Laura Branigan (album)

Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan
Studio album by Laura Branigan
Released	March 21, 1990
Studio	Howie Sound (Studio City, California); Steve Lindsey (Hollywood, California); Westlake (Los Angeles, California); 55 (Los Angeles, California); Hollywood Sound (Hollywood, California); The Bunny Hop (Hollywood, California); The Village Recorder (Los Angeles, California); Music Grinder (Hollywood, California); Midi Madness (Los Angeles, California); Lion Share (Los Angeles, California); Sunset Sound (Hollywood, California); Cornerstone Recorders (Chatsworth, California); Alpha (Burbank, California); Ultimo (Los Angeles, California);
Length	43:07
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Laura Branigan; Rick Chudacoff; Steve Kipner; Steve Lindsey; Clif Magness; Dennis Matkosky; Richard Perry; Peter Wolf;
Laura Branigan chronology
Singles from Laura Branigan
	"Moonlight on Water"; Released: 1990; "Never in a Million Years"; Released: 1990; "Turn the Beat Around"; Released: 1990;

Laura Branigan is the sixth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on March 21, 1990, by Atlantic Records. The album's lead single, "Moonlight on Water", reached number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100,^[4] while the second single, "Never in a Million Years", peaked at number 22 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.^[5] The third and final single, a cover version of Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 song "Turn the Beat Around", failed to chart. The song "Unison" was recorded by Celine Dion the same year.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Chicago Tribune	^[2]
Entertainment Weekly	B−^[3]

Critical reception

Billboard Magazine praised the album for its "jaunty, up-tempo dance tunes" but noted that "Branigan still excels at shimmering tear jerker ballads like 'Never in a Million Years' and 'No Promise, No Guarantee'."^[6]

In their review of the album, Cashbox noted that "Branigan rolled out some heavyweight producers who are known for delivering the goods," and that "this is one of the most solid efforts she has produced, ranging from the ballads for which she's known to a more conscious effort to court the dance crowd."^[7]

Allmusic were much more critical in their review, "short on ideas even with a three-year layoff (they couldn't even think of an album title!), the Laura Branigan brain trust put its faith in drum programs to carry a collection of mediocre originals, a lame cover of Vicki Sue Robinson's dance classic "Turn the Beat Around," and a Bryan Adams castoff. Branigan sang with her usual gusto, but even slick producers like Richard Perry and Peter Wolf couldn't animate the material."^[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Moonlight on Water"	Andy Goldmark Steve Kipner	Richard Perry	4:39
2.	"Bad Attitude"	Paul Bliss Kipner	Perry	4:00
3.	"Never in a Million Years"	Van Stephenson Dave Robbins Bob Farrell	Peter Wolf	4:08
4.	"Smoke Screen"	Kipner Clif Magness	Perry Steve Lindsey^[a]	4:06
5.	"Let Me In"	Dennis Matkosky Paul Gordon	Laura Branigan Steve Lindsey Dennis Matkosky	5:18
6.	"Turn the Beat Around"	Gerald Jackson Peter Jackson	Branigan Lindsey	4:22
7.	"Unison"	Bruce Roberts Goldmark	Peter Bunetta Rick Chudacoff	4:40
8.	"No Promise, No Guarantee"	Bonnie Karlyle Pat Robinson	Wolf	5:00
9.	"Reverse Psychology"	Kipner Magness	Kipner Lindsey Magness	3:33
10.	"The Best Was Yet to Come"	Bryan Adams Jim Vallance	Branigan Lindsey	3:21

Notes

^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Laura Branigan.^[9]

