Female fronted Big Trouble came and went during 1987. If you enjoyed Belinda Carlisle’s ‘Heaven On Earth’, Holly Knights solo or some of Wilson Phillips work, then Big Trouble will do the trick.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Big Trouble
ALBUM: Big Trouble
LABEL: Epic
SERIAL: 40850
YEAR: 1987
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Bobbie Eakes – lead and backing vocals * Julia Farey – bass, backing vocals * Rebecca Ryan – keyboards, keytar, backing vocals * Suzy Zarow – drums, backing vocals
Additional Musicians: Dave Darling, Dann Huff, Terry Wilson, Richie Zito – guitars * Arthur Barrow, Gary Chang, Brian Reeves, Terry Wilson – synthesizers * Jay Gruska – keyboards * David L. Woodford – saxophone * Eric Martin – vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 When Love Is Good * 02 Say Yes * 03 One More Arrow * 04 Cool Jerk * 05 What About You And Me * 06 Dangerous * 07 Crazy World * 08 Trains And Boats And Planes * 09 I Like It * 10 Lipstick
WEBLINKS: Wikipedia Page
Background
What can I say? Fun cover with attractive women in fuzzy sweaters and party dresses and well, what else do you need lol!? Ok, back to the music and maybe some info will help. The album co-produced by disco guru Giorgio Moroder did appear on CD on a limited basis and of course is hard to come by these days, good luck!
Lead vocalist Bobbie Eakes since this album first appeared has gone on to become a successful actress appearing on numerous television shows and soap operas. Where the other ladies are, I’m not sure, but I do remember Big Trouble didn’t get a lot of promotion and jumped into the cut-out bins almost immediately.
The Songs
If you enjoyed Belinda Carlisle‘s ‘Heaven On Earth’, Holly Knight‘s solo or some of Wilson Phillips work, then Big Trouble will do the trick. ‘When The Love Is Good’ opens the album and it is the best track on the record, sort of a take on 60’s girl groups with an unmistakable 80’s sound. Very nice and Bobbie Eakes is the star of the show on all ten tracks with a powerful voice and excellent range.
The production here is typical of the 80’s but Moroder does a good job of not letting the then ‘new’ technologies get too out of hand and overwhelm the songs which was so typical of the time. Mention should be made of the duo between Eakes and Glory Daze fave Eric Martin ‘What About You And Me’ which to be honest, isn’t all that memorable. These types of pairings were all the rage in the mid-80’s and this one is as expected, completely over the top and totally unnecessary.
In Summary
Big Trouble and this style of pop isn’t normally my cup of tea, but it’s a decent effort for what it is and it should have received a bigger push from the label. With the juggernaut of Wilson Phillips just three years away, perhaps a couple more Big Trouble albums might have pushed these lovely ladies over the top as well.
Big Trouble on Video
Crazy World
When Love Is Good
