Red Hot Rhythm & Blues | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 8, 1987 | |||
Recorded | 1986–1987 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 43:56 (US: 38:11) | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Diana Ross chronology | ||||
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Singles from Red Hot Rhythm & Blues | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Red Hot Rhythm and Blues is the seventeenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on May 8, 1987, by RCA Records and EMI Records. It was Ross' last of six albums released by the label during the decade. It was produced by veteran Atlantic Records producer Tom Dowd with one track contributed by Luther Vandross.
The album charted in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria, as well as reaching the Top 20 in Sweden and Norway. It was Ross's final album for RCA Records, after a six-year stint with the label since Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1981). In the US, the album peaked at No. 73 on the Billboard 200.
The album included "Dirty Looks" (US R&B No. 12, UK No. 49), originally recorded by Motown outfit Warp 9, and the retro-flavoured "Shockwaves" which was released as a Shep Pettibone remix in the UK and peaked at No. 76.
A number of major contemporary songwriters contributed new songs to the project including Luther Vandross who also produced "It's Hard for Me to Say" (and later cut the track for his 1996 album Your Secret Love ). It also included the first recording of Leonard Cohen's "Summertime" as well as Mick Hucknall's "Shine" (also released on Simply Red's concurrent album Men and Women ).
The album also included cover versions of several R&B classics, including the Bobbettes' "Mr. Lee" (UK No. 58), Jackie Ross' "Selfish One", Etta James' "Tell Mama", and the Drifters' "There Goes My Baby".
The album was promoted with a TV special that aired on ABC on May 20, 1987 titled Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues. The special featured guests such as Etta James, Little Richard, Billy Dee Williams, Leslie Nielsen, LL Cool J, Bernadette Peters and Wolfman Jack.
The tracks "Mr. Lee" and "Tell Mama" were not included on the US version of the album and the mix of "Dirty Looks" on the UK version differs from the mix on the US version.
The cover photography was by Herb Ritts.
The album was remastered and re-released in September 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, as an "Expanded Edition" with bonus material on a second CD. [2] This reissue was licensed from RCA, which owns rights to the album in the U.S. and Canada and is available in these countries (plus, through imports from Solid Records, also in Japan, even when actually Warner Music owns rights here [3] ).
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dirty Looks" (US Album Mix) |
| 4:09 |
2. | "Stranger in Paradise" | 3:59 | |
3. | "Summertime" | 4:05 | |
4. | "Shine" | Mick Hucknall | 3:31 |
5. | "Tell Me Again" | Wintley Phipps | 3:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Selfish One" |
| 3:23 |
2. | "Cross My Heart" | Sharon Robinson | 4:11 |
3. | "There Goes My Baby" |
| 3:03 |
4. | "It's Hard for Me to Say" | Luther Vandross | 4:46 |
5. | "Shockwaves" |
| 3:49 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dirty Looks" (European Album Mix) |
| 3:21 |
2. | "Stranger in Paradise" |
| 3:59 |
3. | "Shine" | Mick Hucknall | 3:31 |
4. | "Shockwaves" |
| 3:49 |
5. | "Selfish One" |
| 3:23 |
6. | "Mr. Lee" |
| 3:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Tell Mama" |
| 3:39 |
2. | "There Goes My Baby" |
| 3:03 |
3. | "Summertime" |
| 4:05 |
4. | "Cross My Heart" | Sharon Robinson | 4:11 |
5. | "It's Hard for Me to Say" | Luther Vandross | 4:46 |
6. | "Tell Me Again" | Wintley Phipps | 3:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dirty Looks" |
| 4:09 |
2. | "Stranger in Paradise" |
| 3:59 |
3. | "Summertime" |
| 4:05 |
4. | "Shine" | Mick Hucknall | 3:31 |
5. | "Tell Me Again" | Wintley Phipps | 3:14 |
6. | "Selfish One" |
| 3:23 |
7. | "Cross My Heart" | Sharon Robinson | 4:11 |
8. | "There Goes My Baby" |
| 3:03 |
9. | "It's Hard for Me to Say" | Luther Vandross | 4:46 |
10. | "Shockwaves" |
| 3:49 |
11. | "Mr. Lee" |
| 3:06 |
12. | "Tell Mama" |
| 3:39 |
13. | "Sweet Soul Music" | 2:12 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Dirty Looks" (12" Mix) | 7:49 |
2. | "Dirty Looks" (12" Instrumental) | 5:52 |
3. | "Dirty Looks" (Bonus Beats) | 2:47 |
4. | "Dirty Looks" (European Album Mix) | 3:20 |
5. | "Shockwaves" (12" Mix) | 6:40 |
6. | "Shockwaves" (12" Instrumental) | 3:57 |
7. | "Shockwaves" (7" Remix) | 3:56 |
8. | "Mr. Lee" (Swing Mix) | 6:58 |
9. | "Mr. Lee" (Rare Groove Version) | 6:47 |
10. | "Mr. Lee" (Swing Mix Edit) | 3:10 |
Credits are adapted from the Red Hot Rhythm & Blues liner notes. [4]
Performers
Production
Chart (1987) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Albums ( RPM ) [5] | 78 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [6] | 53 |
European Albums ( Music & Media ) [7] | 34 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [8] | 55 |
Italian Albums ( Musica e dischi ) [9] | 21 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [10] | 20 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [11] | 12 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] | 22 |
UK Albums (OCC) [13] | 47 |
US Billboard 200 [14] | 73 |
"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and singer/actress Diana Ross. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with R&B-pop singer Mariah Carey, and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.
