From The Heart by Michael Bonanno & Friends

Don’t let that fool you, though. This is a fine effort by husband and wife and the message is on point for any love song.

Not only does Michael sing a duet on From The Heart, but he introduces two very good friends on the disc. This is the reason that From The Heart is by “Michael Bonanno & friends” (makes sense).

The odd thing about Doreen Peri’s and Kim Chong’s appearance on From The Heart is that they both sing the same song, “I Can’t Be Owned”. Having the song appear twice on the CD was ultimately an easy fix to what looked like a difficult problem at first.

“I Can’t Be Owned” was written for the voice of a wonderful songstress named Jean Trescott, someone out of Michael’s past.

When Michael couldn’t track down Jean, he turned to Doreen and Kim and asked them if they’d give “I Can’t Be Owned” a try.

Not only did they do a fantastic job, but each brought her own style and image to the song.

Doreen’s sultry, sensual voice and spontaneous style turns “I Can’t Be Owned” into a soft rock aria. It’s definitely worth hearing Doreen, either on From The Heart or at her own site, http://http://studioeight.tv/phpbb/, Studio 8. Studio 8 is a fine message board for those with a poetic flare.

Kim, adds a sensuality of her own, but it’s a lighter, more innocent sensuality. Listening to Kim’s version of “I Can’t Be Owned” sounds like an invitation of sorts in spite of the lyrical message.

The final first for Michael is his covering of the old Ronettes’ hit “Be My Baby.” Michael was thrilled when Abcko, BMI Records and Mother Bertha Music, Inc. gave him access to the rights of one of his favorite all time rock songs.

Michael covered the wonderful “Cemetery Rose” on Flameland, it’s true. But Jason Oliver, the writer of “Cemetery Rose”, like Michael, is working hard to build a following for his music. Michael’s outstanding rendition of “Cemetery Rose” played a symbiotic role for Michael and Jason.

No one ever had to record “Be My Baby” again to make that song a great one. However, Michael does the song justice. He tries to stay close to the original sound and feel of the song while bringing its relevancy into the 21st century. He succeeds in every sense of the word.

Michael once again shows his ability to flawlessly morph rhythms throughout a song more than once on From The Heart.

The best example on From The Heart is “Like A Million Years (Or So)”. This song starts out with Michael’s voice and a strummed guitar, then flows into a soft, mature club sound with brushes and stand up bass. The instrument solo starts out with a swing beat and a creative guitar riff, then picks up the pace by switching to a 2/4 old fashion bebop (not hip hop) style, featuring an alto sax solo. The song then ends with a crying guitar, a rockin’ drum line and some fine organ. It’s a must hear.

An album of love songs would almost be empty without at least one Latin song. On From The Heart, that song is “If I Saw You Again (Si Te Viera Otra Vez)”. It sounds good in both English and Spanish.

Michael provides the musical background using guitars and keyboard in all of the songs on From The Heart. Anyone can use a keyboard, but not everyone can produce the eclectic and full sounds that Michael Bonanno can produce. No trickery here, just instruments played as they should be played.

Michael Bonanno is a hard working, prolific master of lyric, music and music production. From The Heart proves that one can not say, “If you’ve heard one, you’ve heard them all” about Michael Bonanno's music. As Michael likes to put it, he’d much rather his music entice the phrase “If you’ve heard one, you’ve heard one.” There’s nothing boring about Michael’s music.

Listen to the entire album and you’ll agree that the songs on the album definitely come From The Heart.

Average Customer Review: