Despite Straight Lines

Despite Straight Lines
Japanese release
Studio album by
Marilyn
Released21 June 1985
Recorded1983–1985
Genre
Length36:24
LabelMercury/Phonogram
Producer
Singles from Despite Straight Lines
  1. "Calling Your Name"
    Released: October 1983
  2. "Cry and Be Free"
    Released: January 1984
  3. "You Don't Love Me"
    Released: April 1984
  4. "Baby You Left me"
    Released: April 1985
  5. "Pray for That Sunshine"
    Released: June 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Smash Hits[1]

Despite Straight Lines is the only studio album by British singer-songwriter Marilyn, released in 1985.

Overview

Although Marilyn had scored three top 40 hits throughout the 1983–84 period, his debut album was not released until mid-1985, 18 months after his biggest hit "Calling Your Name" was a top 10 hit. Possibly due to a loss of momentum, the album only charted in Australia,[2] and subsequent singles taken from it were also unsuccessful.

The album was reissued on CD in 2008 as Despite Straight Lines: The Very Best of Marilyn, by Cherry Pop (a division of Cherry Red Records). The reissue includes several bonus tracks, consisting of B-sides and alternative versions, though it excludes the single "Pray for That Sunshine".

Track listing

  1. "Calling Your Name" (Marilyn, Paul Caplin) – 4:06
  2. "Mountain to the Ocean" (Roger Jackson) – 3:46
  3. "Surrender to Your Love" (Marilyn) – 4:04
  4. "Pray for That Sunshine" (Marilyn) – 4:00
  5. "Third Eye" (Marilyn) – 3:24
  6. "Baby U Left Me (In the Cold)" (Marilyn) – 3:51
  7. "You Don't Love Me" (Marilyn) – 3:24
  8. "Give It Up" (Eric Robinson) – 3:58
  9. "Wear It Out" (Marilyn, Eric Robinson) –2:17
  10. "Cry and Be Free" (Marilyn) – 3:34

CD re-issue (bonus tracks)

  1. "Calling Your Name" (Midnight Party Mix) (Marilyn, Paul Caplin) – 4:42
  2. "Move Together" (Marilyn) – 3:36
  3. "Calling Your Name" (Extended Version) (Marilyn, Paul Caplin) – 6:54
  4. "Running" (Marilyn) – 3:06
  5. "Cry and Be Free" (Gospel) (Marilyn) – 5:43
  6. "Cry and Be Free" (Streisand Style) (Marilyn) – 5:19
  7. "Raining Again" (Dub Version) (Marilyn) – 7:08
  8. "Baby U Left Me (In the Cold)" (Extended Version) (Marilyn) – 7:08

Personnel

Producers
  • Alan Winstanley (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15)
  • Clive Langer (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15)
  • Don Was (tracks 2, 5, 17)
  • Eric Robinson (tracks 4, 7, 8)
  • Roger Jackson (tracks 11, 13, 16)
  • Julian Mendelsohn - mixing (tracks 8, 9)
  • Clare Muller - photography
  • Bobby Rae, Carol "Sugar Lips" Hall, Claudia Fontaine, Eric Robinson, Sweet Pea "Python" Atkinson - backing vocals

Charts

Chart performance for Despite Straight Lines
Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[2] 73

References

  1. ^ Tennant, Neil (19 June 1985). "Album Reviews)". Smash Hits. 7 (15). EMAP Metro: 20.
  2. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 192. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.