The Night I Fell in Love is the fourth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released on March 8, 1985, by Epic Records. In 1986, Vandross garnered a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and two American Music Awards, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album. The first single "'Til My Baby Comes Home" is notable for featuring Billy Preston on organ.
Jump to It is the twenty-eighth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, produced by Luther Vandross and released on July 26, 1982, by Arista Records.
Paid Vacation is the fourth studio album by American singer/songwriter Richard Marx, released in 1994.
Songs is the ninth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross. It was released by Epic Records on September 20, 1994. The album, a collection of cover versions, produced the singles "Endless Love", "Always and Forever", and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". According to an interview both Vandross and Mariah Carey gave in Japan following the release of their duet "Endless Love", there was mention that Carey had given advice as to what songs Vandross would cover on this album.
Why Do Fools Fall in Love is the twelfth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 14, 1981, by RCA Records. It was Ross' first of six albums released by the label during the decade. It peaked at No. 15 in the United States, No. 17 in the United Kingdom and the top ten in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.
Silk Electric is the thirteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 10, 1982, by RCA Records. It was Ross' second of six albums released by the label during the decade. It reached No. 27 on the US Billboard 200, No. 33 in the UK Albums Chart and the Top 20 in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. The album cover was designed by Andy Warhol.
Ross is the fourteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on June 9, 1983 by RCA Records. It was Ross' third of six albums released by the label during the decade. It was released shortly before Ross gave a pair of free concerts in New York's Central Park. The album peaked at No. 32 on the US charts, No. 14 on the US R&B charts and No. 44 in the UK. The album's highest international chart position was in Sweden, where it reached No. 7.
Swept Away is the fifteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 13, 1984, by RCA Records in North America and by Capitol Records in Europe. It was Ross' fourth of six albums released by the label during the decade.
Eaten Alive is the sixteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 24, 1985, by RCA Records in the United States, with EMI Records distributing elsewhere. It was Ross' fifth of six albums released by the label during the decade. Primarily written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with co-writing from his brothers Andy, Maurice, and Robin, the album also includes a contribution from Ross' friend Michael Jackson who co-wrote and performed (uncredited) on the title track.
Workin' Overtime is the eighteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on June 6, 1989, by Motown Records. Her first Motown album with new material since To Love Again (1981) after a short stint with RCA Records, Ross reunited with frequent collaborator Nile Rodgers, chief producer of her most successful album to date diana (1980), to make this album which was an attempt to gear her to a much younger audience bringing in new jack swing productions and house music.
The Force Behind the Power is the nineteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 10, 1991, by Motown Records. The album reached No. 11 on the UK Albums chart and became the biggest selling studio album of her career there, selling over half a million copies in the UK alone.
Never Too Much is the debut solo studio album by American singer Luther Vandross, released on August 12, 1981, by Epic Records. Mostly composed by Vandross himself, the album reached number 19 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Never Too Much earned Vandross two Grammy Award nominations in 1982, including Best New Artist and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.
Give Me the Reason is the fifth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released on September 26, 1986, by Epic Records. The album earned Vandross an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and a nomination for "Favorite Soul/R&B Album" in 1988, while the title track was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male at the 29th Grammy Awards.
Any Love is the sixth studio album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released by Epic Records on September 20, 1988, in the United States. Produced by Vandross and Marcus Miller, the album features a cover of Major Harris' hit single "Love Won't Let Me Wait" as well as "The Second Time Around," a re-recording of a song featured on Vandross's band Luther's 1976 album of the same name.
Power of Love is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released in North America by Epic on April 26, 1991, following the critical and commercial success of his sixth album Any Love (1988). Power of Love received critical acclaim from most critics, earning Vandross a number of awards and accolades including two American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards. It reached number seven on the US Billboard 200 album chart, while topping the Top R&B Albums chart for five nonconsecutive weeks. On the latter chart, it was Vandross's last number one for twelve years until Dance with My Father was released. The album was later certified double platinum by the RIAA.
Your Secret Love is the tenth studio album by American R&B singer Luther Vandross, released by Epic Records in October 1996. The album's title track won the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997. The album served as Vandross's final album under Epic Records after being part of the record label for fifteen years.
Never Let Me Go is the eighth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released on May 26, 1993, in the US by Epic. It was his first studio album not to debut at #1 on the R&B Albums chart.
Through the Storm is the thirty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on April 25, 1989, by Arista Records.
How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye is a studio album by the American singer Dionne Warwick. It was released by Arista Records on September 29, 1983, in the United States. Recorded during the spring of 1983, Warwick worked with the singer and songwriter Luther Vandross, who also appears on the hit title track. The album includes the original version of the song "So Amazing", which Vandross would record later for his Give Me the Reason album, and a remake of The Shirelles' 1960 hit "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", featuring the original group on guest vocals.
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