Only You Know” is probably my favorite one here; great lyricism about encouraging a friend, the instrumentation & vocals come through really nicely due to the more subtle wall of sound, and the percussion has some great highlights. As a whole then, even if batting 5 out of 8 would only be a 62.5% on the grading scale, I do think the 3 tracks that got hit by the wall of sound in a bad way are still honestly not THAT bad, and they have their moments. They’re just ruined by Phil Spector – not the only thing he’d murder in the next 30 years. It’s a shame this is the only Dion album on the list, because I LOVE the tone of his voice, and he seems like someone I’d really enjoy. I’ll have to hunt down some more of his stuff. As far as this album goes, I feel fine with a 4. The best tracks here are REALLY strong to my ears, and since it’s only 35 minutes, none of the affected tracks bring down the album that badly. I do think the 2.62 average is far too low, and it may be just an overreaction to the first track plodding along the way it does. Did it need to be on the list? I dunno, maybe. I enjoyed it though, so that works for me.
okay pleasantly surprised? i fucking love this???? LMAO
This was fricking gorgeous. Who is this? Why haven’t I heard this before?
I actually listened to this album paired with Streetheart, thinking it was a double album. I think I enjoyed Streetheart slightly more, but this album had more standouts. Anyway, my main problem with the songs on this album is the lagging tempo of a couple of them. It brings this laziness to the songs, which I’m not sure was intended, but it really feels like it stretches them out. I still enjoyed the listen and found a lot of songs I liked from the two albums. Had this been the double album I thought it was, it might’ve raised the score for me. I don’t tire of Dion’s voice, and a lot of this music is the kind you can just sit back and relax to.
Vibe
Came upon this after hearing Only You Know in the Bear last month and only really knowing Dion for his Belmonts work and really liked it. Got slightly Springsteen production vibes I feel, which is a big plus for me
Was doubtful at first and thought this was going to be a two star review. But it grew on my and listened to it two and a half times. Feels like a less snarky Steely Dan. Or what Dawes ripped off thirty plus years later.
4/5 - Early Joel?
Low 4, very solid
This has a lot of lovely love songs. I like his voice and there are a good few catchy numbers. Could have possibly got a 5 but it's far too long and some songs are duds
Well, this was a massive surprise. Based on the cover I was expecting some kind of mid-70s Euro folk, but what I got was a lush fusion of soul, R&B, and rock with some amazing **Phil Spector** production. This is blue-eyed soul in the vein of **Boz Scsggs** and I adore **Boz Scsggs**. Mostly produced by **Phil Spector**, this album has that signature Wall of Sound, but it’s darker, more introspective, even somber. The arrangements are slick but not overly so, the vocals are soulful, and groove is super smooth. It kind of evokes the emotional grandeur of **The Verve's** *Urban Hymns*, **Embrace's** *The Good Will Out*, or **Spiritualized** *Ladies and Gentlemen...* Genuinely astounded by this. I loved it so much that I listened to the follow-up **Streetheat** (1976), which was equally good and immediately reminded me of *Silk Degrees* by **Boz Scaggs**. I will absolutely revisit this, I might even buy it.
What love songs ought to be.
Like the voice and the instrumental Fav song - Runaway Man 4/5
Somewhere between Warren Zevon and Jackson Browne, and that's fine by me! Not all classics but a plot of really great tunes and great playing. Title track is an absolute killer.
So THIS is where Father John Misty got it from. My toxic trait is that I love Phil Spector's production.
I liked it surprisingly more than I thought I would, it had a very cinematic feel to it so just doing everyday tasks while listening felt like a scene from a movie.
4- great love songs
Enjoyed listening to something I haven't heard in a while.
Very good.
## In-Depth Review of *Born to Be With You* by Dion Released in 1975, Dion’s *Born to Be With You* is a polarizing album that has evolved from being largely dismissed at its release to becoming a cult favorite. Produced primarily by Phil Spector, the album blends introspective songwriting with Spector's signature "Wall of Sound" production. Below is a detailed analysis of the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its pros and cons. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Born to Be With You* reflect Dion’s personal struggles and spiritual journey. At the time, Dion was overcoming heroin addiction and grappling with a crisis of faith, and these experiences seep into the album’s introspective tone. - **"Your Own Backyard"** is a confessional track about addiction and redemption. Its raw honesty resonates deeply, making it one of the standout lyrical moments. - **"Only You Know"** explores themes of longing and love with poetic simplicity, while **"New York City Song"** offers a melancholic reflection on urban life. - Tracks like **"In and Out of the Shadows"** delve into existential musings, while **"Make the Woman Love Me"** carries a sense of desperation masked by romantic yearning. The lyrics are often conversational and understated, which complements Dion’s gritty and weathered vocal delivery. However, some tracks lean toward generic sentimentality, which occasionally undermines their emotional weight. --- ### **Music** Musically, the album is an eclectic mix of styles: - It incorporates elements of doo-wop (a nod to Dion’s roots), folk-rock, baroque pop, soul, and even country influences. - Tracks like **"Born to Be With You"** feature lush arrangements with strings, horns, and layered instrumentation typical of Spector’s production style. - The acoustic simplicity of **"New York City Song"** provides a refreshing contrast to the more orchestrated tracks. Dion’s voice remains the emotional core of the album. His phrasing is subtle yet impactful, lending an air of vulnerability to the songs. The melodies are often hauntingly beautiful but can feel overly somber or slow-paced at times. --- ### **Production** Phil Spector’s production is both a highlight and a point of contention for this album. His "Wall of Sound" technique—characterized by dense layers of instruments and heavy reverb—creates an atmospheric backdrop that amplifies the emotional intensity of the songs. - On tracks like **"(He’s Got) The Whole World in His Hands,"** Spector reimagines traditional melodies with soulful arrangements that feel fresh and innovative. - However, his obsessive perfectionism reportedly clashed with Dion’s more understated approach. The result is a tension-filled soundscape where Dion’s voice sometimes feels buried under the weight of the production. Critics have described the album as sounding like "funeral music," with its slow tempos and cavernous echoes contributing to an almost oppressive atmosphere. While this works for some tracks, it can make others feel overly heavy or monotonous. