Bryan Adams
Reckless

THE REVIEW

Strange that no one has thought to review Bryan Adams' best seller "Reckless". So I'm happy to fix that, considering that so far I've reviewed albums that have never been reviewed.

This album, dated 1984, is the highest point of the Canadian rocker's career. More than anything, it's a great opportunity to hear Bryan Adams in a fully rock mode, as he later favored a more mellow style, making love songs his trademark. Of this album, a whopping 6 out of 10 songs made it into the top 40, starting with the opening track "One night love affair". One of Bryan Adams' most beautiful pieces, a great start to a fantastic record. "Run to you" is a well-crafted hard rock song still present in live performances today. The pleasant and lively "Somebody", which with its simplicity and effectiveness, immediately reaches the ear. A duet couldn't be missing, so here is the fantastic rock of "It's only love", sung together with Tina Turner. Adams' husky and scratchy voice perfectly matches Tina Turner's powerful one. And now, the crown jewel of the record. Who hasn't fallen in love listening to "Heaven"? One of the best love songs of the '80s. It's still a very popular song and never loses its beauty. Another strong piece is "Summer of '69", a nostalgic song yet supported by an engaging rhythm, making it still one of the most requested live tracks. The other 4 songs maintain the high level of the record, starting with "Kids wanna rock" a wild rock piece with roaring guitars, the upbeat "She's only happy when she's dancin'", the delightful "Long gone" with a calmer but compelling rhythm, and the final track "Ain't gonna cry", a hard rock piece I personally consider the weakest of the album.

For those who love pure and honest rock 'n' roll, and for '80s nostalgics, this album is an absolute must-have. I remember getting acquainted with it in the summer of 2004, when it was attached to a weekly magazine. And what better time than summer to enjoy such an album? The record sold 7 million copies, a bit less than "Waking up the neighborhoods" which, thanks to the super hit "Everything I do (I do it for you)", marked the transition, for the rocker, from powerful rock to decidedly more mellow rock, yet seemingly more profitable, and many more compared to the subsequent "Into the fire" (1987), a well-made album but evidently a bit too ambitious to be understood by the general public. Anyway, "Reckless" remains an excellent album to listen to for a bit of distraction and to gather some energy. And now with spring approaching (but already with my mind set on this summer), I feel the urge to listen to it again.

Until next time...