Ellen Foley - Another Breath (1983)

Her first release, "Night Out," is probably the most infectious since "Spirit of St. Louis" and "Another Breath" both breeze through British-tinged punk and eighties-style production respectively, and I prefer the seventies sound of "Night Out" over either of those two genres. This isn't to discredit her other works however! Having almost as readily dimissed "Night Out" as "Another Breath" upon my first initial listen, the second time around for each proved Foley had not only put out a product worth hearing but poured her heart and soul into every recording.
Despite possessing something of a Blondie sound coupled with mid-eighties Heart in the mix, the compositions "Boys in the Attic," "Let Me Be the One You Love" and "Read My Lips" still shine, while "Another Breath" and "Come to Me" literally leave their listener, shall we say, breathless? "Run for My Life" and bonus track "Beat of a Broken Heart" suffer from being a bit too eighties-ish, with the first sounding like a contender for the film "Flashdance," but the additional bonus track "Ghost of a Chance" is actually quite haunting. I fear Ellen Foley was more a product of her times than she should have been, forced into a company category and promoted incorrectly since "Nightline" has to be the worst track on this disc, even taking the previously accounted for bonus cuts into consideration, yet was apparently pushed the hardest since the extended release of "Another Breath" features three alternate mixes of this song? Should the company choose to put out a similar package for "Night Out," a true Ellen Foley revival might well come about but, alas three releases are all we're treated to of an artist who possibly didn't reach her full potential, and certainly didn't reach as many fans as someone with so much talent was so capable of doing.

Track List:

01. "Boys In The Attic" (Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Kent, Rob Parissi) - 4:37
02. "Johnny And Mary" (Robert Palmer) - 4:07
03. "Another Breath" (Bob Riley) - 4:06
04. "Let Me Be The One You Love" (David Landau, Desmond Child) - 3:53
05. "Read My Lips" (Desmond Child, Ellen Foley - 3:30
06. "Nightline" (Brie Howard, David Faragher, Glen Ballard) - 5:06
07. "Come To Me" (Karen Brooks, Randy Sharp) - 3:47
08. "Run For My Life" (Ellen Foley, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Kent) - 4:23
09. "Come And Get These Memories" (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland) - 3:02
10. "Spy In The House Of Love" (Bob Riley, Ellen Foley) - 4:08
11. "Nightline (Single Version)" - 3:52
12. "Beat Of Broken Heart (Single Version)" - 4:51
13. "Ghost Of A Chance" - 5:16
14. "Nightline (Dance Mix Short Version)" - 3:31
15. "Nightline (Dance Mix Long Version)" - 6:15

Released: 1983
Recorded: Media Sound, New York, N.Y.
Label: Wounded Bird Records
Genre: Pop Rock
Length: 1:04:33
Producer: Vini Poncia

Personnel:
Ellen Foley (vocals, background vocals)
Phil Grande (guitar); Leonard Pickett (saxophone)
Tommy Mandel (keyboards, synthesizer)
Benjy King (synthesizer)
Tony Bridges (bass guitar)
Bob Riley (drums)
Leonard Pickett - Saxophone
Backing Vocals - Elaine Caswell , Maria Vidal , Zephryn Conte, Ellie Greenwich , Jeff Kent , Susan Collins , Vini Poncia , Zora Rasmussen, Lou Christie