Let's Hear It for the Boy (album)
1984 studio album by Deniece Williams
Let's Hear It for the Boy Released April 16, 1984 Recorded 1983–1984 Studio The Complex (Los Angeles, California); LeGonks West (West Hollywood, California); Soundcastle (Los Angeles, California). Genre R&B , soul , funk , dance , post-disco Length 40 :53 Label Columbia , CBS Producer Deniece Williams , George Duke
Let's Hear It for the Boy is the eighth studio album by American recording artist Deniece Williams , released on April 16, 1984, by Columbia Records .[ 1] The album reached No. 26 on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hop-Hop Albums chart.
Production
Deniece Williams produced six of the album's tracks while George Duke produced the remaining four.[ 2] The production of the album was completed in early May 1984 before the album was released a few weeks later.[ 3]
Singles
The album's title track reached No. 1 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 , Hot Soul Singles , and Dance Club Play charts.[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] On the UK Pop Singles chart, it peaked at No. 2.[ 7] The song was written for the 1984 feature film Footloose and appears on its soundtrack . It was certified Platinum by the RIAA .
Other tracks from the album released as singles include, "Next Love ", which reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart,[ 8] and "Black Butterfly ", which reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[ 9]
Critical reception
Chris Albertson of Stereo Review noted "Williams not only has a fine voice, she also knows exactly how to use it-when to let it loose and when not to. There is no screaming here, just fine vocalizing and first-rate arrangements".[ 14] Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times scribed "Williams' sound may be light, but it always has a proficient and artful base."[ 12]
Track listing
Side two Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Haunting Me" Duke 4:57 2. "Don't Tell Me We Have Nothing" Williams 4:00 3. "Blind Dating" Williams 3:39 4. "Wrapped Up" Andrew Barrett George McMahon Williams 3:39 5. "Whiter Than Snow" Traditional Williams 3:44
Personnel
Vocals
Deniece Williams – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 6–10), arrangements (2)
George Merrill – backing vocals (1, 3, 5–9)
Shannon Rubicam – backing vocals (1, 3, 5–9)
Oren Waters – backing vocals (3, 9)
Roosevelt Christmas III – backing vocals (5, 6)
Musicians
George Duke – Memorymoog (1, 5), Prophet-5 (1, 4), Moog bass (1), LinnDrum programming (1, 6), keyboards (2), Rhodes (5), synthesizers (6), vocoder (6), special effects (6)
Leon Pendarvis – synthesizers (3, 8, 9), arrangements (3, 7–9)
Kevin Grady – synthesizers (3, 8, 9)
Russell Ferrante – acoustic piano (3, 4, 8, 9), Rhodes (4)
George Merrill – Roland Jupiter 8 (6), LinnDrum programming (6), arrangements (6)
Jerry Peters – organ (10), arrangements (10)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (1, 3, 5, 7–9)
Jeff Baxter – guitars (3, 7–9)
Michael Sembello – guitars (4, 6)
Nathan East – bass (3, 4, 7–9)
Freddie Washington – bass (5)
Ricky Lawson – drums (3–5, 7, 8)
Ricky Nelson – drums (9)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 3)
Sheila E. – percussion (5)
John Robinson – tom toms (6)
Ronnie Laws – tenor saxophone (2)
Richard Elliot – lyricon (4)
Hubert Laws – flute (5)
George Del Barrio – string arrangements (2)
Production
Larkin Arnold – executive producer
George Duke – producer (1, 4–6)
Deniece Williams – producer (2, 3, 7–10)
Tommy Vicari – remix engineer (1), recording engineer (4–6)
Tom Perry – engineer (2, 3, 7–10)
Mick Guzauski – recording engineer (4–6)
Nick Spigel – second engineer (4–6)
Mitch Gibson – second string engineer (4)
Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
Constance Guzman – production assistant
Tony Lane – art direction
Nancy Donald – art direction
Margaret MacFarlane – photography
Bridget Bergman – make-up
D.W. Enterprises – management
References
^ Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It For The Boy . Columbia Records . 1984.
^ Matthews, Carl (June 2, 1984). "Sounds: Deniece Williams" . The Afro-American . Baltimore . p. 11. Retrieved October 23, 2014 .
^ "Rolling Stones plan to do video, concert in L.A. during Olympics" . The Ledger . May 3, 1984. p. 2A. Retrieved October 23, 2014 .
^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Hot 100)" . Billboard .
^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Hot Soul Songs)" . Billboard .
^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Dance Club Songs)" . Billboard .
^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy" . Official Charts .
^ "Deniece Williams: Next Love (Dance Club Songs)" . Billboard .
^ "Deniece Williams: Black Butterfly (Hot Soul Songs)" . Billboard .
^ Considine, J.D. (June 10, 1984). Soundtracks show how well hip-hop music will prosper in the mainstream . Baltimore Sun . p. 121.
^ Morse, Steve (May 28, 1984). Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It For The Boy . Boston Globe . p. 100.
^ a b Johnson, Connie (June 10, 1984). "THE RECORD RACK: STYLISH FLUFF FROM DENIECE" . Los Angeles Times . p. 74.
^ Wyatt, Hugh (June 22, 1984). Tracing the origins of black music . New York Daily News . p. 140.
^ a b Albertson, Chris (September 1984). "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It For The Boy" (PDF) . americanradiohistory.com . Vol. 49, no. 9. Stereo Review . p. 97.
^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Top R&B Albums)" . Billboard .
^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Billboard 200)" . Billboard .
^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy" . dutchcharts.nl . Dutch Charts .
Studio albums Duet albums Compilation albums Singles Duet singles Related topics