(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me

Last updated
"(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me"
(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me.jpg
Single by Alexander O'Neal
from the album Hearsay
Released1988 (1988)
Recorded1986
Genre R&B
Length4:25 (Album version)
Label Tabu
Songwriter(s) Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Producer(s) Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Alexander O'Neal singles chronology
"The Lovers"
(1988)
"(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me"
(1988)
"Fake '88"
(1988)

"(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the fifth single from the singer's second solo album, Hearsay (1987). The song's distinctive backing vocals were performed by Lisa Keith. Following the successful chart performances of the Hearsay singles "Fake", "Criticize", "Never Knew Love Like This", and "The Lovers", "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me" was released as the album's fifth single.

Contents

Release

The song O'Neal's eleventh top 40 single which reached #27 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1988, and #68 on the R&B chart in O'Neal's native United States.

Track listing

  1. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me" – 4:25
  2. "A Broken Heart Can Mend" – 3:40
  3. " You Were Meant to Be My Lady (Not My Girl) (Extended Dance Remix)" – 9:50
  1. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me (Hateful Club Mix)" – 6:47
  2. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me (Dance Dub)" – 5:50
  3. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me (Bonus Beats)" – 3:21
  4. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me (Ben Liebrand Remix)" – 6:41
  5. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me (A Capella)" – 3:55
  1. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me (Edit)"
  2. "A Broken Heart Can Mend"
  1. "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me" – 4:25
  2. "A Broken Heart Can Mend" – 3:40
  3. "You Were Meant to Be My Lady (Not My Girl) (Extended Dance Remix)" – 9:50

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. [1]

Sales chart performance

Peak positions

Chart (1988)Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs [2] 68
US Hot Dance Club Songs [2] 32
UK Singles Chart [3] 27

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander O'Neal</span> American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger

Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger from Natchez, Mississippi.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Alexander ONeal album) 2004 greatest hits album by Alexander ONeal

Greatest Hits is a singles compilation album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal, released on 23 August 2004. Greatest Hits comprises fifteen best-selling singles released between 1985 and 1993.

<i>Hearsay</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Alexander ONeal

Hearsay is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It was released on July 29, 1987 by Tabu and Epic as the follow-up to O'Neal's critically and commercially successful studio album Alexander O'Neal (1985). Hearsay explores similar genres to those of Alexander O'Neal including pop, R&B, soul, post-disco, funk, and adult contemporary music, while also incorporating a newer genre, new jack swing. The songs were recorded from 1986 to 1987 in sessions that took place at Flyte Time Productions, Inc. Studio A & B in Minneapolis, Minnesota, assisted by R&B songwriting and record production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It features contributions from guest musicians, including Cherrelle, David Eiland, and Lisa Keith, and is generally regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of O'Neal's early work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturday Love</span> 1985 single by Cherrelle

"Saturday Love" is a song performed by American R&B singers Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal. The song was written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and was released in October 1985. It peaked at No. 2 on the US R&B chart and became a moderate pop hit peaking at No. 26 on the US Hot 100 in the spring of 1986. It reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 7 on the Irish Singles Chart. The song appeared on Cherrelle's gold album, High Priority on Tabu Records and included an extended spoken dialogue introduction skit set in a bar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Knew Love Like This</span> 1988 single by Alexander ONeal featuring Cherrelle

"Never Knew Love Like This" is a top ten US R&B hit song duetted by American R&B singers Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal; released in 1988. The song peaked at #2 in the US R&B chart, #26 in the UK and #28 in the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lovers (Alexander O'Neal song)</span> 1988 single by Alexander ONeal

"The Lovers" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the fourth single from the singer's second solo album, Hearsay (1987). The song's distinctive backing vocals were performed by Cherrelle and Lisa Keith. Following the successful chart performances of the Hearsay singles "Fake", "Criticize", and "Never Knew Love Like This", "The Lovers" was released as the album's fourth single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Criticize (song)</span> 1987 single by Alexander ONeal

"Criticize" is a song by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal, written by O'Neal and Jellybean Johnson. It was the second single from O'Neal's second solo album, Hearsay (1987). The song's distinctive backing vocals were performed by Lisa Keith. Following the successful chart performances of the Hearsay single "Fake", "Criticize" was released as the album's second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hearsay (song)</span> 1989 single by Alexander ONeal

"Hearsay" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the fourth track from the O'Neal's second studio album, Hearsay (1987). The original track from the album wasn't released as a single but in 1989, a remixed version was released in the UK and it became a minor hit there, peaking at #56.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fake (Alexander O'Neal song)</span> 1987 single by Alexander ONeal

"Fake" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the first single from the O'Neal's second studio album, Hearsay (1987). It is one of the artist's most recognizable signature songs, and a favorite of many O'Neal fans worldwide.

