Released February 23, 1979 Length 34:00 Producer André Fischer | Genre R&B
pop
dance Label Horizon Records | |
Recorded 1978 Los Angeles: Kendun Recorders, Conway Recording Studios, United Western | ||
Brenda Russell is the eponymous debut album by the American singer/songwriter Brenda Russell, released in 1979.
Contents
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.
Written almost entirely by Russell herself, the album included the singles "So Good, So Right" (released as a double A-sided single in the UK with "In The Thick Of It") and "Way Back When". The track "Think It Over", written by Russell with her then-husband Brian, was previously recorded by Charlie's Angels star Cheryl Ladd and was a top 40 for her in 1978 (Ladd and Brian Russell would later marry in 1981). The track "If Only For One Night" was covered by Luther Vandross in 1985.
Sampling
In 1998, 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 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.
Track listing
- "So Good, So Right"
- "In The Thick Of It"
- "If Only For One Night"
- "Way Back When"
- "A Little Bit Of Love"
- "You're Free"
- "Think It Over"
- "God Bless You"
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).
Personnel
Charts
Album
Singles