Headlines (Midnight Star album)

Headlines
Studio album by
Midnight Star
Released1986
Recorded1985–1986
Studio
  • QCA Recording Studios and Fifth Floor Studio, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Quadrasonic, New York City, New York
Genre
Length45:12
Label
ProducerReggie Calloway[1]
Midnight Star chronology
Planetary Invasion
(1984) 		Headlines
(1986) 		Midnight Star
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

Headlines is an album by the R&B group Midnight Star, released in 1986.[3] It was the last album to include the Calloway brothers, who left to form Calloway.[3][4]

The album peaked at No. 42 on the UK Albums Chart.[5]

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times wrote that "there isn't enough heavyweight material here ... These kind of 'Headlines' only rate a cursory scan."[6] The Ottawa Citizen thought that "the sultry voice of Belinda Lipscomb on two slow dancers, 'Searching for Love' and 'Stay Here by My Side', make Headlines a complete and solid effort from Midnight Star."[7]

Track listing

  1. "Headlines" – 7:49 (Belinda Lipscomb, Bill Simmons, Bobby Lovelace, Melvin Gentry, Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway)
  2. "Midas Touch" – 5:00 (Bo Watson, June Watson-Williams)
  3. "Stay Here by My Side" – 4:40 (Simmons)
  4. "Close to Midnight" – 4:33 (Watson, M. Gentry, Karen Gentry)
  5. "Get Dressed" – 4:58 (Lipscomb, Watson, Watson-Williams, M. Gentry)
  6. "Engine No. 9" – 5:23 (Lovelace, K. Gentry, M. Gentry)
  7. "Close Encounter" – 4:20 (Lipscomb, Simmons, R. Calloway, V. Calloway)
  8. "Dead End" – 4:24 (Lipscomb, Watson, R. Calloway, V. Calloway)
  9. "Searching for Love" – 5:01 (Lipscomb, Watson)

Personnel

Midnight Star

  • Belinda Lipscomb: Vocals
  • Bo Watson: Vocals, keyboards, synth programming
  • Melvin Gentry: Lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • Jeff Cooper: Rhythm guitar, synth programming
  • Kenneth Gant: Bass guitar, vocals
  • Bill Simmons: Saxophone, keyboards, synth programming
  • Reggie Calloway: Keyboards, trumpet, flute, vocals
  • Vincent Calloway: Keyboards, trumpet, trombone, vocoder
  • Bobby Lovelace: Drums, drum programming, percussion

Additional personnel

Charts

Singles

Title Year Chart positions[11]
US US
R&B 		US
Dance
"Headlines" 1986 69 3 34
"Midas Touch" 42 7 —
"Engine No. 9" — 11 —

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Midnight Star Shoots For Supergroup Constellation". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 22, 1986 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Wynn, Ron. Midnight Star: Headlines > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Midnight Star | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  4. ^ Thompson, Dave (June 2, 2001). "Funk". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "MIDNIGHT STAR | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  6. ^ Johnson, Connie (27 July 1986). "STAR BORES". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 93.
  7. ^ Abrams, Mike (6 June 1986). "Rock". Ottawa Citizen. p. F5.
  8. ^ "Midnight Star, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "Midnight Star, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  11. ^ "Midnight Star US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  12. ^ "American album certifications – Midnight Star – Headlines". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 18, 2021.