Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Jane Wiedlin
Company: IRS
Catalog: IRS-5638
Year: 1985
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: original inner sleeve
Available: 1
Price: $3.00
As one of the founding members of The Go-Go's (see separate entry), vocalist/guitarist Jane Wiedlin was frequently overshadowed by Belinda Carlisle and the other members of the band. Regardless of name recognition, Wiedlin was responsible for some of their best material and her abrupt 1985 departure ultimately contributed to the band's commercial demise.
As a solo artist, Wiedlin's self-titled 1985 debut highlighted her commercial songwriting talents. While the collection exposed her somewhat limited 'little girl' vocals, Wiedlin's sense of enthusiasm and sympathetic production (courtesy of Vince Ely, George Massenburg and others) more than
compensated for occasional lapses. A wildly varied effort, "Jane
Wiedlin" encompassed straight ahead pop, including the should've-been-hits "Blue Kiss" and "Sometimes You Get On My Nerves," acceptable electro-dance ("Where We Can Go"), and an assortment of catchy social and political statements ("Goodbye Cruel World," and the 'is-that-real-Japanese "East Meets West"). In case anyone missed the point, the album included a pre-printed postcard advocating nuclear disarmament. Fans were asked to sign the cards and mail them to their political representatives.
"Jane Wiedlin" track listing:
1.) Blue Kiss (Randall Kirsch - Jane Wiedlin) -
2.) Goodbye Cruel World (Jane Wiedlin - Lord) -
3.) Sometimes You Really Get On My Nerves (Jane Wiedlin - Lord) -
4.) East Meets West (Jane Wiedlin) -
5.) Somebody's Going To Get Into This House (Randall Kirsch) -
6.) Forever (Jane Wiedlin - Lord) -
7.) Modern Romance (Jane Wiedlin - Kieffer) -
8.) I Will Wait for You (Hunter) -
9.) One Hundred Years of Solitude (Jane Wiedlin) -
10.) Where We Can Go (Jane Wiedlin - Hunter) -
11.) My Traveling Heart (Jane Wiedlin) -