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Born to Be With You* is deeply personal and reflective: 1. **Redemption and Recovery**: Songs like "Your Own Backyard" address Dion’s battle with addiction in a way that feels both confessional and hopeful. 2. **Love and Longing**: Tracks such as "Only You Know" explore romantic devotion with heartfelt sincerity. 3. **Spirituality**: The album has an almost gospel-like quality in its search for meaning and connection. 4. **Melancholy and Nostalgia**: Many songs carry a sense of loss or yearning for simpler times, reflecting Dion’s transition from his early rock-and-roll fame to a more introspective phase in his career. --- ### **Influence** Despite its initial commercial failure, *Born to Be With You* has gained significant recognition over time: - Artists like Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) and Jason Pierce (Spiritualized) have cited it as a major influence on their work. - Its blend of baroque pop and introspective songwriting has drawn comparisons to albums like Dennis Wilson’s *Pacific Ocean Blue* and Gene Clark’s *No Other*. - The album’s emotional rawness and sonic ambition have made it a touchstone for fans of melancholic rock and experimental production. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Emotional Depth**: The lyrics are deeply personal, offering insight into Dion’s struggles with addiction and faith. 2. **Vocal Performance**: Dion’s gritty yet tender voice anchors the album emotionally. 3. **Unique Production**: Phil Spector’s "Wall of Sound," while divisive, adds a haunting grandeur to many tracks. 4. **Cult Appeal**: Over time, the album has been embraced as an overlooked gem by fans of introspective rock music. 5. **Standout Tracks**: Songs like "Your Own Backyard," "Only You Know," and "New York City Song" showcase strong songwriting paired with compelling performances. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Overbearing Production**: Spector’s dense arrangements can overshadow Dion’s vocals and dilute the intimacy of some tracks. 2. **Pacing Issues**: The slow tempos across much of the album can make it feel monotonous or overly somber. 3. **Lack of Cohesion**: The mix of styles—ranging from doo-wop to baroque pop—can feel disjointed at times. 4. **Initial Reception**: The album was largely ignored upon release, which may deter casual listeners from exploring it today. 5. **Polarizing Sound**: Its heavy reliance on reverb and orchestration may not appeal to those who prefer stripped-down production. --- ### Conclusion *Born to Be With You* is an ambitious yet flawed work that captures Dion at a pivotal moment in his career. While Phil Spector's production adds grandeur, it also creates tension that sometimes undermines the intimacy of Dion's storytelling. The album's themes of redemption, love, and spirituality resonate deeply but are occasionally weighed down by its somber tone. For fans willing to embrace its melancholic beauty and sprawling soundscapes, *Born to Be With You* offers a rewarding listening experience that transcends its initial reception. Its influence on later artists underscores its enduring legacy as a hidden gem in 1970s rock history.
Surprised how much I liked this. Definitely set a calming kind of romantic 70s mood. Ideal for playing while working or cleaning or cooking with a lover ;)
I had never heard this, and was skeptical looking at the picture, but this was great. It was like a little bit of James Taylor, a little bit of Jim Croce sort of. I really enjoyed this. I can see myself listening to this more.
I've never heard of Dion before now, but this was actually more fun than I had expected. The record deviates a bit in mostly good ways from typical folk/blues singer/songwriter stuff at times, which I enjoyed. I think the only thing really holding this back is the length - by about 40 minutes in, I really got what he's going for here. Overall though, it's a decent album I could see myself coming back to. 7.5/10
Five minutes in: this is the Runaround Sue guy? This is my jam. I like runaround Sue and its frivolous ilk, but this feels so stately. I’m into it. My least favorite song is the last one, “good lovin’ man,” which feels more like what I expected from Dion.
A lot of this album sort of reminds me of a more streamlined and polished version of Gene Clark's album 'No Other' with its ambitious take on country-rock fusions. And I really love that album, so, naturally, I enjoyed this. A song like 'Only You Know' is undeniably grand sounding and is one of the many tracks that takes hints from the sounds of early '70s soul musicians like Marvin Gaye. The following 'New York City Song' was this cute acoustic cut, a nice introspective breather in the mix here. Some moments here like 'Make the Women Love Me' and 'In and Out of the Shadows' reminded me of the heartland rock sounds of Springsteen. I guess Dion really loves his string arrangements...I mean they never really got old for me on this album, so I'm cool with it. I guess this record is "generic-sounding" in almost every way possible, like the polished pop-music from the radio that I'm sure the alternatives that grew up in the late '70s got sick of. But I didn't grow up around that time so I don't care how generic this may or may not sound, I just think the music here sounds pretty damn good.
Better than expected
This was far, far better than I was expecting
I was basically in a trance all day thinking about how much I’m in love and Dion just affirming to me through one long ballad showing all the different perspectives why. It’s beautiful. I get Sinatra, carol king, prince, and John Lennon somehow all wrapped in Dion’s own voice. I’m glad I was shown this album.
This is someone that has committed themselves to a path in life. I sense their faith in their calling as a musician.
This album is on so many quaaludes and I mean that in the best possible way. Dion is the dude that gave us “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer” with a sort of Jersey edge to the 60s doo-wop sound. But here, he’s doing pop tunes at 3/4 speed with all the wall of sound reverb you need. It’s an absolutely bonkers combo that somehow works perfectly. To be fair, there’s some songs here that drag things back a bit, but from the opening thunder of drums in “Born to Be With You” to the desperation of “Make the Woman Love Me”; from Phil Spector’s batshit production on “(He’s Got) The Whole World In His Hands” to the gut punch of “New York City Story”, this one is a real hidden gem.
Unexpectedly really good. Loved New York City Song.
