Michele Mategrano has contributed 12 reviews to The Penguin: Everything That is Fleetwood Mac: | |
Gimme You
() Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 18th, 2004 Billy slows down just a bit and brings us a few new Easy Listening songs with this album, including "The Bigger The Love (The Harder The Fall)", "Let The New Love Begin", and "Take You Around The World (In My Arms)". While listening to "The Bigger The Love", I'm reminded of a slow dance at a 50's sock hop. It's a wonderful song with a wonderful melody. The opening track, "Whatcha Gonna Do When The Sun Goes Down" brings you back to Billy's country/rockabilly roots, as does the title track "Gimme You"! One of my personal favorites on this album is the hard-rockin' rockabilly song "Gone Again"! From the moment it starts, you just can't sit still! Yes, Billy does it again - and I'm "gone again" to rockabilly land and having a ball! | |
Billy Burnette
() After a 7-year hiatus, Billy's back with a vengeance! Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 18th, 2004 After a 7-year hiatus, this self-titled album is the first of two albums Billy released in the year 1979. This album is a great combination of song types from Rock n'Roll ("Shoo-Be-Doo", "Believe What You Say") to Easy Listening ("You Brought Me Back", "Living Out Our Fantasies", "Dreamin' My Way Back To You") to Country/Sing-a-Long ("Take A Listen-Listen To Your Heart", "Mississippi Line")! To put it short, Billy lets us know that he's back in town - to STAY! You can hear the strength in his voice. Couple that with the matured lyrics of a seasoned songwriter, and you've got a great album! | |
Billy Burnette
() Not bad for a beginner - EXTREMELY RARE FIND! Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 18th, 2004 This album marks Billy's official record debut. Although the songs on this album are VERY short, they still make quite an impression on the listener. Although Billy was only 19 when this album was released, anyone with an ear for talent will notice that signs of the consummate performer that Billy would eventually become were evident way back then. If you are a serious collector of Billy Burnette's music as I am, you will certainly want to add this album to your collection, as I did. | |
Are You With Me Baby
() Billy's asking if you're with him - I certainly am! Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 17th, 2004 If you thought "All Night Long" was a rockin' good time, wait until you hear "Are You With Me Baby"!!! Billy puts the pedal to the metal with THIS rockabilly ride! From start to finish, he cranks out one hit after another and keeps you coming back for more! If anyone still has questions as to what Billy Burnette is made of - slip this CD into your stereo and listen to his answers! You can also find a previously submitted review of this CD in the Album Corner section of The Penguin! If you're looking for a rockabilly HIT - this is IT! | |
Between Friends
() Billy finally makes the charts with this album! Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 13th, 2004 "Between Friends" marks 3 significant events in Billy's life. The end of a decade, finally making it onto the record charts, and the tragic loss of his beloved father, Dorsey Burnette. However, Billy triumphs over tragedy by not only releasing two albums within the same year, but also making it onto the record charts with the title track "What's a Little Love Between Friends". Billy shows with this album, as he did with his self-titled release from that year, that he is a hard rocker with a soft heart! Of the few Easy Listening tunes on this album, "All My Life" and "Out-Run The Sun" really stand out! Some of my personal favorites on this album are the disco-driven "Help Is On The Way" and the smooth groove to "Love Is In Motion". Billy also does a great job with his rendition of the classic "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay". It is also nice to note that Billy dedicated this album to his father. | |
Soldier Of Love
() Billy continues to march to the beat of his own drum! Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 11th, 2004 This is one of my all-time favorite Billy Burnette albums! Yes, this "Soldier of Love" continues to "march" to the beat of his own drum - straight to your heart! This album is a fantastic collection of music - from the rock-the-house-down sound of "Blonde Ambition" to the easy listening and seemingly autobiographical "Little Bit Of Them In Me". The title track is one you want to sing along with, and you even hear a touch of rockabilly with "You Leave It Up To Me" and "Let's Take A Drive"! He gets back into the smooth groove with "Slave To Your Love" and gives us a few more easy listening songs with "I've Just Seen A Face", "What A Perfect Way", and my absolute favorite "Looks Like It's Gonna Rain Today" - the song is simply beautiful! There's no other way for me to describe it - you simply have to hear it for yourself to understand what I mean. As with Billy's previous releases, this is another album that you will want to play again and again...listen to it with someone YOU love! | |
Coming Home
