Long Cold Winter
Cinderella · 1988
43 min · 10 tracks · hard rock
A gritty blend of blues-infused hard rock and melodic glam metal that captures the essence of late '80s rock culture.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Don't Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone) — This power ballad exemplifies the emotional depth that Cinderella could achieve, showcasing Tom Keifer's soulful vocals alongside poignant lyrics about loss and regret.
-
→
Gypsy Road — With its anthemic chorus and lively instrumentation, this track encapsulates the adventurous spirit of rock and roll, making it a staple in their live performances.
-
→
Long Cold Winter — The title track blends heavy guitar riffs with a reflective tone, marking a thematic shift towards introspection and resilience in their sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends hard rock and ballads effectively but lacks a strong cohesive arc throughout.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features upbeat tracks with driving guitar riffs, while the second half shifts to more introspective ballads.
- Several tracks incorporate bluesy guitar solos that extend beyond typical hard rock conventions, adding depth to the sound.
- The title track employs a slower tempo and atmospheric instrumentation, contrasting sharply with the preceding songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo emotional journey
- heartfelt ballads for introspection
- resilient themes of longing
- for reflective evenings
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of quick gratification
- prefer upbeat party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Long Cold Winter marked Cinderella's second studio album, released in 1988 after their successful debut, Night Songs. The band was transitioning from their initial rise to fame, solidifying their place in the glam metal scene while grappling with the pressures of commercial success.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Bad Seamstress Blues / Fallin’ Apart at the Seams 5:23
- 2 Gypsy Road 4:05
- 3 Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone) 5:56
- 4 The Last Mile 3:25
- 5 Second Wind 3:57
- 6 Long Cold Winter 5:22
- 7 If You Don’t Like It 4:13
- 8 Coming Home 4:55
- 9 Fire and Ice 3:19
- 10 Take Me Back 3:16
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.