This was really fun. It’s a cool take on the blues, and really good song writing. I like the elements of jazz and r&b, with a dash of folk rock. Mostly, I just like all of the love songs. It reminds me Marvin Gaye, but less sexy. This was fun.
excellent
like slow-motion rain in a bittersweet romantic American movie scene with a busy street
A poor man's John Lennon is one's first reaction, but one likes the deliberate, unhurried and thoughtful pace here. It is sort of baroque, as one would expect from Spector, but the effect is quieter and more contemplative than the peak of Spector of previous decades. "NYC Song" is mellow and likable – this is chamber soft rock at a pretty advanced stage of evolution. "More To You" sounds like the Love Boat theme song. However, after drifting into Streetheart, one believes it to be the better record, top to bottom, because it grooves and swings mellowly, in prime '70s fashion. Hard not to like in the classic easy listening sense.
very nice i wanna listen to it more
Some great classic rock from a guy I have never heard on. Reminds me of Jackson Browne a bit.
Enjoyed this album very much.
This album surprised me in that it did not sound like 20 songs all by the same artist at the same point in their career. It sounded like a few different artists, or a “best of” album. Each song sounded fresh, for an easy listening experience, despite being 78 minutes long. This album also sounds very timeless and well produced. If you asked me to guess the year this came out, I don’t think I could.
I started at 4-stars, went to 3-stars, then wished there was a 3.5-star option. Since I’ve been taught to round up, I will.
Make the Woman Love Me // Your Own Back Yard // Only You Know // In and Out of the Shadows //
Funsies
Liked it
One of the most amazing voices in music.
Wow. I did not expect this album to sound like this at all. It’s plaintive and melancholy and just lovely. I was a little put off by that one song where he brags about not doing drugs like other people, but that’s me.
Kevin will be relating to New York City song soon enough
Phil Spector is incredible
Incredible! I found Josh Tillman‘s father 😍
Pivotal album in his career. Great addition to the list
Folksy with some Van Morrison vibes. Timeless in a way.
What a blast from the past! Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this music of my childhood.
Most of these songs could pass as 80’s TV intros but I don’t care, it’s fire.
The style isn't really unique or innovative, but it was well executed and easy to listen to
Prog rock, mellow Gotta be in the right mood for this one Whole album is good
First half of album this man is in pain. 2nd half is a bop. Surprised that this is the guy who sang wanderer. Album was a bit too long but it's good 7/10
I was a little disappointed to get this album at first because of the length and the fact that the songs that I really liked from him weren't on the album, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. There were a few songs that sounded familiar, as well. His voice and the music were very pleasant to listen to.
There's a quiet, melancholic warmth to this album. It feels like a hazy walk home on a cloudy evening. The production is spacious, almost ghostly. There's a Neil Diamond vibe in the reflective lyrics and vocals, with a bit more vulnerability. The songs are soft and slow, yet they carry a weight that lingers. It’s intimate and a little sad, but comforting too.
"Born to Be With You" is the 14th solo studio album by Ameican singer-songwriter Dion (DiMucci). Yes, that Dion. The album tracks were recorded in 1970 and 1974, with six of the eight songs produced by Phil Spector. A host of musicians were used. The album was initially met with indifference in the musical community and Spector shelved it for 12 months. In the 1990's, it started to receive wide-spread critical acclaim with several artists, including Pete Townsend and Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream citing its influence. Dion didn't like the album's sound, saying it sounded like a funeral dirge. The album opens with a cover of Don Robertson's "Born to Be With You." It stars out kind of country sounding with acoustic and slide guitars. Horns come in. A nice layered sound. Dion's voice is strong and spiritual. Good song. The narrator bears his soul in "Your Own Backyard." Acoustic guitar, bass and drums. A story of a man who lost everything to drugs and gets clean. This song would not be out of place on a 70's Stones' album. "Only You Know" starts slowly with an acoustic, prominent bass, drums and a tambourine. Horns and strings are added accentuating the melody. It's a love song; he needs to be with her. A beautiful sounding song. Spector brings his wall of sound on the closer "Good Lovin" Man." Horns, piano and female backing vocals. The tone is lightened up a bit. This would not be out of place in the late 50's and 60's. This is a really good album. It's soulful and spiritual. Dion vocal's are strong, spiritual and emotional at times. The music styles include ballads, folk, country and 50's to 70's pop. There's excellent musicianship with the guitars, drums, bass, strings and horns. Spector's arrangements and layering are top notch. The songs are either about relationships or down and out stories. A fun album that everyone should enjoy parts of if not all.
Hey Dion I thought you only did The Wanderer, this isn't half bad 1970s singer songwriter stuff. Shades of mid-70s Lennon and Simon.
Reminded me of Spriritualized, who I am very fond of.
I'm usually disappointed to see yet another 70s album pop up but this one was actually pretty cool. I liked the use of strings
I thoroughly enjoyed this. The type of white boy soul / pop that connects with my white boy soul / pop preferences.
Heat
I really don't get the hate for this album. Not sure it's my thing, but it's certainly competent. I absolutely love the Phil Spector sound. Everyone knows why he's a terrible human being, but man was he good at producing music.
Very good, if you are in the mood.
Man, this was really great. "New York City Song" and "Your Own Back Yard" were excellent.
Had to look into who Dion is to confirm he is the same "Runaround Sue" / "I'm the Wanderer" guy from the doo wop era. Like a handful of other doo wop artists such as Ricky Nelson, he kept on trucking through the 70's trying to find his own stylistic way in the changing environments. There are a few knods to his doo wop past throughout such as the first drum beat, straight out of track 1. There's a comforting 70's rock feel to this, which is surprising considering Phil Spector produced it. Where he usually sounds larger than life, in this case he allows Dion's flickering introspection to light the way. These tracks are real reflective, like a man who never expected to live long enough to count the chips he's got left. Despite all that, it never lands as completely dour, there's a hopeful acceptance that feels balanced and easy to embrace. Bonus- Spotify has this grouped with a followup "Streetheart" which is total 70's AOR yacht rock stuff, although it's different vibe, is also totally awesome.
Discovered this album quite some years ago, and in my memory it was a 5-star record - after all some songs sound like a blueprint for a band like Spiritualized - but other songs are a bit less special. score: 8/10
I liked this more than I should. Won't come back to it, but he has his charm.
Enjoyed this - not an essential listen I'll revisit soon, but a mature set of songs with some fun production flourishes.
Like this more than I thought I would. There are a couple of songs I knew. A lot I didn’t. I’d put this on in the background, I think. 3 seems too low. 4 too high. But I’ll round up to 4.
