Reaching Out (Menudo album)

Last updated
Reaching Out
Menudo Reaching Out.jpg
Studio album by
Menudo
ReleasedJanuary 1984
Recorded1983–1984, Kirios, Spain (Music) and Ochoa, Puerto Rico (vocals)
Genre Latin pop
Length33:19
Label RCA
Producer Edgardo Díaz; additional production by Mary Lynne M Pagan
Menudo chronology
A Todo Rock
(1983)		Reaching Out
(1984)		 Mania
(1984)

Reaching Out is the fourteenth studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1984 by RCA. The album stands out as their first English record in their discography, [1] and marks the group's phonographic debut in Brazil. [2] This lineup featured members Ricky (16), Charlie (15), Ray (14), Roy (14), and new member Robby (14). [2] The latter replaced Johnny Lozada after he reached the group's age limit of 16. [3]

Contents

The album's songs consist of tracks selected from their last four Spanish language albums, translated into English, with the exception of the original song "Like A Cannonball," recorded for the soundtrack of Burt Reynolds’ film Cannonball Run II . [4] [5] In addition to the mentioned track, singles included "If You're Not Here (By My Side)", "Heavenly Angel,", and "Motorcycle Dreamer."

The album received a positive reception from audiences and critics alike. Sales surpassed 425,000 copies in the United States and 1 million in Brazil, earning it a diamond certification in the latter.

Background and production

The album was the group’s first release after signing a six-year deal (for 12 LPs) with RCA, valued at a multimillion-dollar amount comparable to artists such as Kenny Rogers and Diana Ross. [6] The campaign supporting their first English album was part of the label's strategy to expand its market beyond its southern borders, [7] particularly targeting American audiences. [8] By 1983, Menudo had already sold 750,000 copies of all their albums in the U.S., [9] while their next album, A Todo Rock, sold 250,000 copies in the country within a month. [10]

The success of this transition greatly depended on the group's ability to sing well in English, prompting the members to undergo an intensive language training program aimed at minimizing any traces of a Spanish accent. [7] The group even recorded the English version of the theme song for the film *Cannonball Run II*, starring Burt Reynolds. [7] Another challenge identified was maintaining the group's popularity in a volatile market, especially considering the rotation of members since Menudo's concept involved replacing members as they aged. [7] According to music critic Stephen Holden, although this formula could theoretically ensure eternal youth, concerns remained about the durability of their music, which followed a pre-packaged pop style that limited its longevity in the music market. [7] Beyond the album, RCA planned the release of two music videos directed by Paquito Cordero, who also produced TV specials featuring the group. [11]

As written in the LP's credit section: Reaching Out was a collaborative production, arranged and conducted by Alejandro Monroy and Carlos Villa. The main production was handled by Edgardo Díaz, with additional contributions by Mary Lynne M. Pagan. Vocal recordings were engineered by Jaime Camacho, while José Vinader managed the music engineering. Carlos Martos was responsible for the album's mixing.

Promotion

On October 19, 1984, TV Globo aired a special titled Menudo Especial, in which eight of the ten songs from Reaching Out were performed live. [12] The recordings took place during the II Festival Internacional do Menudo, held in August 1984 in Puerto Rico. [12]

The group performed ten sold-out shows at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. [13]

Singles

"If You're Not Here (By My Side)" was released as a single in 1983. The track is the English version of the Spanish single "Si Tú No Estás," featured on the 1983 album A Todo Rock . [14] This love song features Robby Rosa as the lead vocalist. [14] According to Cashbox magazine, the song "features a classic pop melody sung by a youthful, high-pitched, and exceptionally clear male voice, accompanied by an orchestral background with 101 string instruments." [15] In the United States, the song reached number 36 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [16]

In Brazil, the song was included in the soundtrack of the TV Globo soap opera Partido Alto , serving as the theme for the character Fernando, played by Roberto Bataglin. [17] According to Veja magazine, the song "topped the charts as one of the most played songs on FM radio stations across the country." [18] [a] The single sold 270,000 copies in Brazil, [20] and reached number one on the Nelson Oliveira Pesquisa e Estudo de Mercado (Nopem) list. [21]

According to the Correio Braziliense newspaper, the songs "If You're Not Here," "Heavenly Angel," and "Because of Love" were frequently requested on the radio in 1985, even though the group had released a more recent album in the country. [22]

Critical Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [23]
Diário de Pernambuco Favorable [24]
Jornal do Brasil Unfavorable [6]

Reviews from music critics were mostly favorable.

