Brenda Russell | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 25 July 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Studio | Kendun Recorders, Conway Recording Studios, United Western Recorders, Los Angeles, California | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:00 | |||
Label | Horizon Records | |||
Producer | André Fischer | |||
Brenda Russell chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
BBC | (favourable) [2] |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+ [3] |
DownBeat | [4] |
Brenda Russell is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Brenda Russell, released on 25 July 1979 by A&M Records on the Horizon label. [5] The album peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard R&B albums chart. [6]
After working for several years with her then-husband Brian Russell as session musicians and by themselves as the duo Brian & Brenda in the mid-1970s, the couple divorced and Brenda Russell embarked on a solo career by signing with A&M Records. [7]
The album was written almost entirely by Russell and produced by Andre Fischer, who was fresh off of a stint as drummer for Rufus. The single, "So Good So Right", reached Nos. 8, 15 and 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary, Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts, respectively. [8] [9] [10]
The track, "" Think It Over", written by Russell with her then-husband Brian, was previously recorded by Charlie's Angels star Cheryl Ladd, who ironically would go on to marry Brian following the latter's divorce from Brenda.
Luther Vandross did a cover of "If Only For One Night" on his 1985 album The Night I Fell In Love, and then in 2006, singer Janet Jackson sampled "If Only For One Night" in her song "Do It 2 Me" off the album 20 Y.O.. In 1998, American rapper Big Pun sampled "A Little Bit of Love" on his hit single " Still Not a Player". In 2003, Mexican singer Thalía sampled the song in " I Want You", and in 2013 Ariana Grande and Mac Miller sampled the same song for their Top 10 hit single, " The Way". In 2001, singer Mary J. Blige sampled "God Bless You" in her song "Flying Away".
In 2000, the album was re-released on CD with new cover artwork and included Russell's most well known hit " Piano in the Dark" from 1988 as a bonus track.
All tracks composed by Brenda Russell, except:
"You're Free" (lyrics: Brenda Russell, music: Andre Fischer, Brenda Russell)
"Think It Over" (lyrics: Brenda Russell, music: Brian Russell, Brenda Russell).
Album
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200 | 65 |
US R&B Chart | 26 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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1979 | "So Good, So Right" | US Billboard Hot 100 [11] | 30 |
1980 | "So Good, So Right" / "In the Thick of It" |
UK Singles Chart [12] | 51 |