This was weird in a wonderful 70s fever dream way. It reminded me of John Lennon's solo work - a fair amount of meandering with different genres and covers of songs. Honestly, I liked it. The album sounds like something my hip aunts & uncles would've listened to while chilling & smoking pot. I listened twice & I'll listen again. It's quirky enough to be interesting.
got better as it went, a little long
I know one Dion song off this album, Only You Know, but I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was a discovery playlist but it really reminds me of moving back to Brighton in 2017. Good song! I enjoyed plenty of this album but found it too long by the end. Too many songs that sound similar.. but overall nice solid song writing I'd say
Soft rock at a pretty high level, approaching but never reaching fully Spectorian shlock. "Only You Know" and "NYC Song" are lovely. Don't sleep on Streetheart, either. There are a few winning cuts there, too.
Ок. 4/8 – 50%
Well this was a surprise. Gonna add this into the list of artists worth a deeper dive into.
Interest grew with every listen and a fairly mundane listen at first became an intriguing pop baroque record with unusual song choices and an uneasiness just below the surface.
A mix of pop, country, crooner, folk. Not quite on a par with the classic 60s pop / do-wop for me (Runaround Sue is a certified BANGER) but certainly does enough to show why he's regularly listed as one of the best vocalists ever. Lovely stuff.
So I read the Wiki blurb, saw the album cover with a straight up goober, and saw it was a long one. Got busy and had to skip that day, and was always unexcited at the thought of eventually listening. Finally got around to it, and I got bit by judging a book by its cover. This is a fun album full of entertaining songs.
I came to understand Dion as more than "Runaround Sue" via, of all goddamned things, Mott the Hoople, and 1971's Brain Capers, an album I hold in the highest of esteem. They covered "Your Own Backyard", and I was really knocked out by the soulful humanity of the lyrics. So I was intrigued when this came up, and by the end of this Leonard Cohen-ish, collection, I can say I am a fan.
Very chill background music
This had some really fun tracks, and some boring ones.
Very nice timeless vibes to this. I was tempted to give it 5 stars because I would like to listen again, but it is definitely “pleasant” rather than “brilliant”.
Folk rock. Está bien. Un 4.
I probably should hate this but I didn’t. Cheesy fun
You know what I liked it
Liked this one I chopped off the streetheart bit that spotify had combined.
1/23/24. This record surprised me! I only knew Dion from a couple famous 50s songs, but each song here sounded big and in your face in a great way. Definitely will revisit.
Sweet
Good vibes only
Extremely easy listening
Gefällt mir!
Surprisingly I really enjoyed this album. It was so full of soul and character. I thought it was going to be boring and melancholy and it ended up way more extravagant than I could imagine.
I knew his 50s stuff but wasn’t aware of any of this style. Very much enjoyed it
Kind of surprising album here. Never would have picked this up before but I do like it! Title track has a great feel. Your Own Backyard… dig the vibe and vocals. Also New York City Song. At least 3.5 I feel.
Folk rock. Está bien. Un 4.
This is actually quite good, a lot better than I reckoned going into it. Reading about it and some of the perceived production issues have me wondering how good it could've been in that regard but in terms of composition and storytelling, I enjoyed it.
3.5
This was much different from everything else I've ever heard from Dion (The Wanderer and that's basically it). It was interesting to hear his voice used more for Elton john style ballads as opposed to 60s doowop music. I liked pretty much all of the songs and even listened to the extra tracks on Spotify but nothing stood out too much to list here really.
Now we are talking. I hadn't heard of Dion before hearing this, and I really enjoyed it. It's not breaking new ground particularly, just good songs, performed well and given the Spector treatment (great production, not waving guns around and murder).
This was unexpectedly good.
Good album. Great vocals. Probably not going to relisten, I'd rather hear his early doo wop music.
I absolutely love Dion’s music from the 50s-60s, but I had no idea what to expect from this. It was a little up and down for me as an album, but “Make the Woman Love Me” is absolutely fantastic. I’ve been listening to it nonstop since I finished the full album. I’m not completely sure this should be on a list of greatest albums of all time, but personally I really enjoyed it.
Lush baroque pop produced by Phil Spector. A little schlocky but not bad.
Lovely album which surprised me
Thought this was great. Liked everything on here
8/10. I liked this. Maybe liked the second album that was packaged with it on Spotify a little more, but maybe I was just paying better attention by that point.
The main thing that occurs to me when I listen to this, is that I wish Phil Spector had produced an album for Harry Nilsson around the time this record came out. That thought aside, this really is a pretty remarkable achievement for the guy who started his career in '61 with "Runaround Sue," "The Wanderer," and "Dream Lover."
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Make the woman love me, Good loving man
Favourite song: Make the Woman Love Me
This is great. I'm a total sucker for Phil Spector (producing, not the binfire of a human). A very pleasant listen. Had never heard of Dion before this but there's loads of older stuff I didn't realise was him (The Wanderer!)
So what to make of an album that the artist hates and that no one paid attention to for decades? I'm trying to figure it out - I think the angle is I need to hear this because Dion was a teeny bopping doo wopper 15 years earlier and this was a much more mature sound. And yeah I know his big hits and this is way different. So relative to himself you need to hear it. Relative to the music industry? I'm not sure. But I will say this, I really liked it. His voice was captivating and crazy ahole Phil Spector made many of the songs sound soaring. The opener Born to Be With You perfectly captures that soaring feel - it did not feel like a 7min song (nice little sax solo in the middle). Make the Woman Love Me was a great follow-up. And then Your Own Back Yard - kudos to Dion for writing some deep, personal lyrics about his rampant drug habit. Solid song. Only You Know was also very solid (his vocals just resonate) and then there's New York City Song. Absolutely beautiful (and sad) lyrics and vocals from Dion. The song caught me completely by surprise even as I was enjoying the album already. And that's when it hit me as to what this album was capturing - a John Denver kind of folk (with some Spector adds to give it an R&B musical backdrop). That's a good thing on a song like In and Out of the Shadows but a little much on a song like Good Lovin Man. I can honestly say that I will put this album on again (and again) when I need an album to play on repeat for a couple hours. I never would've listened to it if not for this list, but glad I did.