Although AllMusic did not publish a written review, the site rated the album four out of five stars. [23] Sérgio Nona from the Diário de Pernambuco described the album as very well-produced, with joyful songs likely to appeal to both adults and children. [24]

Journalist Tárik de Souza from Jornal do Brasil noted that the album mixes rock and ballads in the "shrill voices" of the quintet, accompanied by a "standardized and outdated" sonic backdrop. [6] He mentioned that the track "Motorcycle Dreamer" "is the album's sole moment where the drums break free from the danceable constraints for a brief dry solo," [6] but he pointed out that the group was far from artists like The Beatles, to whom they were often compared. [6]

Commercial Performance

The album peaked at number 108 on the Billboard 200, becoming the group's first album to chart in the United States. [25] According to *Rolling Stone*, the album's and singles' modest success on U.S. charts did not prevent the group from becoming "a cultural phenomenon driven by marketing prowess and the sale of essential non-musical merchandise." [26]

In Brazil, it appeared on the Nopem charts as one of the best-selling albums. [27] By mid-1985, *Billboard* reported sales of 425,000 copies in the country. [28] According to Jornal dos Sports on March 28, 1985, after their final concert in São Paulo, the group received a diamond disc from the vice president of RCA International's Latin American Division for selling 1 million copies of the album. [29]

Tracklist

No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Like a Cannonball"Snuff Garrett, Steve Dorff, Milton Brown Robby Rosa 3:18
2."Indianapolis"Alejandro Monroy, Carlos Villa Charlie Massó 3:34
3."Heavenly Angel"Monroy, Villa, Mary Lynne M PaganCharlie Massó3:34
4."Because of Love"Pagan, Villa, Julio Seijas, Eddy GuerinRobby Rosa3:46
5."Motorcycle Dreamer"Pagan, Villa, Edgardo Díaz Ricky Meléndez 3:20
6."If You're Not Here - By My Side"Díaz, Monroy, Pagan, VillaRobby Rosa4:27
7."That's What You Do"Monroy, Pagan, Villa Ray Reyes 2:38
8."Gimme Rock"Monroy, Pagan, Seijas, VillaRobby Rosa2:30
9."Gotta Get On Moving"Monroy, Pagan, VillaRicky Meléndez3:23
10."Fly Away"Díaz, Monroy, Pagan, VillaRobby Rosa3:08

Charts

Weekly Charts

Chart (1984)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [30] 108

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Sales
BrazilDiamond [29] 1,000,000 [29] [31]
United States—450,000 [32]
PhilippinesGold [33]

Production

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Diário de Pernambuco journal, "If You're Not Here (By My Side)" appeared in the lists of most-played songs on FM radio stations in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samba</span> Brazilian musical genre

Samba is a name or prefix used for several rhythmic variants, such as samba urbano carioca, samba de roda, amongst many other forms of samba, mostly originated in the Rio de Janeiro and Bahia states. Samba is a broad term for many of the rhythms that compose the better known Brazilian music genres that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Bahia in the late 19th century and early 20th century, having continued its development on the communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Having its roots in the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé, as well as other Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous folk traditions, such as the traditional Samba de Caboclo, it is considered one of the most important cultural phenomena in Brazil and one of the country's symbols. Present in the Portuguese language at least since the 19th century, the word "samba" was originally used to designate a "popular dance". Over time, its meaning has been extended to a "batuque-like circle dance", a dance style, and also to a "music genre". This process of establishing itself as a musical genre began in the 1910s and it had its inaugural landmark in the song "Pelo Telefone", launched in 1917. Despite being identified by its creators, the public, and the Brazilian music industry as "samba", this pioneering style was much more connected from the rhythmic and instrumental point of view to maxixe than to samba itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menudo (group)</span> Puerto Rican boy band

Menudo is a Puerto Rican boy band formed by producer Edgardo Díaz. Referred to as the "Most Iconic Latino Pop Music Band", they have been ranked as one of the biggest boy bands of all time by several publications, including Billboard, Us Weekly, Seventeen, and Teen Vogue, being the only Latin band on their lists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martinho da Vila</span> Brazilian singer and composer (born 1938)

Martinho da Vila is a Brazilian singer and composer who is considered to be one of the main representatives of samba and MPB. He is a prolific songwriter, with hundreds of recorded songs across over 40 solo albums. He also has many songs that were recorded by singers from different musical genres.

<i>Sombras & Figuras</i> 1988 studio album by Menudo

Sombras Y Figuras is the twenty-seventh studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1988 by the Melody record label. The tracklist includes songs from a series of composers who were quite popular at the time, such as the Argentine Miguel Mateos.

<i>Refrescante</i> 1986 studio album by Menudo

Refrescante, also known as Menudo for the Portuguese version, is the 21st and 22nd studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1986. It marks the group's 17th album in Spanish and their 3rd in Portuguese. The lineup for this album includes Charlie Massó, Robby Rosa, Ricky Martin, Raymond Acevedo, and Sergio Gonzalez, and it is the second and third album recorded by this specific ensemble.

