Track Listing

1. If You All Get To Heaven
2. If You Let Me Stay
3. Wishing Well
4. I'll Never Turn My Back On You (Fathers Words)
5. Dance Little Sister
6. Seven More Days
7. Let's Go Forward
8. Rain
9. Sign Your Name
10. As Yet Untitled
11. Who's Lovin' You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5064 in Music
• Released on: 1995-04-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

From Amazon.com
This 1987 CD is one of the best debuts ever. A stunning, soulful approach to merging old influences and new realities, TTD burst on to the scene with an album that sounds even better today. At the time D'Arby was compared (sometimes by himself) to Stevie, Michael, Smokey, and Marvin. Simply put, without TTD's egomaniacal/lover stance, it's hard to fathom Maxwell, Tony Toni Tone, or any other neo-soul boys. --Amy Linden

CD Description
One of the most original recording artists of the '80s, Terence Trent D'Arby released a brilliantly executed album withINTRODUCING THE HARDLINE.
Combining the best of rock, pop and contemporary urban R&B, Terence's vocals can be smoothlike the sweet soul singers of the '60s, funky like Prince,or as impassioned as the most sizzling rocker. "Dance Little Sister" recalls James Brown, "Who's Lovin' You" sounds like a Sam Cooke song, while many of the other tracks show a Stevie Wonder influence.
The album is completely Terence--he played many of the instruments, co-produced most tracks, and wrote just about all of the songs. His vocals alternate from the slickly pop and fierce falsetto, to rough-edged soul. "If You All Get To Heaven", a Prince-like hybrid, showcases a sharp sense of production, vocalising, and song-craft. "If You Let Me Stay" is funk and pop, drenched not in horns but in Terence's determined vocal. "Rain" is an amalgam of somany styles that it leaves one's head spinning. "Sign Your Name" is a killer track in a Sade groove. "As Yet Untitled" is a vigorous acapella spiritual. "Wishing Well", a #1 international hit, is freshly innovative, with fascinating lyricsand hooky, percussive instrumentation. It's a song that gets its claws into the listener and doesn't let go. All tracksare uniquely rendered, with roots and influences highly apparent; yet the production is so modern that it becomes a distinctive sound on its own.

Customer Reviews

Hasn't dated at all....
1987 was the year of Stock, Aitken & Waterman, synth pop was at its most commercial - yet suddenly appeared Terence... He was Hendrix, Prince and James Brown rolled into one but with an inimitable style all his own, incredible songs and an ego to match. Nothing sounded like this at the time and it has aged really well - I defy anyone to classify this as an '80's' album - I think it would stand out no matter what era we were in. His raspy, soulful vocals lend such energy and passion to the songs that even when the lyrics are unfathomable (which they occasionally are) you always get a sense of what he is singing about whether it be anger, love or loss. The album opens with a dim, crackling pulse, first time I played it I thought my stereo needed adjusting and then bang it hits you from both speakers! As the album progresses there is a mix of strange but wonderful (If You All Get To Heaven), downright danceable (If You Let Me Stay, Dance Little Sister), beautiful love songs (Let's Go Forward, Sign Your Name'), a fantastic cover version of Who's Loving You (I think this was done by the Jackson 5) and the very bizarre but heartfelt accapella of As Yet Untitled, which really grew on me after a few listens (anyone who thinks singing unaccompanied like that is easy should try it). And the list goes on. TTD's strength is in mad egotism, innate sensuality and intelligence. He manages to distill some big ideas into some disarmingly descriptive phrases ('old men's cigars puff up the wars, to protect their f***-ups again, young men must die to keep the old ones alive just to prove their studs once again'), injects a little humour ('Get up off your rocking chair grandma! Or rather.. would you care to dance grandmother?') and packages it all up with some original instrumentation, great melodies and that voice. The guy's got soul and this is an essential album.

Such a promising talent
his album is probably a little dated now but I still love it. Terence showed so much potential with this album but has subsequently gone rather down hill, perhaps he had a naf image but who cares. With songs like 'Sign your name' and 'Dance little sister' you'll be jiving around your house in no time, (well you wouldn't in public!).

It was alright
The idea that this album has not dated is frankly wrong,of course it has dated,the same as any other album of the era (say,the Batman soundtrack).There is a few good songs,and the story of TTD is pretty much one of underachievement,with each subsequent album mixing moments of genius (To Know Someone Deeply,Supermodel Sandwich)with utter nonsense (I Have Faith In These Desolate Times).