Product Details

* Audio CD (February 28, 1990)
* Original Release Date: March 20, 1990
* Number of Discs: 1
* Label: Capitol
* Catalog Number: 21759
* ASIN: B000003JB7
* Other Editions: Audio Cassette
* Average Customer Review: based on 56 reviews. (Write a review.)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,407 in Music (See Top Sellers in Music)
Yesterday: #9,453 in Music

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1. Feel So Different Listen Listen
2. I Am Stretched On Your Grave Listen Listen
3. Three Babies Listen Listen
4. The Emperor's New Clothes Listen Listen
5. Black Boys On Mopeds Listen Listen
6. Nothing Compares 2 U Listen Listen
7. Jump In The River Listen
8. You Cause As Much Sorrow Listen
9. The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance Listen
10. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got Listen
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Before Sinead O'Connor became conservative America's most reviled musician when she ripped up a picture of the Pope on TV and refused to perform live at a New Jersey venue following "The Star Spangled Banner," she vocally supported the IRA at home in Ireland and generally roused the rabble. Indeed, she's one female pop star who's truly earned her army boots. Though her once meteoric musical career has suffered due to her outspokenness, the powerful voice and presence found on her second album is beyond reproach. Best known as the source of O'Connor's breakthrough cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," this is a moving, intensely passionate work full of dark beauty and longing, constructed with a fierce independence and a taste for the unique. This undeniably pop album (albeit with modern-rock and folk elements) has more than held up through the years. --Lorry Fleming
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
"...That All I'd Need Was Inside Me", December 26, 2003
Reviewer: Samhot (Star Land) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
Through all of the controversy and scorn she's endured for her beliefs and public behaviour, Sinead O'Connor remains a formidable talent, and in the end, her music should always be the focal point. Her 1990 release _I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got_ was her biggest breakthrough, and what's astonishing is how well it holds up nearly a decade and a half since it's release.

Sinead also possessed one of the most powerful and moving voices in all of rock music: beautiful and ethereal, and at other times, frightening and disturbing. This album is a perfect showcase for that, as well as her most introspective, soul-searching lyrics. These lyrics mostly deal with Sinead's relationships, failed and/or unfailed, her strength to preservere through hardships, and ultimate resolution.

"Feel So Different" opens up with a spiritual soliloquy before turning into a slow, moody orchestral ballad. Sinead's vocals slowly and steadily progress from hushed and calm, to climactic cathartic releases. The strings, which steadily increase in dynamics during these vocal progressions, add a sense of drama to the whole thing. The orchestral arrangements in general are lovely and elegant.

"I Am Stretched On Your Grave" is mostly a Frank O'Connor poem set to music, but arranged by Sinead herself. A progressive mix of exotic, Gaelicesque vocal musings with a funky, hip-hop drum beat, along with a steady, one-two note bassline sandwiched inbetween. Later in the song, there are some violin scrapes which add an extra dose of atmosphere.

"Three Babies" is an acoustic-folk track with subtle use of orchestration. On here, particularly, Sinead serves up her chameleonic vocal ability - ranging from hushed voicings, to near-possessed, upper register wailings, to disturbing, echo-filled, cathartic yellings, so to speak. Sinead herself strums the acoustic in quite an introspective manner. A very beautiful track.

"The Emperor's New Clothes" has a wonderful melody drenched in it's bouncy rhythm. The lyrics are intensively open and confessional, showcasing Sinead's defiant and determined nature when facing odds. She also mentions her children, and the effects of being pregnant in a few of the tracks here. These lyrics here seem written to a former lover, exhibiting reflection, but not necessarily regret, and the sense of moving on, with, or without the protagonist's presence.

"Black Boys on Mopeds" was Sinead's take on British policemen chasing down an African-American who they suspected of a crime he didn't commit, and was killed during the chase. Sinead offers up some scathing lyrics on Margaret Thatcher, and England in general. The music is low-key and melodic, and in particular, the melody and Sinead's smooth, yet grave and powerful way in delivering the vocal is painfully affecting.

"Nothing Compares 2 U" is the big hit of the album, of course. Though written by Prince, it was Sinead's version of the song which became popular. Though I liked this song when it first came out, it wasn't until a few years ago that I really began to love and appreciate it's beauty very deeply. The lush, achingly beautiful strings and Sinead's haunting voice blend nicely to create this autumnal and monumental beauty. Stands the test of time.

"Jump In The River" is a hard-driving rocker, and probably the edgiest track on this otherwise, mostly low-key album. The lyrics on here obviously deal with one of Sinead's love relationships, and the lyrics are quite open. Sinead is credited as playing the crunching electric guitar parts.

