Never Felt So Good

Never Felt So Good
Never Felt So Good
Studio album by James Ingram
Released	July 15, 1986
Recorded	1985–1986
Studio	Unique Recording and Sigma Sound (New York, NY); Master Sound Productions (Franklin Square, NY); Lion Share (Los Angeles, CA); Lighthouse Studios (Studio City, CA)
Genre	R&B
Length	42:53
Label	Qwest, Warner Bros.
Producer	Keith Diamond, James Ingram
James Ingram chronology

Last updated June 12, 2024

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[2]
The Philadelphia Inquirer	^[3]

Never Felt So Good is the second full-length album by R&B singer-songwriter James Ingram, released in 1986.^[4]^[5] It reached number 123 on the US charts, and peaked at number 37 on the R&B charts. It reached number 72 in Britain.

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album "is dominated by inferior upbeat material and undermined by punchless production. The few ballads should be the high points but they're woefully schmaltzy."^[6]

Track listing

All songs written by James Ingram and Keith Diamond, except where noted.

"Always" - 4:17
"Never Felt So Good" (Diamond, Ingram, Howard Hewett) - 4:03
"Red Hot Lover" - 3:50
"Lately" - 4:15
"Wings of My Heart" - 3:12
"Trust Me" - 4:17
"Tuff" - 1:03
"Say Hey" (Ingram, Bernard Taylor) - 4:02
"Love's Been Here and Gone" (Ingram, Leon Ware, Cynthia Weil) - 6:00
"Right Back" (Ingram, Leon Ware) - 3:58
"Crazy" - 3:40

Personnel

James Ingram – lead vocals, arrangements, backing vocals (1-4, 6, 7, 8, 10), keyboards (4, 7, 8, 10), bass (4, 6, 8), synthesizers (8), drums (8), synth bass (10)
Keith Diamond – keyboards (1, 3, 5–8), Fairlight CMI (1, 2, 4), bass (1-4, 7), drums (1-4, 6, 7), arrangements (1-7), synth solo (2, 4), percussion (2), backing vocals (2, 7), Simmons drums (3), strings (5), rap (7)
Ned Liben – Fairlight CMI (1, 2, 4)
Bernard Taylor – keyboards (8), drums (8), backing vocals (8), arrangements (8)
Randy Waldman – keyboards (9, 10), synth solo (9, 10)
Leon Ware – arrangements (9, 10), keyboards (10), backing vocals (10)
Clarence Brice – guitars (1, 6)
Paul Pesco – guitars (2, 3, 4, 7)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (10)
Timmy Allen – bass (2)
Nathan East – bass (9)
Bob Rosa – drums (3), cymbal (5)
Ricky Lawson – drums (9)
John Robinson – drums (10)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (8), wind chimes (9)
Richard Marrero – percussion (10)
Leon Pendarvis – horn arrangements (2, 4), string arrangements (2, 4), conductor (2, 4)
Debbie McDuffie – horn and string contractor (2, 4)
Jeremy Lubbock – arrangements (9), string arrangements and conductor (9)
Jules Chakin – string contractor (9)
Lawrence Feldman – saxophones (2, 4)
Alex Foster – saxophones (2, 4)
Lenny Pickett – saxophones (2, 4)
Jeff Smith – saxophone (6)
Jerome Richardson – flute solo (8), soprano saxophone (9)
Dave Bargeron – trombone (2, 4)
Tom Malone – trombone (2, 4)
Earl Gardner – trumpet (2, 4)
Joe Shepley – trumpet (2, 4)
Rahmlee Michael Davis – trumpet (8)
Harry Kim – trumpet (8)
Jonathan Abramowitz, Sanford Allen, Julien Barber, Alfred Brown, Harold Coletta, Peter Dimitriades, Theodore Israel, Harold Kohan, Isadora Kohan, Jesse Levy, Louann Montesi, Kermit Moore, Gene Orloff, Noel Pointer and Marylin Wright – strings (2, 4)
Marylin Baker, Mari Botnick, Denyse Buffman, Thomas Buffman, Ronald Cooper, Assa Drori, Ernie Ehrhardt, Henry Ferber, Edward Green III, Allan Harshman, Reg Hill, Paula Hochholter, Bill Hybel, Susie Katayama, Gordon Marron, Don Palmer, Sheldon Sanov, David Schwartz, Frederick Seykora, Marshall Sosson, David Speltz, Robert Sushel, Gerard Vinci and Shari Zippert – strings (9)
Laura Chan, Vicki Genfan, Curtis King and Gigi Weatherspoon – vocal contractors
El DeBarge – backing vocals (1)
Howard Hewett – backing vocals (1, 10)
David Pack – backing vocals (1)
Dennis Collins – backing vocals (2)
Lillo Thomas – backing vocals (2)
Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (3)
Michael Bolton – backing vocals (3)
Sandy Farina – backing vocals (3)
Curtis King – backing vocals (3)
Marilyn Redfield – backing vocals (3)
April Lang – additional vocals (4)
Toni Smith – additional vocals (4)
Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (6)
Renee Diggs – additional vocals (6)
Michelle Gold – backing vocals (7), rap (7)
James Smith – backing vocals (7)
Lynn Davis – backing vocals (9)
Maxi Anderson – backing vocals (10)
Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (10)
Phil Perry – backing vocals (10)

