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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Sbme Import
Salesrank: 52555
Released: October 14, 2002 |
| Our Price: $6.60 |
| Used Price: $27.45 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The Essential Track Listing:
1. Tell It Like It Is
2. Voice on a Hotline
3. Heartbeat
4. Other People's Lives
5. Heartache Away
6. What if It Takes All Night
7. Can't Take Your Memory
8. Angel City
9. Star Tonight
10. Lost in Your Eyes
11. Coco Don't
12. Gotta Get Away
13. Your Love Is Safe With Me
14. Lonely Too Long
15. Last Sound Love Makes
16. Better Place - Don Johnson, Yuri
Editorial Review:
French compilation for the TV (Miami Vice) & film star includes his 1986 hit, 'Heartbeat'. 16 tracks. Sony.
The Essential Reviews:
......And He Can Sing Too ! ! ! 
2009-08-17 - When we hear of actors wanting to sing, we usually cringe and think of David Hasselhoff (of Knight Rider and Babewatch fame) or Susan Anton (let's see what has she done?) or worse yet, Bobby Sherman, Johnny Crawford (Rifleman) and Paul Peterson (Donna Reed Show). Conjuring up images of teeny bopper fans, too much echo on the vocals and egos the size of ships. We don't give them a fair listen because we're conditioned to not give them a running chance. As a person who reads the credits at the end of the show, I was pleasantly surprised to read that one of the songs in a Baywatch episode was actually being sung by David H. and it was quite good. That doesn't mean I'd run by concert tickets, but if he were singing on TV I'd give him a chance.
Well all that said, let's talk about Don Johnson. Those years on Miami Vice, he rubbed elbows with a lot of musician/actors. Glenn Frey, Greg Allman, and Phil Collins to name but a few. In fact he showed up on one of Greg's solo albums. I am not sure what the time frame was, he may have already been doing his own work. But for me I heard a duet he did with Greg Allman, a song called "Evidence Of Love" and I said "Hey the guy can sing", so bought "The Essential", and it's decent, he's a solid singer with a good range. The songs are ok, I'd like to hear what he would do with a real power ballad, maybe a Diane Warren tune, produced by David Foster, with some really strong studio cats backing him. All in all, I'm not at all disappointed, he's a fantastic actor and a darned good singer.
Well, I have to stand and correct myself. Upon checking the CD liner notes, one of the songs,"Other People's Lives" is a Diane Warren tune. But even more interesting than that, the song "Can't Take Your Memories" is written by Don himself and it is one of the albums best songs. What a surprise. You have to realize, with some of these songs and mixes, they were done for the 80's "Dance Music" scene. What now sounds a bit over produced was hip and in the pocket then. Overall this album is a good representation of Don's vocal ability and what he could be if he tires of acting.
The Essential Don Johnson 
2009-07-24 - Loved this CD and love Don Johnson. He's both a great actor and surprised me to be a great singer.
Frank Who?
2009-06-17 - I'm listening to The Essential as I write. What a shame this thrilling voice didn't create more albums. After listening to his sometimes rather low and raspy [not to mention sexy] voice on television, his singing range amazed me. I was also surprised to find, as I had always been a Sinatra fan, that I liked Don Johnson's voice and phrasing so much better than Frank's. I've read some rather nasty comments about Johnson's singing voice on the net [probably made by jealous men, the guy was gorgeous] but as the daughter of an light opera singer, and an amateur pop singer myself in my youth [just in high school and college, nothing professional], I think I'm a pretty good judge of a voice. The CD arrived in perfect condition, almost immediately. The sound is good - I just wish there was some indication as to the identity of the musicians.
Don Johnson The Essential
2009-05-07 - The Essential is a lot of the Heart Beat CD but I enjoyed the additional selections
DJ The Essential
2008-10-18 - Love this CD. Have listened to it over and over again. Great song selections--some of which I had not heard previously by Don Johnson.
