Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (Gloria Estefan album)

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Studio album by Gloria Estefan
Released	October 18, 1994
Recorded	1993–1994
Studio	Crescent Moon Studios and Criteria Studios (Miami, Florida) Edison Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre	Dance pop
Length	46:08 (US, Canadian & Argentinean [1st Release] version) 56:07 (worldwide version)
Label	Epic
Producer	Emilio Estefan Jr. Clay Ostwald Jorge Casas Lawrence Dermer
Gloria Estefan chronology
Christmas Through Your Eyes (1993) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me (1994) Abriendo Puertas (1995)
Singles from Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
"Turn the Beat Around" Released: September 27, 1994 "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" Released: November 21, 1994 (UK, Europe and Australia) "Everlasting Love" Released: January 3, 1995 "It's Too Late" Released: May 9, 1995 "Cherchez La Femme" Released: June 1995

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B [2]
Knoxville News Sentinel	[3]
Music Week	[4]

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me is the fifth studio solo album and first cover album by Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan, released in October 1994. It is Estefan's 17th album overall. The album features cover versions of songs from artists such as Carole King, Elton John, Vicki Sue Robinson, Karen Chandler, and Robert Knight, among others. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 and has sold over 2 million copies in the United States.

The album includes the hit singles "Turn the Beat Around" and "Everlasting Love", both of which topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Critical reception

Upon the release, Billboard magazine wrote, "Her pick list is wide ranging and highly entertaining, meandering from the thrilling sounds of elegant title track, to disco nugget 'Turn the Beat Around', and on through the likes of 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do', 'Love on a Two-Way Street', "It's Too Late', and lovelorn 'Goodnight, My Love'. Through it all, her voice is remarkable, her pleasure palpable. The enthusiasm is catching." ^[5] Music & Media commented, "Caramba, coveritis has hit the Estefan estate. For every mood there's a song, but mainly for the late night wine-and-dine atmosphere. 'Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying' feels like the kind of moonlit drama, the original singers Gerry & The Pacemakers intended it to be. The European bonus track 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me' by you know who, only intensifies the romance which is in the air. Sometimes the tempo goes up like on the Blood, Sweat & Tears song 'You've Made Me So Very Happy'. For the single 'Turn the Beat Around'–an old '70s disco hit by Vicki Sue Robinson–she has even polished her Miami Sound Machine dancing shoes." ^[6]

Track listing

US, Canadian and Argentinean (1st release) edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Originally recorded by	Length
1.	"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me"	Harry Noble, Jr.	Karen Chandler	3:21
2.	"How Can I Be Sure?"	Felix Cavaliere, Edward Brigati, Jr.	The Young Rascals	3:15
3.	"Everlasting Love"	Buzz Cason, Mac Gayden	Robert Knight	4:01
4.	"Traces"	Buddy Buie, Emory Gordy, Jr., J.R. Cobb	The Classics IV	3:22
5.	"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (also includes "Trois Gymnopédies," a variation on a theme by Erik Satie)	Fred Marsden, Gerard Marsden, Les Chadwick, Les Maguire	Gerry & The Pacemakers	4:21
6.	"You've Made Me So Very Happy"	Berry Gordy, Jr., Frank Wilson, Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway	Brenda Holloway	4:44
7.	"Turn the Beat Around"	Peter Jackson, Gerald Jackson	Vicki Sue Robinson	3:52
8.	"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"	Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield	Neil Sedaka	3:13
9.	"Love on a Two-Way Street"	Sylvia Robinson, Burt Keyes	Lezli Valentine	4:12
10.	"Cherchez La Femme"	August Darnell, Stony Browder, Jr.	Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band	4:58
11.	"It's Too Late"	Carole King, Toni Stern	Carole King	3:57
12.	"Goodnight, My Love"	George Motola, John Marascalco	Jesse Belvin	2:52

International bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Originally Recorded by	Length
13.	"Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me"	Elton John, Bernie Taupin	Elton John	6:12

Australian bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Originally recorded by	Length
14.	"Everlasting Love" (Alternate Mix)	Buzz Cason, Mac Gayden	Robert Knight	3:47

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic. ^[7]

Musicians

• Gloria Estefan – vocals
• Clay Ostwald – programming (1, 9, 13), acoustic piano (1, 11, 13), Hammond organ (6), Fender Rhodes (8, 11), keyboards (9)
• Jorge Casas – programming (1–3, 9, 13), bass (1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13), classical guitar (2, 5), 12-string guitar (2, 11), mandocello (2), fretless bass (2, 5, 12), guitars (9)
• Lawrence Dermer – programming (2–4, 7, 8, 10), acoustic piano (2, 6, 8, 12), tambourine (2), Fender Rhodes (3, 7)
• Emilio Estefan, Jr. – accordion (2)
• Nathaniel Seidman – programming (7, 10)
• Tim Mitchell – guitars (1, 6, 8, 9), classical guitar (5), acoustic guitar (11), electric guitar (11)
• Andy Goldman – guitars (3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12)
• Juanito Márquez – classical guitar (4)
• Brian Monroney – guitars (13)
• Israel "Cachao" López – double bass (4)
• Frank Cornelius – bass (7)
• Steve Rucker – drums (2, 4, 6, 8, 11–12)
• Edwin Bonilla – percussion (3, 5–6, 11)
• Ed Calle – tenor saxophone (3, 6, 7, 10, 11), soprano saxophone (4), baritone saxophone (6, 11), flute (7)
• Whit Sidener – alto saxophone (3)
• Nestor Torres – alto flute (5)
• Cindy Sluka – English horn (5), oboe (5)
• Gary Lindsay – alto saxophone (6, 7, 10, 11)
• Paquito D'Rivera – clarinet (10)
• Teddy Mulet – trombone (2, 6, 7, 10), muted trumpet (6)
• Dana Teboe – trombone (3, 6, 7, 10, 11)
• Randy Barlow – trumpet (2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11), programming (11)
• Jim Hacker – trumpet (6, 7, 10, 11)
• Lauren Hammock – French horn (2, 10)
• Andrew Lewinter – French horn (2, 10)
• Stephen Sigurdson – cello (5)

