Everlasting (Natalie Cole album)

Summary

Everlasting is the eleventh studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released on June 14, 1987 by Manhattan Records. The album peak to number 8 on Billboards Top R&B Albums chart, and number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Everlasting
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 14, 1987
Recorded1986–1987
Genre
Length54:28
Label
Producer
Natalie Cole chronology
Dangerous
(1985)
Everlasting
(1987)
Good to Be Back
(1989)
Alternative cover
Cover for the UK version of the album
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), her first album to be certified since 1979's We're the Best of Friends with Peabo Bryson. Everlasting earned a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.[2]

Production edit

The duo The Calloways contributed to the tracks "Jump Start", a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac", and "I Live for Your Love". Also included are the Bacharach and David songs "In My Reality" and "Split Decision". A cover of "When I Fall in Love", and "More Than the Stars" features José Feliciano on vocals and guitar.

Commercial reception edit

Released in June 1987, Everlasting peaked to the No. 8 on US Top R&B Albums, No. 42 on the Billboard 200 and No. 9 on New Zealand Albums chart. The lead single "Jump Start" hit No. 2 on US R&B Songs chart and a top 20 hit at No. 13 on US Hot 100. The album's second single "I Live for Your Love" hit top 5 on US R&B Songs at No. 4 and No. 2 on US Adult Contemporary chart.

"Pink Cadillac" was released as the third single and achieve successful popularity, it hit the top 5 on the US Hot 100, top 10 on US R&B Songs and No. 1 on US Dance Songs. The song hit top 5 in the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and top 10 in Denmark, Finland and Australia.[3][4] The final single "When I Fall In Love" hit the top 20 on US Adult Contemporary Songs.

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Everlasting"
  • Knight
  • Zigman
5:17
2."Jump Start"
  • R. Calloway
  • V. Calloway
6:26
3."The Urge to Merge"
  • Pam Reswick
  • Steve Werfel
Dennis Lambert4:10
4."Split Decision"
4:14
5."When I Fall in Love"Marcus Miller5:09
6."Pink Cadillac"Bruce Springsteen4:28
7."I Live for Your Love"
  • Reswick
  • Allan Rich
  • Werfel
Lambert4:29
8."In My Reality"
  • Bacharach
  • Sager
  • Goldmark
  • Roberts
5:21
9."I'm the One"
  • R. Calloway
  • V. Calloway
5:21
10."More Than the Stars"
  • Natalie Cole
  • Eddie Cole
  • N. Cole
  • E. Cole
4:39
11."What I Must Do" (1991 reissue track)
  • Goldmark
  • Roberts
  • Goldmark
  • Roberts
4:52
Total length:54:28
Notes

Track 11 is not included on vinyl versions of the album other than on copy MTLX 1012, where it is present as track 6 of side B, although not listed on the sleeve, jacket or disc label.

Personnel edit

  • Natalie Cole – lead vocals, backing vocals (2, 5–8, 11)
  • Aaron Zigman – all instruments (1)
  • Jerry Knight – all instruments (1)
  • Joel Davis – keyboards (2, 9)
  • Odeen Mays Jr. – keyboards (2, 9)
  • David Ervin – keyboard programming (2), synthesizer programming (2), drum programming (2), keyboards (9)
  • Claude Gaudette – keyboards (3, 6, 7), arrangements (3, 7)
  • Randy Kerber – keyboards (4, 8)
  • Burt Bacharach – synthesizers (4, 8)
  • Nat Adderley Jr. – keyboards (5), arrangements (5)
  • Jeff Bova – synthesizer programming (5)
  • Charles Floyd – acoustic piano (10), synthesizers (10)
  • Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (11)
  • Andy Goldmark – additional keyboards (11)
  • Bruce Roberts – additional keyboards (11)
  • Gene Robinson – guitars (2, 9)
  • Dann Huff – guitars (3, 4, 8)
  • Ira Siegel – guitars (5)
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (6, 7, 11), arrangements (6), rhythm guitar (10)
  • José Feliciano – acoustic guitar (10), hand and mouth percussion (10), lead vocals (10)
  • Marcus Miller – bass (3, 5), guitars (5)
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass (4, 6-8, 11)
  • Abraham Laboriel – bass (10)
  • Carlos Vega – drums (4)
  • Buddy Williams – drums (5)
  • Mike Baird – drums (6, 7)
  • John Robinson – drums (8, 10, 11)
  • Lenny Castro – percussion (3)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (4, 11)
  • Shandu Akiem – percussion (9)
  • Steve Samuel – percussion (10)
  • Larry Williams – saxophone solo (1), synthesizers (4, 8)
  • Tom Scott – saxophone (3)
  • David Boruff – saxophone solo (4, 8)
  • Kenny G – alto sax solo (5)
  • Jerry Hey – horns (8), trumpet (8), flugelhorn (8), horn arrangements (8)
  • Reggie Calloway – arrangements (2, 9)
  • Chase/Rucker Productions – flute and string arrangements (10)
  • Eddie Cole – backing vocals (2), rhythm arrangements (9)
  • Katrina Perkins – backing vocals (2)
  • Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals (4)
  • Julia Waters Tillman – backing vocals (4, 7)
  • Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals (4, 7)
  • David Joyce – backing vocals (5), synthesizers (10)
  • Siedah Garrett – backing vocals (7)
  • Mendy Lee – backing vocals (7)
  • Oren Waters – backing vocals (7)
  • Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (8)
  • Joe Pizzulo – backing vocals (8)
  • The "N" Sisters – backing vocals (10)

