Repeat offender --- Richard Marx --- 1989 (Capitol)
A real heart-throb of the eighties, Richard Marx released his second album on the back of successes scored with his debut, including a US Number One single. As a follow-up this is pretty good, containing some great rockers, some fine ballads and the odd filler track. Opener "Nothin' you can do about it" and the next one, "Satisfied", I feel fit this bracket, though the latter was a number one hit! Shows what I know!
Another number one was his tender ballad, which became his signature song, "Right here waiting", with its beautiful piano melody and his impassioned vocal. Marx isn't one of those who wants to do everything himself, and on this album he sensibly sticks to singing, drafting in top talent like Steve Lukather, Michael Landau and Randy Jackson to take care of the music. It works very well.
Personal favourites for me are "Wait for the sunrise", good boppy rocker with a sense of urgency about it, and the truly majestic closer, "Children of the night", where Marx tries to highlight the plight of homeless children, with a lovely choir on the last chorus.
A popular album then? Well, he pushed Prince off the number one spot!
TRACKLISTING
1. Ain't nothin' you can do about it
2. Satisfied
3. Angelia
4. Too late to say goodbye
5. Right here waiting
6. Heart on the line
7. Real world
8. If you don't want my love
9. Wait for the sunrise
10. Children of the night