"you think you know just what you want but you have used that weapon against me. did I tell you I was lying, by the way, when I said I wanted a new mink coat? I was just thinking about something sleek to wrap around my tender throat."

Was listening to Savage last night and still marvels at how well this album has held up over time. I remember when I got this on cassette, popped it into my walkman and was blown away with the first song…with it’s stereo phonic sound spectacular. Little sounds going all over the place. I had been a fan, but Savage cinched me forever.

I have listened to Savage so many times. I love all of the nuances within each song, be it a lyric or a guitar strum or a background vocal. Songs like…well Beethoven obviously, I got a Lover, I need you, I need a man (if you can do the “rap” at the end, you know what I am saying), are really great, while others like, Savage, Shame, Put the Blame on Me (talk about an ending to a song!), & Heaven are outstanding classics. Even the video companion is stellar…though I am uncertain why the CD is not in the same order as the videos, which seem to be in proper order).

I really felt like it was a true return to form from them. A true concept album (I put 1984 in a different category). I wish they had kept with the same sound for their final disk, but it seemed as though they went back to the “what worked” sound of Revenge and Be yourself tonight.

Does anyone else out there feel this album in the same way?

It's my favorite Eurhythmics album, the one I play most often. "You Have Placed a Chill on My Heart" and "I Need You" are pure genius. Thanks for reminding me...it's one of those tapes I need to replace on CD!

Savage is definitely my favorite Eurythmics album (although they are all good.) I can't wait for the remaster!!

Every track is killer, especially Shame, Savage and Beethoven. And Wide-Eyed Girl.... MONA LISA!!!!!

JonSnow said:

I pulled a Mona Lisa last night! WIde eyed girl...another classic. I have never seen them in concert, though I would imagine that this song would be backed up by a full orchestra.

She comes clicking clacking down the street in those High Heeled Shoes!

I love "Heaven"

That song is so great!

But, "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" and "When The Day Goes Down" are tops in my book.... They have so many great songs!


Takes a little time....

I still prefer their earlier work from "In the Garden" through "1984". But I love Annie Lennox to bits so almost everything she does is tops in my book. But "Savage" is my favorite of their later albums. If Camille-era Prince worked with her, this is probably what it would sound like. There are so many great songs and videos from that album. Once you've seen them, you can never escape the visuals of the blonde bombshell and the mousey housewife Annie. The stretch of songs from "You Have Placed A Chill" to "Savage" is glorious.

GangstaFam said:

The Annie Fans come out!

Yes it seems there was a definite break in sound after 1984 (strange because they released an album almost every year except for 1987). I LOVE the housewife ANnie...she looks demented...but not as demented like she was in There must be an Angel (Her grin alone could eat live kittens!).

"The stretch of songs from "You Have Placed A Chill" to "Savage" is glorious" -I guess that would be YHPACIMH, Shame and Savage??? Just 3? I have noticed that others mention YHPACIMH...not my favorite, but I suppose it appealed to a lot, as that was the song that got my partner hooked and he bought the album (his First eurythmics) soon after. He's from Florida, I didn't think they had gotten that single to get airplay down there, but I guess so (we heard practically nothing in Chicago...a little bit of I need a man...played once)

superspaceboy said:

I think of their shift from "1984" to "Be Yourself Tonight" as very similar to Bowie's from "Diamond Dogs" to "Young Americans". Extremely fucked up and dark to more conventional and a soul sound. Hell, I've always thought of Annie as the female Bowie. One thing that seems to get overlooked a lot when talking about her is how frightening and sinister she could be sometimes, or what you call the kitten eating factor. Songs like "I've Got An Angel" and videos like "Missionary Man" are evil!

And I love plenty of songs on Savage. Almost the whole thing. But those 3 songs I think of as the heart of the album.
[Edited 11/3/04 17:44pm]

Savage is without a doubt my favorite Eurythmics album, with the 1984 soundtrack a not-too-distant second. There are Eurythmics SONGS I may like more than what's on these albums, but to me, it's rare that I can sit through an entire album of theirs and not feel like I've had to endure a helping or two (or more) of filler material. Savage is strong from beginning to end, just as focused as can be. I get the feeling they believed a lot in this album, because the video album for Savage was as great as the music.

This is also one of the very first CDs I ever owned, when I made the leap from vinyl/cassette on Christmas Day 1987 (I also got Sgt. Pepper and Sign O the Times), so it also has a lot of personal value to me.

