Silk Electric

Silk Electric is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 10, 1982 on the RCA label. It was Ross' second of six albums release the label. It reached #27 on the US Billboard 200 (#5 R&B), #33 in the UK Albums Chart and the top 20 in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. The album cover was designed by Andy Warhol.

Silk Electric
Studio album by
Diana Ross
ReleasedSeptember 10, 1982
Recorded1981–1982
Genre
Length37:31
Label
Producer
Diana Ross chronology
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
(1981)		 Silk Electric
(1982)		 Ross
(1983)
Singles from Silk Electric
  1. "Muscles"
    Released: September 17, 1982
  2. "So Close"
    Released: January 7, 1983
  3. "Who (not released in the US)"
    Released: April 5, 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Rolling Stone[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

The album contains Ross' US Top 10, Grammy-nominated single, "Muscles", which was written and produced by Michael Jackson. All other tracks were produced by Ross, including the US Top 40 follow-up single "So Close" featuring prominent background vocal arrangements by Luther Vandross.

The song "In Your Arms", written by Linda Creed & Michael Masser, was covered by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston as "Hold Me" the following year. The song "I Am Me" was co-written by Ross (and incorrectly listed as co-written by Cindy Birdsong instead of Janie Bradford on the Diana Ross Greatest Hits - The RCA Years compilation album). The album was certified Gold in the US and Silver in the UK.

Ross toured in support of the album in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia.

The album was remastered and re-released on September 2, 2014 by Funky Town Grooves as an "Expanded Edition", with bonus material.[4]

Track listing
Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Muscles"Michael Jackson4:40
2."So Close"Bill Wray, Rob Mounsey, Diana Ross4:14
3."Still in Love"Randy Handley4:08
4."Fool for Your Love"Bill Wray, Ray Chew, Diana Ross3:48
5."Turn Me Over"Steve Goldstein1:08
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Who"Barry Blue, Rod Bowkett3:38
2."Love Lies"Allan Chapman, Michael Hanna3:47
3."In Your Arms"Linda Creed, Michael Masser4:07
4."Anywhere You Run To"David Roberts3:31
5."I Am Me"Freddie Gorman, Janie Bradford, Diana Ross3:52
2014 Expanded Edition CD2 (Funky Town Grooves)
No.TitleLength
11."Muscles" (Edited Version)4:05
12."Muscles" (12" Version)6:40
13."So Close" (Single Version)3:53
14."I Am Me" (Extended Mix)4:27

Personnel
  • Diana Ross – lead vocals, arrangements (3, 4, 5), backing vocals (3-10)
  • Michael Jackson – uncredited backing vocals (1)
  • Patti Austin – backing vocals (1)
  • Julia Tillman Waters – backing vocals (1)
  • Maxine Willard Waters – backing vocals (1)
  • Luther Vandross – backing vocals (2), background vocal arrangements (2)
  • Tawatha Agee - backing vocals (2)
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals (2)
  • Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals (2)
  • Denzil Miller – keyboards (1)
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizer (1)
  • Greg Smith – synthesizer (1)
  • Bill Wolfer – synthesizer (1)
  • Rob Mounsey – keyboards (2, 3, 7), arrangements (2, 3, 7)
  • Steve Goldstein – synthesizer (2, 5, 10), arrangements (5)
  • Ray Chew – keyboards (4, 5, 6, 8, 10), arrangements (4, 6, 10)
  • Ed Walsh – synthesizer (6, 7)
  • Paul Shaffer – Fender Rhodes (9), rhythm arrangements (9)
  • Joe Bargar – acoustic piano (9)
  • David Williams – guitar (1)
  • Eric Gale – guitar (2, 5, 6, 8, 9)
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar (2, 5, 6, 8, 9)
  • Bob Kulick – lead and rhythm guitars (3, 4, 7, 10)
  • Nathan Watts – bass guitar (1)
  • Neil Jason – bass guitar (2-9)
  • Lucio Hopper – bass guitar (10)
  • Jonathan Moffett – drums (1)
  • Yogi Horton – drums (2-7, 9, 10)
  • Rick Marotta – drums (8)
  • Errol "Crusher" Bennett – percussion (10)
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – string arrangements (1)
  • Paul Riser – string arrangements (6, 8, 9), rhythm arrangements (8)
  • Randy Brecker – horn arrangements (9)

Production
  • Producers – Michael Jackson (Track 1); Diana Ross (Tracks 2-10).
  • Engineers – Ross Pallone and Tom Perry (Track 1); Larry Alexander (Tracks 2-10).
  • Assistant Engineer on Tracks 2-10 – Dave Greenberg
  • Track 1 recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, CA); Tracks 2-10 recorded at the Power Station (New York, NY).
  • Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
  • Cover Art – Andy Warhol

Charts
Chart (1982/83) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 84
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 33
United States (Billboard 200)[6] 27
United States (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums) 5

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[8] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. Shewey, Don (November 25, 1982). "Diana Ross: Silk Electric : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  3. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. ISBN 9780743201698.
  4. "Silk Electric (Expanded Edition)". FunkyTownGrooves.com. FunkyTownGrooves.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 259. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Diana Ross US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  7. "British album certifications – Diana Ross – Silk Electric". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Silk Electric in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  8. "American album certifications – Diana Ross – Silk Electric". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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