<i>Vem Pra Mim</i> 1993 studio album by Menudo

Vem Pra Mim is the fifth and final album in Portuguese by the group Menudo, released in 1993. This was the only album performed by the lineup composed of Abel Talamántez, Alexis Grullón, Andy Blázquez, Ashley Ruiz, and new member Ricky López. Ricky replaced Adrián Olivares, who decided to leave the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Maia</span> Brazilian singer-songwriter (1942–1998)

Sebastião "Tim" Rodrigues Maia was a Brazilian musician, songwriter, and businessman known for his iconoclastic, ironic, outspoken, and humorous musical style. Maia contributed to Brazilian music within a wide variety of musical genres, including soul, funk, disco, jazz, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, romantic ballads, samba, bossa nova, baião and música popular brasileira (MPB). He introduced the soul style on the Brazilian musical scene. Along with Jorge Ben, Maia pioneered sambalanço, combining samba, soul, funk and rock and roll. He is recognized as one of the biggest icons in Brazilian music.

Jornal do Brasil, widely known as JB, is a daily newspaper published by Editora JB in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The paper was founded in 1891 and is the third oldest extant Brazilian paper, after the Diário de Pernambuco and O Estado de S. Paulo. On 31 August 2010 it became a digital newspaper, folding its print edition until 25 February 2018, when it was printed again.

<i>Chiquitita</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Menudo

Chiquitita is Menudo's third Spanish album, released in 1979, this time featuring brothers Carlos, Óscar and Ricky Meléndez, Fernando Sallaberry (14), and new member René Farrait (12). René replaced Nefty Sallaberry after Nefty reached the age limit set by Menudo management.

<i>Quiero Ser</i> 1981 studio album by Menudo

Quiero Ser is the ninth studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1981 by Padosa Records. The lineup at the time included members Ricky Meléndez, René Farrait, Johnny Lozada, Xavier Serbiá and Miguel Cancel. With this new album, the group traveled to Latin American countries where they were still unknown, such as Guatemala and Colombia.

<i>A Todo Rock</i> 1983 studio album by Menudo

A Todo Rock is the thirteenth studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo. It marked their first release following the signing of the quintet by RCA at the end of 1983. The album features Ricky Meléndez, Johnny Lozada, Charlie Massó, and new members Ray Reyes, who replaced Xavier Serbiá after Serbiá reached the age limit, and Roy Rosselló, who replaced Miguel Cancel after Cancel decided to quit the group. This was the first time that a member decided to leave before his time was due.

<i>Menudo</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Menudo

Menudo is a studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1985 by RCA Records. The tracklist includes seven original songs, along with three tracks from the album Evolución translated into English.

The Prêmio José Reis de Divulgação Científica is an annual honor awarded by the Brazilian Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) to the institution, media organization, publication, or individual who most contributed to the dissemination and public awareness of science and technology in Brazil. It is thus named in honor of Dr. José Reis, a Brazilian biologist and science writer who was one of the pioneers in the field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sivuca</span> Musical artist

Severino Dias de Oliveira, known professionally as Sivuca, was a Brazilian accordionist, guitarist and singer. In addition to his home state of Paraíba, Brazil, and cities Recife and Rio de Janeiro, he worked and lived in Paris, Lisbon, and New York City intermittently. He has two daughters, Wilma Da Silva and Flavia de Oliveira Barreto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rede Tupi</span> Defunct Brazilian broadcast television network

Rede Tupi was a Brazilian commercial terrestrial television network. Its flagship station, located in the city of São Paulo, was the first TV station to operate in the country, being inaugurated on 18 September 1950 by journalist Assis Chateaubriand. It was owned by Diários Associados, one of the largest media conglomerates of the 20th century, owner of several newspapers, magazines, and radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">É Preciso Saber Viver</span> 1998 single by Titãs

"É Preciso Saber Viver" is the eleventh single by Titãs, released in 1998 from their album Volume Dois. It is a cover of a song written by Roberto Carlos, the best-selling musical artist in Brazil, and Erasmo Carlos. Extra vocals were provided by Brazilian band Fat Family. The song was featured on the Rede Globo telenovela Pecado Capital. When it was released, it was the most played song on radio stations in São Paulo, Florianópolis, Porto Alegre, Curitiba and Santos; the second most in Rio de Janeiro and Recife; and the third most Belo Horizonte. No Brasil em geral, foi a quarta.

<i>Evolución</i> (Menudo album) 1984 studio album by Menudo

Evolución is the sixteenth studio album by the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, released in 1984. It marked the debut of Ricky Martin, who replaced Ricky Meléndez, the last member of the original lineup, as he was approaching 17 years old.

