Lisa Stansfield, the 4th album of the diva from Rochdale, was published in march 1997, it’s purely a soul work. Except Never never gonna give you up and You know how to love me, both covers, all of the texts are written by her in collaboration with Ian Devaney and Richard Darbyshire, singer and guitar player of the group Living in a box, author of the famous track with the same name dated 1987, from this moment started the new collaboration between Stansfield and her husband and continued until the last album The moment, completing the emptyness created by Andy Morris’ absence. The recording work occured in Gracieland (Rochdale), Lisa’s property, where the first two albums had already been recorded. This time Devaney only played keyboards and guitar, meanwhile Darbyshire played the guitar in Footsteps. Lisa’s previous albums were on sale in the market really close one another (89/91/93- as platinum disc), but this time it took 4 years until the new work, and fans waited Lisa’s return with affection.
The album opens with Never gonna fall, a slow track, with a good rhythmical base as usual, enriched by wind instruments and strings, this song is the fifth single extracted from the album in a remix version for the USA where it reached number 1 in the dance charts. Number 2 The real Thing is a quite rhythmical track, perfect for dancing, with a good base in which the strings are the most important part; this track is also the album’s 2nd single and supported by a nice video: it reached the 7th position in the UK charts and the 4th in the Italian one, with good standings in Germany and Switzerland. Number 3 is I’m leavin, a romantic ballad with a guitar background and an interesting text; it is also the 6th single in remix version for the USA where reached 1st place in the Dance chart. Suzanne is the 4th track in schedule, a typical soul ballad based on bass and keyboards. Even if named after Lisa’s smaller sister (and the text begins with dear sister), this song results after all not dedicated to her. At this point the album reaches a crucial point: Never never gonna give you up cover, that was the Barry White’s second single published in Europe in 1974, results probably better than the original one, an important track fot the whole album, accompained by a particular video that must be followed entirely. Extracted as the 3rd single, it reaches the 1st place in the USA dance charts, in Europe instead it reaches moderate positions. Number 6 Don’t cry for me is another intence soul ballad in which it predominates keyboards, with a sentimental text: this was the 7th and last single taken but it came out only in the USA for a few days, which was meant to be published also in the UK, but it was withdrawn from the market soon after, it was accompained by a great video available in Italy just recently thanks to the Web.
Followed by The line that combines jazz and swing and anticipates Swing’s soundtrack, it has an interesting text and supported by a modest video, but without a doubt a “Stansfield” in great shape: published as 4th single, we can find it only in the UK charts even if bad positions. With number 8 The very tought of you we had the return of a good soul song, an elegant track with an amazing bass and excellent strings, one of the best in the whole album and it takes us pleasantly towards the second album’s cover You know how the love me, that was originally proposed by the american singer Phyllis Hyman in 1979 an it is a soul classical re-interpreted splendidly by Lisa. With I cried my last tear last night the white soul’s queen gives us a great vocal performance and we can even appreciate more the undeniable artist’s talent. Number 11 is Honest, a very refined track that creates a very relaxing atmosphere, nice keyboards and also the rhythmical part. Number 12 Somewhere in time it’s a slow track, at times, it gives the idea of a gospel song, characterized by another great vocal performance. Followed by Got me missing you with an introduction where Lisa speaks in Barry White’s style (usually more frequent); another elegant, slow and pure soul track and a great vocal performance. We find number 14 Footsteps without a doubt the more interesting album’s part, great text, Lisa sings supported by a guitar and choristers: this is a great impact track, with an high level of voice. Followed by two versions of The real thing (touch mix) e People hold on (bootleg mix), not authorized originally, but noticed the huge success in the USA, Lisa’s decided to insert it in the album, reaching the number 1 as a remix single in the USA dance charts.
In the Lisa Stansfield, digipak edition dated 2003, inserted in The complete collection, we can find also two bonus track: Baby come back were already included in the album’s japanese edition, meanwhile Breathtaking is unpublished, a great R&B song. People hold on remix version closed the tracklist.
Singles extracted from album
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The real thing
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Never never gonna give you up
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Never Never Gonna give you up Live
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The line
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People hold on bootleg*
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Never gonna fall**
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Don't cry for me***
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I'm leavin'****
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* Remix version for USA dance chart
** Promo USA
*** stopped after publishing in USA
**** Promo USA (and ITA with different cover)
Videoclips
- The real thing
- Never never gonna give you up
- The line
- Don't cry for me*
*Single stopped after publishing
For more information on the history of videoclips visit the appropriate section.
