Branigan 2

Branigan 2
Studio album by Laura Branigan
Released	March 1983
Genre	Pop, rock
Length	37:15
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Jack White, Robbie Buchanan
Laura Branigan chronology
Branigan (1982) Branigan 2 (1983) Self Control (1984)
Singles from Branigan 2
"Solitaire" Released: March 1983 "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" Released: July 1, 1983

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Branigan 2 is the second album by singer Laura Branigan, released in March 1983. Two hit singles emerged from the album, the dramatic Martine Clemenceau "Solitaire" and her introduction of the ballad "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". The album improved performed better in the charts than her first album in the U.S., Australia and Japan, and Allmusic later wrote that "Laura Branigan's full, expressive voice shows serious growth" on "a much more cohesive collection" than her debut, commenting that "this album doesn't waste a single track".^[2]

In addition to establishing Branigan as more than a one-hit wonder after the major success of "Gloria" months before, her second album's two big hits began the careers for two then-unknowns who themselves became industry legends. While "Solitaire" was originally a French song, its English version provided the first major hit for lyric writer Diane Warren, who co-wrote many of Branigan's early songs. Allmusic noted that the song, "with its quiet beginnings and pull-out-all-the-stops finale, shows off just what chops this singer has".^[3]

The second single from Branigan 2 was the ballad "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", which was the first major hit for its co-writer, Michael Bolton, beginning for him a successful sideline as a songwriter. He later wrote three more songs for Branigan. While "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" barely missed the Top Ten on the pop charts, it spent three weeks at Number One on the adult contemporary airplay charts. Allmusic called Branigan's version "far superior" to Bolton's own hit cover from 1989, "simpler, prettier, and (showing) shades of emotion at which Bolton could only hint".^[4]

Branigan 2 also included the ballad "Find Me", uptempo tracks "I'm Not The Only One" and "Don't Show Your Love", and a cover of The Who's "Squeeze Box". One of the album's tracks, "Deep In The Dark", was a newly written song to the music of Falco's "Der Kommissar". Allmusic called Branigan's version "sexy" and "welcome" despite a competing English-language remake of the German version the same year by After the Fire.^[5]

The album was certified Gold in the United States.

Track listing

Personnel

• Laura Branigan - vocals
• Dennis Belfield - bass guitar
• Michael Boddicker - synthesizer
• Robbie Buchanan - synthesizer, keyboards
• Lenny Castro - percussion
• Joe Esposito - background vocals
• Jim Haas - background vocals
• Eddie Hawkins - background vocals
• Jon Joyce - background vocals
• Michael Landau - guitar
• Doane Perry - drums
• Joe Pizzulo - background vocals
• Carlos Vega - drums
• Marty Walsh - guitar

Production

• Producer: Jack White
• Associate Producer & Arranger: Robbie Buchanan

Charts

Album

Singles

References