Musicians

Laura Branigan – lead vocals (all tracks); background vocals (tracks 1, 5); arrangements (track 10)
Howie Rice – drum programming, keyboards (tracks 1, 2); guitar (track 1); synth guitar, percussion (track 2)
Andy Goldmark – drum programming, keyboards, background vocals (track 1)
Steve Kipner – drum programming (tracks 1, 2)
Michael Dunlap – bass (track 1); keyboards (track 2)
Steve Lindsey – keyboards (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9); drum programming (tracks 4, 6, 10); synth strings, arrangements (track 6); synthesizer (track 10)
James Harrah – lead guitar (track 1); guitar (tracks 4–6, 9)
Ramsey Embick – synth sax solo (track 1); keyboards, percussion (track 2)
Richard Perry – drum programming (track 2)
Alfie Silas – background vocals (tracks 2, 3, 6, 8)
Peggi Blu – background vocals (tracks 2, 6, 9)
Jean Johnson – background vocals (track 2)
Peter Wolf – arrangements, all instruments except guitars (tracks 3, 8)
Peter Maunu – guitars (tracks 3, 8)
Ina Wolf – background vocals (tracks 3, 8)
Maxi Anderson – background vocals (tracks 3, 8)
Joe Pizzulo – background vocals (tracks 3, 8)
Phillip Ingram – background vocals (tracks 3, 8)
Dorian Holley – background vocals (tracks 3, 8)
Clif Magness – keyboards, drum programming (tracks 4, 9); guitar (track 9)
Steve Goldstein – keyboards (track 4); drum programming (track 10)
Brandon Fields – sax (track 4)
Kate Markowitz – background vocals (tracks 4, 5)
Donna de Lory – background vocals (tracks 4, 5)
Jeff Porcaro – drums (track 5)
Dennis Matkosky – drum programming, keyboards, arrangements (track 5)
Larry Klein – bass (tracks 5, 10)
Brenda Russell – background vocals (track 5)
Danny Peck – background vocals (track 5)
Bill Champlin – background vocals (track 5)
Leslie Hall – background vocals (track 5)
Khris Kellow – drum programming, synth strings, keyboards, arrangements (track 6)
John Robinson – hi-hat (track 6)
Aaron Zigman – synth strings, keyboards (track 6)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (tracks 6, 9, 10)
Lenny Castro – percussion (track 6)
Mona Lisa Young – background vocals (tracks 6, 9)
Peter Bunetta – arrangements, drum programming, percussion programming, background vocals (track 7)
Rick Chudacoff – arrangements, keyboards (track 7)
Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (track 7)
Dann Huff – guitar (track 7)
Leslie Smith – background vocals (track 7)
Joey Diggs – background vocals (track 7)
Ivory Stone – background vocals (track 7)
Patti Henley – background vocals (track 7)
Michael Williams – background vocals (track 7)
Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (track 9)
Francine Howard – background vocals (track 9)
Bernadette Barlow – background vocals (track 9)
Randy Kerber – piano (track 10)
The Pasadena Boys Choir – background vocals (track 10)
John Barron – choir direction (track 10)

Technical

Richard Perry – production (tracks 1, 2, 4)
Peter Wolf – production (tracks 3, 8)
Laura Branigan – production (tracks 5, 6, 10)
Steve Lindsey – production (tracks 5, 6, 9, 10); co-production (track 4)
Dennis Matkosky – production, engineering assistance (track 5)
Peter Bunetta – production (track 7)
Rick Chudacoff – production (track 7)
Steve Kipner – production (track 9)
Clif Magness – production, engineering (track 9)
Julie Larson – production coordination (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 9)
Ramsey Embick – engineering (tracks 1, 2)
Gabe Veltri – engineering (tracks 1, 5, 6, 10)
Norman (Slam) Whitfield Jr. – engineering (tracks 1, 2); mixing (track 2)
Jess Sutcliffe – engineering (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9, 10)
Paul Ericksen – engineering (tracks 1–6, 8–10); mixing (tracks 3, 5, 8, 10)
Andy Batwinas – engineering assistance (track 1)
Eric Anest – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 6, 9, 10); engineering (track 4)
Bill Molina – engineering assistance (track 1)
Richard Engstrom – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 4, 9)
Keith Cohen – mixing (track 1)
Martin Schmelzel – engineering (track 2)
David Schober – engineering (track 2)
Ric Butz – engineering assistance (track 2)
Carlos Golliher – production coordination (tracks 3, 8)
Richard Cottrell – engineering (track 4)
Charlie Pollard – engineering assistance (tracks 4, 6)
John Karpowich – engineering assistance (tracks 4, 10)
Alan Meyerson – mixing (tracks 4, 6)
Guy DeFazio – engineering assistance (track 5)
Van Coppock – engineering assistance (track 5)
Charlie Brocco – engineering assistance (tracks 5, 9)
Susanne Marie Edgren – production coordination (track 5)
Mike Kloster – engineering assistance (track 6)
Leon Johnson – recording, engineering (track 7)
Marnie Riley – engineering assistance (track 7)
Bryan Arnett – engineering assistance (track 7)
Russ Ragsdale – engineering assistance (track 7)
Steve Egelman – engineering assistance (track 7)
Peter Barker – engineering (track 9)
Ken Felton – engineering assistance (track 9)
Robert Hart – engineering assistance (tracks 9, 10)
Humberto Gatica – mixing (track 9)
Gabe Moffat – engineering assistance (track 10)
Gail Esposito – production coordination (track 10)
Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Lacquer (Hollywood, California)
Doug Morris – executive production

