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Let's Hear It for the Boy (album)

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Let's Hear It for the Boy
Studio album by
Deniece Williams
ReleasedApril 16, 1984
Recorded1983–1984
StudioThe Complex (Los Angeles, California); LeGonks West (West Hollywood, California); Soundcastle (Los Angeles, California).
GenreR&B, soul, funk, dance, post-disco
Length40:53
LabelColumbia, CBS
ProducerDeniece Williams, George Duke
Deniece Williams chronology
I'm So Proud
(1983) 		Let's Hear It for the Boy
(1984) 		So Glad I Know
(1986)
Singles from Let's Hear It for the Boy
  1. "Let's Hear It for the Boy"
    Released: February 1984
  2. "Next Love"
    Released: 1984
  3. "Black Butterfly"
    Released: 1984

Let's Hear It for the Boy is the eighth studio album by American recording artist Deniece Williams, released on April 16, 1984, by Columbia Records.[1] The album reached No. 26 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 10 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums charts.[2][3]

Production

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Williams produced six of the album's tracks while George Duke produced the remaining four.[4] The production of the album was completed in early May 1984 before the album was released a few weeks later.[5]

Singles

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The album's title track reached No. 1 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Soul Singles, and Dance Club Play charts.[6][7][8] On the UK Pop Singles chart, it peaked at No. 2.[9] The song was written for the 1984 feature film Footloose and appears on its soundtrack. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA.[10][11]

Another song released as a single was, "Next Love", which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.[12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Baltimore Sun[13]
The Boston Globeunrated[14]
New York Daily Newsunrated[15]

Chris Albertson of Stereo Review noted, "Williams not only has a fine voice, she also knows exactly how to use it-when to let it loose and when not to. There is no screaming here, just fine vocalizing and first-rate arrangements".[16] Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "Williams' sound may be light, but it always has a proficient and artful base."[17]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Let's Hear It for the Boy"
George Duke4:20
2."I Want You"
Williams2:50
3."Picking Up the Pieces"
  • Williams
  • Couch
Williams4:40
4."Black Butterfly"
Duke4:25
5."Next Love"
  • Williams
  • Duke
Duke4:23
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Haunting Me"
Duke4:57
2."Don't Tell Me We Have Nothing"
  • Merrill
  • Rubicam
Williams4:00
3."Blind Dating"
Williams3:39
4."Wrapped Up"
  • Andrew Barrett
  • George McMahon
Williams3:39
5."Whiter Than Snow"TraditionalWilliams3:44

Personnel

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Vocals

  • Deniece Williams – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 6–10), arrangements (2)
  • George Merrill – backing vocals (1, 3, 5–9)
  • Shannon Rubicam – backing vocals (1, 3, 5–9)
  • Oren Waters – backing vocals (3, 9)
  • Roosevelt Christmas III – backing vocals (5, 6)

Musicians

Production

  • Larkin Arnold – executive producer
  • George Duke – producer (1, 4–6)
  • Deniece Williams – producer (2, 3, 7–10)
  • Tommy Vicari – remix engineer (1), recording engineer (4–6)
  • Tom Perry – engineer (2, 3, 7–10)
  • Mick Guzauski – recording engineer (4–6)
  • Nick Spigel – second engineer (4–6)
  • Mitch Gibson – second string engineer (4)
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
  • Constance Guzman – production assistant
  • Tony Lane – art direction
  • Nancy Donald – art direction
  • Margaret MacFarlane – photography
  • Bridget Bergman – make-up
  • D.W. Enterprises – management[1]

Chart performance

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Year Chart Peak
position
1984 US Billboard Top 200 Albums[2] 26
US Billboard Top Black Albums[3] 10
Dutch Albums[18] 17
German Albums 59

References

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  1. ^ a b Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It For The Boy. Columbia Records. 1984.
  2. ^ a b "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Top R&B Albums)". Billboard.
  3. ^ a b "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  4. ^ Matthews, Carl (June 2, 1984). "Sounds: Deniece Williams". The Afro-American. Baltimore. p. 11. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  5. ^ "Rolling Stones plan to do video, concert in L.A. during Olympics". The Ledger. May 3, 1984. p. 2A. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  6. ^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Hot Soul Songs)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy". Official Charts.
  10. ^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It For The Boy". riaa.com. RIAA. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  11. ^ Walthall, Catherine (2022-05-13). "The Stories Behind the Soundtrack: 'Footloose'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  12. ^ "Deniece Williams: Next Love (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ Considine, J.D. (June 10, 1984). "Soundtracks show how well hip-hop music will prosper in the mainstream". The Baltimore Sun. p. 121.
  14. ^ Morse, Steve (May 28, 1984). "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy". The Boston Globe. p. 100.
  15. ^ Wyatt, Hugh (June 22, 1984). Tracing the origins of black music. New York Daily News. p. 140.
  16. ^ Albertson, Chris (September 1984). "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It For The Boy" (PDF). americanradiohistory.com. Vol. 49, no. 9. Stereo Review. p. 97.
  17. ^ Johnson, Connie (June 10, 1984). "THE RECORD RACK: STYLISH FLUFF FROM DENIECE". Los Angeles Times. p. 74.
  18. ^ "Deniece Williams: Let's Hear It for the Boy". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
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