1986 studio album by El DeBarge
El DeBarge Released July 14, 1986 Recorded 1985 Studio
Garden Rake, Sherman Oaks
Image Recording, Los Angeles
Studio 55, Los Angeles
Lion Share , Los Angeles
Bill Schnee Studios, North Hollywood
Conway , Hollywood
Genre R&B , soul Label Gordy Producer Peter Wolf , Jay Graydon
"Who's Johnny " Released: April 8, 1986
"Love Always" Released: July 8, 1986
"Someone" Released: December 1986
El DeBarge is the debut solo album by El DeBarge . It was released in 1986 on Gordy Records (a sub-label of Motown ) and featured the three hit singles, "Who's Johnny," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Love Always," which reached #43, and "Someone," which was a Top 20 Billboard A/C hit and made it to #70 on the Hot 100.[ 1] Singer/actress Vanity featured on backing vocals on the track, "Secrets Of The Night". This album was certified by RIAA as gold in September, 1986, selling over 500,000 copies.[ 2]
Jason Elias of AllMusic stated: "While the setup and idea are still exciting on paper, [the album] is a disappointment." He also stated that "the majority of the [...] tracks just don't do anything to enliven the product or accentuate his voice," and concluded by writing that "the fact that DeBarge didn't have a hand in producing or writing the songs all but made this ho-hum from the start."
"Who's Johnny " (Peter Wolf , Ina Wolf) – 4:11
"Secrets Of The Night" (Albert Hammond, Diane Warren ) – 4:20
"I Wanna Hear It From My Heart" (Warren) – 4:25
"Someone" (Jay Graydon , Mark Mueller , Robbie Nevil ) – 4:45
"When Love Has Gone Away" (Jack Conrad, Larry Henley) – 3:08
"Private Line" (Diane Warren) – 3:48
"Love Always" (Burt Bacharach , Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer-Sager ) – 5:32
"Lost Without Her Love" (Randy Goodrum , Graydon) – 4:35
"Thrill Of The Chase" (Alan Roy Scott, Roy Freeland, Gary Pickus) – 3:47
"Don't Say It's Over" (Diane Warren) – 4:32
El DeBarge – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1, 3, 5–8, 10)
Peter Wolf – various instruments (1, 3, 10), arrangements (1, 3, 10)
Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (2), arrangements (2, 6), select instruments (6, 9), Fender Rhodes (7), Yamaha DX7 (7)
Laythan Armor – additional synthesizer programming (2)
David Boruff – additional synthesizer programming (2), saxophone (2, 6)
Jay Graydon – all instruments (4), arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9), select instruments [synthesizers, guitar] (5, 8, 9)
David Foster – select instruments (5), additional synthesizer (7)
Randy Goodrum – select instruments (5, 8)
Burt Bacharach – additional synthesizer (7), arrangements (7)
Michael Boddicker – select instruments (9)
Dann Huff – guitar (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
Marty Walsh – guitar (7)
Neil Stubenhaus – bass (7)
Mike Baird – select instruments [presumably drums] (5, 9)
John Robinson – drums (7)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (7)
Ernie Watts – alto sax solo (10)
Robbie Nevil – arrangements (4)
Carole Bayer Sager – arrangements (7)
Siedah Garrett – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Dennis Lambert – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Michael McDonald – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Phil Perry – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Julia Waters – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Oren Waters – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Ina Wolf – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
Vanity – backing vocals (2)
Tommy Funderburk – backing vocals (6)
Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (6)
Bunny Hull – backing vocals (6)
Tom Kelly – backing vocals (6)
Richard Page – backing vocals (8)
Peter Wolf – producer (1, 3, 10)
Robbie Buchanan – producer (2, 6)
Jay Graydon – producer (4, 5, 8, 9), recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
Burt Bacharach – producer (7)
Carole Bayer Sager – producer (7)
Toby Jones – executive producer
Brian Malouf – recording (1, 3, 10), mixing (1, 3, 10)
Barney Perkins – recording (2, 6), remixing (2, 6)
Ian Eales – recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
Dennis Mackay – mixing (4, 5, 8, 9), additional engineer (6)
Michael Bowman – assistant engineer (1, 3, 10)
Dan Garcia – assistant engineer (1, 3, 10)
Stephen Krause – assistant engineer (1, 3, 10)
Glen Holquin – assistant engineer (2)
Craig Miller – assistant engineer (2)
Mike Ross – additional engineer (6)
Gail Pierson – album coordinator
Johnny Lee – art direction
Janet Levinson – design
Greg Gorman – photography
Studios
Recorded at Garden Rake Studio (Sherman Oaks, CA); Image Recording Studios, Studio 55 and Lion Share Recording Studio (Los Angeles, CA); Bill Schnee Studios (North Hollywood, CA); Conway Studios (Hollywood, CA).
Mixed at Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, CA); Conway Studios, Studio 55 and Lion Share Recording Studio.
Tracks 2 & 6 remixed at Yamaha International Recording (Glendale, CA).
Studio albums Singles Related topics