Melissa (Melissa Manchester album)

Melissa is the third album by Melissa Manchester, released on the Arista Records label in 1975. It reached #12 on the Billboard Albums chart on the strength of her first U.S. Top Ten hit "Midnight Blue" (#6). In 2001, the album was re-released.

Melissa
Melissa "Original Master Recording" vinyl album from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab
Studio album by Melissa Manchester
Released	January 1975
Genre	Pop
Label	Arista
Producer	Vini Poncia
Melissa Manchester chronology
Bright Eyes (1974) Melissa (1975) Better Days And Happy Endings (1976)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Christgau's Record Guide	B+[1]

Track listing

1. "We've Got Time" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 4:24
2. "Party Music" (Manchester, David Wolfert) – 3:29
3. "Just Too Many People" (Manchester, Vini Poncia) – 3:38
4. "Stevie's Wonder" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 3:35
5. "This Lady's Not Home Today" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 4:33
6. "Love Havin' You Around" (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) – 4:40
7. "Midnight Blue" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 3:55
8. "It's Gonna Be Alright" (Manchester, Adrienne Anderson) – 3:34
9. "I Got Eyes" (Manchester) – 2:45
10. "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" (Randy Newman) – 5:05

Personnel

• Melissa Manchester – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1, 4, 7, 8, 10), electric piano (5, 9), clavinet (6)
• James Newton Howard – electric piano (1-4, 7), clavinet (2, 8), ARP synthesizer (2, 9), organ (5, 6), acoustic piano (6), celesta (9)
• David Wolfert – acoustic guitar (1, 7), electric guitars (1-7), guitars (8)
• Cooker Lo Presti – bass
• Kirk Bruner – drums (1-8), percussion (2, 4), cuica (4), talking drum (6), backing vocals (9)
• King Errisson – congas (2, 5, 8)
• Don Diego Gujo – cowbell (8)
• Morton K. Salt – percussion (9)
• Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone (3, 6, 8), horn arrangements (3, 6, 8), string arrangements (3, 5, 7, 10), soprano saxophone (5), baritone saxophone (6, 8), alto saxophone (10)
• John Rotella – baritone saxophone (3)
• Gene Dinwiddie – tenor saxophone (6, 8)
• Lew McCreary – trombone (3)
• Steve Madaio – trumpet (3, 6, 8)
• Vini Poncia – backing vocals (1, 2, 7, 9)
• The Rhinestones – backing vocals (2)
• David Lasley – backing vocals (6)
• Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (6)
• Brie Howard – backing vocals (9)

Production

• Executive Producer – Richard Perry
• Producer – Vini Poncia
• Engineer – Bob Schaper
• Assistant Engineer – Reed Stanley
• Recorded at Sunset Sound (Los Angeles, CA) and A&R Studios (New York, NY).
• Remixed by Bill Schnee at Sound Labs (Hollywood, CA).
• Art Direction – Bob Heimall
• Design – Arton Associates
• Illustration – Pacific Eye & Ear
• Photography – Ed Caraeff

References

1. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 0-89919-026-X. Retrieved March 4, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.