Anxiety said:

Understandable. And I think Annie herself has said that it's her favorite Eurythmics album. Too bad it didn't get more attention.

GangstaFam said:

You know that was the thing. It went by with just a peep. WHere as the 2 preceeding had a lot of fanfare. It could have been the leadoff single I need a man. Not sure. Beethoven was the European first single, I think. It was also a concept album too, that may have had a lot to do with it not being that popular. I think in retrospect, it is one of the fan's favorites.

I find the lyrical content to be the most intriguing. You have the strong lyrical from the 2 previous and you have the minimal lyrical content found from the earlier years. I think it's her best in writing. Songs like Beethoven, Savage, and I need you...being the strongest in seriousness and poeticness. Lover back in Japan, Shame, Do you want to break up...also strong with thier imagry. Many are quite cryptic in their meaning fictional or otherwise.

The music is another perplexity. Starting up with that drum beat echo as it builds up into the frenzy which is Beethoven.The songs weave in and out with much abandon. New Wave, Techno, Rock, Accoustic guitar all weaved into one album. Brand New Day is certainly a shining moment in and of itself. SOngs shift and evolve within themselves...while Annie flits her voice and then becomes then next thing closest to Aretha Franklin on I got a lover (I though she even guested...but it was Annie).

Sorry to go on and on...but I recently rediscovered this album. It's one of those that I put down for a while and then pick it up and play it oh about 6 or 7 times over the next few days and then will kick in to listening to all of their albums. It's like that. yeah. It's like that...so heat it up.

I saw this thread and thought, "Finally! A discussion about classical music!" Oh, well...another time and place...

heartbeatocean said:

It's a classic. And one day it will be classical!

some interesting thoughts on this thread

A couple things:

I was very disappointed initially w/ the change in direction after 1984. 1984 itself was such a strange, quirky, dark, brilliant little record, and I loved it. Then they went on to this more expansive, "rock" sound on Be Yourself Tonight, and at first I was very bummed about it. But eventually the songs swayed me... they are just so good. Conditioned Soul. It's Alright. Here Comes That Sinking Feeling. have you ever heard the sound of disappointment..... But secretly I longed for them to go back to a more electronic sound, and thus I was even more disappointed w/ "Revenge" - but, again, the songs were so good that eventually it more than won me over.

But it was a thrill when Savage came out that it was more like their early stuff.

As for the success (or lack thereof) of Savage, i think it was a difficult concept to translate into massive success. Remember, by this time the early 80's "new wave" type bands that had been doing so well were not quite doing that well anymore. And Savage was not easy to promote...

Beethoven was the first video premiered in the US from the album (even though I Need a Man was the first single), and I think that created a little confusion. Beethoven was such a tricky (and brilliant) song.

What they SHOULD have done (i know, here comes some revisionist history) is released You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart first... Then there would have been several options for 2nd single (I Need a Man - although the over-the-top Aretha vocals I don't think translated well to the mass public, or Shame).

Savage has a electronic "feel" I think, but it's more diverse than it seems at first. Great songwriting... and they aren't afraid to let it loose a bit and be more experimental, like in the early days. Beethoven. Heaven. Put the Blame on Me. A classic album that I think is finally starting to get some of the belated recognition it deserves.

Can't wait to hear the remaster, it NEEDS to be remastered. Sounds a little rough.

superspaceboy said:

"Chill" for me, just has the best Annie moments ever, "A woman's just too tired to think about the dirty old dishes in the kitchen sink" and "...so I could cliiiiimb through the telephone." To me, it's just pop perfection. I remember when "Beethoven" came out, and I wasn't crazy about it at first. I do think it through a lot of fans off who were expecting a more conventional pop song. Now of course I love it. I so wish they'd reunite and get weird again.

JonSnow said:

Yeah, I'm with ya.

I wasn't aware of much of their music growing up, but once I did get into them, I really couldn't get with the 2nd half of their career. Savage was the first one that connected with me. But more recently, I really do love BYT and Revenge. Especially Revenge. There are just so many of their greatest songs on there: Last Time, I Remember You, Miracle of Love, Thorn in my Side, When Tomorrow Comes. Missionary Man isn't even near the top for me and look how great that is. It just took awhile for me to warm up to their more pop sensibilities. The album I still am not feeling is We Too Are One. Their are some great individual songs on there, but I'm never in the mood to just put on the whole album. Maybe someday.

