Wikipedia

If My Heart Had Wings (album)

If My Heart Had Wings is an album by the American musician Melissa Manchester, released in 1995.[2][3] It was a commercial disappointment.[4][5]

If My Heart Had Wings
Studio album by
Melissa Manchester
Released1995
Studio
  • Rumbo Recorders, Record One and Image Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
  • Conway and Andora Studios (Hollywood, California)
  • Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, California)
  • Aire L.A. Studios (Glendale, California)
  • Atlantic and Skyline Studios (New York City, New York)
GenrePop
LabelAtlantic[1]
Producer
Melissa Manchester chronology
Tribute
(1989) 		If My Heart Had Wings
(1995) 		Joy
(1997)

Manchester promoted the album by performing its first single, "In a Perfect World", on the soap opera General Hospital.[6][7]

Production

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The album was executive produced by Arif Mardin and Michael Lippman.[8] Due to Manchester's work on the musical I Sent a Letter to My Love, the album was produced over a period of two years.[9] "If My Heart Had Wings" was written with Amy Sky.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [11]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution    [12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [13]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[14]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [15]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette    [16]

Entertainment Weekly wrote that, "too often, the tunes on If My Heart Had Wings sound like bland anthems in search of a maudlin movie score."[14] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thought that "Manchester turns in a hopelessly-out-of-it performance that serves as a harsh reminder that having great pipes is no guarantee of success."[16] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution opined that it was "too bad Manchester couldn't take a cue from Bonnie Raitt, whose music has grown along with her shock of gray hair and her insight."[12]

AllMusic wrote that the album was "filled with big, dramatic ballads and widescreen production values."[11] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide considered the album to be "not a great work [but] representative of her talent."[15]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The House That Love Built"Melissa Manchester, Dana Merino, Matt Sherrod4:25
2."In a Perfect World"Jud Friedman, Alan Rich, Wendy Waldman4:14
3."If My Heart Had Wings"Melissa Manchester, Eric Kaz, Amy Sky4:13
4."Heart of Love"Billie Hughes, Roxanne Seeman4:23
5."To Be in Love with Me"Jody Davidson3:55
6."Here to Love You"Michael McDonald4:25
7."Higher Ground"Kent Agee, Steve Dorff, George Green4:18
8."Crazy People"Edgar Leslie, James V. Monaco2:33
9."Moments Like This"Alan Rich, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel4:42
10."Don't Let Me Walk This Road Alone"David Foster, Keith Thomas, Linda Thompson4:10

Personnel

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  • Melissa Manchester – vocals, backing vocals (6), arrangements (6, 8)
  • Robbie Kondor – keyboards (1), keyboard programming (1), arrangements (1), additional keyboards (7)
  • Joe Mardin – additional keyboards (1), cymbals (1), hi-hat (1)
  • Steve Skinner – additional keyboards (1), keyboards (5, 7), programming (5, 7), arrangements (5, 7)
  • Scott Alspach – keyboards (2), programming (2)
  • Jud Friedman – keyboards (2), programming (2), string arrangements (2)
  • Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (3, 9, 10), arrangements (9)
  • Claude Gaudette – keyboards (4, 6), orchestra programming and arrangements (4)
  • Tom Salisbury – acoustic piano (6), backing vocals (6)
  • Michael Lang – acoustic piano (8)
  • John Putnam – guitars (1, 7)
  • Teddy Castellucci – guitars (2)
  • Tim Pierce – guitars (3, 10)
  • Peter Hume – guitars (6), backing vocals (6)
  • Dennis Budimir – guitars (8)
  • Michael Landau – guitars (9)
  • Will Lee – bass (1, 7)
  • Cliff Hugo – bass (6)
  • Chuck Berghofer – bass (8)
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass (9)
  • Bob Harsen – drums (3, 10)
  • Carlos Vega – drums (4, 6)
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (8, 9)
  • Brian Kilgore – percussion (2)
  • Efrain Toro – percussion (6)
  • Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophone (1)
  • Andy Snitzer – tenor saxophone (1)
  • Danny Wilensky – alto saxophone (5)
  • Doug Norwine – saxophone (6)
  • Gary Foster – clarinet (8)
  • Charles Loper – trombone (8)
  • Jimmy Hynes – trumpet (1)
  • Frank Szabo – trumpet (8)
  • Melissa Hasin – cello (7)
  • Jimbo Ross – viola (7)
  • Margaret Wooten – violin (7)
  • Richard Greene – violin solo (7)
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements (1, 7-9), string arrangements (7), orchestration (9)
  • David Campbell – string arrangements (2)
  • Gene Orloff – concertmaster (9)
  • Johnny Mandel – string arrangements (10)
  • Christopher Tate – choir master (1, 3)
  • Deborah A. Alexander, Beverly Dangerfield, Ettamaria Ellis, Warren Harrington, Dewayne C. Knox, Charles May and Linda T. Willis – backing vocals (1, 3)
  • Jerry Barnes – additional backing vocals (1)
  • Katreese Barnes – additional backing vocals (1)
  • Rachele Cappelli – additional backing vocals (1)
  • Sue Holder – backing vocals (6)
  • Carolyn Willis – backing vocals (6)
  • Peggi Blu – backing vocals (9)
  • Ollie Cregget – backing vocals (9)
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (9)
  • Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (9)
  • Witnley Phipps – vocals (10)

