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Rating: Despite their misleading name, Bad English are as American as they come, just like their genre, AOR, which is powerful and anything but predictable. The strength of this supergroup lies in the fusion of two great bands, the most experienced and the best in the genre, the Journey and the Babys. Guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain from one, bassist Ricky Phillips and singer John Waite from the other, joined forces in 1988, all four coming off their musical success, and enlisted the grand drummer Dean Castronovo, to create a new project.
Thirteen tracks fired one after the other, alternating between sweet ballads and aggressive rock sequences, saturated with keyboards to the bone and grounded in a mix of hard guitars: these are the main elements that make the record extravagant. The impact is hard, but like every AOR record, it's everything but difficult to listen to: don't be fooled though, being easy on the ears doesn't mean it's of poor quality.
The greatness of this record lies in the impact it gives as a whole, and mentioning the songs one by one is challenging, but the most captivating moments must still be remembered. "Best Of What I've Got" is a praiseworthy start, the guys are full of enthusiasm and need to prove it to the entire world: Jonathan Cain's keyboard is excellent, who surely won't be remembered as a virtuoso keyboardist, yet always capable of aiming for the right melodies.
Throughout the entire album, it shifts from sweet ballads like "Possession" or the famous "When I See You Smile" where romantic love is celebrated, to raw tracks where erotic energy is the winning card, like "Ready When You Are" and "Restless Ones".
But the standout track is "Forget Me Not" because the powerful sound combined with John Waite's warm and unique voice and the brilliant guitar riff make it stand out above all others. Alongside this, the mysterious "Ghost In Your Heart" creates a very intriguing atmosphere.
The life of Bad English will be short, as they will only release two albums in total, some unreleased live performances, and the famous "Lost Sessions", and it must be said that in every work there's something interesting. But nothing will ever be like this first album, dated 1989, so full of ideas and freshness, played with the desire to embark on a new adventure.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Possession (05:08)
Oh Yeah
I can't find myself
When you go away
Makes me wonder where you are
Is there someone else
I just need to know
This charade has gone too far
For the first time in my life
Feel I'm losing control
I can't keep pretending
It's my soul that you own
I need you
My heart's in your world tonight
(Possession)
And you hold the key to my life
(Possession)
I've got to be with you
I wanna dream with you
You're my obsession
I want possession of you
I can't play this game
Am I in too deep
Cause my world
Is where you are
You're always on my mind
The little things you say
I can feel you everywhere
The trace of your lipstick
I can taste your perfume
The note that you left me
leaves a space in this room
I need you
My heart's in your world tonight
(Possession)
And you hold the key to my life
(Possession)
I've got to be with you
I wanna dream with you
You're my obsession
I want possession of you
Oh Yeah
I can't live without you
Can't you see that your mine
I need you
Your heart's in my world
(Possession)
In your world
In your world
Your heart's in my world tonight
(Possession)
And you hold the key to my life
(Possession)
I want possession of you every night
I want possession of you for all my life
I wanna walk with you
(Possession)
I wanna dream
(Possession)
(Possession)
(Possession)
05 When I See You Smile (04:20)
Sometimes I wonder If I'd ever make it through
Through this world without having you
I just wouldn't have a clue
Cause sometimes it seems like this world's closing in on me
And there's no way of breaking free
and then I see you reach for me
Sometimes I wanna give up wanna give in
I wanna quit the fight
And then I see you baby
and everything's alright, everything's alright
When I see you smile I can face the world
Oh you know I can do anything
When I see you smile I see a ray of light
Oh I see it shining right through the rain
When I see you smile
Baby when I see you smile at me
Baby there's nothing in this world that could ever do
What the touch of your hand can do
It's like nothing that I ever knew
And when the rain is falling, I don't feel it
Cause you're here with me now
and one look at you baby
It's all I'll ever need, All I'll ever need
When I see you smile I can face the world
Oh you know I can do anything
When I see you smile I see a ray of light
Oh I see it shining right through the rain
When I see you smile baby
Baby when I see you smile at me
Sometimes I wanna give up I wanna give in
I wanna quit the fight
Then one look at you baby
And everything's alright
Hey everything's alright
It's alright
When I see you smile I can face the world
Oh you know I can do anything
When I see you smile I see a ray of light
Oh I see it shining right through the rain
When I see you smile Yeah I can face the world
Oh you know I can do anything now
When I see you smile Oh yeah
Baby when I see you smile
Smile at me
12 Rockin' Horse (05:31)
Desert highway to a memory
I said that I'd come back for you
By the jukebox at the Starlight Grill
Kickin?out an Elvis tune
Are you waitin' little sister
Killin?time and dreamin?too
You need a fraction of long distance love
I'm driving all night for you, Yeah
I'm gonna be there in a big way
You can leave the radio on
Like an outlaw
Like Jesse James
Another hundred miles is gone
Sunrise to sundown
I'm gonna turn you around
Yeah
Baby I've been so lonely
What am I s'pposed to do,
Out in the zone of passion
Out of my head for you
Baby my hearts a mustang
Just let it run its course
Take it up by the river
I'm gonna give you more
Ride the rockin' horse
Hey ride the rockin' horse
Yeah
Got the top down
Wishin?on a star
Underneath the Spanish moon
Golden Earring箂 on the radio
Radar Love is coming through
She's a station on the interstate
I'm coming with a message of love
In the saddle you can ride all night
Rock your reins around my glove yeah
Sunrise to sundown
I'm gonna turn you around yeah
Baby I've been so lonely
What箂 a man supposed to do
Out in the zone of passion
Out of my head for you
Proof Papa's got the fever
Just let it run its course
Take it up by the river
I'm gonna give you more
Ride the rockin?horse
Hey
Ride the rockin?horse
Baby I've been so
Baby I箆e been so
Baby I've been so lonely
(Ride the rockin' horse)
Lo-lo-lo-lo-lonely
Lonely
Yeah
Baby I've been so
Out of my head for you
Whoah
(Ride the rockin?horse)
Baby I've been so lonely
Baby baby baby
(Ride the rockin?horse)
Babe I've been so lonely
What am i gonna do
Thank you New York
Ride the rockin?horse
Ride the rockin?horse
Ride the rockin?horse
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Other reviews
By skylarblue
The splendid vocals of John Waite, true melodic master, who with his sensual and enveloping tone will delight us throughout the record.
Listen to Neal Schon’s rhythmic work on the dynamic 'Though Times Don’t Last', spine-tingling!
By Mark76
There is one album that defines the genre more than any other compendiously. It’s the self-titled Bad English album, which came out in June 1989.
"The trace of your lipstick, I can taste your perfume... leaves a space in this room" is worth the $100 of the Japanese edition.
