Jump to content

Larger than Life (Jody Watley album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Larger Than Life
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 27, 1989
StudioSunset Sound (Hollywood, California); Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, California); Larrabee Sound Studios (North Hollywood, California).
Genre
Length61:59
LabelMCA
Producer
Jody Watley chronology
Jody Watley
(1987)
Larger Than Life
(1989)
You Wanna Dance with Me?
(1989)
Singles from Larger Than Life
  1. "Real Love"
    Released: March 18, 1989
  2. "Friends"
    Released: April 15, 1989
  3. "Everything"
    Released: August 22, 1989
  4. "Precious Love"
    Released: February 27, 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB−[3]
Q[2]

Larger Than Life is the second studio album by American singer Jody Watley, released by MCA Records on March 27, 1989.

Reception

[edit]

"André Cymone remains as slickly up to the minute as ever," observed Q's Mark Cooper, "filling his enormous rhythm sound with hip-hop references… Occasionally Watley lets the pose slip and slips into a passively sensuous ballad like 'Everything', but mostly she keeps acting stroppy. Perhaps she's annoyed at the lack of any tune to match that first hit; more likely she thinks looking angry makes her sexy."[2]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by André Cymone and Jody Watley, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Real Love" 
  • André Cymone
4:23
2."Friends" (featuring Eric B. & Rakim)
  • Cymone
4:30
3."Everything"
  • Cymone
4:15
4."What 'cha Gonna Do for Me" 
  • Cymone
4:11
5."L.O.V.E.R." 
  • Cymone
4:49
6."For Love's Sake" 
  • Cymone
4:26
7."Lifestyle" 
  • Cymone
4:14
8."Precious Love" 
  • Cymone
4:45
9."Something New"
  • Cymone
4:20
10."Once You Leave" 
  • Cymone
4:01
11."Come into My Life" 
  • Cymone
4:31
12."Only You" 
  • Cymone
3:53
13."Real Love" (Extended Version) 7:40
Total length:61:59

CD bonus track – Track 13. "Real Love" (Extended Version)

Personnel

[edit]

Production

[edit]
  • André Cymone – producer, overdub recording
  • Jeff Lorber – additional production (13)
  • Bobby Brooks – engineer (1-12)
  • Dan Marnien – engineer (1-12)
  • Jeff Poe – engineer (1-12), assistant engineer (1-12)
  • David Bianco – engineer (13)
  • Lawrence Fried – assistant engineer (1-12)
  • Dave "the Blade" Knight – assistant engineer (1-12)
  • Andy Batwinas – assistant engineer (13)
  • Brian Malouf – mixing (1-12)
  • Louis Silas Jr. – remixing (13)
  • Greg Royal – special edits (13)
  • Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc Systems (Hollywood, California)
  • Ivy Skoff – production assistant
  • Lynn Robb – art direction, design
  • Jody Watley – cover art concept, wardrobe stylist
  • Steven Meisel – photography
  • Mac James – portrait oil painting, portrait photography
  • Paul Cavaco – wardrobe stylist
  • Oribe – hair stylist
  • Francois Nars – make-up

Tour

[edit]

Following the success of her Billboard chart hit pop singles, "Real Love" and "Friends", Watley embarked on her first USA solo tour, the Larger than Life Tour to support the platinum selling album.[4][5]

Setlist

  1. "What 'Cha Gonna Do for Me"
  2. "Don't You Want Me"
  3. "Still a Thrill"
  4. "L.O.V.E.R."
  5. "For Love's Sake"
  6. "Most of All"
  7. "Everything"
  8. "Precious Love"
  9. "Some Kind of Lover"
  10. "Friends"
  11. "Looking for a New Love"
  12. "Real Love"

Shows

Date City Venue[6][7][8]
June 2, 1989 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
June 3, 1989 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre
June 9, 1989 Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre
June 10, 1989 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theater
June 11, 1989 San Diego, CA Copley Symphony Hall
June 24, 1989 Sunrise, FL Sunrise Music Theatre
June 25, 1989 Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
June 26, 1989 Orlando, FL Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
June 30, 1989 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
July 1, 1989 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
July 3, 1989 Richmond, VA Mosque Theatre
July 5, 1989 Baltimore, MD Lyric Theatre
July 6, 1989 Washington, DC Constitution Hall
July 7, 1989 Manhattan, NYC Apollo Theatre
July 8, 1989 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre
July 10-11, 1989 Manhattan, NYC Beacon Theatre
July 12, 1989 New Haven, CT Palace Theatre
July 14, 1989 Boston, MA Wang Theatre
July 15, 1989 Montreal, QC, Canada La Ronde
July 16, 1989 Toronto Canada Roy Thomson Hall
July 18, 1989 Cleveland, Ohio Palace Theatre
July 19,1989 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
July 20, 1989 Columbus, OH Ohio Theatre
July 21, 1989 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
July 23, 1989 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre
July 24, 1989 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theatre
July 25, 1989 St. Louis, MO Kiel Opera House
July 27, 1989 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
July 29, 1989 Salt Lake City, UT Capitol Theatre
July 31, 1989 Sacramento, CA Community Theatre
August 2, 1989 Irvine, CA Bren Center
August 3-4, 1989 Los Angeles, CA Universal Amphitheatre

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wynn, Ron. Larger Than Life review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  2. ^ a b Q, May 1989
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Larger Than Life review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  4. ^ Jody Watley first solo tour
  5. ^ Setlist: Jody Watley
  6. ^ Jody Watley Date At Sunrise Theater
  7. ^ Pop Reviews : A Capable Watley Slick, Entertaining at Wiltern
  8. ^ Pop/rock Venerable Acts Performing Everything Under The Stars
  9. ^ "South African Divas Albums". Geo Cities. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "CAN Charts > Jody Watley". RPM. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  11. ^ "NLD Charts > Jody Watley". MegaCharts. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  12. ^ "GER Charts > Jody Watley". Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2011-11-14.[dead link]
  13. ^ "SWE Charts > Jody Watley". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
  14. ^ "JODY WATLEY - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  15. ^ "Jody Watley Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  16. ^ "Jody Watley Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Albums of 1989". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "Billboard Pop Albums - 1989". Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  19. ^ "Billboard Black Albums - 1989". Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  20. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Jody Watley – Larger than Life". Music Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – Jody Watley – Larger than Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
[edit]