Stories To Tell

Review

 
REVIEWER: RAYMOND "EVERYBODY LOVES RAY" COONEN
 
 
There’s one thing I have to tell you before you read this review of the latest Richard Marx album… I love the man…. You know what I mean, his music!!!

I love his voice, song writing skills, the songs and the production of these songs. The first time I heard Richard Marx on the radio was years ago in 1989… yes 1989 with the now classic poprock song "Satisfied". It blew me away. Marx was in home country U.S.A. a big star. He had from his self titled debut album four Billboard Top 5 hit singles and one of them "Hold On To The Nights" even reached to number one. And if you ask me if he had released the song "Lonely Heart" instead of "Have Mercy" he had five top 5 singles. But that aside.
So in 1989 Marx released his second album "Repeat Offender" including the already mentioned "Satisfied", the massive monster ballad "Right Here Waiting" (my first CD-single I ever bought… hey, I was 9 years old) , "Too Late Too Say Goodbye", "Children Of The Night" and one of his best songs ever "Angelia".
After "Repeat Offender" his success in Europe started to fade. He returned in the top 40 with the songs "Hazard" in 1992 and "At The Beginning" in 1998. It wasn’t that cool to tell friends that you bought the new Richard Marx album. They thought that Richard Marx was for girls with his ballads. Looking back I must admit they were not completely wrong.

If we are talking about looking back, Richard Marx now released a sort of 'best of' album called "Stories To Tell" with all acoustic versions of his biggest hits… call it naked versions. Only acoustic guitar or piano. It’s not a new idea, think of Bon Jovi on his "This Left Feels Right" or Kip Winger on the "Made By Hand" album. On these records it’s all about the beautiful lyrics and melodies and not about overproduced power chords and choruses (which I adore).
Richard Marx had already recorded such kind of album with Vertical Horizon front man Matt Scannell called "Duo" but this record was only available on Marx' and on Scannell’s website.

If you listen to these naked versions you’ll quickly find out that you are listening to a special album. From the first notes of "Endless Summer Nights" you’ll be amazed by the great voice of Mister Marx… It’s still strong, a little bit raw and pure as he did on his first album. Pure is I think the perfect word for this cd. The first eleven songs of "Stories To Tell" go by without a weak moment. The brilliant sung "Hazard", "Angelia", "Over My Head", "Should’ve Have Known Better", "This I Promise You" and of course "Right Here Waiting". The songs survived the test of time and are sounding now better than ever. I must say that Marx nailed it again and that he goes right to the core of the songs. So here’s a tip for you from this lazyrocker. A tip for these cold dark months... put down the lights, light some candles and place this "Stories To Tell" album in your CD player… it’s the perfect soundtrack to… yes… you know what...  ;-)

But be aware… the first eleven songs are all acoustic, the following seven songs on the album it is Richard Marx with full band playing songs he wrote for others. Starting with "This I Promise You" (recorded originally by N’sync). Other songs are Marx' version of "To Where You Are" (originally recorded by Josh Groban), The brilliant "Had Enough" (recorded by Lifehouse). But a real highlight on the album is Marx' version of "On The Inside", a Daughtry song he wrote together with Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Chris Daughtry. You hear Kroeger's influence in this one. Marx really rocks on "You Never Take Me Dancing" (originally recorded by country star Travis Tritt), "Everyday" is Marx latest single, a song with a slow start but in the end the song rocks just like all full band songs do on "Stories To Tell".
The last track (no.18!) "Best of Me" reached the charts by Sir Cliff Richard and imo the weakest song on the album… I prefered a version of "Edge Of A Broken Heart" a song that he wrote for Vixen but hey... who am I...?

"Stories To Tell" is as I see a great summary of the work and career of Richard Marx.