Disco de Cinderella: “Heartbreak Station”

Heartbreak Station, Cinderella's third studio album and ultimately their last record to achieve platinum success, is one of the forgotten gems in the 80's hard rock era. Long Cold Winter, for all its virtues, was marred by its pop-metal conventions. Heartbreak Station erases such principles. Filled with Rolling Stones / Aerosmith sensibilities and a fearlessness to deviated from the generic formula of hair metal, this genuinely great album showed that Cinderella had more genuine grit than their poodle-haired contemporaries.

Each track is strong, distinctive and never repeating themselves, a fatal error that plagued many hair metal albums. "Electric Love", "Love Gone Bad" and the sweet, boogie-rock of "Sick for the Cure" are swaggering rock n' roll that recalls the best of Aerosmith, when that band did not need power ballads or a Michael Bay movie to climb to the charts. "One For Rock N' Roll" is a simple, country-fused ditty about lacking worries and just playing rock n' roll. And "Shelter Me" is a riotous commentary on censorship (the accompanying video featuring Little Richard was comedy gold).

But the album's coup de graces remain the two songs that have the making of an instant classic: the title track, with its melodic acoustic guitars, honky piano flourishes and an beguiling 12-string guitar solo, and the opulent "Winds of Change" both have an emotional splendor boosted by Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones' majestic strings. The title track, in particular, is the true highlight, ranking with Bon Jovi's "I'll Be There for You", Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine" and Skid Row's "I Remember You" as one of the era's greatest power ballads.

It may have not been their most commercially successful album but Heartbreak Station showcased a more ambitious, talented band whom many have taken for granted. Unfortunately, that's what happened when grunge came by and swept everyone associated with hair metal. It was a dark day for 80's hard rock and for Cinderella, as their careers went into a startling decline while bands like Helmet, L7 and Pearl Jam achieved gold status.

You know, what's funny? Back in the 1990's, everyone would have crucified a band for playing music like this but today, everyone wishes we could have an album like this again. It is the testament to Cinderella and especially Tom Kiefer that they created an album that was unfairly neglected and reaped for rediscovery. Even if you're not an 80's hard rock fan, you should pick this album up and give it a try. It is not only a great 80's rock record; it's a great rock album in general.

Cinderella is one of my favorite Glam Metal bands for the reason that they always evolved, each album was different than the last, in some ways, this could be seen as a disappointment, but it is what, for me, makes them a unique band from the era. Had they continued to record on the path they did with this album, rather than kind of going backwards on "Still Climbing" in terms of musical progression, I think they possibly could have had more success in the future outside of the nostalgia circuit (not that there is anything wrong with that though); this was their musical and songwriting peak sadly, the only down side is that a few of the songs get a little repetetive (especially "The More Things Change" and "Shelter Me"), and "Dead Man's Road" very much sounds like a leftover Bon Jovi song (though not in a bad way), though that is not surprising since they were signed because of Bon Jovi, they share a lot of similarities, but are definitely very different.

As with all Cinderella albums, this is a grower, it takes a little time to get used to the sound, and the songs are mostly growers, only a couple have immediate hooks such as "Heartbreak Station", "Shelter Me", "Love's Got Me Doin' Time", and "The More Things Change". This album may not grab you immediately, but give it some time.

The album definitely takes a few creative leaps, and builds upon "Long Cold Winter's" blues and gospel leanings, this album takes those elements even further, especially the gospel aspect ("Shelter Me", "Sick for the Cure", and "Make Your Own Way"), and combines a lot of country elements, especially some fantastic slide guitar and steel guitar playing in many of the songs "The More things Change" and "One for Rock and Roll". Though "One for Rock and Roll" almost sounds like it should have some steel drums, and has a borderline reggae rhythm in it, definitely a more tropical sounding track, and could have gone a bit further in that direction musically, but because they didn't, it still fits in with the rest of the album musically.

One of the best things about this album is that Tom Keifer's vocals are pushed back slightly in the mixed when compared to their two previous albums, this is a very good thing when he sings in his high-pitched screech which on the two previous albums, at time, was slightly overbearing because it was so high in the mix. Tom Keifer also expands his vocal palette a lot of this album by singing in a much lower, less shrill register which he rarely did on the those two older albums, you can especially see this on "Love's Got me Doin' Time" where he effortlessly switches between his upper and lower register, it's actually quite fantastic to hear! You can also hear it prominently in "One for Rock and Roll", "Dead Man's Road", and "Electric Love". This really give the album a lot more diversity, and also makes it more listenable as a whole.

Since this album is far more diverse musically and vocally than previous efforts, it is easy to see why some fans of the "old sound", meaning the sound from "Night Songs", do not like this album. Through repeated listens, however, one will probably find this is their most solid album to date in songwriting, musically, and especially the singing. It is even more enjoyable when listening from "Night Songs" all the way to this album, in order to see the progression of the band.

God Bless ~Amy

Cinderella took their sound as far into blues rock territory as they possibly could with their third album - 1990's Heartbreak Station. This album is pretty far removed from the straightforward hair metal of

, but it still rocks. It's just a bluesier, more Southern-sounding kind of rock, complete with twanging guitars, horns, and the occasional gospel-style choir on background vocals.

It may not be the Cinderella everyone was familiar with, but I love what they did on Heartbreak Station. Soulful songs like Electric Love, Dead Man's Road, and the title track give the album and the band a sense of depth that a lot of Cinderella's peers were sadly lacking, and it's hard to resist the boogie-rocking The More Things Change, Shelter Me, and Make Your Own Way. People went nuts for Bon Jovi's cowboy fixation. Why not extend Cinderella the same kind of credit, especially when the results are this good?

It's not as good as Night Songs or

, but Heartbreak Station is still a very strong Cinderella album, and I have a soft spot for it as it was one of the very first albums I bought when I moved from cassettes to CDs. Ah, long box memories.

As an attempt to get recognition as a serious and mature musical entity, Cinderella shifts direction on this recording trying to make a big departure from the cheap corporate tones, artificiality and over exploited gimmick that made hair metal so hateful on its final stages in the late 80's and early 90's.

On Heartbreak Station, the band brings to its sound deep influences from traditional North American musical styles such as blues, country, folk and gospel as well as the British Invasion tones of the Rolling Stones and The Faces, all this in order to validate its roots as authentic rock musicians. This blend of influences creates an atmosphere of honesty, celebration, introspection and musical craft and poise. The novelty, however, its not only on the sonic department; lyrics have been traded for a reflexive and intelligent ironic mood, instead of the hedonistic and party celebratory vibe of the past.

It's been almost 13 years since the first time I listened to Heartbreak Station and still makes me wonder, what would've happened if Tom Keifer and the boys had reached the recognition and success that this risky and honest album deserved?.

Highlights: "Shelter Me", Sick For the Cure" and "One For Rock 'n' Roll" a dylanesque, evocative and beautiful song.

Cinderella have certainly experimented since their first album, 'Night Songs'. From the pure hard rock, to blues in 'Long Cold Winter' and then a country feel is given to their third album, 'Heartbreak Station'. Every style they play, they reach perfection in my opinion! This album certainly lacks no talent. Tom Keifer's unique gravelly vocals remain. And as well as some great rock tracks such as 'The more things change' and 'Sick for the cure', there are some beautiful tear jerkers, i.e the title track - 'Heartbreak Station'. They've taken their talents to another level. It's clear alot of passion has been put into this album and the guys have done themselves proud! It's a change, but a MUST for any Cinderella/rock fan. 5 star album!