Production

Executive Producer – Quincy Jones
Producers – Keith Diamond (Tracks 1–7); James Ingram (Tracks 8, 9 & 10).
Recording and Mixing – Keith Diamond (Tracks 1–7); Bob Rosa (Tracks 1–8); Tommy Vicari (Tracks 8, 9 & 10); James Ingram (Tracks 9 & 10).
Additional Engineers – J. C. Convertino, Ken Fink, Matt Forger and Acar Key.
Assistant Engineers – Ed Bruder, Acar Key, Fernando Kral, Laura Livingston, Ralph Sutton, Mike Webber and Jeffrey Woodruff.
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
Art Direction – Jeri McManus
Design – Kim Champagne and Jeri McManus
Photography – Matthew Rolston
Stylist – Raymond Lee
Liner Notes – Keith Diamond, James Ingram and Quincy Jones.

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	100
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[8]	21
UK Albums (OCC)^[9]	72
US Billboard 200 ^[10]	123
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[11]	37

Related Research Articles

<i>The Hunger</i> (Michael Bolton album) 1987 studio album by Michael Bolton

The Hunger is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. It was released in 1987 by Columbia Records, his third for the label. It became Bolton's breakthrough album, producing his first two Top 40 hits in the United States, the ballad "That's What Love Is All About" and the Otis Redding cover "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay".

<i>Other Roads</i> 1988 studio album by Boz Scaggs

Other Roads is the tenth studio album by Boz Scaggs released in 1988. After an eight-year hiatus from recording, Scaggs returned in 1988 with this album, a record aimed primarily at the adult contemporary market.

<i>Change Your World</i> 1992 studio album by Michael W. Smith

Change Your World is a 1992 album by Contemporary Christian music artist Michael W. Smith.

The Rumour is the thirteenth studio album by Olivia Newton-John on 2 August 1988. The title track was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, features backing vocals and piano by John. The album featured the singles "The Rumour", "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed" and the Australian-only promo-single "It's Always Australia for Me", which was released for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988. This was also her first album not produced by long-time producer, John Farrar.

<i>No Sound But a Heart</i> 1987 studio album by Sheena Easton

No Sound But a Heart is the eighth studio album by Scottish singer Sheena Easton, released in 1987 on the EMI America label. The album was issued in the Canadian, Mexican and Asian markets. The album consists of midtempo and ballad songs, including the single and video, "Eternity", written by Prince. The disc features Steve Perry from Journey on backing vocals on "Still in Love" and a duet with Eugene Wilde on "What If We Fall in Love".

<i>Patti Austin</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Patti Austin

Patti Austin is the fifth studio album by American R&B singer Patti Austin, released on March 5, 1984, by Qwest Records.

<i>Aretha</i> (1986 album) 1986 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha is the thirty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, originally released on October 27, 1986, by Arista Records. It is the third album with the Aretha title to be released by Franklin, following her 1961 album and 1980 album.

<i>Three Chord Opera</i> 2001 studio album by Neil Diamond

Three Chord Opera is the twenty-fifth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in 2001. It marked the first album since 1974's Serenade to consist solely of original material written solely by Diamond, and the first album of any original songs since 1996's country-themed Tennessee Moon where he co-wrote all but one of the songs.

<i>Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building</i> 1993 studio album by Neil Diamond

Up On the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building, released in 1993 on Columbia Records, is a cover album and also the twenty-first studio album by Neil Diamond. It contains a duet with Dolly Parton, string arrangements by David Campbell, along with re-makes of tracks associated with the Brill Building, where Diamond had worked in the 1960s.

<i>New Day Dawning</i> (Wynonna Judd album) 2000 studio album by Wynonna

New Day Dawning is the fifth solo studio album by American country music artist Wynonna, released in 2000. It produced only two chart singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks charts: "Can't Nobody Love You " at #31, and "Going Nowhere" at #43. Also included are cover versions of Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" and the Fabulous Thunderbirds' "Tuff Enuff".

