As mentioned in the comments to the Different Light LP, I bought this album 2 or 3 years after it came out as it was on sale in a record shop in Hounslow, and I recognised a few of the titles such as "Eternal Flame", "Be With You" and "In Your Room". The Bangles may have already split by the time I owned the LP.
Whilst I remember quite often playing this album, I don't think it was played as frequently as Different Light. As with theie earlier album, three of the four singles featured Susanna Hoffs as the main vocalist.
Looking now at the track listing, I can only remember the 4 singles and just two of the album tracks so I looking forward to having my memory jogged.
After the benefit of replaying I still believe Everything to be inferior to Different Light, as it is not as consistently good. Although there are some worthwhile highs, there are also several ordinary moments.
"Complicated Girl" is the best of the non-singles, with jangly guitars, a dreamy chorus, and it could h have been a huge hit had it been released.
The much covered "Eternal Flame" remains an epic love song, with a devastating vocal from Susanna with the hight notes guaranteed to raise the hairs on the back of your night. It is by some distance their best selling single, but it's not a typical Bangles song.
"In Your Room" & Be With You" are upbeat singles and "Be With You" is a great toe tapper.
The songs sung by Vicki Petterson now remind me of Deborah Harry. This is particularly so on "Bell Jar" and "Make A Place For Her Now", although "Bell Jar" also has a hint of Shania Twain.
Side One is much stonger than Side Two, containing as it does three singles and "Complicated Girl". Second Two has some ordinary moments but picks up a little with the final three songs.
"I'll Set You Free" is formulaic and nothing special whilst "Watching The Sky" is dull. "Glitter Years" about Michael Steele's time in the Runaways, and could have been a Runaways song.
Like "Following" on Different Light, Michael Steele sings something out of character with the rest of the album on "Something To Believe In", a slow tender and yearning song and "Some Dreams Come True" is another upbeat number with some Harmonica
"Crash & Burn" co-written with Rachel Sweet, is another upbeat and another would could have been a Blondie song
In summary, it is re-assuring that my memory turned out to be correct.
Track Listing :
1. In Your Room
2. Complicated Girl
3. Bell Jar
4. Something To Believe In
5. Eternal Flame
6. Be With You
7. Glitter Years
8. I'll Set You Free
9. Watching The Sky
10. Some Dreams Come True
11. Make A Play For Her Now
12. Waiting For You
13. Crash And Burn
Released 1988
UK Chart Position : 5
Singles :
In Your Room ( No 35 - 1988 )
Eternal Flame ( No 1 - 1989 )
Be With You ( No 23 - 1989 )
I'll Set You Free ( No 74 - 1989 )
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