Rhythm of the Night (album)
| Rhythm of the Night | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 14, 1985 | |||
| Recorded | 1984–1985 | |||
| Studio |
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Gordy | ||||
| Producer |
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| DeBarge chronology | ||||
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| Singles from DeBarge | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
Tom Hull – on the Web | B+ ( )[2] |
| The Village Voice | B+[3] |
Rhythm of the Night is the fourth studio album by
RIAA
.
Background and recording
DeBarge continued their success streak with their third album, 1983's In a Special Way. They went back into the studio to record what became Rhythm of the Night. Although the group had creative control, the group's managers Tony Jones and Suzanne de Passe elected to have outside producers to helm the project.[4] Producers included Richard Perry, Giorgio Moroder and Jay Graydon with the members of DeBarge on a few songs.[4] Rhythm of the Night contained six new songs, which were recorded specifically for the album. The remaining songs were old material that had been previously released. "Single Heart" originally appeared in the 1983 film D.C. Cab, while "Share My World" originally appeared on their 1981 debut The DeBarges.[4] When asked why the group's contributions were minimal on Rhythm of the Night, El noted that it was largely due to them being busy touring with singer Luther Vandross.[4]
However, in a 2008 episode of
TV One's Unsung, the group members revealed that drugs were the real reason behind their limited involvement.[5] Most of the members were drug addled - much like their brothers in the group Switch.[5] El DeBarge was zero tolerance when it came to drug use, and as such, Motown solely relied on him to complete the album.[5] The drug use overpowered the remaining members of the group so much that El threatened to attempt a solo career on the Vandross tour.[5] Motown then handed El the task of recording and finishing Rhythm of the Night with little to no input from his siblings.[5] Most of the backing vocals were performed by El with an array of session vocalists.[5] James DeBarge mentioned that he had no idea where the studios were to record his vocals and the only song he actually sang on was the title track, while Bunny was asked to sing over the background singers' parts.[5]
When the album was released in early 1985, the label made it obvious about the future of the group. El's picture was enlarged while the other members' photos were downsized.Warner Bros. Records.[5]
Singles
DeBarge gained airplay on
gold. This hit single also made its appearance in the 80's film Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon
.
The second single "
gold
.
The third single "
Hot Dance Club Play
chart.
The fourth and final single was the ballad "The Heart Is Not So Smart", which was another moderate hit for the group. It reached #75 on the Pop chart and #29 on the R&B chart. It still gains occasional airplay on radio stations in the U.S.
Track listing
- "Prime Time" (Clif Magness, Glen Ballard, Jay Graydon) - 4:27
- "The Heart Is Not So Smart" (Diane Warren) - 4:36
- "Who's Holding Donna Now" (David Foster, Jay Graydon, Randy Goodrum) - 4:27
- "Give It Up" (Jay Graydon, Randy Goodrum, Tom Canning) - 4:19
- "Single Heart" (Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) - 3:33
- "You Wear It Well" (Chico DeBarge, El DeBarge) - 4:45
- "The Walls (Came Tumbling Down)" (El DeBarge, Tony Redic) - 6:45
- "Share My World" (Bobby DeBarge, Bunny DeBarge, El DeBarge) - 5:36
- "Rhythm of the Night" (Diane Warren) - 3:49
Personnel
DeBarge
- El DeBarge – lead vocals (1–3, 5–9), keyboards (6–8), synthesizer programming (6), drums (6, 7), percussion (6, 7), arrangements (6, 7), rhythm arrangements (8), backing vocals
- Bunny DeBarge – backing vocals, lead vocals (5, 8)
