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Paid Vacation

Richard Marx - Paid Vacation Audio CD

A fair review of the Richard Marx "Paid Vacation" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Richard Marx reviews here, or go back to the Richard Marx tabs.

Band: Richard Marx
Title: Paid Vacation
Rating:

Release Date: 1994-02-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Way She Loves Me 2: One More Try 3: Silent Scream 4: Nothing to Hide 5: Soul Motion 6: Now and Forever 7: Goodbye Hollywood 8: Heaven's Waiting 9: Nothing Left Behind Us 10: What You Want 11: One Man 12: Baby Blues

Totally awesome!!!!!!
I'm asked each day by drive thru employees what my favorite Richard Marks album is and each day I tell them that's like trying to pick a favorite breakdance move of mine. Wow, wow, wow, wow Sir Richard Marks scores another touchdown with this release. I love them all and they all absolutely rule! My favorite song off this piece of gold is "Now and Forever". I'm sentimental by nature and off the richter scale sexy, so this song is right up my alley. The song says, "Hey chick, I like what you're selling. I'm buying it at 12 and moving it at 19". That's what Dick Marks does. He runs the show. It's as if he faked to the fullback and took it himself to the short side and busted it for 23 yards and a first down. Yahtzee!!!! Richard is throwing waffles on the griddle like a My Little Pony sandwich shop. Run!! It's a mutant fish with wings!!

This album freaking rules like me!!.

Richard Marx: Paid Vacation (1994)
In 1994, Richard Marx returned to the countdown with his long anticipated fourth album entitled, PAID VACATION. After the release of RUSH STREET, along with the release of the album's five singles, Richard Marx decided to take a two to three year break. This album, does not quite match up to that of his first three albums, but I am, indeed, a person, who does have enough decency and common sense to give this album the chance it most certainly deserves. This album really is not that bad. You'll find out why.

THE WAY SHE LOVES ME
The second single from the album. This song does not fit in well with Richard's previous material, but what can I say? This is a great song. You all might enjoy this one if you are a diehard Richard Marx fan.

ONE MORE TRY
A song that I can listen to all day long. The sound is also something Richard hasn't done before, but it is very well to my liking. From the first 30 seconds, I knew the song was going somewhere. By the way, Richard's song and George Michael's song are two different songs with the same title.

SILENT SCREAM
The fourth & final single from the album. Not bad. Basically because I was hoping that it would've been a ballad because the title makes it sound like it should have been a ballad.

NOTHING TO HIDE
Sounds like for this song, Richard decided to go back to his original sound. This is one of my favorite songs from this album.

SOUL MOTION
Usually, I hate when a pop/rock artist records a song that is on the side of R&B, but Richard Marx recorded this song with an R&B sound that was nowhere near hateful. This song is this album's ultimate classic.

NOW AND FOREVER
The first single from the album. I knew off the bat that this song was a ballad and I was right. But I was hoping for a better song than this. I was very disappointed in the sound of this song. Richard's vocals were perfect and that is the only highlight of this song.

GOODBYE HOLLYWOOD
Do you know what I heard when I was listening to this song? I heard a hit single. This song sounds like it had a lot of potential to be released as a single and I feel that if it was a released as a single, it would have been a hit. Oh well, what are you gonna do?

HEAVEN'S WAITING
This sound was not what I had expected to hear, but the song is really catchy and it did more than just seek my approval. It made itself another favorite of mine.

NOTHING LEFT BEHIND US
The second single from the album. Sounds a bit like a country song, fused with slight pop, but it is a song that I have enjoyed, since the first time I heard it. A song nobody should miss.

WHAT YOU WANT
Another song featuring the sound of his first three albums. A song that I cannot stop playing. This is the song for you if you a Richard Marx fan like me. Listen to this one before you advance to the next song.

ONE MAN
This is the ballad that Now And Forever should have been. I got more of a feeling out of this one than I did with Now And Forever. This is a very heartfelt ballad that I cannot get enough of. And there really should be only one man for every woman in this world. They just have to find us.

