Brenda Russell | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 25 July 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Studio | Kendun Recorders, Conway Recording Studios, United Western Recorders, Los Angeles, California | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:00 | |||
Label | Horizon Records | |||
Producer | André Fischer | |||
Brenda Russell chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
BBC | (favourable) [2] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+ [3] |
Brenda Russell is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Brenda Russell, released on 25 July 1979 by A&M Records on the Horizon label. [4] The album peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard R&B albums chart. [5]
After working for several years with her then-husband Brian Russell as session musicians and by themselves as the duo Brian & Brenda in the mid-1970s, the couple divorced and Brenda Russell embarked on a solo career by signing with A&M Records. [6]
The album was written almost entirely by Russell and produced by Andre Fischer, who was fresh off of a stint as drummer for Rufus. The single, "So Good So Right", reached Nos. 8, 15 and 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary, Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively. [7] [8] [9]
The track, ""Think It Over", written by Russell with her then-husband Brian, was previously recorded by Charlie's Angels star Cheryl Ladd, who ironically would go on to marry Brian following the latter's divorce from Brenda.
Luther Vandross did a cover of "If Only For One Night" on his 1985 album The Night I Fell In Love , and then in 2006, singer Janet Jackson sampled "If Only For One Night" in her song "Do It 2 Me" off the album 20 Y.O. . In 1998, American rapper Big Pun sampled "A Little Bit of Love" on his hit single "Still Not a Player". In 2003, Mexican singer Thalía sampled the song in "I Want You", and in 2013 Ariana Grande and Mac Miller sampled the same song for their Top 10 hit single, "The Way". In 2001, singer Mary J. Blige sampled "God Bless You" in her song "Flying Away".
In 2000, the album was re-released on CD with new cover artwork and included Russell's most well known hit "Piano in the Dark" from 1988 as a bonus track.
All tracks composed by Brenda Russell, except:
"You're Free" (lyrics: Brenda Russell, music: Andre Fischer, Brenda Russell)
"Think It Over" (lyrics: Brenda Russell, music: Brian Russell, Brenda Russell).
Album
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200 | 65 |
US R&B Chart | 26 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | "So Good, So Right" | US Billboard Hot 100 [10] | 30 |
1980 | "So Good, So Right" / "In the Thick of It" | UK Singles Chart [11] | 51 |
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