- Mark DeBarge – backing vocals, lead vocals (4), percussion (6)
- James DeBarge – backing vocals
- Randy DeBarge – backing vocals
Additional personnel
- Glen Ballard – synthesizers (1), arrangements (1)
- Jay Graydon – synthesizers (1, 3, 4), arrangements (1-4), guitars (2, 4)
- Clif Magness – synthesizers (1), arrangements (1)
- Steven George – synthesizers (2), arrangements (2), backing vocals (3)
- Michael Omartian – synthesizers (2)
- Marcus Ryle – synthesizers (2), synthesizer programming (7), synthesizer sequencing (7)
- Robbie Buchanan – synthesizers (3, 4)
- David Foster – electric piano (3), synthesizers (3), arrangements (3)
- Steve Porcaro – synthesizers (3)
- Giorgio Moroder – synthesizers (5), synthesizer programming (5), arrangements (5)
- Paul Fox – synthesizer programming (6, 7)
- Mike Hightower – synthesizer sequencing (7)
- Jeff Lorber – synthesizers (9)
- Steve Mitchell – additional synthesizer (9)
- Howie Rice – additional synthesizer (9)
- Jesse Johnson – guitars (6)
- Paul Jackson, Jr.– guitars (7, 9)
- Dann Huff – guitars (9)
- Abraham Laboriel – bass (2, 3, 9)
- Nathan East – bass (4)
- Tommy DeBarge – bass (6)
- James Jamerson, Jr.– bass (8)
- Tyrone B. Feedback – drums (1, 2, 4)
- Carlos Vega – drums (3)
- Paulinho da Costa – drums (7), percussion (7, 9)
- Ricky Lawson – drums (8)
- John Robinson – drums (9)
- John Keane – percussion (1, 2)
- Mike Baird – percussion (4)
- Andy Narell – steel drums(2)
- David Boruff – saxophone (4)
- Benjamin Wright – string arrangements (8)
- Bill Champlin – backing vocals (1)
- Venette Gloud – backing vocals (1)
- Richard Page – backing vocals (3)
- Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (6, 7)
- Bunny Hull – backing vocals (6, 7)
Production
- Jay Graydon – producer (1-4), engineer (1-4)
- Giorgio Moroder – producer (5)
- El DeBarge – producer (6, 7), co-producer (8), mixing (6, 7)
- Bobby DeBarge – producer (8)
- Bunny DeBarge – co-producer (8)
- Richard Perry – producer (9)
- Ian Eales – engineer (1-4)
- Barney Perkins – recording (6, 7, 8), mixing (6, 7, 8), remixing (9)
- Steve Hodge – additional overdub recording (6, 7), mixing (6)
- Don Smith – rhythm and vocal track engineer (9)
- Michael Brooks – overdub recording (9)
- Glen Holguin – assistant engineer (9)
- Alex Schmoll – assistant engineer (9)
- Jim Scott – assistant engineer (9)
- Steve Hall – mastering
- Bradford Rosenberger – production coordinator (9)
- Benny Medina – project coordinator
- Gail Pierson – project coordinator
- Johnny Lee – art direction
- Janet Levinson – design
- Bobby Holland – photography
- Tony Jones – management
Studios
- Recorded at Garden Rake Studios (Sherman Oaks, CA); Yamaha Research & Development Studio (Glendale, CA); Larrabee Sound Studios (North Hollywood, CA); Hollywood Sound Recorders (Hollywood, CA); Record Plant and Studio 55 (Los Angeles, CA).
- Mixed at Garden Rake Studios and Studio 55.
- Mastered at Future Disc (Hollywood, CA).
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[6] | 19 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] | 3 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- AllMusic
- ^ Hull, Tom (April 19, 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (April 30, 1985). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Weinger, Harry (April 25, 1985). DeBarge Hit Gets 'Rhythm' (Paper ed.). Black/Rhythm & Blues: Billboard Magazine. p. 55. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Unsung. TV One Network. Episode #4. Original Air Date: December 3, 2008
- ^ "DeBarge Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "DeBarge Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – De Barge – Rhythm of the Night". Recording Industry Association of America.
| Studio albums | |
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| Compilation albums | |
| Soundtracks | |
| Singles | |
| Related topics | |
