El DeBarge (album)

El DeBarge
Studio album by El DeBarge
Released 1986
Recorded 1985
Genre R&B, soul
Label Gordy
Producer Peter Wolf, Jay Graydon
El DeBarge chronology

El DeBarge
(1986)
Gemini
(1989)

El DeBarge is the self-titled debut album by El DeBarge. It was released in 1986 on Gordy Records (a sub-label of Motown and featured the hit singles, "Who's Johnny" and "Love Always". Singer/actress Vanity featured on backing vocals on the track, "Secrets Of The Night". This album went gold.

Track listing

  1. "Who's Johnny" (Peter Wolf, Ina Wolf) – 4:11
  2. "Secrets Of The Night" (Albert Hammond, Diane Warren) – 4:20
  3. "I Wanna Hear It From My Heart" (Warren) – 4:25
  4. "Someone" (Jay Graydon, Mark Mueller, Robbie Nevil) – 4:45
  5. "When Love Has Gone Away" (Jack Conrad, Larry Henley) – 3:08
  6. "Private Line" (Diane Warren) – 3:48
  7. "Love Always" (Burt Bacharach, Bruce Roberts, Carole Bayer-Sager) – 5:32
  8. "Lost Without Her Love" (Randy Goodrum, Graydon) – 4:35
  9. "Thrill Of The Chase" (Alan Roy Scott, Roy Freeland, Gary Pickus) – 3:47
  10. "Don't Say It's Over" (Diane Warren) – 4:32

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Jason Elias of Allmusic rated El DeBarge two-and-a-half out of five stars. He stated: "While the setup and idea are still exciting on paper, [the album] is a disappointment." He also stated that "the majority of the [...] tracks just don't do anything to enliven the product or accentuate his voice", and concluded by saying: "The fact that DeBarge didn't have a hand in producing or writing the songs all but made this ho-hum from the start."

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart Peak[2][2]
US Billboard 200 24
US Billboard Top R&B Albums 8

References