El DeBarge (album)

El DeBarge is the debut solo album of American singer El DeBarge, released on May 6, 1986 by Gordy Records. This album was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.^[1][2]

El DeBarge
Studio album by El DeBarge
Released	May 6, 1986
Recorded	1985
Studio	Garden Rake, Sherman Oaks Image Recording, Los Angeles Studio 55, Los Angeles Lion Share, Los Angeles Bill Schnee Studios, North Hollywood Conway, Hollywood
Genre	R&B, soul
Label	Gordy
Producer	Peter Wolf, Jay Graydon
El DeBarge chronology
El DeBarge (1986) Gemini (1989)
Singles from El DeBarge
"Who's Johnny" Released: April 8, 1986 "Love Always" Released: July 8, 1986 "Someone" Released: December 1986

Background

This album was produced by both Peter Wolf and Jay Graydon. Singer/actress Vanity sang background vocals on the tune, "Secrets Of The Night".^[1]

Singles

"Who's Johnny," peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Someone" was also a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[5]
Tom Hull – on the Web	B+ ()[6]

Jason Elias of AllMusic wrote, "While the setup and idea are still exciting on paper, [the album] is a disappointment." He also stated that "the majority of the [...] tracks just don't do anything to enliven the product or accentuate his voice," and concluded by writing that "the fact that DeBarge didn't have a hand in producing or writing the songs all but made this ho-hum from the start."^[4]

Jonathan Takiff of the Philadelphia Daily News found, "Sweet pop promises of romance match perfectly to El's lilting young man's voice and persona in new material borrowing inspiration from the likes of Kenny Loggins ("I Wanna Hear It from My Heart"), Stevie Wonder ("Someone"), and Mike McDonald ("Love Always," "Don't Say It's Over.").^[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Who's Johnny"	Peter Wolf, Ina Wolf	4:11
2.	"Secrets Of The Night"	Albert Hammond, Diane Warren	4:20
3.	"I Wanna Hear It From My Heart"	Diane Warren	4:25
4.	"Someone"	Jay Graydon, Mark Mueller, Robbie Nevil	4:45
5.	"When Love Has Gone Away"	Jack Conrad, Larry Henley	3:08
6.	"Private Line"	Diane Warren	3:48
7.	"Love Always"	Burt Bacharach, Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer-Sager	5:32
8.	"Lost Without Her Love"	Randy Goodrum, Graydon	4:35
9.	"Thrill Of The Chase"	Alan Roy Scott, Roy Freeland, Gary Pickus	3:47
10.	"Don't Say It's Over"	Diane Warren	4:32

Personnel

• El DeBarge – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (1, 3, 5–8, 10)
• Peter Wolf – various instruments (1, 3, 10), arrangements (1, 3, 10)
• Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (2), arrangements (2, 6), select instruments (6, 9), Fender Rhodes (7), Yamaha DX7 (7)
• Laythan Armor – additional synthesizer programming (2)
• David Boruff – additional synthesizer programming (2), saxophone (2, 6)
• Jay Graydon – all instruments (4), arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9), select instruments [synthesizers, guitar] (5, 8, 9)
• David Foster – select instruments (5), additional synthesizer (7)
• Randy Goodrum – select instruments (5, 8)
• Burt Bacharach – additional synthesizer (7), arrangements (7)
• Michael Boddicker – select instruments (9)
• Dann Huff – guitar (1–3, 6, 7, 10)
• Marty Walsh – guitar (7)
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass (7)
• Mike Baird – select instruments [presumably drums] (5, 9)
• John Robinson – drums (7)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (7)
• Ernie Watts – alto sax solo (10)
• Robbie Nevil – arrangements (4)
• Carole Bayer Sager – arrangements (7)
• Tata Vega - vocals (4)
• Siedah Garrett – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Dennis Lambert – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Michael McDonald – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Phil Perry – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Julia Waters – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Oren Waters – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Ina Wolf – backing vocals (1, 3, 10)
• Vanity – backing vocals (2)
• Tommy Funderburk – backing vocals (6)
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (6)
• Bunny Hull – backing vocals (6)
• Tom Kelly – backing vocals (6)
• Richard Page – backing vocals (8)

Production

• Peter Wolf – producer (1, 3, 10)
• Robbie Buchanan – producer (2, 6)
• Jay Graydon – producer (4, 5, 8, 9), recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
• Burt Bacharach – producer (7)
• Carole Bayer Sager – producer (7)
• Toby Jones – executive producer
• Brian Malouf – recording (1, 3, 10), mixing (1, 3, 10)
• Barney Perkins – recording (2, 6), remixing (2, 6)
• Ian Eales – recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
• Dennis Mackay – mixing (4, 5, 8, 9), additional engineer (6)
• Michael Bowman – assistant engineer (1, 3, 10)
• Dan Garcia – assistant engineer (1, 3, 10)
• Stephen Krause – assistant engineer (1, 3, 10)
• Glen Holquin – assistant engineer (2)
• Craig Miller – assistant engineer (2)
• Mike Ross – additional engineer (6)
• Gail Pierson – album coordinator
• Johnny Lee – art direction
• Janet Levinson – design
• Greg Gorman – photography

Studios

• Recorded at Garden Rake Studio (Sherman Oaks, CA); Image Recording Studios, Studio 55 and Lion Share Recording Studio (Los Angeles, CA); Bill Schnee Studios (North Hollywood, CA); Conway Studios (Hollywood, CA).
• Mixed at Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, CA); Conway Studios, Studio 55 and Lion Share Recording Studio.
• Tracks 2 & 6 remixed at Yamaha International Recording (Glendale, CA).

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986) Peak position US Billboard 200[8] 24 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] 35

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.