"You Cause As Much Sorrow" contrasts low-key ambience with more pronounced acoustic strumming. Whispery vocals give way to more pronounced vocal atmospherics. A mostly low-key track, Sinead tells a certain protagonist, as well as her audience, that she's really a sweet, gentle and caring soul underneath her apparent brash exterior.

"The Last Day of Our Acquaintance" is a slow, absorbing, hushed number with Sinead exhibiting a naked vocal performance alongside her acoustic guitar. This song, like others on here, deals with a relationship, and as the title of this track suggests, it's based on a relationship that has ended. The lyrics, Sinead's emotive vocals, and the smooth, low-key atmosphere make this song very poignant, and almost painful to listen to at times. By the track's end, it becomes more upbeat, as if the pained atmosphere of the first half -- and in Sinead's soul -- has disappeared, and Sinead has found the strength to heal herself.

The title track is an a capella soliloquy, and is extremely affecting, especially in some of the lyrics addressed. Very personal, spiritual and forward-looking, it's basically Sinead saying she doesn't know exactly what lies ahead for her, but whatever it may be, she's willing to face it.

An excellent album from an excellent artist. This is an album that will age very well. It's held up nicely for the past decade plus, and will only continue to do so in the future. Introspective, intelligent and moving, this album is recommended to all with a taste for human emotion expressed frankly and unflinchingly.

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3 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Mostly a disappointment, August 14, 2005
Reviewer: Dennis Littrell (SoCal) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME) (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)
Tonight we have Sinéad O'Connor. She has the eyes of an angel. The photo on the jacket reminds me of Audrey Hepburn, very much so, especially her right eye. I presume it is her right, since it is on the left side of the photo. The light is on her eyes, but most of her face is in shadow. Take a piece of paper and cover half her face. The left eye (on the right side of the photo) is rounder, more open. The right eye has a beautiful and subtle shape like Audrey Hepburn's. Together the slight and delicious asymmetry is fascinating and gorgeous. Of course one recalls the video a few years back of Sinéad with the shaven head which exposed her (rather) large ears, but absolutely magnified the power of her eyes made up so perfectly. With the camera focused tightly on her face we felt the measured power of her delivery.

Looking at those amazing eyes, I am struck by how accidental is beauty. Just the slightest change in the shape of those eyes and she would be ordinary. Just another slight change and she would be plain.

The CD's title is "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" and includes the only song sung by Sinéad I recall, "Nothing Compares 2U," which was a big hit in the early Nineties, written by Prince, and the song she sung in the striking video. The second best song is "I Am Stretched on Your Grave," which is poetically the most sophisticated song on the CD, written by Phillip King and "F. O'Connor," who I presume is her father. The CD is dedicated to her father with love. Naturally, I like that. It seems that girls who have a loving relationship with their fathers are the best. But perhaps this is only a personal prejudice.

Now it is sad to report that the only interesting songs on the CD are the two named above and "Jump in the River" (written by Sinéad and Pirroni) which is marginally interesting. All the other songs were written by Sinéad and suffer from a tonal and lyrical blandness made worse by occasional vocal mannerisms attempting to spice up the dirge. How she needs a song writer! Prince gave her a song, and nothing else has come close. Her voice is excellent and she is well trained, but in the pop song business there is no substitute for the catchy melody, and aside from the Prince song, not one of her songs has it.

The CD also suffers from too much self-indulgence by Sinéad and suggests she could use some independent direction. There is nothing worse than when the diva thinks she has something to say (unless, of course, she really does have something to say). If Madonna had depended on her own song-writing efforts we would never have heard of her. She had the sense to go with her strength, which is as a performer and to beg, borrow, or buy the lyrical and melodic talent of others. If Sinéad had exercised similar good sense she might have had a more lengthy career. The title song is sung a capella, and I have to say, Sinéad is not a bad poet. The title, "I Do Not Want What I Don't Have," represents a great spiritual truth, but in the song biz, poetry without melody is a trip to the unemployment line. Although the left eye is very pretty, that right eye makes me want to kiss her.

INFORMATION: This cassette contains the following tracks all written by O'Connor except for "Nothing Compares 2 U":
A1 Feels So Different, 6:47
A2 I Am Stretched Out on Your Grave, 5:33
A3 Three Babies, 4:47
A4 The Emperor's New Clothes, 5:16
A5 Black Boys on Mopeds, 3:53
B1 Nothing Compares 2 U (Prince),5:10
B2 Jump in the River, 4:12
B3 You Cause as Much Sorrow, 5:04
B4 The Last Day of Our Acquaintance, 4:40
B5 I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, 5:45