Abstract Emotions

Abstract Emotions
Studio album by Randy Crawford
Released	1986
Genre	R&B, pop
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Reggie Lucas, Hawk Wolinski, James Newton Howard
Randy Crawford chronology
Nightline (1983) Abstract Emotions (1986) Rich and Poor (1989)

Abstract Emotions is the eighth studio album by American singer Randy Crawford, released in 1986 on Warner Bros. Records. ^{[1] [2]} The album reached No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Silver in the UK by the BPI. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
The Philadelphia Inquirer	[7]

Lennox Samuels of The Dallas Morning News called Abstract Emotions "a solid, sensual album of R&B-pop material ... the mostly mid- to up-tempo tunes give the LP an upbeat tone, though Crawford also does well with slower songs." ^[8] Ken Tucker of The Philadelphia Inquirer praised the album, saying that "Crawford sings a series of tart pop songs about love gone wrong that neatly avoids self-pity or facile despair." ^[7]

Ron Wynn of AllMusic noted that "Randy Crawford continued her run of good '80s albums ... with this 1986 release". ^[6]

Track listing

Side one

1. "Can't Stand the Pain" (Dean Gant, Mark Winkler) – 6:02
2. "Actual Emotional Love" (Billie Hughes, Roxanne Seeman) – 5:05
3. "World of Fools" (Rolf Graf, Alix Zandrs) – 5:00
4. "Betcha" (Reggie Lucas, Leslie L. Smith) – 4:31
5. "Higher Than Anyone Can Count" (Mary Unobsky, Daniel Ironstone) – 4:14

Side two

1. "Desire" (Reggie Lucas) – 5:25 ^[9]
2. "Getting' Away With Murder" (Sue Shifrin, Terry Britten) – 4:02
3. "Overnight" (Reggie Lucas) – 5:14
4. "Almaz" (Randy Crawford) – 4:04
5. "Don't Wanna be Normal" (Patrick Leonard, Hawk Wolinski, James Newton Howard, David Pack, Michael McDonald) – 5:20 ^[1]

Personnel

• Randy Crawford – vocals
• "Sir" Dean Gant – keyboards (1–9), synthesizers (1–9), synthesizer programming (1–9)
• Ed Walsh – keyboards (1–9), synthesizers (1–9), synthesizer programming (1–9)
• Harry Whitaker – keyboards (1–9), synthesizers (1–9)
• Fred Zarr – keyboards (1–9), synthesizers (1–9)
• Reggie Lucas – Synclavier II programming (1–9), Octave-Plateau sequencer programming (1–9), guitars (1–9)
• James Newton Howard – keyboards (10), keyboard programming (10)
• Hawk Wolinski – keyboards (10), keyboard programming (10)
• Patrick Leonard – additional synthesizers (10)
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (10)
• Anthony Jackson – electric bass guitar (1–9)
• Bashiri Johnson – percussion ( 1–9)
• Leslie Ming – percussion (1–9)
• Lisa Fischer – backing vocals (1–9)
• Curtis King – backing vocals (1–9)
• Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals (1–9)
• Brenda Wright King – backing vocals (1–9)
• Norma Jean Wright – backing vocals (1–9)

Production

• Reggie Lucas – producer (1–9), arrangements (1–9)
• James Newton Howard – producer (10)
• Hawk Wolinski – producer (10)
• Joe Ferla – engineer (1–9)
• Ray Blair – engineer (10)
• Peter Doell – mixing (10)
• Jim Dougherty – additional engineer (1–9)
• Jay Mark – additional engineer (1–9)
• Alan Silverman – additional engineer (1–9)
• Jeff Cox – assistant engineer (1–9)
• Craig Johnson – assistant engineer (1–9)
• Glenn Rosenstein – assistant engineer (1–9)
• Jimmy Santis – assistant engineer (1–9)
• Pietro Alifani – art direction, design
• Aaron Rapoport – photography
• Wendy Osmonden – make-up

Studios

• Recorded and mixed at Quantum Sound Studios (Jersey City, New Jersey).
• Additional recording at Giant Sound Studios and Sigma Sound Studios, (New York City, New York).
• Mastered at Direct Digital Mastering.

References

1. Randy Crawford (1986). Abstract Emotions (album). Warner Bros. Records.
2. "Billboard - New Releases" (PDF). Billboard. June 14, 1986.
3. "Randy Crawford". officialcharts.com. Official Charts . Retrieved July 17, 2014.
4. "Randy Crawford: Abstract Emotions". bpi.co.uk. BPI.
5. "Billboard - Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. July 5, 1986.
6. Wynn, Ron. "Abstract Emotions Randy Crawford". AllMusic .
7. Tucker, Ken (June 29, 1986). "JOHN PRINE ISSUES HIS 10TH RECORD". Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved April 8, 2025– via newsbank.com.
8. Samuels, Lennox (August 17, 1986). "WINWOOD'S GROWING SOPHISTICATION DISPLAYED IN "BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE"". The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved April 8, 2025– via newsbank.com.
9. "Randy Crawford - "Desire" From the album Abstract Emotions" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. 1986.