Laura Branigan Over My Heart CD

At the age of 36, Laura Branigan felt it was time to sing more about heartache and the pains of failing relationships than to give her music the same kind of pop amiability found on past hits like "Self Control" and "Gloria." But the real problem with Over My Heart is that each and every track gets doused with an overabundance of thirty-something insipidness and routine-sounding lyrical drivel. Even her Spanish can't pull her through, and sluggish efforts like Michael Bolton's "It's Hard Enough Getting Over You" and "Didn't We Almost Win It All" are mired in a barrage of "what if"-styled romanticism. The one thing that Branigan does have going for her is her voice, which sounds fresh and crisp despite her clichéd material. The title track and "How Do I Help You Say Goodbye" offer up the most potential, but there's just too much beach-walking throughout her songs to create any sort of real impact, even for the adult contemporary crowd. Even the novelty of "Mujer Contra Mujer" and "Mangwane" wears off before their endings, and Gloria Estefan's "Love Your Girl" is a tad interesting but suffers from the rest of the album's heart-heaviness. Upon its release, Over My Heart failed to chart a single and even soft rock radio stations barely gave it any notice. ~ Mike DeGagne

Laura Branigan had greater creative participation in the making of her seventh album, earning credits for songwriting, arrangements, and production. Industry vet Phil Ramone was the main producer, however, and the result was a move away from the disco diva approach of Branigan's earlier records and a move toward the pop-rock mainstream. Giv

Engineers include: Clay Ostwald, Charles Dye, Danny Grigsby.

Personnel: Laura Branigan (vocals, background vocals); Dave "Squiggy" Giglan (vocals, guitar); Mmabana Children's Choir, Ingrid Tubo, Jacob Bantsejang, Gladys Kgadiete, Grace Msumbu, Bushy Monakwane, Patricia Tong (vocals); Dave "Squiggy" Biglan (guitar, keyboards, drums); Billy Branigan (guitar, background vocals); David Spinozza, Charlton Pettus (guitar); John McCurry (electric guitar); Dave Greenfield, Jeff Greenfield, Steve Greenfield (alto saxophone); Lenny Pickett (tenor saxophone); Clay Ostwald, Clay Otswald (keyboards, programming); Peter Schwartz, Peter "Ski" Schwartz, Jeff Jacobs , Eric Rehl, Brian BecVar (keyboards); Tebogo Tshotetsi, Sam Mokwena, Motshetshe Mmolawa, Acrial Monethi, Livy Maleshane, Ernest Mothle (marimba); Kevin Wells, Tony Beard (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Ray McDonald (programming, sampler); Jorge Casas (programming); Roy McDonald (computer, sampler); Curtis King, Jill Dell'Abate, Joy Francis, Karen Kamon, Charles Mangold, Rory Rodd, Rory Dodd (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Danny Grigsby; Lolly Grodner; Jay Healy; Andy Smith.

Recording information: Bop Recording Studio, South Afr; Crescent Moon Studios, Miami, F; House Of Music, West Orange, NJ; Right Track, New York, NY; Right Track, NY, NY; The Hit Factory, NY, NY; The Hit Fasctory, New York, NY; The Power Station, New York, NY.

Ensemble: Mmabana Marimba Band.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Mmabana Marimba Band; Tebogo Tshotetsi; Sam Mokwena; Motshetshe Mmolawa; Acrial Monethi; Livy Maleshane; Ernest Mothle.

Arrangers: Clay Ostwald; Peter Schwartz; Peter "Ski" Schwartz; Clay Otswald; Jeff Jacobs ; Jorge Casas; Laura Branigan; Phil Ramone; Billy Branigan; Eric Rehl.

Personnel includes: Laura Branigan, Jacob Bantsejang (vocals); Charlton Pettus, Dave Spinozza (guitar); John McCurry (electric guitar); Dave "Squiggy" Biglan (guitar, keyboards); Billy Branigan (guitar, bass, background vocals); Steve Greenfield (alto saxophone); Lenny Pickett (tenor saxophone); Peter Schwartz, Eric Rehl, Jeff Jacobs, Brian BecVar (keyboards); Clay Ostwald (keyboards, programming); Jorge Casas (bass, programming); Kevin Wells, Tony Beard (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Mmabana Marimba Band.

Additional producers: Laura Branigan, Phil Ramone, Billy Branigan, Clay Ostwald, Jorge Casas.