Chris Isaak - Silvertone

In 1985 synthesizers and big hair were in: reverb-laden rockabilly guitars and smooth-as-silk vocals were not. Yet Warner Brothers took a chance with this unique debut from an unknown singer and his band, Silvertone, from San Francisco. While the rest is history, this is where it all started--with the brooding "Talk to Me," the pained yearnings of the stunning "The Lonely Ones," the sensuous gyrations of "Dancin'," and the haunting "Voodoo." Guitarist Jimmy Wilsey coaxed wonderfully retro yet fresh-sounding atmospherics from his guitar, and Chris Isaak's Roy Orbison-styled crooning and matinee-idol looks created an undeniably sexy vibe. Isaak's love affair with the music of Sun Studios is evident on nearly all tracks, but shines on the rave-up "Gone Ridin'" and the beautiful ballad, "Western Stars." --Lorry Fleming Amazon.com essential recording

 First Impression
I would have worn these albums all out if they weren't CDs. It's really arguable that this is his best overall effort. The production isn't as polished as it would get in the "Wicked Game " era, but the material is very strong. It's core Chris Isaak, very dark and very intense, probably too much so for mass consumption. Songs like "The Lonely Ones" aren't seen again until the "Forever Blue" album 10+ years later. Very solid album. August 28, 2007

 More than 5 stars like 100
I really love his music every CD is totally wonderful. I now have them all. This one is cool very punkish and new waveish which is what I grew up with in LA, Ca. What a voice and music-Thank You! May 13, 2007

 Sing down like silver(tone)
Chris Isaak made one of the most unlikely debuts of 1985. Crooning like Roy Orbison, coming on like a young Elvis Presely and getting a tremendous buzz from his incredible stage shows, Isaak set the wayback machine into motion like no-one since Brian Setzer. The album was so unique that several of these songs found their way into movie soundtracks ("Dancin'," "Gone Riding" and "Funeral In The Rain"). It wasn't just Isaak's movie idol looks that got him these choice slots, his music is very evocative. James Calvin Wilsey's guitar and pedal steel frequently adds a Sun Records/Country feel to the songs, which Isaak's high lonesome croon compliments.

While this is not Isaak's best (it is closer to 3 1/2 stars, really), "SILVERTONE" lays out the template for his career to come. October 7, 2004

 Isaak's Debut
Chris Isaak's debut album takes its name from his backing band, Silvertone. The band's sound harkens back to the hey day of Sun Studios where artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and, most notably for Mr. Isaak, Roy Orbison ruled the day. There is a brooding, dark and eerie sound to the songs. "Dancin'" has an almost funky vibe to it, "The Lonely Ones" is a Roy Orbison redux and is an absolutely magnificent song and "Western Stars" is a lilting ballad. Mr. Isaak has a deep, smooth voice that adds a density to the songs while Silvertone plays songs in a way that seems on the surface to be quite simple but are full of nuances. This is a great debut record. April 5, 2001

 Origin of the sound
I really like Chris Isaak and have everything he has made. But, everyone of his albums sounds alike. This is his first album. Besides his classic song, Dancing, there is nothing here that stands out from all of his other albums. This is basically the origins of his sound that he refines and builds upon in later albums.

People who have followed him from the beginning may consider this to be his ultimate album because everything later is just a variation of the original. But, if you listen to the later albums and then come back to this one, you may find that the first album is a little bland and is just the seed for better subsequent material. March 14, 2000

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