Merciless | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 20, 1983 | |||
Recorded | 1982–1983 | |||
Studio | The Hit Factory Automated Sound Studios (New York) Cherokee Recording Studios The Record Plant Bossa Nova Hotel (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Casablanca | |||
Producer |
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Stephanie Mills chronology | ||||
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Singles from Merciless | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Merciless is the seventh studio album by American R&B singer Stephanie Mills. It was released in 1983 and Stephanie's second release on Casablanca Records.[2] The album features two Billboard R&B hits in "Pilot Error", a cover version of Prince's "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" as well as "My Body" written by singer Luther Vandross. Merciless received a nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the 26th Grammy Awards in 1984.
Track listing
- "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" (Prince) - 4:12
- "Never Get Enough of You" (David Wolfert, Henry Gaffney) - 4:31
- "Eternal Love" (Jay Asher, Paul Jabara) - 4:41
- "His Name is Michael" (featuring Peggi Blu) (Cassandra Mills, Michael Sembello, Stephanie Mills) - 3:18
- "Here I Am" (David Wolfert, Henry Gaffney) - 4:13
- "My Body" (Luther Vandross) - 4:06
- "Do You Love Him?" (Barbara Morr, Betsy Durkin Matthes) - 3:47
- "Pilot Error" (Peter Kingsbery) - 5:07
- "Since We've Been Together" (Ralph Schuckett, Richard Kleinberg) - 3:13
- track source[3]
Personnel
- Stephanie Mills – lead and backing vocals
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, acoustic piano
- Richard Tee – keyboards, acoustic piano
- Johnny Mandel – synthesizers, arrangements (7)
- Danny Sembello – synthesizers
- Nyle Steiner – synthesizers
- Ian Underwood – synthesizers
- Ed Walsh – synthesizers
- Buzz Feiten – guitars
- Carlos Rios – guitars
- Thom Rotella - guitars
- Michael Sembello – guitars, backing vocals
- David Wolfert – guitars, arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9), BGV arrangements
- Nathan East – bass
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass
- Ed Greene – drums
- John Robinson - drums
- Carlos Vega – drums
- Lenny Castro – percussion
- Victor Feldman – percussion
- Eddie Karam – arrangements (7)
- Ralph Schuckett – rhythm arrangements (9)
- Frank Floyd – BGV arrangements
- Peggi Blu – backing vocals
- Lani Groves – backing vocals
- Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals
- Cruz Sembello – backing vocals
- Myrna Smith – backing vocals
Technical
- John Arrais – engineer, mixing (1, 2, 3, 5-9), remixing (1, 2, 3, 5-9)
- Phil Ramone – mixing (4)
- Peter Chaiken – engineer
- Lee DeCarlo – engineer
- Bradshaw Leigh – engineer
- Brian McGee – engineer
- Marie Ostrosky – engineer
- Jay Rifkin – engineer
- Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
Production
- Charles Koppleman – executive producer
- Gary Klein – producer (1, 2, 3, 5-9)
- David Wolfert – producer (1, 2, 3, 5-9)
- Phil Ramone – producer (4)
- Linda Gerrity – production coordinator
- Glen Christensen – art direction, photography
- Mac James – artwork, design
- Bill King – inner sleeve photography
- Cassandra Mills – cover concept
- Stephanie Mills – cover concept
- Frank DeCaro – LA contractor
- Phil Medley – NY contractor
Charts
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200[4] | 104 |
US Billboard Top R&B Albums[5] | 12 |
References
- ^ Kantor, Justin. Merciless review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ^ Stephanie Mills - Album Discography|Allmusic
- ^ Stephanie Mills - Merciless (LP, Album).discogs
- ^ "Stephanie Mills US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
- ^ Stephanie Mills - Chart history.Billboard