Did anyone here like the reunion album "Peace"? I heard it, but wasn't impressed at all.

superspaceboy said:

I liked it alot, but it's not up there w/ Eurythmics best work. It sounds more like an Annie Lennox solo album - mostly mellow, very polished, and not usually particularly adventurous.

That being said, there are some very very very good tracks, and 17 Again is a classic.

JonSnow said:

I agree. I was lukewarm on it at first, but now I can see how great it is. It does seem like a veiled Annie Lennox solo album, but that can't be a bad thing, can it? Some of the songs are among her best like Lifted, I've Tried Everything, and Power to the Meek. I kinda like that it's more mellow and sophisticated. It doesn't break with what she's been doing for the last dozen years that way. It makes it more of a seemless transition, than a awkward reunion album.

GangstaFam said:

yeah, it would have been strange had they done some sorta retro 80's sounding electronic album. would not have worked. i'm glad they made a sophisticated pop album like Peace, but for me it still doesn't connect quite like their early stuff.

But hey, that's probably natural. Peace does sound a bit like a sequal to We Too Are One.

Is anybody else into Dave's solo stuff? I have it all, and much of it is very good - surprisingly good.

JonSnow said:

Nope. Don't have any Dave. But I do have all of their non-album material. Good stuff!

I heard recently about why the remasters have been delayed. Dave gave an interview saying that basically, he and Annie think that they're crap. He said they have a great deal of pride in their catelogue and want it to be compiled right. In other words, he wants EVERYTHING out. Not a hodgepodge of b-sides, crap remixes and live stuff as bonus tracks. Because of their busy schedules, they haven't been able to correct this. But they're still working on it and trying to hunt town ALL the original master tapes. If I can find the interview, I'll post it.

Of the 4 eras of her career, how do you rate them?

Tourists
early electronic Eurythmics
later pop-rock Eurythmics
Annie solo and Peace

GangstaFam said:

1. Early Electronic Eurythmics
This is what really got me hooked into music big time. I remember clearly watching MTV w/ my dad and Sweet Dreams came on... i was blown away. My dad said, "they have some strange people on here". LOL

2. later pop-rock Eurythmics
3. Annie solo and Peace

4. The Tourists
There are a few excellent tracks (One Step Nearer the Edge is my favorite), but most of it is pretty forgettable, IMHO.

As for the remasters - i'd rather they take longer and be done right than be done half-assed. The track-listings that have been released are frankly pretty lame. They need to do what the Cure is doing, and have an entire 2nd disc for each album. There are enough b-sides, live material, remixes and demos to make that happen, and then some. Hopefully next year

JonSnow said:

The Cure seem to be doing everything right these days it seems.

I heard Annie say that after this Sting tour, she's going right back into the studio for another solo album. That's great news, but probably means that remasters are further off than we think.

i didn't like "peace" at all.

and i wasn't crazy about "we two are one", but i've come to a point where i can tolerate it.

Anxiety said:

How come?

GangstaFam said:

it just sounded too watered down to me. i don't like where dave stewart's style as a producer has gone over the last decade or so, but that's just me. plus i haven't really been a fan of much of anything annie's done since diva.

i know - picky, picky, picky.

Anxiety said:

S'alright. Was just wondering. Ya like whatcha like.

GangstaFam said:

Yeah, The Cure are doing everything right w/ the remasters, no question. Just like the Pet Shop Boys did. Hopefully Dave and Annie are paying attention.

JonSnow said:

Those with the new album and 'Join the Dots' and I can't remember a better time to be a Cure fan.

GangstaFam said:

I find it interesting that they think the remasters are crap...didn't he remaster them himself?

But to respond to the above...

Tourists..??? preband stuff?
Early Years - I like these the best. Simple and catchy...with a lot of quirkyness to them. You never knew what to expect. 1984 was the best in this era.
Later years - I like Revenge all the songs are very strong, BYT is ok, We 2 R 1 - Same, though I like it better than BYT. It was geared for the adult contemporary crowd. Of course Savage sticks out. I like it as it evokes the early stuff.
Peace/Annie - I'm with Anx on this. They didn't move me that much. Peace did seem like an Annie disk produced by Dave. I am not big on her solo stuff either. It's ok. The music though is very pop and ordinary. I have a thing for No More I love yous and Why...as I was stuck in a really bad place with a date who got way too drunk and all he talked about was his ex and kept playing these songs over and over again...LOUDLY. Good Times! Let me tell you. I had no money for a cab to get out of there and it was in an area that had no public transportation. So I am just a bit tainted with her solo stuff. I liked Bare the best..again it did not grow on me.