Melissa (Melissa Manchester album)

Melissa
Melissa "Original Master Recording" vinyl album from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1975
Recorded1974
Studio
Genre
Length39:34
LabelArista
ProducerVini Poncia
Melissa Manchester chronology
Bright Eyes
(1974)
Melissa
(1975)
Better Days & Happy Endings
(1976)
Singles from Melissa
  1. "Midnight Blue"
    Released: May 1975
  2. "Just Too Many People"
    Released: September 1975
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Christgau's Record GuideB+[1]

Melissa is the third album by Melissa Manchester, released on the Arista Records label in 1975. It reached #12 on the Billboard Albums chart on the strength of her first U.S. Top Ten hit "Midnight Blue" (#6). In 2001, the album was re-released.

Track listing

All songs were written by Melissa Manchester and Carole Bayer Sager, unless stated otherwise.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."We've Got Time" 4:24
2."Party Music"
  • Melissa Manchester
  • David Wolfert
3:29
3."Just Too Many People"
3:38
4."Stevie's Wonder" 3:35
5."This Lady's Not Home Today" 4:33
6."Love Havin' You Around"4:40
7."Midnight Blue" 3:55
8."It's Gonna Be Alright"3:34
9."I Got Eyes"Manchester2:45
10."I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore"Randy Newman5:05

Personnel

  • Melissa Manchester – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1–4, 7, 8, 10), string conductor (3, 10), electric piano (5, 9), clavinet (6)
  • James Newton Howard – electric piano (1–4, 7), clavinet (2, 8), ARP synthesizer (2, 4, 9), organ (5, 6), acoustic piano (6), celesta (9)
  • David Wolfert – acoustic guitar (1, 7, 8), electric guitars (1–7), guitars (8)
  • John "Cooker" Lo Presti – bass
  • Kirk Bruner – drums (1–8), percussion (2, 4), cuica (4), talking drum (6), backing vocals (9)
  • King Errisson – congas (2, 5, 8)
  • Don Diego Gujo – cowbell (8)
  • Morton K. Salt – percussion (9)
  • Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone (3, 6, 8), horn arrangements (3, 6, 8), string arrangements (3, 5, 7, 10), soprano saxophone (5), baritone saxophone (6, 8), alto saxophone (10)
  • John Rotella – baritone saxophone (3)
  • Gene Dinwiddie – tenor saxophone (6, 8)
  • Lew McCreary – trombone (3)
  • Steve Madaio – trumpet (3, 6, 8)
  • Sid Sharp – concertmaster (10)
  • Vini Poncia – backing vocals (1, 3, 7, 9)
  • Lucy Mike – backing vocals (2)
  • David Lasley – backing vocals (6)
  • Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (6)
  • Brie Howard – backing vocals (9)

Production

  • Richard Perry – executive producer
  • Vini Poncia – producer
  • Bob Schaper – recording engineer, remixing (10)
  • Bill Schnee – remixing (1–9) at Sound Labs (Hollywood, California)
  • Reed Stanley – assistant engineer
  • The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California) – mastering location
  • Bob Heimall – art direction
  • Arton Associates – design
  • Pacific Eye & Ear – illustration
  • Ed Caraeff – photography
  • Larry Brezner, Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe – management

References

  1. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 0-89919-026-X. Retrieved March 4, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.