Singin'
Encyclopedia
Singin'... is a 1977 album release by Melissa Manchester
on Arista Records
.
This was Manchester's sixth album and fourth and final collaboration with producer Vini Poncia
who had produced her 1975 commercial breakthrough Melissa
.
After the first of Manchester's two 1976 album releases': Better Days & Happy Endings failed to consolidate her stardom Arista had attempted to restore Manchester's chart fortunes by making the lead single from the subsequent Help Is on the Way album not a Manchester original but rather the Michael Franks composition "Monkey See, Monkey Do". This strategy proving unsuccessful Arista then had Manchester record "Singin'..." which eschewed Manchester's songwriting - save for one track: "No One's Ever Seen This Side of Me" - in favor of outside material including remakes of hits by Michael Jackson
("I Wanna Be Where You Are
"), Sly and the Family Stone ("Stand
"), Three Dog Night
("Let Me Serenade You") and the Beach Boys
("The Warmth of the Sun
"). The tracklisting was completed by Manchester's versions of songs written and previously recorded by James Taylor
("You Make It Easy") and Wendy Waldman
("My Love Is All I Know") and a new song: "Sad Eyes" written by David Spinozza
who played guitar on the album.
Singin'... was innovative for its time being an early example of the cover album. However upon its 1977 summer release Singin'... failed to boost Manchester's faded chart presence, the release of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" as a single being overlooked. However the last-named track did attract the attention of the song's composer Leon Ware
who resultantly took over as producer as Manchester's producer for what would ultimately prove to be her comeback album Don't Cry Out Loud
(although that album's Top Ten hit title cut
would be produced by Harry Maslin).
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
on Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
.
This was Manchester's sixth album and fourth and final collaboration with producer Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia
Vini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
who had produced her 1975 commercial breakthrough Melissa
Melissa (Melissa Manchester album)
Melissa is a 1975 album by Melissa Manchester and was released on the Arista Records label. In 2001 the album was re-released.-Track listing:# "We've Got Time" # "Party Music"...
.
After the first of Manchester's two 1976 album releases': Better Days & Happy Endings failed to consolidate her stardom Arista had attempted to restore Manchester's chart fortunes by making the lead single from the subsequent Help Is on the Way album not a Manchester original but rather the Michael Franks composition "Monkey See, Monkey Do". This strategy proving unsuccessful Arista then had Manchester record "Singin'..." which eschewed Manchester's songwriting - save for one track: "No One's Ever Seen This Side of Me" - in favor of outside material including remakes of hits by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
("I Wanna Be Where You Are
I Wanna Be Where You Are
"I Wanna Be Where You Are" is a song written by Arthur "T-Boy" Ross and Leon Ware for Michael Jackson, who took the song to number sixteen on the U.S. pop singles chart and number two on the U.S. R&B singles chart in 1972...
"), Sly and the Family Stone ("Stand
Stand!
Stand! is the fourth studio album by soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone, released May 3, 1969 on Epic Records. Written and produced by lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone, Stand! was the band's breakout album. It went on to sell over three million copies and become one of the most...
"), Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
("Let Me Serenade You") and the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
("The Warmth of the Sun
The Warmth of the Sun
"The Warmth of the Sun" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2 and as the B-side of the "Dance, Dance, Dance" single, which charted at number eight in the United States and number twenty-four...
"). The tracklisting was completed by Manchester's versions of songs written and previously recorded by James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
("You Make It Easy") and Wendy Waldman
Bryndle
Bryndle was an American folk-rock band first formed in the late 1960s in Los Angeles.The original lineup consisted of singer-songwriters Wendy Waldman, Karla Bonoff, Andrew Gold, and Kenny Edwards ,...
("My Love Is All I Know") and a new song: "Sad Eyes" written by David Spinozza
David Spinozza
David Spinozza is an American musician , who worked with former Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon during the 1970s, and had a long collaboration with singer-songwriter James Taylor, producing Taylor's album Walking Man....
who played guitar on the album.
Singin'... was innovative for its time being an early example of the cover album. However upon its 1977 summer release Singin'... failed to boost Manchester's faded chart presence, the release of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" as a single being overlooked. However the last-named track did attract the attention of the song's composer Leon Ware
Leon Ware
Leon Ware is a soul music singer, songwriter and producer. Best known for crafting the hit album, I Want You, originally recorded for Ware, until friend and Motown icon Marvin Gaye was assigned to the album in 1976...
who resultantly took over as producer as Manchester's producer for what would ultimately prove to be her comeback album Don't Cry Out Loud
Don't Cry Out Loud (Melissa Manchester album)
Don't Cry Out Loud is the title of the seventh album by Melissa Manchester; it was released by Arista Records in October 1978.-Background:...
(although that album's Top Ten hit title cut
Don't Cry Out Loud (song)
"Don't Cry Out Loud" is the title of a song written in 1976 by Peter Allen with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager which is best known as a hit single for Melissa Manchester in the US and for Elkie Brooks in the UK.-Early versions:...
would be produced by Harry Maslin).
Track listing
- Sad Eyes - 4:05
- I Wanna Be Where You Are - 3:50
- A Love Of Your Own - 4:02
- No One's Ever Seen This Side Of Me - 3:18
- You Make It Easy - 5:08
- Stand - 4:03
- My Love Is All I Know - 3:37
- Time - 4:17
- Let Me Serenade You - 3:52
- The Warmth Of The Sun - 4:53
- Come In From The Rain (Alternate Take) - 4:20
- Long Goodbyes - 2:59
- My Boyfriend's Back (Extended Version 12") - 5:34