I love his music with the Belmonts, but this is such a mature album. Your Own Backyard is a great song
Good stuff
Smooth, nice
Holy shit, like *that* Dion. Damn nice record, good folksy vibe with great production. Your Own Back Yard is pretty topical...
Dehä va brazy bangeri
One shall not be surprised if a love-struck or love-starved individual had made their path towards this album in some capacity. Even in some of the more heartfelt, expansive and explosive albums in the decade of this album's resurgence (the 1990s) has its DNA strewn all over it. Phil Spector's destructive path in the 70s somehow made it's way to Dion's front door and the pre-British Invasion crooner needed some injection of relevancy in the changed marketplace. It's a shame that Born to Be With You did not recieve the plaudits it deserved at the time, for this is a really great album that shows reminds those of Dion's vocal prowess and the instrumentation involved here is a precursor of what Leonard Cohen's Death of a Ladies' Man would become a little later (and namely records like Spiritualized's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space). The bonus tracks tacked on the end serves as a postscript and it does its tricks even if it feels a bit mute. Favorites: Born to Be With You, Make the Woman Love Me, Only You Know, In and Out of the Shadows, Good Lovin' Man, Baby, Let's Stick Together.
Kinda poppy/operatic, reminiscent of Elton John
Really reminded me of a Jim Croce vibe in the first half. Second half of the album was a bit peppier and more groovy almost. Had a few I really was bouncing too. Almost a 5 for me
Maybe heretical but I'm not sure the Spector sound has aged all that well, though it could be some combination of the source (I have no idea really what YT Music is up to in that respect -codecs, bit rates etc.) and my lackluster playback equipment. Other than that this is all solid, well crafted lyrics riding a flawlessly professional musical foundation. Much of it delivered by Wrecking Crew icons who are departing this mortal coil at an unsurprising but sad rate over the last couple decades.
Very long album, but very good. I really enjoyed the songwriting and the production in the album.
- Make the Woman Love Me fucks - In and Out of the Shadows fucks - Runaway Man fucks - More to you fucks - Hey My Love fucks The rest range from good to fine but filler. Overall good album I liked it.
Levitational longings for the hopeless, restless romantic.
Schön
Little bit struggling to categorize Dion. The album cover and those glasses are a bit disconcerting for starters. A bit like the soulful parts of Bob Dylan and Tim Hardin. Real Phil Spector polishing and yet you always think something great is coming, but it never does. Still, an enjoyable album to accompany a read up of Dion's quite incredible life, and the Buddy Holly story is quite something.
Tres bon bliesman ce dion.4.5
Beautiful
WELL I'M THE TYPE-A GUY
Bloody lovely
Oh nice
Love making music
Прослушано! Неплохой крепкий альбом, можно слушать ещё раз.
Not bad
4.25
Pour ceux qui ne seraient pas au courant, la présence de cet album de Dion est un énorme doigt d'honneur de Robert à la communauté générateurienne qui s'attendait évidemment à tomber sur Céline et ses deux-cent-trente-millions d'albums vendus. Que nenni… encore une vilaine farce de notre Robert national.
1. Born To Be With You (★★★⯨☆) -La intro suena bien. 2. Make The Woman Love Me (★★⯨☆☆) -No es mi estilo, pero está bien hecha y editada. 3. Your Own Back Yard (★★★⯨☆) 4. (He's Got) The Whole World In His Hands (★★⯨☆☆) -Suena como un religioso teniendo una experiencia semi psicódelica... 5. Only You Know (★★★★★) -Fav 6. New York City Song (★★⯨☆☆) 7. In And Out Of The Shadows (★★★★☆) -Fav -Suena muy bien y tiene buena letra, pese a que no me termina de cerrar el "tono"... 8. Good Lovin' Man (★★★⯨☆) -En el fondo me suena a música de iglesia negra en una película estereotipada... -TOTAL = ★★★⯨☆ (3,4) -Me resultó aceptable, aunque el estilo no me termina de cerrar, un poco gospel, otro romántico, meloso, pero tolerable y sinceramente suena muy bien en general y tiene buenas letras en al menos dos canciones pese a que no me termine de convencer el estilo, así que para mí es un 3.
I disagree with my groupmates in that I think this is a fine addition to the generator. I think it’s interesting to hear such a swerve away from the early doo-wop Belmonts stuff. That being said… just a fine listen and way too much Spector. The acoustic stuff is much better
I liked that more than I thought. Getting some extra background from other reviewers definitely helped my appreciation. It was fun to listen to Dion’s Doo Wop right after. Only You Know was my favorite. Rating: 2.7
Sweet voice. Easy listening. Sumptuous production.
For me, this album passed the time without much thought. It’s a solid piece of work, no obvious flaws, but no obvious USP either that makes Dion particularly remarkable. I do genuinely like his voice and his easy, charming presence, but wish there was some spicier songwriting!
Dion gets a solid 3 from me, absolutely pretty good in every way and never anything more
No thanks. Like a poor man's Elton John - a completely forgettable slice of 70s singer/songwriter bollocks.
Don't really get the hate. Sounds like pretty standard middle of the road 70's songwriting. While not outstanding in any way, hardly worthy of the universal loathing presented here.
Okay.
Well paint me beige and rock me softly! Dion reportedly called this album "funeral music," and after listening, it's not hard to understand why. There's clear craftsmanship here - the arrangements are lush albeit muddy, and the vocal delivery is fine - but the overall effect is one of lethargy, like wading through water. The tempo drags, the instrumentation sits comfortably in the background, and there's very little rhythmic push. That said, I appreciate the songwriting and the unique approach taken in the production. There is a haunting, underwater feeling, aided by some interesting phasing effects, but for someone who prefers energy and groove, it was a slight slog. It's beautiful in a sombre, static way, but it lacks the drive that makes it engaging for me. It's not bad; it's just incredibly still. If you're in the mood for something reflective and quiet, this is probably really good. But if you want movement and momentum, you'll find yourself left wanting. Fun fact: legendary guitarist Barney Kessel plays on this record too. 3/5.
