Michael Bolton - The Hunger (1987)

Country: U.S.A.

Genre: Pop Rock

Label Number: CBS 460163 2

.FLAC via Florenfile

.AAC 256 kbps via Florenfile

© 1987 CBS Records

The Hunger Review by William Ruhlmann

Given a third chance to resurrect his third career, Bolton made drastic changes. He decided to stop trying to be Lou Gramm of Foreigner and decided that he really wanted to be -- Otis Redding? Well, that's what you'd think from his note-for-note copy of Redding's "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay," awhich brought him close to the Top Ten. Even more notable, though, was "That's What Love Is All About," an original ballad cowritten by Eric ("Love Has No Pride") Kaz that repositioned Bolton from heavy-metal hunk to tough guy with a tender heart. There had been prior hints that Bolton could sell a big ballad, but they were always buried album tracks. This time, the ballad was issued as a single in advance of the album, and it did the trick. For the rest, Bolton employed a new set of collaborators, including members of Journey and pop songwriting queen Diane Warren. The result was platinum sales and a firm place in the middle of the road.

 tags: michael bolton, the hunger, 1987, flac,