Orchestra (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 7–10 & 12)

• Hector Garrido – string orchestration and conductor (1, 4, 7, 12)
• Juanito Márquez – string orchestration and conductor (2, 8–10)
• David Nadien – orchestra contractor, concertmaster
• Atsushi Kosugi – orchestra coordinator
• Jesse Levy, Richard Locker, Charles McCracken, Mark Shuman and Fred Zlotkin – cello
• John Beal and Homer Mensch – double bass
• Lamar Alsop, Julien Barber, Olivia Koppell and Sue Pray – viola
• Abe Appleman, Elena Barare, Barry Finclair, Regis Iandiorio, Jean Ingraham, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Jan Mullen, David Nadien, Sandra Park, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Laura Seaton, Richard Sortomme, Marti Sweet, Gerard Tarack and Donna Tecco – violin

Backing vocals

• Gloria Estefan
• Donna Allen – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
• Lawrence Dermer – backing vocals (1, 3, 9, 10, 12)
• Joy Francis – backing vocals (1)
• LaGaylia Frazier – backing vocals (1, 10)
• Rick Krive – backing vocals (1)
• Rita Quintero – backing vocals (1, 13)
• Charles Christopher – backing vocals (3, 9, 12)
• Chelto Quiñones – backing vocals (10)
• Jon Secada – backing vocals (13)

Production

• Emilio Estefan, Jr. – executive producer, producer, management
• Jorge Casas – producer
• Clay Ostwald – producer
• Lawrence Dermer – producer
• Eric Schilling – engineer, mixing (1–4, 6–8, 10, 13)
• Mike Couzzi – mixing (5, 9, 11, 12)
• Patrice Levinsohn – additional engineer
• Scott Perry – additional engineer
• Ted Stein – additional engineer
• Ron Taylor – additional engineer
• Marcelo Añez – assistant engineer
• Scott Canto – assistant engineer
• Sean Chambers – assistant engineer
• Mark Gruber – assistant engineer
• Sebastián Krys – assistant engineer
• Steve Robillar – assistant engineer
• Yvonne Yedibalian – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine)
• Nancy Donald – art direction
• Hooshik Sharon Bayliss – design
• Alberto Tolot – photography
• Serena Radaelli – hair
• Francesca Tolot – make-up
• Robertino Trovati – stylist

Chart positions

Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) [8] 11 Canadian Albums (RPM) [9] 36 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [10] 16 European Albums (Music & Media) [11] 28 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [12] 89 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [13] 18 Spanish Albums (Promusicae) [14] 6 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [15] 40 UK Albums (OCC) [16] 5 US Billboard 200 [17] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Peak position US Billboard 200 61

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina	—	99,000 [18]
Australia (ARIA) [19]	Platinum	70,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [20]	Platinum	100,000^
Japan (RIAJ) [21]	Gold	100,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [22]	4× Platinum	400,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [23]	Platinum	300,000^
United States (RIAA) [24]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

Year	Award Show	Award
1995	Billboard Music Award	Billboard Music Video of the Year for "Everlasting Love"

Release history

Region	Date
Europe	October 17, 1994 (1994-10-17)
Canada	October 18, 1994 (1994-10-18)
United States
Australia & New Zealand	November 1, 1994 (1994-11-01)
Austria	October 14, 1994 (1994-10-14)
Asia	November 1, 1994 (1994-11-01)
France	October 18, 1994 (1994-10-18)
Germany	October 14, 1994 (1994-10-14)
Latin America	November 1, 1994 (1994-11-01)
Poland	October 21, 1994 (1994-10-21)
Spain	October 19, 1994 (1994-10-19)
Switzerland	October 17, 1994 (1994-10-17)
Japan	November 3, 1994 (1994-11-03)

References

1. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me at AllMusic
2. "Entertainment Weekly review". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
3. Campbell, Chuck (October 28, 1994). "Bedtime' With Madonna Is A Bit Drowsy". Knoxville News Sentinel .
4. Jones, Alan (October 15, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week . p. 19. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
5. "Album Reviews: Pop" (PDF). Billboard . November 5, 1994. p. 94. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
6. "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 44. October 29, 1994. p. 12. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
7. "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me - Gloria Estefan | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
8. "Australiancharts.com – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
9. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
11. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Retrieved September 12, 2025.
12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
13. "Charts.nz – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
14. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
16. "Gloria Estefan | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
17. "Gloria Estefan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
18. "Top 30". Página 12 (in Spanish). January 12, 1995. p. 4. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
19. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved July 18, 2021.
20. "Canadian album certifications – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". Music Canada.
21. "Japanese album certifications – グロリア・エステファン – ホールド・ミー、スリル・ミー、キス・ミー" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved June 11, 2019.Select 1996年1月 on the drop-down menu
22. "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995". Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano.
23. "British album certifications – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". British Phonographic Industry.
24. "American album certifications – Gloria Estefan – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me at Discogs (list of releases)
• Gloria Estefan Discography Database