Alexander O'Neal is the debut solo studio album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It was originally released in 1985 by Tabu and Epic. The songs were recorded during 1984 to 1985 in sessions that took place at Creation Audio in Minnesota, and Larrabee Sound in Los Angeles, California, assisted by R&B songwriting and record production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
After release, the album was received favourably by the majority of music critics. One of O'Neal's most commercially successful solo albums, in the United States it went on to peak at number 92 on the Billboard 200 and number 21 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[4] The album launched four charting singles in the United Kingdom. "If You Were Here Tonight" peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart; "A Broken Heart Can Mend" peaked at number 53; "What's Missing" at number 90; "You Were Meant to Be My Lady (Not My Girl)" at number 98.[5] In the UK, the album sold more than 100,000 copies and was certified gold by the BPI.[6]
The album was re-released on 8 April 2013 on Tabu's new Re-born imprint featuring rare bonus content. The reissue is a 2-CD set with the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; the bonus content consists of associated 7", and 12" mixes.
Alexander O'Neal was well received by most critics. In his consumer guide for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau gave the album a B and commented that "From the Timexes who gave the world the new improved S.O.S. Band, a new improved black matinee idol. They start one side with a can't-miss post-vulnerable ballad, the other with a can't-miss dance song deceptively entitled "Innocent". He then added: "The rest they leave to craft. Is this any way to serve a new improved matinee idol? Probably."[2]
Today, the album is still viewed in a positive light by critics some three decades later. Alex Henderson of AllMusic gave the album four and a half out of five stars and wrote that "Creatively and commercially, the soul man hit the ground running with this impressive debut album", adding that "Excellent from start to finish, Alexander O'Neal is the singer's most essential album."[1]
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Alexander O Neal is the debut solo studio album by American recording artist Alexander O Neal It was originally released in 1985 by Tabu and Epic The songs were recorded during 1984 to 1985 in sessions that took place at Creation Audio in Minnesota and Larrabee Sound in Los Angeles California assisted by R amp B songwriting and record production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Alexander O NealStudio album by Alexander O NealReleasedMarch 8 1985RecordedFebruary 1984 January 1985StudioVarious Creation Audio Minneapolis Minnesota Larrabee Sound Los Angeles California GenreR amp B soulLength42 39LabelTabu EpicProducerJimmy Jam Terry Lewis Monte MoirAlexander O Neal chronologyAlexander O Neal 1985 Hearsay 1987 Singles from Alexander O Neal Innocent Released January 8 1985 If You Were Here Tonight Released June 4 1985 A Broken Heart Can Mend Released October 1 1985 What s Missing Released March 4 1986 You Were Meant to Be My Lady Not My Girl Released July 1 1986Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 1 Robert ChristgauB 2 The Rolling Stone Album Guide 3 After release the album was received favourably by the majority of music critics One of O Neal s most commercially successful solo albums in the United States it went on to peak at number 92 on the Billboard 200 and number 21 on Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums 4 The album launched four charting singles in the United Kingdom If You Were Here Tonight peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart A Broken Heart Can Mend peaked at number 53 What s Missing at number 90 You Were Meant to Be My Lady Not My Girl at number 98 5 In the UK the album sold more than 100 000 copies and was certified gold by the BPI 6 The album was re released on 8 April 2013 on Tabu s new Re born imprint featuring rare bonus content The reissue is a 2 CD set with the original album digitally remastered from the original 1 2 mix tapes the bonus content consists of associated 7 and 12 mixes Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Track listing 2 1 Side one 2 2 Side two 3 Personnel 4 Charts 4 1 Peak positions 5 Sales and certifications 6 Release history 7 References 8 External linksCritical reception EditAlexander O Neal was well received by most critics In his consumer guide for The Village Voice Robert Christgau gave the album a B and commented that From the Timexes who gave the world the new improved S O S Band a new improved black matinee idol They start one side with a can t miss post vulnerable ballad the other with a can t miss dance song deceptively entitled Innocent He then added The rest they leave to craft Is this any way to serve a new improved matinee idol Probably 2 Today the album is still viewed in a positive light by critics some three decades later Alex Henderson of AllMusic gave the album four and a half out of five stars and wrote that Creatively and commercially the soul man hit the ground running with this impressive debut album adding that Excellent from start to finish Alexander O Neal is the singer s most essential album 1 Track listing EditAll songs written and composed by James Harris and Terry Lewis except where noted Side one Edit A Broken Heart Can Mend 3 45 If You Were Here Tonight Monte Moir 6 11 Do You Wanna Like I Do Monte Moir 4 50 Look at Us Now Monte Moir 5 07Side two Edit Medley Innocent Alex 9000 Innocent II 10 32 What s Missing 5 43 You Were Meant to Be My Lady Not My Girl 6 31Personnel EditCredits are adapted from the album s liner notes 7 Alexander O Neal lead vocals backing vocals Jimmy Jam synthesizer synthesizer programming acoustic piano drum programming percussion backing vocals Terry Lewis bass guitar guitar percussion drum programming synthesizers backing vocals Monte Moir synthesizer synthesizer programming acoustic piano drum programming percussion backing vocals Jellybean Johnson drums percussion guitar soloAdditional personnelDavid Eiland saxophone O Nicholas Raths guitar John Della Selva guitar Bobby Schnitzer guitar Thomas Organ guitar Marcus Wise tablas bion Cherrelle backing vocals Lucia Newell backing vocals Gwendolyn Traylor backing vocals Denise Saenz backing vocalsTechnicalSteve Wiese Randy Tominaga Fred Howard Jack Daly recording engineers Steve Hodge Fred Howard mixing Brian Gardner masteringCharts EditPeak positions Edit Original releaseChart Peakposition TotalweeksDutch Albums Chart 8 72 1UK Albums Chart 9 19 18US Billboard Chart 10 92 18US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums 10 21 71Sales and certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 11 Gold 100 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Release history EditLabel Cat No Format DateTabu FZ 39331 US CD vinyl 1985Tabu TBU 26485 UK CD vinyl 1985Tabu The Right Stuff 72435 42424 2 7 CDVUS 230 EU CD 2002Solid CDSOL 5201 JP CD 24 July 2013Tabu TABU2001 UK CD 8 April 2013References Edit a b Henderson Alex Alexander O Neal Alexander O Neal AllMusic Retrieved August 22 2014 a b Christgau Robert Alexander O Neal Alexander O Neal Robert Christgau Retrieved August 22 2014 The Rolling Stone Album Guide Random House 1992 p 520 Hearsay Chart amp awards at AllMusic Roberts David 2002 Guinness World Records British Hit Singles 15th ed London Guinness World Records Ltd ISBN 0 85112 187 X p 360 UK Certified Awards Search gt Alexander O Neal British Phonographic Industry Archived from the original on 2013 05 01 Retrieved 2012 05 26 Alexander O Nealliner notes Tabu Records 1985 NL Charts gt Alexander O Neal MegaCharts Retrieved 2012 05 26 UK Charts gt Alexander O Neal Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 2012 06 28 Retrieved 2012 05 26 a b US Albums Charts gt Alexander O Neal Billboard Retrieved 2012 05 26 British album certifications Alexander O Neal Alexander O Neal British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 16 April 2015 External links EditAlexander O Neal at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander O 27Neal album amp oldid 1093219816, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