None of the Dion songs I know are on this album. It's getting a lot of crap reviews, and it's not as bad as those suggest. It's just dull. Good vocals and good moments, but every song meanders too much, too often, and every song loses me. But I don't think it's as bad as the average score here is making out. It's certainly not better than a 3.
I guess Dion disowned this album due to Phil Spector's dour production, and I see his point. The songs aren't bad, but there ain't much fun to be had here. (Maybe Leonard Cohen should have taken note: Spector would vandalize one of his albums two years later.) But it's grown on me, in an ennui-ish sort of way.
This was an interesting album, and the slow, methodic nature of the music did grow on me after a few songs, and I understand why certain bands would have found this album interesting and motivating in 1975. However, it was only partway to something that other bands and artists really turned into something special later.
🙂
Only on yt music as part of a double album, but the tracks are in the right order still. Never heard of Dion before, Spector produced apparently and he has a ton of albums. Came into this album sceptical but the title track has a great opener even if Dion's voice grates. That opener.is the best part of the whole album, though. Wish he hadn't put the sax away. You can definitely hear the Spectre production throughout this album. I also want to add that this album seems to be on the list specifically as an underrated Spector deep cut. But I could only find it as a double album with Streetheart. As soon as the Spector produced album finished, the next some "the way you do the things you do" was already more interesting than anything on Born to Be with You. So I guess what I am saying is, Spector is overrated.
Supertramp meets Elton John, played in slow motion as a joke. Quite enjoyed Runaway Man. Which is a shame, since that's not actually on this album, I'm now learning.
I expected to not enjoy this, but while it doesn't hit any real highs, it's a really even, nice listen.
Lots of guys want to be this guy but they’re not this guy
at first I was nooot feeling it, but then came NY city song and I changed my mind
Far exceeded my expectations. Similar terrain and Ricky Nelsons late era Garden Party. The production is a little zany but Dion sounds great. Deserves to be heard. 3.5 stars.
I liked it
Tenho a sensação de já ter escutado uns 15 álbuns iguais esse aqui no app
I always liked Dion’s voice in Dion and the Belmonts and had only heard his popular solo hit Abraham, Martin, and John before this album, but I liked this. Nothing stood out much individually, but it was a nice listen all the same.
3 out of 5. This was all right for a slow rock album.
Te odio Phil Spector, hasta un álbum penca le sale piola
This is pretty weird but not really in a good way.
Enkel og grei
I wasnt familiar with Dion going in. A nice collection of Singer/Songwriter ballads, including a few covers of popular songs. Some folk influence. Bordered on maudlin at some points, both otherwise enjoyable.
Never heard of this artist. but pretty cool he used to be in a doo-wop group before going solo. too Slow for me so far. Not for me.
A nice easy listening album - wholly unchallenging, perhaps borderline milquetoast. But Dion's voice is nice on the ears, and the production is nice. So yeah, it's fine.
This is not as bad as the reviews suggest. It’s not good, mind, and it absolutely does not deserve a place on the list, but it’s fine sub-James Taylor-y noodling, with a couple of actively quite good tracks.
How many sleeping pills you have added in it?
Pretty good
This was surprisingly nice. It was a discovery for me. I'll have to listen to him again to form a real idea about the guy but I hear the craft. When I saw how many songs the album has, I thought it was a double feature. Turns out the songs were short. I'm so used to 20 minute songs.
pop music was scientifically perfected exactly twice: in Motown in the 1960s and Scandinavia in the 1990s. "Born To Be With You" sees brilliant producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector attempting to sneak a third one in between those two. the key word here is "attempting." there are a few interesting choices here and there but it largely ends up being both generic. the production also ends up smothering Dion, who is technically the headliner on this one. he only gets a chance to do his thing on two tracks, which, naturally, are the ones Spector did not produce. i can see myself coming back to it, if only for how odd it is.
60’s
nice mix of bluesy jazzy type songs
3.5
Definitely a Phil Spector production. Large string arrangements and lots of sound on most of the tracks. The first two songs are good, and pulled me in. I do feel like it lost steam over the next few tracks though. I enjoyed the two songs that were acoustic with simple arrangements. Very good vocal performance throughout. Overall, pretty standard 70s soft rock/pop. Enjoyed but nothing too groundbreaking. 3/5.
Born to Be with You is another example of why I believe there should be a 10 year "waiting period" before an album appears in this book as a "must hear" group of songs. Born to Be with You was not met with acclaim until the 90's when it became an influential album for other artists. Magically, the album is now considered to be a "must listen" because history has shown it had value to music as a whole. Remember this as we get more mediocre newer albums listed as part of the 1001 albums we have to hear. There is probably an album out there that deserves to be on the list, but is not, due to impatience and the need to update the book. I can't really decide if this album did need to be in the book, but it was influential, and this would not be the first album that was merely influential that would appear in this book. Dion's sound is pretty much exactly what I expected it to be and I can see how he thought the sound of this one was a bit too clean for his tastes. My favorite songs: Born to Be with You Make the Woman Love Me New York City Song Good Lovin' Man Baby Let's Stick Together
Crooning to the max. 3-4
don’t get the negative reviews tbh. was it a standout? no. but i honestly enjoyed it, good background vibes
Pretty standard 70's fare.
Variadito también y muy de su época
I saw the super lame cover and read some of the bad reviews and was prepared to hate this but ended up really enjoying it. Obviously, the guy who sang “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer” and “Teenager in Love” knows his way around a pop song and that Phil Spector guy had a trick or two up his sleeve as well. The songs on this album had a weird sad seventies feel to them and were just the right mix of poppy and weird. I am glad to have heard this and Dion’s Wikipedia page is one of the most entertaining ones I’ve read in a while. Imagine avoiding getting the-day-the-music-die’ed because the cost of the flight was your unlucky number. Crazy.
Not bad, not great, probably better without Spector’s production but we’ll never know.
It was mediocre and saccharine and way too praisey for my taste.
A middle of the road album with no standout tracks but still easy to listen to for the most part. Vocals were a bit annoying on some tracks.
It's an album of the time. It's fine.
very mellow
Not my particular flavor of music, I did like the songs themselves.
