Contact (Pointer Sisters album)
| Contact | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 1, 1985 | |||
| Recorded | 1984–1985 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | R&B[1] | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | RCA Records | |||
| Producer | Richard Perry | |||
| The Pointer Sisters chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Contact | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [1] |
| Sounds | [2] |
Contact is the eleventh studio album by the American vocal group the Pointer Sisters, released in 1985 by RCA Records. Continuing the glossy electronic pop/R&B sound established for the group by producer Richard Perry with Break Out in 1983, Contact yielded two hit singles: "Dare Me" and "Freedom". The Latin-inflected dance song "Dare Me", with its video showing the sisters as male boxing managers, rose to number 11 on the US pop chart, and hit number 17 in the UK. The atmospheric "Freedom" missed the Top 40 at number 59 but rose to number 25 on the R&B chart in January 1986.[1]
History
Upon its release, Contact quickly became the Pointer Sisters' second-most successful album to that date; it was certified Platinum, denoting U.S. sales of over one million, and it helped the trio win an American Music Award for "Favorite Video Group" in 1986. Contact yielded U.S. chart hits with the singles "Dare Me" (Hot 100 number 11, UK number 17), "Freedom" and "Twist My Arm." Another song, "Back in My Arms", was released as a single and video in the UK.
A track from the Contact sessions, titled "Just a Little Closer", was released on the We Are the World charity compilation album in 1985.
Contact was remastered and issued on CD with bonus tracks in 2011 by Big Break Records.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Twist My Arm" |
| 4:25 |
| 2. | "Hey You" |
| 3:58 |
| 3. | "Pound, Pound, Pound" |
| 4:04 |
| 4. | "Back in My Arms" |
| 4:39 |
| 5. | "Burn Down the Night" |
| 3:09 |
| 6. | "Bodies and Souls" | Mark Goldenberg | 3:49 |
| 7. | "Contact" |
| 4:21 |
| 8. | "Dare Me" |
| 4:06 |
| 9. | "Freedom" | David McHugh | 6:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "I'll Be There" | Bob Etoll | 3:34 |
| 11. | "Dare Me" (12-inch dance mix) | 6:17 | |
| 12. | "Twist My Arm" (12-inch dance mix) | 5:53 | |
| 13. | "Back in My Arms" (12-inch dance mix) | 6:37 | |
| 14. | "Dare Me" (single version) | 3:43 | |
| 15. | "Freedom" (single version) | 4:21 | |
| 16. | "Twist My Arm" (single version) | 4:09 | |
| 17. | "Dare Me" (instrumental) | 4:23 |
Personnel
The Pointer Sisters
- Anita Pointer – lead vocals (1, 5, 9), backing vocals
- June Pointer – lead vocals (3, 6, 8), backing vocals
- Ruth Pointer – lead vocals (2, 4, 7), backing vocals
Musicians
- Andy Goldmark – synthesizers (1, 3), drum machine programming (1, 3), arrangements (1, 3), acoustic piano (3)
- Bruce Roberts – synthesizers (1), drum machine programming (1, 3), arrangements (1, 3)
- Paul Fox – additional synthesizers (1, 2, 4, 9), E-mu Emulator II (5, 8)
- Howie Rice – arrangements (1), additional synthesizers (1, 2, 4, 7, 9), guitars (1, 3, 8), synthesizers (3, 6, 8), handclaps (3), drum machine programming (8, 9), Minimoog (9)
- Steve George – keyboards (2, 4, 5), synthesizers (2, 4), arrangements (2, 4, 5), synth bass (5)
- Steve Mitchell – additional synthesizers (2, 7), Hammond B3 organ (3, 5), handclaps (3), Oberheim DMX programming (6), synthesizers (8), drum machine programming (8)
- Jeff Lorber – synth bass (3), synthesizers (9), guitars (9), drum machine programming (9)
- Mark Goldenberg – acoustic piano (6), synthesizers (6), guitars (6), drum machine programming (6), arrangements (6)
- Tommy Faragher – keyboards (7), synthesizers (7)
- Steve Farris – guitars (2)
- Michael Landau – guitars (4)
- Robbie Nevil – guitars (7), drum machine programming (7), arrangements (7)
- Peter Rafelson – guitars (8)
- Nathan East – bass (1, 2)
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass (4)
- Jennifer Condos – bass (6)
- Welton Gite – bass (8)
- Pat Mastelotto – drum machine programming (2, 4, 5), drums (4, 5)
- Harry Stinson – drum machine programming (6)
- Brock Walsh – drum machine programming (7), arrangements (7)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 4−9)
- Terral "Terry" Santiel – percussion (1, 3, 5, 6)
- Debra Dobkin – percussion (6)
- Larry Williams – saxophones (5)
- Phil Kenzie – saxophone (6)
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (5)
- Gary Grant – trumpet (5)
- Jerry Hey – trumpet (5), horn arrangements (5)
- Paul Buckmaster – string arrangements and conductor (2, 4)
- Richard Page – arrangements (2, 4, 5)
Production
- Richard Perry – producer
- Andy Goldmark – associate producer (1, 3)
- Howie Rice – associate producer (1)
- Bruce Roberts – associate producer (1, 3)
- Steve George – associate producer (2, 4)
- Richard Page – associate producer (2, 4, 5)
- Mark Goldenberg – associate producer (6)
- Robbie Nevil – associate producer (7)
- Brock Walsh – associate producer (7)
- James C. Tract – production manager
- Bradford Rosenberg – production coordinator
- John Kosh – art direction, design
- Ron Larson – art direction, design
- Randee St. Nicholas – photography
- Technical credits
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Mastering (Hollywood, California)
- Michael Brooks – recording engineer
- Paul Rey – basic track engineer (2)
- Ian Eales – basic track engineer (4, 5)
- Ernie Sheesley – basic track engineer (7)
- Don Smith – remixing, additional engineer
- Clif Jones – additional engineer
- Glen Holguin – additional engineer, assistant engineer
- Alex Schmoll – additional engineer, assistant engineer
- Gary Skardina – additional engineer
- David Dubow – assistant engineer
- Julie Last – assistant engineer
- Ray Leonard – assistant engineer
- Bob Loftus – assistant engineer
- Kraig Miller – assistant engineer
- Delilah Seroussi – assistant engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
|
References
- ^ a b c Hanson, Amy. Contact review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
- ^ Waller, Johnny (August 3, 1985). "Albums". Sounds. p. 20.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 0567". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pointer Sisters – Contact" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Pointer Sisters – Contact" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Pointer Sisters – Contact". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Pointer Sisters – Contact". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Pointer Sisters – Contact". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart on 28/7/1985 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "The Pointer Sisters Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "The Pointer Sisters Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 0618". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
