Jonathan Butler (album)

Jonathan Butler
Studio album by Jonathan Butler
Released	1987
Studio	Battery, London, UK Minot Sound, White Plains, New York Hit Factory, New York City Unique Recording, New York City Sigma Sound, New York City
Genre	Jazz Funk Soul
Producer	Barry Eastmond Bryan "Chuck" New
Jonathan Butler chronology
Jonathan Butler (1987) More Than Friends (1988)
Singles from Jonathan Butler
"Lies" Released: 1987 "Overflowing" Released: 1987

Jonathan Butler is a 1987 album by South African singer-guitarist Jonathan Butler. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[5]

Ron Wynn of Allmusic in a 3/5 stars review, described this as "The album that made Butler a star. The sweeping ballads, catchy uptempo, dance-oriented hits, and multi-tracked overdubs and background vocalists helped make his music a staple on late '80s Urban Contemporary radio." ^[5]

One Heartbeat was ranked at No. 2 on Robert K. Oermann of USA Today's list of 1987's top 50 R&B albums. ^[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Jonathan Butler and Jolyon Skinner, except where noted.

1. "Lies" (US No. 27; UK No. 18) - 4:37
2. "Love Songs, Candlelight & You" - 5:00
3. "Going Home" (Butler) - 4:44
4. "I Miss Your Love Tonight" (Butler, Skinner, Barry Eastmond) - 4:20
5. "Holding On" - 4:12
6. "One More Dance" - 4:37
7. "Take Good Care Of Me" - 4:28
8. "Barenese" - 4:33
9. "All Over You" - 4:34
10. "Overflowing" (Butler, Eastmond, Keith Diamond) - 4:05
11. "Lovin' You" - 4:58
12. "Sunset" (Butler) - 4:15
13. "Say We'll Be Together" - 4:00
14. "Give A Little More Lovin'" (Butler, Simon May) - 4:10
15. "Reunion" (Butler, Eastmond) - 5:03
16. "High Tide" (Butler) - 4:42

Personnel

• Jonathan Butler – lead vocals (1, 2, 4-7, 9-11, 13, 14), backing vocals (1, 2, 5-7, 9, 11, 13), lead guitar (1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16), rhythm arrangements (3, 8, 13, 16), guitars (4, 5, 9, 11), keyboards (11, 15), 12-string guitar (12), all instruments (14)
• Barry Eastmond – keyboards (1-13, 15, 16), horn arrangements (1, 5), rhythm arrangements (3, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16), string arrangements (6, 7, 11, 12), drum programming (9), Simmons drums (10)
• Eric Rehl – keyboards (2, 4-6, 8, 9), synthesizers (12)
• Jason Miles – synth horns (9), synthesizer programming (11, 13, 15)
• Ira Siegel – rhythm guitar (1, 10)
• Doc Powell – rhythm guitar (3, 13, 15, 16), guitars (10)
• Wayne Braithwaite – bass (1, 2, 5, 7, 10-13)
• Luico Hopper – bass (3, 16)
• Buddy Williams – drums (1-3, 8, 15, 16)
• Chris Parker – drums (5)
• Terry Silverlight – drums (6, 7, 12)
• Bernard Davis – drums (10)
• Bashiri Johnson – percussion (2, 5, 7-10, 12, 16)
• Ralph MacDonald – percussion (3, 15)
• Anthony MacDonald – percussion (13)
• Charles Dougherty – horns (1, 5)
• V. Jeffrey Smith – horns (1, 5), backing vocals (2, 4, 6, 9, 10)
• Earl Gardner – horns (1, 5)
• Ron Tooley – horns (1, 5)
• Chris Hunter – alto saxophone (3, 11)
• Chris White – alto saxophone (7)
• Ed Salkin – alto saxophone (10)
• Thomas Flammia – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13)
• Curtis King – backing vocals (1, 5, 7)
• Yolanda Lee Lewis – backing vocals (1, 2, 4-6, 9, 10, 13)
• Brenda White-King – backing vocals (1, 5, 7, 11, 13)
• Diane Williams – backing vocals (1, 5, 10, 11, 13)
• Dolly Eastmond – backing vocals (2, 4)
• Audrey Wheeler – backing vocals (2, 4, 9)
• Vaneese Thomas – backing vocals (4, 6)
• Phillip Ballou – backing vocals (5, 7, 11, 13)
• Ethel Beatty – backing vocals (7)
• Katie Kissoon – backing vocals (7)

Production

• Mike Noble – A&R
• Barry Eastmond – producer (1-13, 15, 16)
• Bryan "Chuck" New – mixing (1, 5, 9, 14), producer (14)
• Nigel Green – mixing (2-4, 6-8, 10-13, 15, 16)
• Carl Beatty – engineer
• Joe Blaney – engineer
• Steve Peck – engineer
• Steve Power – engineer
• Bruce Robbins – engineer
• Zombart – sleeve design
• Rob Lee – photography
• Jonathan Butler – liner notes
• Running Dog Management – management

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1987) Peak position Australian (Kent Music Report)| [7] 69 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [8] 37 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [9] 35 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [10] 30 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [11] 33 UK Albums (OCC) [12] 12 US Billboard 200 [13] 50 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [14] 13

Year-end charts Chart (1987) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [15] 48 Chart (1988) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [16] 98

References

1. Jet March 7, 1988 – p. 40, "Jonathan Butler, South African singer-guitarist whose hit album, Jonathan Butler was recently certified as gold, explaining why he doesn't sing about South African political issues in his music: "I want to say positive things with my music."
2. Max Mojapelo, Sello Galane Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories ...- 2008 1920299289 -"In 1987 he released a double-album that showed his true colours to the international music industry. "
3. Garth Chilvers, Tom Jasiukowicz – 1994 History of contemporary music of South Africa Part 1 – p. 16, The most famous member is Jonathan Butler, who made his name at the age of 12 as part of the Golden City Dixies. ... Jonathan Butler (1987) "
4. Hugh Gregory – Soul Music A-Z 1995, p. 47, 0306806436 "This was followed by his debut album, Introducing Jonathan Butler, which in turn was succeeded by Jonathan Butler, the latter included "Lies" (US #27; UK #18, 1987) and "Overflowing." Other albums such as Deliverance swiftly followed,"
5. Wynn, Ron. "Jonathan Butler - Jonathan Butler". Allmusic . Retrieved April 27, 2025.
6. K. Oermann, Robert (December 31, 1987). "I'm looking over the albums that shook my soul in 1987". USA Today – via newsbank.com.
7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 50. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
10. "Charts.nz – Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
12. "Jonathan Butler | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
13. "Jonathan Butler Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
14. "Jonathan Butler Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
15. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
16. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved 14 January 2021.