Artwork

Bob Defrin – art direction
Greg Gorman – photography

Charts

Chart performance for *Laura Branigan*
Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[10]	143
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[11]	86
US Billboard 200^[12]	133
US Cash Box Top 200 Albums^[13]	137

Notes

^ ^a ^b Tracks 1 and 2
^ Tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9 and 10
^ Tracks 1, 4 and 9
^ Track 2
^ Tracks 3 and 8
^ Tracks 4–6, 9 and 10
^ Track 4
^ ^a ^b Track 5
^ Track 6
^ ^a ^b Track 7
^ Track 10

References

^ Ruhlmann, William. "Laura Branigan – Laura Branigan". AllMusic. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
^ DeKnock, Jan (May 10, 1990). "Home Entertainment: Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 17F.
^ Sandow, Greg (April 6, 1990). "Laura Branigan". Entertainment Weekly.
^ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
^ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 7 April 1990. p. 80. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
^ "Pop Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 14 April 1962. p. 318. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
^ "Laura Branigan - Laura Branigan | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.
^ Laura Branigan (liner notes). Laura Branigan. Atlantic Records. 1990. 7 82086-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Response from ARIA re: Laura Branigan's ARIA chart history, received December 22, 2017". Retrieved December 22, 2017 – via Imgur. Note: The "High Point" number in the "NAT" column represents the release's peak position on the national chart.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Laura Branigan – Laura Branigan" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
^ "Laura Branigan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
^ "Top 200 Albums". Cash Box. Vol. LIII, no. 45. June 2, 1990. p. 17. ISSN 0008-7289.

[Tracks_1_and_2-1] Tracks 1 and 2

[2] Tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 9 and 10

[3] Tracks 1, 4 and 9

[4] Track 2

[5] Tracks 3 and 8

[6] Tracks 4–6, 9 and 10

[7] Track 4

[Track_5-8] Track 5

[9] Track 6

[Track_7-10] Track 7

[11] Track 10

[12] Ruhlmann, William. "Laura Branigan – Laura Branigan". AllMusic. Retrieved October 3, 2021.

[13] DeKnock, Jan (May 10, 1990). "Home Entertainment: Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 17F.

[14] Sandow, Greg (April 6, 1990). "Laura Branigan". Entertainment Weekly.

[15] "Laura Branigan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.

[16] "Laura Branigan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2021.

[17] "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 7 April 1990. p. 80. Retrieved December 12, 2023.

[18] "Pop Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. No. 14 April 1962. p. 318. Retrieved December 12, 2023.

[19] "Laura Branigan - Laura Branigan | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic.

[20] Laura Branigan (liner notes). Laura Branigan. Atlantic Records. 1990. 7 82086-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[21] "Response from ARIA re: Laura Branigan's ARIA chart history, received December 22, 2017". Retrieved December 22, 2017 – via Imgur. Note: The "High Point" number in the "NAT" column represents the release's peak position on the national chart.

[ac_Netherlands_Laura_Branigan-22] "Dutchcharts.nl – Laura Branigan – Laura Branigan" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_Laura_Branigan-23] "Laura Branigan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2021.

[24] "Top 200 Albums". Cash Box. Vol. LIII, no. 45. June 2, 1990. p. 17. ISSN 0008-7289.

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