The Brazil Open or Aberto do Brasil is an annual golf tournament held in Brazil. It was founded in 1945 and was an event on the Tour de las Américas on several occasions, most recently in 2005. It is now an event on PGA Tour Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Álvaro Lins</span>

Álvaro de Barros Lins GCC • GCL was a Brazilian lawyer, journalist, professor and literary critic.

References

  1. ↑ Halfoun, Eli (July 3, 1984). "País bonzinho". Jornal dos Sports . No. 16, 915. Rio de Janeiro. p. 11. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Cunha, Wilson (September 1, 1984). "São uns fenômenos..." Manchete . No. 1, 689. Rio de Janeiro. p. 82. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. ↑ Fernandez, Enrique (June 30, 1984). "Solo Deal For Menudo Graduate Lozada" (PDF). Billboard. p. 31. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ Portela, Wilde (February 28, 1985). "Menudo: o conjunto-empresa que está dominando o mundo". Diário de Pernambuco . No. 57. Pernambuco. p. B-1. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Gente en la noticia". El Siglo de Torreón . April 24, 1985. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Souza, Tárik de (June 21, 1984). "Vem aí a Beatlemania hispânica". Jornal do Brasil . No. 74. Rio de Janeiro. p. 2 (Caderno B). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Holden, Stephen (November 23, 1983). "The pop life; Menudo signs long term RCA pact". The New York Times : 18. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  8. ↑ Prado, Zélia (March 3, 1985). "Um fenômeno chamado Menudo". Jornal do Brasil . No. 325. Rio de Janeiro. pp. 6, 7. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  9. ↑ Andersen, Kurt; Simpson, Janice C. (June 27, 1983). "Show Business: American Pop Music Machine". Time . Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  10. ↑ Fernandez, Enrique (January 7, 1984). "Menudo Fever Grips New RCA Division VP" (PDF). Billboard . p. 41. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ Fernandez, Enrique (7 January 1984). "Menudo Fever Grips New RCA Division VP" (PDF). Billboard . p. 41. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Em cartaz". A Tribuna. No. 297. São Paulo. 19 January 1985. p. 15. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Menudomania: discos, vídeos, broches, shows". O Bairro (5). São Paulo: 6. 15 November 1984. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  14. 1 2 Swadedavillan (May 2, 2022). "OLDIES SUNDAY: Menudo – If You're Not Here (By My Side) (1984)". 13th Street Promotions. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Feature picks" (PDF). Cashbox : 9. March 31, 1984. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  16. ↑ Menudo | Biography, Music & News | Billboard Billboard.com. Accessed October 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ Sarib, Patricia (May 17, 2021). "MENUDO, a Boy Band Latina da década de 80". BSB Times. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Pequeno Gigante". Veja. October 10, 1984. Editora Abril. p. 110.
  19. ↑ "Variedades". Diário de Pernambuco (216 ed.). Pernambuco: B-6. August 9, 1984. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ Lage, Miriam (October 19, 1984). "Menudo: TV mostra hoje especial dos sucessos". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese): 1. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  21. ↑ Soares, Elias (October 18, 1984). "Som". Última Hora (11,416 ed.). Rio de Janeiro: 33. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  22. ↑ Silveira, Ana Luiza (March 1, 1985). "A contagiante febre do Menudo". Correio Braziliense (8,005 ed.). Brasília. p. 19. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  23. 1 2 "Reaching Out - Menudo | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  24. 1 2 Nona, Sérgio (June 12, 1984). "Reachingout". Diário de Pernambuco (188 ed.). Pernambuco. p. B-2. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  25. ↑ "ALLMusic Awards >> Menudo". AllMusic . Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  26. ↑ Dansby, Andrew (March 10, 2004). "Menudo to Be Resurrected". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Menudo Total". Jornal do Brasil (286B ed.). Rio de Janeiro. January 21, 1985. p. 8 (Caderno B). Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  28. ↑ Fernandez, Enrique (March 23, 1985). "Billboard - Latin Notes". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 58–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  29. 1 2 3 Waltinho (March 28, 1985). "Televisão". Jornal dos Sports (17,179 ed.). Rio de Janeiro. p. 8. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Menudo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Grupo musical Menudo chega no Rio hoje". Diário do Pará (709 ed.). Pará: 6. February 26, 1985. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  32. ↑ Matre, Lynn Van (August 3, 1985). "Is Iglesias the start of Hispanic invasion in pop music world?; Other Latin acts hope they'll be able to penetrate North American market". The Gazette : D5. ISSN   0384-1294. 431244257. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  33. ↑ Acevedo, Ramon (7 September 2012). "¡Papi, Quiero Ser Un Menudo!" (in Spanish). Ramon Acevedo, Sr. p. 103. ISBN   9781301994632.
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.