() "Coming Home" should definitely come home with you! Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 11th, 2004 This album is another one of my personal favorites. This is not only the very first Billy Burnette album I ever owned, but it's also the album that made me love country music! This is a fantastic country album filled with knee-slappers and toe-tappers and a few ballads thrown in for good measure! The opening track, "Tangled Up In Texas" is only the beginning! Billy "keeps it country" with "This Love (Ain't Long For This World)", "I Recovered, I Survived", "Let Your Heart Make Up Your Mind" and "I Still Remember (How To Miss You)"! He slows down just a tad with "Into The Storm", and "The Light of Love"; plus he gives a gospel feel to "Walk With Me". One of the tracks you may recognize is "The Bigger The Love" which was also released on his "Gimme You" album. This version is different. A little slower, a little softer, but just as romantic as the original. If any of you have ever seen Billy's movie debut in "Saturday Night Special" you will recall Billy singing "Tangled Up In Texas", "This Love (Ain't Long For This World)", and "The Bigger The Love" in the movie. I highly recommend this album - especially for folks out there who are skeptical of country music. This isn't your "typical" country album. Even if you are not a country music fan at all, I still recommend it. I myself wasn't too keen on country until I heard this album. Believe me when I tell you it made my feelings about country music do a complete 360! Billy just has a special way of taking something ordinary and making it special - so take it from me and give this pardner a whirl! | |
All Night Long
() "All Night Long" is how long you want to listen to it! Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 8th, 2004 After another 7-year hiatus (his first was between his album debut in 1972 and his second release in 1979), Billy's back to work and back to his rockabilly roots with this album! Even Billy's son, Billy Burnette, Jr. gets in on the action with this one! This album is done in true rockabilly fashon, and it is great! Even Elvis fans will love this album, as Billy managed to round up The Jordaniers and D.J. Fontana for a few numbers - including his tribute to their former "boss", Elvis Presley with the last track, "Today Is Elvis' Birthday"! | |
Brother To Brother
() Billy's one and only compliation album Review written by Michele Mategrano, September 5th, 2004 Although I do not own this album (yet), I still feel it's safe for me to review it anyway because it is a compliation album of tracks taken from both his "Try Me" and "Soldier of Love" albums, with the only exception of this being the title track "Brother to Brother". However, I am still recommending this album because if you are a die-hard Billy Burnette fan like I am, you will want to have this album in your collection anyway - even if there IS only one new song on it. If you already have "Try Me" and "Soldier of Love", and love them, then you already know you'll love THIS album! This album is also an EXTREMELY RARE FIND, so if you are able to find it (and I certainly hope I am among those lucky people), grab it! | |
Bekka & Billy
() A Good Old-Fashoned Country Duet! Review written by Michele Mategrano, August 28th, 2004 Anyone familiar with Bekka Bramlett knows what a powerful voice she has! Her voice blends quite well with Billy's as they take you for a ride in the country! One of my all time favorites on this album is "Old Hickory Lake"! It's a sing-a-long sensation and makes you want to kick up the heels on your cowboy boots and yell "yee haw!" If the song titles are any inclination, such as "God Knows I Love You", "Born To Be Loved By You" and "Made For Each Other", this album is one for lovers of all ages! The songs tell what real love should be about - what's really important. Give a listen and you'll know what I mean! | |
Try Me
() "Try Me" - the title says it all! Review written by Michele Mategrano, August 26th, 2004 If you love Billy's music as much as I do, then you'll definitely want to give this one a "try"! Billy gets back into the smooth groove with the title track, "Try Me" and stays smooth with other tracks including "It Ain't Over" and "Roll Over". He also gives us some rock n' roll with "Ain't It Just Like Love", "Guitar Bug" and "Talkin' Love". He also puts a new twist on the oldie but goodie "The Letter" and makes it his own! Usually one will say that nothing can top the original when it comes to certain classics, but I must say that Billy will prove you wrong when you listen to HIS version! It's TOPS - and it is one of my favorite tracks on this album! Billy closes this album with a sentimental ballad perfectly titled "Rock And Roll Lullaby", because that's EXACTLY what it sounds like - a lullaby! This is another great collection of songs by Billy, and it is also important to note that Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie (both of "Fleetwood Mac", and of which Billy himself would also become a member) make guest appearances on this album. | |
Billy Burnette
() Billy's true "rockabilly" colors shine through! Review written by Michele Mategrano from Illinois, USA, August 12th, 2004 Billy breaks into the new decade with a hard-rockin' rockabilly album that gets your heart pumping! Billy goes back to his rockabilly roots and takes charge! Besides covering some of his own songs on this album, including "In Just A Heartbeat" and "Rockin' With Somebody New", Billy also takes time to record some of the rockabilly classics, including "Honey Hush", "Tear It Up", and even "One Night". One will remember after the first few notes of "One Night", that this same song was performed by none other than the King himself, Elvis Presley during his 1968 Comeback special! Billy sings the song with the same electricity that Elvis did...the King of Rock & Roll would be very proud of the soon-to-be King of Rock-a-Billy! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the "rockabilly" sound, give this album a go-around on your turntable - you won't be disappointed! | |