<i>Alexander ONeal</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Alexander ONeal

Alexander O'Neal is the debut solo studio album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It was originally released in 1985 by Tabu and Epic. The songs were recorded during 1984 to 1985 in sessions that took place at Creation Audio in Minnesota, and Larrabee Sound in Los Angeles, California, assisted by R&B songwriting and record production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

<i>My Gift to You</i> (Alexander ONeal album) 1988 studio album by Alexander ONeal

My Gift to You is the first and only Christmas album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal, released on November 11, 1988, by Tabu Records.

<i>Love Makes No Sense</i> 1993 studio album by Alexander ONeal

Love Makes No Sense is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. The album was O'Neal's final release for Tabu, and his first album made without formal production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine (Alexander O'Neal song)</span> 1989 single by Alexander ONeal

"Sunshine" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the sixth and final single from the singer's second solo album, Hearsay (1987). Following the successful chart performances of the Hearsay singles "Fake", "Criticize", "Never Knew Love Like This", and "The Lovers", and "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me", the single was released as an EP titled Sunshine and Rain. Despite its success on US radio, it was the album's poorest-selling single in the UK, peaking at #72. The song had been performed live prior to the song's release with Level 42 at the Prince's Trust Gala on 25 July 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's Missing</span> 1986 single by Alexander ONeal

What's Missing is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the fourth single from the singer's self-titled debut studio album, Alexander O'Neal (1985). Following the moderately successful chart performances of the Alexander O'Neal singles "Innocent", "If You Were Here Tonight", and "A Broken Heart Can Mend", "What's Missing" was released as the album's fourth single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Broken Heart Can Mend</span> 1985 single by Alexander ONeal

"A Broken Heart Can Mend" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the third single from O'Neal's self-titled debut studio album, Alexander O'Neal (1985). Following the moderately successful chart performances of the Alexander O'Neal singles "Innocent", and "If You Were Here Tonight", "A Broken Heart Can Mend" was released as the album's third single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Is This Thing Called Love? (Alexander O'Neal song)</span> 1991 single by Alexander ONeal

"What Is This Thing Called Love?" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the second single from the singer's fourth solo album, All True Man (1991). The song's distinctive backing vocals were performed by Lisa Keith. Following the successful chart performances of the All True Man single "All True Man", "What Is This Thing Called Love?" was released as the album's second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Makes No Sense (song)</span> 1993 single by Alexander ONeal

"Love Makes No Sense" is a song written by Tony Tolbert and Lance Alexander and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the first single from the singer's fifth solo album, Love Makes No Sense (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Middle (Alexander O'Neal song)</span> 1993 single by Alexander ONeal

"In the Middle" is a song written by Terry Coffey and Jon Nettlesbey and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the second single from his fifth studio album, Love Makes No Sense (1993). The song's distinctive backing vocals were performed by Cherrelle. Following the successful chart performances of the single "Love Makes No Sense", "In the Middle" was released as the album's second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All That Matters to Me</span> 1993 single by Alexander ONeal

"All That Matters to Me" is a song written by Franne Golde and Allee Willis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the fourth single from the singer's fifth solo album, Love Makes No Sense (1993). Following the successful chart performances of the Love Makes No Sense single "Love Makes No Sense", "In the Middle", and "Aphrodisia", "All That Matters to Me" was released as the album's fourth single.

<i>All Mixed Up</i> (Alexander ONeal album) 1988 remix album by Alexander ONeal

Hearsay - All Mixed Up is a remix album consisting of songs performed by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It was originally released in 1988, by Tabu and Epic. It collects together single remixes of tracks taken from O'Neal's critically and commercially successful 1987 album Hearsay. CD and cassette releases contain bonus tracks featuring contemporary remixes of songs from the earlier Alexander O'Neal album.

References

  1. Hearsay liner notes. Tabu Records. 1987.
  2. 1 2 "US Singles Charts > Alexander O'Neal". Billboard. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  3. "UK Charts > Alexander O'Neal". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2012-05-26.