Jody Watley (album)
Jody Watley is the eponymous debut studio album by American singer Jody Watley, released on February 23, 1987, by MCA Records. Although the singer already found success as a part of the trio Shalamar, the impact of this album made Watley a cultural style icon in contemporary R&B, pop and dance music. Its success culminated in Watley winning a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1988 against fellow artists Breakfast Club, Cutting Crew, Terence Trent D'Arby and Swing Out Sister. The album also produced three top-ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: "Some Kind of Lover", "Looking for a New Love" and "Don't You Want Me". The album has sold 2 million copies in the United States and 4 million copies worldwide.
Jody Watley | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 23, 1987 | |||
Recorded | 1986 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:24 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Producer | ||||
Jody Watley chronology | ||||
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Singles from Jody Watley | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Robert Christgau | C+ [2] |
Rolling Stone | (positive) [3] |
Track listing
All tracks are written by André Cymone and Jody Watley, except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Looking for a New Love" | 5:06 |
2. | "Still a Thrill" | 4:48 |
3. | "Some Kind of Lover" | 4:08 |
4. | "For the Girls" | 3:51 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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5. | "Love Injection" | David Paul Bryant, Paul Gurvitz | 3:45 |
6. | "Don't You Want Me" | Franne Golde, D. P. Bryant, Watley | 4:10 |
7. | "Do It To The Beat" | 4:45 | |
8. | "Most of All" | Gardner Cole, Patrick Leonard | 4:28 |
9. | "Learn To Say No" (Duet with George Michael) | Richard "Dimples" Fields, George Michael | 3:35 |
No. | Title | Length |
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10. | "Looking for a New Love" (Extended Club Version) | 7:28 |
Personnel
- Jody Watley – lead vocals, background vocals
- Jeff Bova – keyboards (5, 6, 9)
- Gardner Cole – background vocals (8)
- André Cymone – all instruments (1-4, 7, 8, 10)
- Bernard Edwards – bass (5, 6, 9)
- Terrence Elliot – guitar (5, 6, 9)
- Bruce Gaitsch – guitar (8)
- Roy Galloway - background vocals (5, 6, 9)
- Tampa Lann – background vocals (8)
- Patrick Leonard – synthesizers (8), drum programming (8)
- Eddie Martinez – guitar (5, 6, 9)
- George Michael – vocals (9)
- Larry Schneider – saxophone (2, 3)
- John "LBJ" Staehely – guitar (5, 6, 9)
- Tony Thompson – drums (5, 6, 9)
- Fonzi Thornton – background vocals (5, 6, 9)
Production
- Producers: André Cymone (Tracks 1-4, 7, 8 & 10); Bernard Edwards (tracks 5, 6 & 9); Patrick Leonard (track 8); David Z (tracks 1-4, 7, 8 & 10).
- Engineers: Josh Abbey, Darren Chadwick, Bridget Daly, Jon Ingoldsby, Glenn Kurtz, Csaba Petocz, Chris Porter, Erik Zobler
- Assistant engineer: Scott Church (tracks 5, 6 & 9).
- Mixing: André Cymone (track 9); Coke Johnson (tracks 1-4, 7, 8 & 10); Michael Verdick (track 8); David Z. (tracks 1-4, 7, 8 & 10).
- Remixing on tracks 1 & 10: Taavi Mote and Louis Silas, Jr.
- Mix assistant: Michael Blum (track 8)
- Art direction and design: Lynn Robb
- Cover art concept and hair stylist: Jody Watley
- Photography: Victoria Pearson
- Make-up: Beth Katz
Awards
- 1987 - American Music Award Nomination for R&B Single of the Year [Looking For A New Love]
- 1988 - Grammy Award for Best New Artist
- 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Album of the Year
- 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Single of the Year [Looking For A New Love]
- 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Best Music Video [Looking For A New Love]
- 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Female Video of the Year [Some Kind Of Lover]
- 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Best New Artist Video of the Year [Some Kind Of Lover]
- 1988 - Billboard Music Award for Top Dance / Club Play Artist of the Year
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
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Singles
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[13] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[14] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Promis, Jose. Jody Watley review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
- Christgau, Robert. "Jody Watley review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
- Aletti, Vince (May 21, 1987). "Jody Watley: Jody Watley : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 334. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- "South African Divas Albums". Geo Cities. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- "JODY WATLEY - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- "JODY WATLEY - Billboard Chart History". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- "JODY WATLEY - Billboard Chart History". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- "Billboard Pop Albums - 1987". Retrieved 2011-12-14.
- "Billboard Black Albums - 1987". Retrieved 2011-12-14.
- "Billboard Pop Albums - 1988". Retrieved 2011-12-14.
- "Billboard Black Albums - 1988". Retrieved 2011-12-14.
- "Canadian album certifications – Jody Watley – Jody Watley". Music Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- "American album certifications – Jody Watley – Jody Watley". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 7, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.