Production

  • Gerry Griffith – executive producer
  • Jerry Knight – producer (1)
  • Aaron Zigman – producer (1)
  • Reggie Calloway – producer (2, 9)
  • Vincent Calloway – co-producer (2, 9)
  • Dennis Lambert – producer (3, 6, 7)
  • Burt Bacharach – producer (4, 8)
  • Carole Bayer-Sager – producer (4, 8)
  • Marcus Miller– producer (5)
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – associate producer (6)
  • Eddie Cole – producer (10), mixing (10)
  • Natalie Cole – producer (10), mixing (10)
  • Andy Goldmark – producer (11)
  • Bruce Roberts – producer (11)
  • Mick Guzauski – recording (1, 4, 8), mixing (1, 4, 8)
  • Craig Burbidge – recording (2, 9)
  • Paul Ericksen – recording (2, 9), assistant engineer (6)
  • Glen Holguin – recording (2, 9)
  • Robin Jenny – recording (2, 9)
  • Jim Krause – recording (2, 9)
  • Taavi Mote – recording (2, 9), mixing (2, 9)
  • Gabe Veltri – recording (2, 9)
  • Jeremy Smith – recording (3, 6, 7), mixing (3, 6, 7)
  • Bruce Miller – engineer (5)
  • Ed Thacker – engineer (5)
  • Ray Bardani – mixing (5)
  • Mark Wolfson – engineer (10), mixing (10)
  • Tom Perry – additional recording (4, 8)
  • Tommy Vicari – additional recording (4, 8)
  • Gary Wagner – assistant engineer (1, 4), mixing (8)
  • Sabrina Buchanek – assistant engineer (2, 9)
  • John Hegedes – assistant engineer (2, 9)
  • Jeff Lorenzen – assistant engineer (2, 9)
  • Elmer Slores – assistant engineer (2, 9)
  • Tony Spataro – assistant engineer (2, 9)
  • Liz Cluse – assistant engineer (3, 7)
  • Ron DaSilva – assistant engineer (3)
  • Marnie Riley – assistant engineer (4), recording (8), mixing (8)
  • Clark Germain – assistant engineer (5)
  • Bruce Gisoni – assistant engineer (5)
  • Paul Huggins – assistant engineer (5)
  • Bill Miranda – assistant engineer (5)
  • Neil Nappe – assistant engineer (5)
  • Bino Espinoza – assistant engineer (6), recording (7)
  • Kathy Botich – assistant engineer (10)
  • Sean Stancioff – assistant engineer (10), mixing (10)
  • Alan Gregory – engineer (11)
  • Glen Hoalguin – engineer (11)
  • Barney Perkins – engineer (11), mixing (11)
  • Marrianne Pellicci – production assistant (3, 6, 7)
  • Bibi Green – production coordinator (5)
  • Debra Bishop – design
  • Koppel & Scher – design
  • The Cream Group – cover design, layout (UK release)
  • Moshe Brakha – photography
  • Matthew Rolston – cover photography (UK release)
  • Emory Jones – hair
  • Wendy Cooper – make-up
  • Cecille Parker – stylist
  • Dan Cleary – management

Studios

  • Recorded at Conway Studios, Soundcastle and Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California); Larrabee Sound Studios and One On One Studios (North Hollywood, California); Lion Share Recording Studios, Studio 55 and Image Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California); Encore Studios and O'Henry Sound Studios (Burbank, California); Fifth Floor Recording Studios (Cincinnati, Ohio); House of Music (West Orange, New Jersey); Messina Music (New York City, New York).
  • Mixed at Conway Studios and Soundcastle (Hollywood, California); Larrabee Sound Studios and Entourage Studios (North Hollywood, California); Right Track Recording (New York City, New York).

Charts edit

Certifications and sales edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[11] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[13] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Natalie Cole - Everlasting Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Natalie Cole". Grammy.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Danish Singles Chart 29 July 1988
  4. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 9789511210535.
  5. ^ "Charts.nz – Natalie Cole – Everlasting". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Natalie Cole | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Natalie Cole Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Natalie Cole Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Natalie Cole – Everlasting". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  12. ^ "British album certifications – Natalie Cole – Everlasting". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "American album certifications – Natalie Cole – Everlasting". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 11, 2019.