Paula Abdul - Spellbound

[POP!]

The most underrated pop album of 1991? I THINK SO

It has the perfect ratio of bops and sultry ballads. I can see why it isn't regarded as the classic as her debut (although I much prefer THIS) with the SILLY distractions throughout the campaign ("Vibeology" performance, the ridiculous re-touching of "The Promise of a New Day" video, etc). And the fact that "My Foolish Heart" wasn't a single over "Vibeology" or "Will You Marry Me" is criminal.

The Promise of a New Day
Rock House
Rush Rush
Spellbound
Vibeology
U
My Foolish Heart
Blowing Kisses in the Wind
To You
Alright Tonight
Will You Marry Me?

 

[POP!]

10 The Promise of a New Day
07 Rock House
10 Rush Rush
09 Spellbound
08 Vibeology
07 U
10 My Foolish Heart
10 Blowing Kisses in the Wind
08 To You
06 Alright Tonight
07 Will You Marry Me?

 

[VoR]

Never listened to the full album, but Rush Rush, Vibeology and Blowing Kisses in The Wind are an 11/10 run of singles.

 

[Sheena]

It’s not bad, but has the sophomore curse of trying to go more credible and losing the pop sensibilities that made the debut so great. It also has the issue of not covering her voice up as much as they did for Forever Your Girl.

I always think of it as being quite a dark album- maybe the artwork, maybe the “serious” nature of it, and that’s a little to it’s detriment. The fun has gone from her earlier work.

Having said all of that, it’s not bad. Sadly forgotten, mostly, but some of it is excellent- the singles pretty much all were, though Vibeology is an 11/10 for all the wrong reasons REALLY

10 The Promise of a New Day
07 Rock House
10 Rush Rush
07 Spellbound
11 Vibeology
08 U
06 My Foolish Heart
10 Blowing Kisses in the Wind
06 To You
04 Alright Tonight
06 Will You Marry Me?

 

[BoysForSeles]

I like Vibeology but it just makes me want to play Sam Fox’s ‘Love House’ instead. I’ll give this album a play later, I can’t really remember it.

 

[Cerro de Casa]

It's okay but not great. Love the album cover though.

 

[Ellie]

I can only remember half of the album. All I know is that the follow-up album Head Over Heels was incredibly underrated and should have been a hit.

 

[Cerro de Casa]

I can only remember half of the album. All I know is that the follow-up album Head Over Heels was incredibly underrated and should have been a hit.

If you'd ASK me how I FEEL
My LOVE is for REAL

Yeah I'm COOL
CRAZY
COOL
Everything you need
SEXY

Love that album beyond the singles yes.

 

[Sheena]

SO BABY PLEASE DON'T WORRY
I WANNA MAKE IT BETTER
I WANA BE YOUR ONLY LOVE

My Love Is For Real is so good it HURTS. The US were over her by then, though, and the rest of the world followed suit. Shame as, as @Ellie says, Head Over Heels is a good little album. She clearly got singing lessons in between albums as well, but the gap was perhaps just a BIT too much considering what THAT Vibeology performance did to her career.

 

[Sheena]

The record company must have been FUMING after spunking a fair bit of money on the video too

 

[POP!]

I thought "My Love is for Real" was the only keeper on that album (with "Crazy Cool" some distance behind), unless I'm missing something. Admittedly, I haven't given Head over Heels much of a chance.

I don't think the four year+ gap between albums helped.

 

[Sheena]

My Love Is For Real, Crazy Cool, If I Were Your Girl, Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up are all TOP NOTCH.