I kind of feel like this album was simply the sum of its parts. The elements felt a bit disjointed, and didn’t always work together. I feel like Dion’s voice lays against the grain of the tracks, which was sometimes good sometimes confusing.
This did very little for me, though it wasn't bad.
I enjoyed this
I have nothing bad or good to say about this. Don't know if that is a good or a bad thing (Except for the production sin of putting phaser/reverb on the master on some tracks from what I could guess). It is very Safe music that is like 50s and 60s music that been adapted to the 70s. For being famous for the iconic hit "The Wanderer" that can be heard in the fallout games and as a status quo cover, i really don't get why they included this album instead of that album...
Really surprised at all the hate on the reviews for this album. I found it to be a decent listen. It did start to sound the same after a while but overall it was good, chill, late 70’s singer/songwriter vibe album. (3)
This is a typical Phil Spector record and the main artist, of whom I didn't know much before this album was recommended, wasn't too happy with it. He called it "funeral music" because of the production. While I see where he's coming from, I think there are certain qualities to it. The opening track and many others are a bit schmalzy pop songs with big string arrangements, but the version of "(He's Got) The Whole World In His Hands" is refreshingly different from all the other versions out there. All in all a solid record, nothing special that needs to be on this list.
So, is this guy related to Celine at all or is there nothing there? No? Dion is this guy's first name? Oh, okay then. This album's alright. It's not mind-blowing at all, but I didn't hate it either. Is it perhaps a little basic and sappy even? Sure. But I don't know. I kinda sorta like this a bit. I would make a joke where I rhetorically ask who produced this album only to be horrified that it was convicted murderer Phil Spector, but I could tell that this was a Spector production just by the sound alone, so I never even doubted that this was his production for a second. Yeah, I got some real All Things Must Pass vibes from the production, which is not a bad thing. Phil Spector may have been a stinky doo-doo head who killed a woman, but the man knew how to produce music, that's all I'm saying. Of course, this album isn't nearly as good as All Things Must Pass for a variety of reasons, but the production isn't one of them. You know what is though? Dion not being as talented as George Harrison in any regard. Yeah, the album's fairly average for the most part. The songs of choice are decent. "Only You Know" is probably the best one here. Dion's singing isn't bad. The music is good, but it doesn't have any moments that really captured my attention. In fact, there wasn't really anything that captured my attention, positive or negative. Born to Be With You doesn't do anything majorly wrong, but it doesn't stand out in any way either. It's good, but not great. Solid 3/5.
I liked New York City song but compared to what I’ve heard of Dion this albums much slower and definitely is no wanderer which is a freaking banger. It a terrible listen overall though.
i like dion! but maybe i only like doowop dion. runaround sue dion! the dion with a lust for life. this is more divorced dad dion. still, there's definitely some charm to it. favorite song is "In and out of the Shadows"
Pretty nice. Nice vocals, good vibe throughout 6.4/10
qui titulo lindo T^T FAVS (top 3): make the woman love me, more to you (than meets the eye), hey my love menções honrosas: only you know, new york city song, in and out of the shadows, good lovin man, on the night gente é um bom album, é grande por ter muitas tracks e nao por cada track ser MUITO longa, eu curti é bem vibez, o finalzinho é a parte q eu mais gostei nota final: 3.5/5
Phil Spector 🪄 ✨
This was fine, had some moments that reminded me of songs I do like.
A little longer than it needed to be, but otherwise good
I'd never heard of this dude before. Interesting discovery. The cover art had me anticipating schmaltz and possibly bombast - but in reality I found the whole thing to be relatively tasteful and understated.
høydepunkt: In Your Own Backyard, Only You Know
The picture does not match the music! What a good dose of soul, blues, and grit. Reminder to not judge a book by the cover.
Day786 - a fine album but it seems more like an album dion fans should listen to.
Bluesy old school music. Not bad.
Fine but definitely forgettable. Bumped up a star because I like “Only you know”. I guess I just don’t get the genius of Phil Spector as a producer.
if the guy from primal scream likes it that's enough to convince me
kul vajbic nmp mora se unesem malo vise u slusanje ovih albuma
6/10
A little dated even for it's time, somewhat honky-tonk. But has gospel influence and has very good harmonies. I enjoyed this a lot.
They're decent songs, but to me it's just all a bit the same. Faves: Only You Know, In and out of the Shadows, Runaway Man
I think I liked it. But also I forgot to review it at the time and now I’ve already forgotten it. I think it reminded me a bit of Neil Diamond and Van Morrison but also more kind of funky at parts. I can’t be bothered to re-listen, it’s unlike me not to take notes but anyway. Fine but forgettable I guess!
A very mixed bag, but overhated for sure. Dion generally has a great voice, and this album is no exception. Unfortunately, infamous producer Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" technique is incredibly hit-or-miss; some songs mesh with the production quite nicely ("Only You Know" and the title track, for example), but it ends up suffocating other tracks and leaves them feeling cloying and annoying. And then there's two songs on here ("Your Own Back Yard" and "New York Song") that apparently weren't produced by Phil at all, which allows them to at least have their own personality. I'll probably never listen to this again, but I can't say I had an awful time with this. Standout Tracks: Your Own Back Yard, Only You Know, In and Out of Shadows Score: C-
Nice. Good.
This was really nothing me, in a good and bad way. I didn't love any song on here. But there was something about this album where I have feel like I have heard each song somewhere before (cover not withstanding) but the overall sound felt very familiar different than other 70s soft rock. I'm feeling generous so I'll give it a three since it was easy to listen to the album in spite of not liking any songs. Biggest Hit - Your Own Back Yard Biggest Miss - He's Got The Whole World In His Hands Pretty Good Too - Good LovIn Man
очень длинный альбом, не дослушала до конца, местами нудный меланхоличный, местами вайбовый
3.13
Geht so…
This album was not the best Dion album. Only a single song that I felt exemplified this talent.