Production

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  • Michael Lippman – executive producer, management
  • Arif Mardin – executive producer, producer (1, 5, 7-9)
  • Jud Friedman – producer (2)
  • Ron Nevison – producer (3, 4, 10), engineer (3, 4, 10)
  • Melissa Manchester – producer (6)
  • Michael O'Reilly – engineer (1, 5, 7, 8), remixing (1, 5, 7-9)
  • Taavi Mote – engineer (2), remixing (2)
  • Chris Lord-Alge – remixing (3, 4, 10)
  • Jeremy Smith – additional engineer (5), engineer (6, 9), remixing (6)
  • Corey Baker – assistant engineer
  • Greg Barrett – assistant engineer
  • Shawn Berman – assistant engineer
  • Brian Broadwater – assistant engineer
  • Bruce Buchanan – assistant engineer
  • John Jackson – assistant engineer
  • Rail Rogut – assistant engineer
  • Brian Soucy – assistant engineer
  • Andy Udoff – assistant engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering at The Mastering Lab (Hollywood, California)
  • Frank DeCaro – production assistant
  • Lisa Maldonado – production assistant
  • Deandra Vallier – production assistant
  • Melanie Nissen – art direction
  • Richard Bates – design
  • Donald May – design
  • Glen Earler – photography

References

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  1. ^ "Fall Music". The Advocate. Here Publishing. September 20, 1994.
  2. ^ Lasswell, Mark (Feb 6, 1995). "Picks & pans — If My Heart Had Wings by Melissa Manchester". People. Vol. 43, no. 5. p. 27.
  3. ^ Green, Blake (6 Feb 1995). "She Knows the Score". Newsday. p. B3.
  4. ^ Deggans, Eric (29 Nov 1996). "Multitalented Manchester". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 25.
  5. ^ Bream, Jon (20 Aug 1996). "Manchester leans to musicals". Star Tribune. p. 1E.
  6. ^ "Singer Checks into 'Hospital'". News. The Star-Ledger. August 3, 1994.
  7. ^ Hart, Marla (11 Aug 1994). "In the late '60s, when the pace of daytime drama was slower...". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 13.
  8. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 5. Feb 4, 1995. p. 94.
  9. ^ Renzetti, Elizabeth (16 June 1994). "Manchester's music guides her home". The Globe and Mail. p. E3.
  10. ^ LeBlanc, Larry (Apr 13, 1996). "Amy Sky reaches new heights". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 15. p. 64.
  11. ^ a b "If My Heart Had Wings". AllMusic.
  12. ^ a b Longino, Miriam (January 28, 1995). "If My Heart Had Wings Melissa Manchester". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L16.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 462.
  14. ^ a b "If My Heart Had Wings". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 710.
  16. ^ a b Collins, Tracy (10 Mar 1995). "Melissa Manchester If My Heart Had Wings". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 16.
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