STUCK IN THE VINYL AGAIN - MELISSA MANCHESTER - MELISSA

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Good Tuesday morning to you all and welcome back to Stuck In The Vinyl Again . It was on this day in 1951, that vocalist, pianist, and actress, Melissa Manchester, was born. Today she is celebrating her 71st Birthday. Happy Birthday Melissa ! With her in mind, we spotlight her third studio album, Melissa. The LP was released January 1975 on the Arista label and produced by  Vini Poncia. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200 and gave birth to two singles ;  "Midnight Blue" (#78 Australia, #6 Hot 100, #5 Canada, #1 Adult Contemporary) and "Just Too Many People" (#49 Canada, #30 Hot 100, #2 Adult Contemporary). About half the songs on the album are co-written by singer-songwriter, Carole Bayer Sager, who was once married to composer and pianist Burt Bacharach. Among the guests on the record are songwriter and backing vocalist, David Lasley, who passed away in December 2021.

"We've Got Time" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 4:24

"Party Music" (Manchester, David Wolfert) – 3:29

"Just Too Many People" (Manchester, Vini Poncia) – 3:38

"Stevie's Wonder" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 3:35

"This Lady's Not Home Today" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 4:33

"Love Havin' You Around" (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) – 4:40

"Midnight Blue" (Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) – 3:55

"It's Gonna Be Alright" (Manchester, Adrienne Anderson) – 3:34

"I Got Eyes" (Manchester) – 2:45

"I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" (Randy Newman) – 5:05

Melissa Manchester – lead vocals, acoustic piano (1, 4, 7, 8, 10), electric piano (5, 9), clavinet (6)

James Newton Howard – electric piano (1-4, 7), clavinet (2, 8), ARP synthesizer (2, 9), organ (5, 6), acoustic piano (6), celesta (9)

David Wolfert – acoustic guitar (1, 7), electric guitar (1-7), guitar (8)

Cooker Lo Presti – bass (1-9)

Kirk Bruner – drums (1-8), percussion (2, 4), cuica (4), talking drum (6), backing vocals (9)

King Errisson – congas (2, 5, 8)

Don Diego Gujo – cowbell (8)

Morton K. Salt – percussion (9)

Trevor Lawrence– tenor saxophone (3, 6, 8), horn arrangements (3, 6, 8), string arrangements (3, 5, 7, 10), soprano saxophone (5), baritone saxophone (6, 8), alto saxophone (10)

John Rotella – baritone saxophone (3)

Gene Dinwiddie – tenor saxophone (6, 8)

Lew McCreary – trombone (3)

Steve Madaio – trumpet (3, 6, 8)

Vini Poncia – backing vocals (1, 2, 7, 9)

The Rhinestones – backing vocals (2)

David Lasley – backing vocals (6)

Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (6)

Brie Howard – backing vocals (9)

Production

Producer – Vini Poncia

Executive Producer – Richard Perry
Engineer – Bob Schaper

Assistant Engineer – Reed Stanley
Recorded at Sunset Sound (Los Angeles, CA) and A&R Studios (New York, NY).
Remixed by Bill Schnee at Sound Labs (Hollywood, CA).

Art Direction – Bob Heimall

Design – Arton Associates
Illustration – Pacific Eye & Ear

Photography – Ed Caraeff