Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Essential is a beautifully remastered 16-track overview of singer and songwriter Kim Carnes' eight years with EMI. Though she recorded two fine albums for A&M before, and a number of solid if underappreciated offerings for a number of labels after, Ms. Carnes is best known for the seven records she made for EMI between 1979 and 1986. Of course, her biggest hits are here: the ubiquitous pop classic "Bette Davis Eyes," "Cry Like a Baby," and "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" (in duet with Kenny Rogers). But deeper than this are lesser-known but nonetheless excellent songs such as "I'd Lie to You for Your Love," "Abadabadango," "I Pretend," "Chain Letter," and the Faces-esque "It Hurts So Bad," all of them done in an nearly astonishing range of subgenres of rock and pop. What makes them work, obviously, is the iconic and instantly recognizable grain in Carnes' voice. It is at once smoldering in its passion yet simultaneously reflects a noir-ish, femme fatale's sense of cool. Her ability to choose or write songs that highlighted the many smoky shades in that voice is uncanny. These cuts represent the very best of seven albums -- though hardcore fans will always argue with the producer's choices. The only shame is that EMI didn't cross license songs from her periods with A&M, MCA, or even other labels (all of which have real merit), to make it a double. We can always hope that some enterprising independent will do so in the future. Ultimately, Kim Carnes' Essential reveals that while her moment in the pop spotlight was relatively brief, her depth as an artist preceded and outlasted it exponentially.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Kim Carnes, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Val Garay, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Goldstein, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Krampf, Drums, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Leo, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Ellingson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Daniel Moore, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waddy Wachtel, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Cuomo, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Jackie DeShannon, ComposerLyricist - Jerry Peterson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Garofalo, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Donna T. Weiss, ComposerLyricist - Donald Lynch, Producer, Additional Producer - Marc Andrews, Producer, Additional Producer - Craig Hull, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - M.L. Benoit, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1981 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, MainArtist - George Tobin, Producer - Oldham, Composer - D Penn, Composer - Mike Piccirillo, Producer, Co-Producer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1980 Capitol Records Inc.
Kim Carnes, FeaturedArtist - Larry Butler, Producer - James Ingram, Composer - Kenny Rogers, Composer, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - David M. Ellingson, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1980 Capitol Records LLC
Kim Carnes, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Dave Ellingson, Producer - Daniel Moore, Producer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1979 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, Composer, MainArtist - Val Garay, Producer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1981 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Val Garay, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Goldstein, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Krampf, Drums, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Leo, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Ellingson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Daniel Moore, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Cuomo, ComposerLyricist - Jerry Peterson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bryan Garofalo, Bass, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Hull, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1981 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, Composer, MainArtist - Val Garay, Producer - Waldman, Composer - David M. Ellingson, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1981 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, Composer, MainArtist - Val Garay, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Duane Hitchings, Composer - NIKO BOLAS, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David M. Ellingson, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1982 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, Composer, MainArtist - Val Garay, Producer - NIKO BOLAS, Producer, Assistant Producer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1982 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, MainArtist - Martin Page, Composer - Phil Ramone, Producer - Brian Fairweather, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1983 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, MainArtist - Page, Composer - Andy Fairweather Low, Composer - Carnes, Composer - Ellingson, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1985 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Duane Hitchings, Producer - MIKE SHIPLEY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Duane S. Hitchings, ComposerLyricist - David Ellingson, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1985 EMI Records
Kim Carnes, Producer, MainArtist - Bill Cuomo, Producer - MIKE SHIPLEY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Clive Gregson, Composer - Mark Ettel, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Morino, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1984 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, MainArtist - F. Miller, Composer - Val Garay, Producer - J. Barry, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1986 Capitol Records, LLC
Kim Carnes, MainArtist - Don Dixon, Producer - Larry Tagg, Composer - Jenny Muldaur, Composer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1993 Capitol Records, LLC
Collin Ellingson, Composer - Kim Carnes, Composer, MainArtist - Don Dixon, Producer
(C) 2011 Capitol Records, LLCThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, a division of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG ℗ 1993 Capitol Records, LLC
Album review
Essential is a beautifully remastered 16-track overview of singer and songwriter Kim Carnes' eight years with EMI. Though she recorded two fine albums for A&M before, and a number of solid if underappreciated offerings for a number of labels after, Ms. Carnes is best known for the seven records she made for EMI between 1979 and 1986. Of course, her biggest hits are here: the ubiquitous pop classic "Bette Davis Eyes," "Cry Like a Baby," and "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" (in duet with Kenny Rogers). But deeper than this are lesser-known but nonetheless excellent songs such as "I'd Lie to You for Your Love," "Abadabadango," "I Pretend," "Chain Letter," and the Faces-esque "It Hurts So Bad," all of them done in an nearly astonishing range of subgenres of rock and pop. What makes them work, obviously, is the iconic and instantly recognizable grain in Carnes' voice. It is at once smoldering in its passion yet simultaneously reflects a noir-ish, femme fatale's sense of cool. Her ability to choose or write songs that highlighted the many smoky shades in that voice is uncanny. These cuts represent the very best of seven albums -- though hardcore fans will always argue with the producer's choices. The only shame is that EMI didn't cross license songs from her periods with A&M, MCA, or even other labels (all of which have real merit), to make it a double. We can always hope that some enterprising independent will do so in the future. Ultimately, Kim Carnes' Essential reveals that while her moment in the pop spotlight was relatively brief, her depth as an artist preceded and outlasted it exponentially.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:01:30
- Main artists: Kim Carnes
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: CAPITOL
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2011 Capitol Records, LLC This Compilation ℗ 2011 EMI Music Catalogue Marketing, A Division Of EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.