<i>The Heart of the Matter</i> (Kenny Rogers album) 1985 studio album by Kenny Rogers

The Heart of the Matter is the seventeenth studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers, released by RCA Records in 1985. It was Rogers' eleventh album to reach #1 on Billboard's Country albums chart and certified Gold by the RIAA. It peaked at #51 on the US Billboard 200 and was produced by George Martin.

<i>The Spirits in It</i> 1981 studio album by Patti LaBelle

The Spirit's in It is the fifth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Philadelphia International Records on August 28, 1981, in the United States, her first with the label.

<i>Anywhere You Go</i> 1985 studio album by David Pack

Anywhere You Go is the first full-length recording from David Pack, the lead singer for the band Ambrosia. The LP was released in November 1985. Pack wrote five songs himself and co-wrote the other five.

<i>Its Real</i> (James Ingram album) 1989 studio album by James Ingram

It's Real is the third full-length recording by American R&B singer-songwriter James Ingram. It was released in May 1989 on Qwest/Warner Bros. Records, and features the smash hit single "I Don't Have the Heart", which peaked at number 1 for 1 week. It also features a remake of the classic song "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", re-written with different lyrics and entitled "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man".

<i>Always You</i> (album) 1993 studio album by James Ingram

Always You is the fourth studio album by American singer James Ingram, released on May 25, 1993, by Qwest Records. Executively produced by Benny Medina, it reached number 27 on the Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.

<i>Indian Summer</i> (Go West album) 1992 studio album by Go West

Indian Summer is the third studio album by English pop duo Go West, released in 1992. It includes the singles "King of Wishful Thinking", "Faithful", "What You Won't Do for Love" and "Still in Love". "King of Wishful Thinking" had been released as a single more than two years earlier, becoming a worldwide hit after being featured in the 1990 film Pretty Woman.

<i>20/20</i> (George Benson album) 1985 studio album by George Benson

20/20 is a studio album by George Benson, released on the Warner Bros. record label in 1985. The lead single by the same name reached #48 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. "You Are the Love of My Life" is a duet with Roberta Flack. It was one of a number of songs used for Eden Capwell and Cruz Castillo on the American soap opera Santa Barbara. Also included on 20/20 is the original version of the song "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" which would later become a smash hit for Hawaiian singer Glenn Medeiros.

<i>Best of The Doobies Volume II</i> 1981 compilation album by The Doobie Brothers

Best of the Doobies, Vol. II is a compilation album by the Doobie Brothers released in November 1981. It was released with ten tracks, all of them selected from albums released before 1981. The album peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>The Real Me</i> (Patti Austin album) 1988 studio album by Patti Austin

The Real Me is an album of mostly standards by American singer Patti Austin released in 1988, and recorded for the Qwest label. The album reached #7 on Billboard's Jazz chart.

<i>Love Remembers</i> (album) 1993 studio album by George Benson

Love Remembers is the 28th album by George Benson, released June 8, 1993. This album charted at No. 1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, as well as No. 7 on its Jazz Albums chart.

References

↑ AllMusic
↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 474.
↑ Tucker, Ken (7 Sep 1986). "JAMES INGRAM, Never Felt So Good". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. H11.
↑ "James Ingram | Biography & History". AllMusic.
↑ "The Unlikely Success And Down-To-Earth Soul Of James Ingram". NPR.org.
↑ Hunt, Dennis (16 Dec 1986). "Turn-ons and Turn-offs in Current Home Entertainment Releases". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 4.
↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 148. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
↑ "Swedishcharts.com – James Ingram – Never Felt So Good". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
↑ "James Ingram | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
↑ "James Ingram Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
↑ "James Ingram Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] AllMusic

[CL-2] Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 474.

[3] Tucker, Ken (7 Sep 1986). "JAMES INGRAM, Never Felt So Good". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. H11.

[4] "James Ingram | Biography & History". AllMusic.

[5] "The Unlikely Success And Down-To-Earth Soul Of James Ingram". NPR.org.

[6] Hunt, Dennis (16 Dec 1986). "Turn-ons and Turn-offs in Current Home Entertainment Releases". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 4.

[aus-7] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 148. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[ac_Sweden_James_Ingram-8] "Swedishcharts.com – James Ingram – Never Felt So Good". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[ac_UK_James_Ingram-9] "James Ingram | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[ac_Billboard200_James_Ingram-10] "James Ingram Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_James_Ingram-11] "James Ingram Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

v t e James Ingram
Albums	It's Your Night Never Felt So Good It's Real Always You Stand (In the Light)
Singles	"Just Once" "One Hundred Ways" "Baby, Come to Me" "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" "Yah Mo B There" "What About Me?" "Always" "Somewhere Out There" "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)" "I Don't Have the Heart"
Related articles	Phillip Ingram (brother)