Muy lindo :D
This was easy enough listening, with the genre of yearning that would be rolled out in a hallmark romcom - song titles erring on stalkerish and songs that I not find emotionally stirring as I imagine Dion wished I had. It did pick up at the very end though when they finally brought in some beats, and Lover Supreme has tipped this into a 3
Loverboy: Hits of 1975 ——— Definitional easy listening; completely inoffensive to the senses but too much sameness as the record went on. I really did love Lover Boy Supreme though and it’s probably the breakthrough track for me.
Dion is a wonderful singer. The production and the arrangements are gorgeous here — very tasteful — but they feel primarily like canvases to lay his excellent vocal performances on. I bet Father John Misty likes this album. It has a similar vibe to some of his more dramatic songs. 3.5
Nice classic rock folky ballady songwriter sound. I've heard Dion several times in my life but never put the name to the songs. I enjoyed this one, but probably not super motivated for repeat listens. It just misses a little bit in the excitement department. Regardless, his voice is really a pleasure to listen to; very soulful and smooth and still hits the mark when he wants to bring up the volume and intensity. "Only You Know" is really a treat. I love how loose his vocals feel here, it's like he's in no rush to get to the end of the song. He knows it sounds good, and he's going to take his time.
I feel like I've heard every song on this album but I don't think I have... Sounds like something that was on rotation on late nights when mum and dad danced in the lounge room
OK it's not terrible, but why is it here?
Didn't expect to enjoy this one. It was great. Phil Spector is insane and maybe a little glazed, but he did some undeniably good stuff.
# Album Name: Born To Be With You # Artist: Dion # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Very mid tunes. Was alright. # Top Tunes: Only you know # Would I listen to it again? No
Highlight: Only You Know
This album is like a guy going out on a first date with a girl and proclaiming that he loves her. She is immediately creeped out, and cuts the date short to leave. He pens and handwritten letter, and delivers it to her personally. She’s not home, so he puts it in the letterbox, then sits in his car for fifteen minutes, just in case she comes home.
Oh gosh, I thought Dion was a 50s band, famous for the Wanderer and Runaround Sue, actually it is, but I didn’t realise Dion was a person. A Grammy award winning singer songwriter no less. I am a singer songwriter’s target audience but although I like the New York Song I found this quite boring. Case in point – “ive got the whole world in my hands” which although is not one of my favourite songs, done well it is a glorious gospel number. This felt like a dirge. Apparently, the album wasn’t well received when it was released but people like Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream thought it was okay so that’s alright for the book’s compiler. Thank you not Bobby!
Kein Hit, aber ok im Hintergrund.
Nice voice and tunes, nothing much out of the ordinary but still decent ?? Don't know what to say in particular... That's how average it felt lmao.
I liked this. Overall pretty enjoyable. Nothing earth-shattering for me, but good.
приятный стиль а-ля Крозби и ко, надо будет потом ещё проверить. но сразу не готова высокие оценки)
198/1001 Dion - Born to Be With You Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ I don't mind this at all, but it's far too long and nowhere near enough variation for me to keep me particularly interested.
This was an artist i'd never heard of before. I liked bits of it, but after a while everything sounded the same
Solider Sound der 70er ohne Auffälligkeiten.
starts so boring i thought i'd fall asleep but it's good!!!
not a do-wop album but an album with very mellow songs behind Phil Spector's produced "wall of sound". not sure how personal the songs were, but it seemed that they were. while not an album to blare in your car driving around. it has a vibe more of a Sunday morning, rainy day, album.
Not a bad listen! I enjoyed it. Very straightforward. No frills. A little cheesy with the clearly session musicians backing him up and probably writing the music, but nonetheless an enjoyable listen.
An above average listen. I was surprised to see it was released in 1975. When listening I thought it was much earlier
This album started really slow with every song sounding the same. Then half way through it got really good. Pleasantly surprised. If like a bunch of his older stuff.
Golden oldies radio vibes Bits of it were interesting in a kind of trippy hippy way Tomorrow I’m hoping to get an album that isn’t from the 70s
Very easy listening, incredibly inoffensive. Pleasant enough to listen to tbh.
Born to Be with You 2.8 Make the Woman Love Me 3 Your Own Back Yard 2.7 (He's Got) The Whole World in His Hands 2.8 Only You Know 3.1 New York City Song 3 In and Out of the Shadows 2.7 Good Lovin' Man 2.8 Score: 2.8625
Decent album. I enjoyed the couple listens I gave it. Wasn’t a fan of He’s Got the Whole World. That sound was a bit off. Spector gets a lot of criticism for his production and I could hear it on a few of these.
I had never heard of this guy before, but it wasn’t bad.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. The cover itself had me disinterested, but you can't judge a book (or a record) by its cover (unless it's Pushead, in which case, it's a safe bet).
wasn't sure what to expect, but i liked it overall. the mid-70s vibes are on 1000 here, feel like I need to go watch some Rhoda.
Eh okay and forgettable 3/5
Es un disco agradable, no memorable. Producción marca Phil Spector.
6/10… yacht rock / 70s pop / *1975
No real standout track, felt like it never really got going, still ok to listen to.
Damn this guy loves his boo, huh? Big growth from a wanderer. I never fell in love but it was fun while it lasted. Enjoyed a lot of those upbeat summers with your girl tracks — “You Showed Me What Love Is,” “Hey My Love,” “Streetheart.”
A nice record but it does not have a any big hits. Still I enjoyed it.
- Never heard of Dion, unless this is either Celine or Dublin in disguise. - It's not. It's some nice, if a little schmaltzy pop-rock ballads. It's fine and perfectly listenable but I don't think it's going to change my life. - He knows his way around a melody. It feels a bit safe and unremarkable though.
Mysigt, men inte så mycket mer än det? Ibland funkar produktionen, ibland inte. De lugnare låtarna när hans röst får skina är bäst :)
Really liked your own back yard
- Easy listening and not particularly annoying, but also bland. Zero memorable moments. - Heard the whole thing like 3 times and nothing really stood out.
Lennonesque in places. Middle of the road rock music. Not listened to it before.
This one is fine. I'll give it a low 3. Not my style.
A nice collection of songs that are absolutely ruined by the production. It will always baffle me why people were so obsessed with getting this guy to produce their records.
Not for me but some catchy tunes.