If My Heart Had Wings (album)

Last updated
If My Heart Had Wings
If My Heart Had Wings (album).jpg
Studio album by
Released1995
Studio
  • Rumbo Recorders, Record One and Image Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • Conway and Andora Studios (Hollywood, California)
  • Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, California)
  • Aire L.A. Studios (Glendale, California)
  • Atlantic and Skyline Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre Pop
Label Atlantic [1]
Producer
Melissa Manchester chronology
Tribute
(1989)
If My Heart Had Wings
(1995)
Joy
(1997)

If My Heart Had Wings is an album by the American musician Melissa Manchester, released in 1995. [2] [3] It was a commercial disappointment. [4] [5]

Contents

Manchester promoted the album by performing its first single, "In a Perfect World", on the soap opera General Hospital . [6] [7]

Production

The album was executive produced by Arif Mardin and Michael Lippman. [8] Due to Manchester's work on the musical I Sent a Letter to My Love, the album was produced over a period of two years. [9] "If My Heart Had Wings" was written with Amy Sky. [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Entertainment Weekly C+ [14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]

Entertainment Weekly wrote that, "too often, the tunes on If My Heart Had Wings sound like bland anthems in search of a maudlin movie score." [14] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thought that "Manchester turns in a hopelessly-out-of-it performance that serves as a harsh reminder that having great pipes is no guarantee of success." [16] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution opined that it was "too bad Manchester couldn't take a cue from Bonnie Raitt, whose music has grown along with her shock of gray hair and her insight." [12]

AllMusic wrote that the album was "filled with big, dramatic ballads and widescreen production values." [11] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide considered the album to be "not a great work [but] representative of her talent." [15]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The House That Love Built"Melissa Manchester, Dana Merino, Matt Sherrod 4:25
2."In a Perfect World"Jud Friedman, Alan Rich, Wendy Waldman 4:14
3."If My Heart Had Wings"Melissa Manchester, Eric Kaz, Amy Sky 4:13
4."Heart of Love" Billie Hughes, Roxanne Seeman 4:23
5."To Be in Love with Me"Jody Davidson3:55
6."Here to Love You" Michael McDonald 4:25
7."Higher Ground"Kent Agee, Steve Dorff, George Green 4:18
8."Crazy People" Edgar Leslie, James V. Monaco 2:33
9."Moments Like This"Alan Rich, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel4:42
10."Don't Let Me Walk This Road Alone" David Foster, Keith Thomas, Linda Thompson 4:10

Personnel

Production

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References

  1. "Fall Music". The Advocate. Here Publishing. September 20, 1994.
  2. Lasswell, Mark (Feb 6, 1995). "Picks & pans — If My Heart Had Wings by Melissa Manchester". People. Vol. 43, no. 5. p. 27.
  3. Green, Blake (6 Feb 1995). "She Knows the Score". Newsday. p. B3.
  4. Deggans, Eric (29 Nov 1996). "Multitalented Manchester". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 25.
  5. Bream, Jon (20 Aug 1996). "Manchester leans to musicals". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
  6. "Singer Checks into 'Hospital'". News. The Star-Ledger. August 3, 1994.
  7. Hart, Marla (11 Aug 1994). "In the late '60s, when the pace of daytime drama was slower...". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 13.
  8. "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 5. Feb 4, 1995. p. 94.
  9. Renzetti, Elizabeth (16 June 1994). "Manchester's music guides her home". The Globe and Mail. p. E3.
  10. LeBlanc, Larry (Apr 13, 1996). "Amy Sky reaches new heights". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 15. p. 64.
  11. 1 2 "If My Heart Had Wings". AllMusic.
  12. 1 2 Longino, Miriam (January 28, 1995). "If My Heart Had Wings Melissa Manchester". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L16.
  13. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 462.
  14. 1 2 "If My Heart Had Wings". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. 1 2 MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 710.
  16. 1 2 Collins, Tracy (10 Mar 1995). "Melissa Manchester If My Heart Had Wings". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.