Life's What You Make It (album) Last updated January 11, 2026 Overview Following her success with the album Time for Change , released the previous year, Moten returned to the studio to record her third album. She co-wrote two of the tracks as well as featuring on the production, in addition to her usual vocal duties. The album failed to have any success in her native US but its title track was another smash hit when released as a single in Japan , reaching number 1.
Reception AllMusic 's Alex Henderson gave the album 2 stars out of 5, and called the album "a generally respectable, if slightly uneven, sophomore outing for the Memphis singer".
Track listing Standard edition Title Writer(s) 1. "Life's What You Make It" Tim Friese-Greene , Mark Hollis 4:37 2. "Subways Are for Sleeping" Anders Bagge , Lou Christie , Pat MacDonald 4:16 3. "If You Don't Love Me" Michael Garvin, Randy Jacobs, Winston Sela, Dick Williams 3:55 4. "People Got to Be Free " Felix Cavaliere , Eddie Brigati 3:54 5. "Stone Jumping" Anabella Levin, Stephen Lironi 4:38 6. "When the World Is Running Down" Sting 4:33 7. "Don't Turn Away" Jostyn 4:36 8. "Another Nothing Song" MacDonald, Moten 4:06 9. "Believe in Love" Curtis Mathewson, Moten 3:31 10. "It's Over Now" Imogen Heap 5:11 Total length: 43:17
Japanese edition Title Writer(s) 1. "Life's What You Make It" Friese-Greene, Hollis 4:37 2. "When the World Is Running Down" Sting 4:33 3. "Subways Are for Sleeping" Bagge, Christie, MacDonald 4:16 4. "If You Don't Love Me" Garvin, Jacobs, Sela, Williams 3:55 5. "People Got to Be Free " Cavaliere, Brigati 3:54 6. "Stone Jumping" Levin, Lironi 4:38 7. "Don't Turn Away" Jostyn 4:36 8. "Another Nothing Song" MacDonald, Moten 4:06 9. "Believe in Love" Curtis Mathewson, Moten 3:31 10. "It's Over Now" Heap 5:11 Total length: 43:17
Production Wendy Moten – producer (1, 4, 8) Dick Williams – producer (1-3, 5-7, 10), management Mindy Jostyn – additional vocal production (7) Alfredo Scotti – additional vocal production (7) Curtis Mathewson – producer (9) Emilie Burnham – art direction John Eder – photography Steve Moir – management Technical credits
Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine) Grant Mohrman – recording, mixing Dick Williams – mixing (1-7, 10) Malcolm Springer – recording (2) Curtis Mathewson – recording (9), mixing (9) Steve Capp – recording (10) Gary Harwood – additional recording (7), assistant engineer (10) Will Schillinger – additional recording (7) Robert Tassi – additional recording (8) Anthony Gallagher – assistant engineer (1) Michael Tuller – assistant engineer (3-6, 8, 10) Brian Miller – assistant engineer (4, 10) David Sealy – assistant engineer (5, 6) Tim Roberts – assistant engineer (8) Todd Fairall – assistant engineer (10) Personnel Wendy Moten – lead vocals, backing vocals Luis Resto – keyboards (1, 2, 6-8), programming (1, 2, 7, 8), acoustic piano (3), keyboard programming (10) Dick Williams – grand piano (10), keyboard programming (10) Randy Jacobs – guitars (1, 2, 5, 6, 8), electric guitar (3) Mitch Stokes – guitars (2) Donnie Lyle – acoustic guitar (3) Dominic Miller – acoustic guitar (4) Grant Mohrman – sitar (5) Anita Cochran – guitars (7) Curtis Mathewson – guitars (8, 9), programming (9) Al Turner – bass (2) Ray Burton – bass (3-6, 10) David Santos – bass (8) Ron Otis – drums (2) Arthur "Buster" Marbury – drums (4-6), percussion (10) Steve Potts – drums (7) Bobby Myers – drums (8) Chip Moreland – drums (9) Mario Resto – drums (10) Larry Fratangelo – percussion (4-6) Mark Kieme – saxophones (6) Edward Gooch – trombone (6) Mike Pashenee – trombone (6) Walter White – trumpet (2, 6), horn arrangements (6) Marcy Chanteaux – cello (4) The Ridgeway Sisters – backing vocals (4) The Memphis Symphony Orchestra on "Don't Turn Away"
Luis Resto – string arrangements Peter Spurbeck – cello Gaylon Patterson – violin Kathleen Powell – violin Laurie Pyatt – violin Detroit Symphony Orchestra on "It's Over Now"
Paul Riser – string arrangements Marcy Chanteaux – cello Hart Hollman – viola Linda Snedden Smith – violin Adam Stepniewski – violin References
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