BABY BLUES (Live Performance)
This is, obviously, a live performance. Frankly, this song is the worst on this album. It makes Now And Forever sound like the best song on the album. But I'll give Richard the credit he deserves, because from what I heard, he sounds great when performing live. Not just hearing other people's opinion, but also by hearing this live performance.

This album sounds like it should have sold more. If you have listened to Richard's first three albums, they sounded like he was still growing up as a solo artist and performer. When he released his first album, "Richard Marx", in 1987, he was only 24 years old. When he released his second album, "Repeat Offender", in 1989, he was only 26 years old. With the release of his third album, "Rush Street", in 1991, He was only 28. For this album, he decided to bring on album that was much more mature, than the others. One way to tell of the maturity he brought to this album was his appearance. If you look at his first three albums, he had that long dark hair. Now, with this album, his hair is short and combed very nicely, making him look more mature. This album is amazing in every way, with the exception of two songs. So, buy a copy of this album and enjoy like I have.

The other side of Richard Marx
I love his song "Now and Forever". This is a more mature or grown-up side of Richard Marx compared to some of his other previous albums. It's a beautiful ballad. Some of the other stuff on here is pretty good too! Finally, an album cover where Richard is not wearing raggedy clothes and he finally cut his hair short! It's got some great rock songs on here too, but again they're not loud and head-banging like his previous albums. Way to go, Richard!.

The Family's Favourite Holiday Album

I personally really liked a lot of the tracks on "Rush Street" especially the haunting "Hazard". Richard Marx has always been a family favourite and we own every single one of his album is some shape or form (I own his first album on vinyl, my Mum and Dad have Repeat Offender on tape, I have Rush Street on CD, they also have this album and Flesh And Bone on CD and I own the Alvalon album on CD (Which I actually don't have in my posession at this moment in time since a friend is getting it to me). Sadly, too much of it was pretty heavy on the rock side, so it is not a consistant album to listen to.

This album is one that I can sit through (except the last track). Some people believe this was the end of Richard Marx's days of greatness, but it seems artists that move on to bigger and better things are often misunderstood and classified as 'has beens'. This album is just fantastic, and the best track in my opinion would have to be "There Ain't Nothing Left Behind Us" since it always reminds me of the 'good old days' when we used to take a drive to the country when I was in grade 3.

A very laidback effort, but nonetheless I can't understand why anyone would not like it. It will always remain a special album to me since it is a part of my childhood that I will cherish.

Take This Vacation!
That album alienated some of his core audience, so Marx returned to a softer sound with this one. Marx returned after his big "Rock" album "Rush Street" a few years earlier in 1991, with this smashing good CD. This album was the beginning of a new chapter for Marx as an artist and composer. A change for the good. This is his most stripped down and laid back album of his career. He was no longer the innocent pop star of the teen world in the late 80's. Things have changed and people grow up. Richard started too with this CD. His fans have followed, no matter what a review says on this page. "Now And Forever" was the big top ten hit single here, and it was one of his nicest ballads. No big splashy string arrangement or piano, it was just Richard and a guitar and a pretty melody with nice lyrics. "The Way She Loves Me" is a fun, happy up-tempo little number. Leaves a smile on your face. "One Man" is a strong song. One of his strongest to date. There are some fun up tempo songs here, like - "What You Want", "Goodbye Hollywood", "Nothing To Hide", and my personal favorite, "Heaven's Waiting". Then there is the soulfulish R&B number "Soul Motion". All in all, this is a very accoustic and mature CD. It would only get better with his follow up, "Flesh And Bones". This album pretty much signified the end of his splashy pop from his heyday. As much fun as it was, it needed to end. A maturing artist can't do that type of music forever, just like Backstreet Boys and N' Sync can't do the music they do when they get to their mid 30's or so. Richard has grown, and so has his talent and music. It's taken him in new and interesting directions with wonderful music. This one is no exception.

You can see a complete list of all Richard Marx discography, or go back to the Richard Marx tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.