Hearsay (album)
Encyclopedia
Hearsay is a 1986 album by R&B
musician Alexander O'Neal
. The album peaked at #29 on the "Billboard 200
" and reached #2 on "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
". The album launched seven charting singles in the UK
. "Fake
" peaked at #33 on "UK Singles
"; "Criticize
" peaked at #4; "Never Knew Love Like This" at #26; "The Lovers" at #28; "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me" at #27; "Sunshine" at #72. Several remixes of the album's songs also charted. "Fake '88", #16; "Hearsay '89", #56. Two of the tracks, "Fake" and "Criticize", were popular anthems in UK dance clubs. The album certified gold
by the RIAA
on October 20, 1987. In the UK, it sold more than 700,000 copies.
In 2008, "Criticize
" appeared on Grand Theft Auto IV's
fictional Soul/R&B radio station The Vibe 98.8
, except track 6.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
musician Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:...
. The album peaked at #29 on the "Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
" and reached #2 on "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
". The album launched seven charting singles in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. "Fake
Fake (Alexander O'Neal song)
"Fake" is a 1987 single by Alexander O'Neal. The single was O'Neal's most successful song on both soul and pop charts. "Fake" went to number one on the Hot Black Singles chart for two weeks, and peaked at number twenty-five on the Hot 100. The single was also O'Neal's most successful single on...
" peaked at #33 on "UK Singles
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
"; "Criticize
Criticize (song)
"Criticize" is Alexander O'Neal's biggest UK hit to date.Released in 1987,It reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was also one of his only two hits to chart in the Ireland Singles Chart . However, "Criticize" wasn't so successful in the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" peaked at #4; "Never Knew Love Like This" at #26; "The Lovers" at #28; "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me" at #27; "Sunshine" at #72. Several remixes of the album's songs also charted. "Fake '88", #16; "Hearsay '89", #56. Two of the tracks, "Fake" and "Criticize", were popular anthems in UK dance clubs. The album certified gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the RIAA
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
on October 20, 1987. In the UK, it sold more than 700,000 copies.
In 2008, "Criticize
Criticize (song)
"Criticize" is Alexander O'Neal's biggest UK hit to date.Released in 1987,It reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was also one of his only two hits to chart in the Ireland Singles Chart . However, "Criticize" wasn't so successful in the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" appeared on Grand Theft Auto IV's
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
fictional Soul/R&B radio station The Vibe 98.8
Track listing
All tracks composed by James Harris and Terry LewisJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
, except track 6.
Side one
- "Intro" – 0:35
- "What Can I Say (To Make You Love Me)What Can I Say (To Make You Love Me)" To Make You Love Me" is Alexander O'Neal's 11th top 40 single which reached #27 in the UK Singles Chart in 1988. It features on his 2nd album Hearsay along with a number of other hits including, "Criticize", "The Lovers", "Hearsay", "Never Knew Love Like This" and "Fake"....
" – 5:27 - "HearsayHearsay (song)"Hearsay" is the title track of Alexander O'Neal's 2nd album Hearsay which was released in 1987. The original track from the album wasn't released as a single but in 1989, a remixed version was released in the UK Singles Chart and it became a minor hit, reaching #56....
" – 4:18 - "The LoversThe Lovers (Alexander O'Neal song)"The Lovers" was Alexander O'Neal's 10th hit single and it reached #28 in the UK Singles Chart. It is featured on his 1988 album Hearsay along with O'Neals other top 40 hits, "What Can I Say ", "Criticize", "Hearsay", "Never Knew Love Like This" and "Fake".In the United States, the single reached...
" – 5:27 - "FakeFake (Alexander O'Neal song)"Fake" is a 1987 single by Alexander O'Neal. The single was O'Neal's most successful song on both soul and pop charts. "Fake" went to number one on the Hot Black Singles chart for two weeks, and peaked at number twenty-five on the Hot 100. The single was also O'Neal's most successful single on...
" – 4:37 - "CriticizeCriticize (song)"Criticize" is Alexander O'Neal's biggest UK hit to date.Released in 1987,It reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was also one of his only two hits to chart in the Ireland Singles Chart . However, "Criticize" wasn't so successful in the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" – 4:11 (Garry Johnson/Alexander O'Neal)
Side two
- "Intro" – 0:28
- "Never Knew Love Like ThisNever Knew Love Like This (Alexander O'Neal & Cherrelle song)"Never Knew Love Like This" was a successful hit for Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle in 1988, reaching #2 in the US R&B chart, #26 in the UK and #28 in the Billboard Hot 100....
" – 5:30 - "Sunshine" – 6:04
- "Crying Overtime" – 5:42
- "When the Party's Over" – 3:32
Personnel
- Clarence AvantClarence AvantClarence Avant is an American music executive, entrepreneur, and film producer. He was also known as the Godfather of Black Music.Avant's 75th birthday was celebrated by Billboard magazine, on its February 2006 issue....
– executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production... - Jerome BentonJerome BentonJerome Benton is an American musical performer, backup dancer and comedic actor. He can be seen in music videos by Janet Jackson and Prince, but he is best known for his association with The Time....
- Spencer BernardSpencer BernardSpencer Bernard is a long-time associate of hitmakers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and a well-known songwriter/record producer/musician that was a part of the Flyte Tyme Productions crew. Throughout his career, he has done session work for Janet Jackson, Cherrelle, Nona Hendryx, New Edition...
– programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, sequencingMusic sequencerThe music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :... - CherrelleCherrelleCheryl Anne Norton, better known by her stage name, Cherrelle , is an American R&B singer who gained fame in the 1980s...
– arrangerArrangementThe American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - David Eiland – saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, soloistSolo (music)In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer... - A. Scott Galloway – liner notesLiner notesLiner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
- Brian GardnerBrian GardnerBrian Gardner, also known as Brian "Big Bass" Gardner is a mastering engineer. He has worked on countless recordings since the mid-1960s, including classic rock, funk, disco, alternative rock, R&B, hip hop, pop punk, and dance pop. He is perhaps best known for his work on hip hop albums and in...
– masteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced... - James Greer – handclapping
- Steve Hodge – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, engineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,... - Jimmy JamJimmy Jam and Terry LewisJames Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
– percussion, arranger, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals, handclapping, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, drum programmingDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, rhythm arrangements, keyboard programmingElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, synthesizer programmingSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Jellybean JohnsonJellybean JohnsonJellybean Johnson is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota...
– percussion, keyboards, background vocals, handclapping, drum programming, rhythm arrangements, keyboard programming, synthesizer programming - Lisa KeithLisa KeithLisa Keith is an American Christian contemporary/pop singer, probably best known for her work as a backing vocalist for other artists and lead vocalist on Herb Alpert's hit single from 1987, "Making Love in the Rain"...
– background vocals, rhythm arrangements - Terry LewisJimmy Jam and Terry LewisJames Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
– percussion, arranger, background vocals, handclapping, producer, rhythm arrangements - Alexander O'NealAlexander O'NealAlexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:...
– arranger, vocals, rhythm arrangements - Randy Ran – background vocals
- Stafford – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Dale Wehlacz – art directionArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
, designGraphic designGraphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience... - Karen Williams
Reception
- Allmusic [ link]
- Robert ChristgauRobert ChristgauRobert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
(B+) link
External links
- Audio samples and lyrics hosted with permission by MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....