Richard Marx | ||||
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Released | June 15, 1987 | |||
Recorded | October 1986 – February 1987 | |||
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Length | 45:18 | |||
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Producer |
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Richard Marx chronology | ||||
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Singles from Richard Marx | ||||
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Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Richard Marx is the debut studio album by singer/songwriter and record producer/arranger, Richard Marx, released in June 1987.
Four singles reached the top three of the Billboard Hot 100, including Marx's first number one pop single "Hold On to the Nights" in mid-1988. The album's first single, "Don't Mean Nothing", hit number 1 on Billboard 's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart on July 4, 1987.
In the early 1980s, Richard Marx had started his music career in Los Angeles as a background singer and songwriter for other artists. Marx was determined to become a solo artist, stating that "I didn't want to give my best songs away. "Should've Known Better", for instance, was written three years ago, and whenever I'd play it for an artist I'd get a real good response. It was the song I could've placed the easiest, but I knew that I should be the one to do it. When the deal with Manhattan Records came through early in '86, I put everything else on hold - I saw this album as a challenge to show what I could really do." [2]
Marx's relationship with the label was positive, with Marx stating that "Manhattan Records was behind my writing and my voice... that's all they needed. I wasn't told to go into the studio and write hits; I was told to make an album I believed in. Through trial and error, I came up with a record that feels right and that's me." [2]
The album was co-produced by David Cole, whom Marx enjoyed working with. Cole had previously produced singer-songwriter Bob Seger's album Like a Rock which Marx stated that it "...sounded great. David and I worked closely together on the production to insure that the record had that kind of sound." [2]
Another advantage for Marx was the roster of musicians who played on the album. Marx's manager convinced Eagles' guitarist Joe Walsh to play on the track "Don't Mean Nothing". Two other members of the Eagles, Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmit also sang background vocals on that track. [3] Marx was subsequently nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Rock Vocal Performance - Solo" for "Don't Mean Nothing" in 1988. [4]
Marx wrote the lyrics for all of the songs on his debut, with the exception of "Lonely Heart" and "Remember Manhattan" which were written by Fee Waybill from The Tubes. Marx co-wrote the music for the album with Bruce Gaitsch, Jim Lang, and Michael Omartian. [2] In the liner notes, Marx dedicated the album to his parents, Ruth and Dick Marx. [3]
Four singles were released from the album, each of them doing well on the charts. Marx's future wife, Cynthia Rhodes, G. W. Bailey, and Fee Waybill appeared in the video for the lead single "Don't Mean Nothing". [5] The album went to number eight on the Billboard charts and spent 86 weeks on that chart. [6] The album was certified triple platinum. [7] In the United Kingdom, the album entered the charts on April 9, 1988 where it stayed for two weeks peaking at number 68. [8]
The album received praise from music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic, who stated that "Richard Marx's self-titled debut album was a finely crafted record of mainstream pop/rock. ... Filled with carefully constructed radio-ready tracks, it was no surprise that the album became a huge hit." [1]
All tracks are written by Richard Marx, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Should've Known Better" | 4:10 | |
2. | "Don't Mean Nothing" | Richard Marx, Bruce Gaitsch | 4:41 |
3. | "Endless Summer Nights" | 4:30 | |
4. | "Lonely Heart" | Marx, Fee Waybill | 3:53 |
5. | "Hold On to the Nights" | 5:12 | |
6. | "Have Mercy" | 4:33 | |
7. | "Remember Manhattan" | Marx, Waybill | 4:18 |
8. | "The Flame of Love" | Marx, Jim Lang | 3:37 |
9. | "Rhythm of Life" | Marx, Michael Omartian | 4:44 |
10. | "Heaven Only Knows" | 5:40 |
Chart (1988) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA) [9] | 7 |
The Billboard 200 Albums Chart | 8 |
UK Albums Chart | 68 |
Chart (1988) | Position |
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Australia (ARIA Charts) [10] | 34 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [10] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada) [11] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [12] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop rock singer-songwriter. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
Greatest Hits is the first compilation disc by Richard Marx sold through Avon. This album contains every single released from Marx's first three discs, including an extra track, "Calling You", which was purported to be the fifth single from the album Rush Street before it was decided against it.
Emotional Remains is the eighth studio album by Richard Marx which was released digitally on October 31, 2008 on Marx's website. Emotional Remains was released simultaneously with Sundown and was re-released exclusively through Amazon.com on September 22, 2009 with two new tracks.
Sundown is the ninth studio album by Richard Marx that was released digitally on October 31, 2008. Sundown was released along with Emotional Remains.
"Don't Mean Nothing" is the debut single by singer/songwriter/producer Richard Marx from his triple platinum 1987 eponymous album. It hit No. 1 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100. With the chart success of "Don't Mean Nothing" and subsequent singles from his debut album, Marx became the first male artist to reach the top three of the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart with four singles from a debut album.
Stories To Tell is an acoustic album released by Richard Marx featuring several songs from his previous albums in newly recorded acoustic versions. It is his second album of acoustic reworkings of his previous hits, with the Richard Marx/Matt Scannell album Duo being the first. The 11 track collection was first released in March 2010 and available for purchase exclusively at his solo acoustic concerts. The album was later repackaged and released November 11, 2010 in Europe with an additional 7 bonus tracks featuring songs Marx had written or co-written for other artists such as Keith Urban, NSYNC, and Daughtry, all performed here by Marx. May 3, 2011, the album was again repackaged into a three disc set for an exclusive Wal-Mart stores release. The first disc featured the original 11 songs from the first release of Stories To Tell – along with an acoustic version of Marx's new song "When You Loved Me". The second disc features re-imagined recordings of 11 of Marx's hits plus the studio version of "When You Loved Me." The third disc is a DVD of Marx's concert at Shepherd's Bush in London, England.
"Angelia" is a ballad recorded by Richard Marx and the third released single on his second album, Repeat Offender.
Every Turn of the World is the third studio album by Christopher Cross, recorded and released in 1985. The album has a harder rocking sound, lacking the pop ballads that dominated the sound of Cross's previous albums. The album peaked at No. 127 on the Billboard 200, while the "Charm the Snake", peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100, the only single to chart from the album. Two other singles, the title track and "Love Is Love ", were also released.
Don't Look Back is a 1980 album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released on May 15, 1980, by Capitol Records, The album reached peak positions of number 77 on the Billboard 200; number 17 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
The Christmas EP is a Christmas album by musician Richard Marx. It was released on November 1, 2011 with the intention of recording an additional seven songs to add to the five songs to make a full-length album for release in 2012, which would become Christmas Spirit.
"Should've Known Better" is a hit song written, composed, and performed by American rock singer Richard Marx. It was released in September 1987 as the second single from his Triple Platinum-selling self-titled debut album. The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as #7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in 1987 and #4 on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay chart.
Christmas Spirit is a Christmas seasonal release album by Richard Marx, released in October 2012. Five tracks on the album previously appeared on his 2011 release, The Christmas EP. Christmas Spirit reached No. 181 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and No. 21 on the Billboard Top Christmas Albums chart.