Jody Watley (album) explained

Jody Watley is the debut studio album by American singer Jody Watley, released on February 23, 1987, by MCA Records. Although Watley had already found success as a part of the trio Shalamar, the impact of this album made her a cultural style icon in contemporary R&B, pop and dance music. Its success culminated in Watley winning a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1988 against fellow artists Breakfast Club, Cutting Crew, Terence Trent D'Arby and Swing Out Sister. The album also produced three top-ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: "Looking for a New Love" (#2), "Don't You Want Me" (#6) and "Some Kind of Lover" (#10). The album has sold two million copies in the United States and over four million copies worldwide.

Track listing

CD bonus track – Track 10. "Looking for a New Love" (Extended Club Version)

Personnel

• Jody Watley – lead vocals, backing vocals
• André Cymone – all instruments (1-4, 7, 8, 10)
• Jeff Bova – keyboards (5, 6, 9)
• Patrick Leonard – synthesizers (8), drum programming (8)
• Terrence Elliot – guitars (5, 6, 9)
• Eddie Martinez – guitars (5, 6, 9)
• John "LBJ" Staehely – guitars (5, 6, 9)
• Bruce Gaitsch – guitars (8)
• Bernard Edwards – bass (5, 6, 9)
• Tony Thompson – drums (5, 6, 9)
• Larry Schneider – saxophone (2, 3)
• Roy Galloway – backing vocals (5, 6, 9)
• Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (5, 6, 9)
• Gardner Cole – backing vocals (8)
• Tampa Lann – backing vocals (8)
• George Michael – lead vocals (9)

Production

• Producers – André Cymone (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10); Patrick Leonard (track 8); Bernard Edwards (tracks 5, 6, 9); David Z (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10).
• Engineers – Josh Abbey, Darren Chadwick, Bridget Daly, Jon Ingoldsby, Glenn Kurtz, Csaba Petocz, Chris Porter and Erik Zobler.
• Assistant engineer – Scott Church (tracks 5, 6, 9)
• Mixing – André Cymone (track 9); Coke Johnson (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10); Michael Verdick (track 8); David Z. (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10).
• Remixing – Taavi Mote and Louis Silas, Jr. (tracks 1, 10)
• Mix assistant – Michael Blum (track 8)
• Art direction and design – Lynn Robb
• Cover art concept and hair stylist – Jody Watley
• Photography – Victoria Pearson
• Make-up – Beth Katz

Awards and nominations

• 1987 - American Music Award Nomination for R&B/Soul Single of the Year [Looking For A New Love]
• 1988 - Grammy Award for Best New Artist
• 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Album of the Year
• 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Single of the Year [Looking For A New Love]
• 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Best Music Video [Looking For A New Love]
• 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Female Video of the Year [Some Kind Of Lover]
• 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Best New Artist Video of the Year [Some Kind Of Lover]
• 1988 - Billboard Music Award for Top Dance / Club Play Artist of the Year

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[1]	94
South African Albums (RISA)[2]	7
Canada Top Albums/CDs[3]	17
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[4]	23
UK Albums (OCC)[5]	62
US Billboard 200[6]	10
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)	Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8]	64
US Billboard 200[9]	41
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10]	10

Chart (1988)	Position
US Billboard 200[11]	35
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12]	21

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1987	"Looking for a New Love"	Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	1
		Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard)	1
		Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	1
		Billboard Hot 100	2
	"Still a Thrill"	Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	8
		Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard)	14
		Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	3
		Billboard Hot 100	56
	"Don't You Want Me"	Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	3
		Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard)	3
		Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	3
		Billboard Hot 100	6
	"Some Kind of Lover"	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	3
1988		Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	1
		Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard)	1
		Billboard Hot 100	10
	"Most of All"	Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	8
		Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard)	17
		Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)	11
		Billboard Hot 100	60

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1987 (U.S.)

External links

• Jody Watley at Discogs

Notes and References

1. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 334. 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
2. Web site: South African Divas Albums . Geo Cities . April 11, 2019.
3. CAN Charts > Jody Watley. RPM. 2011-11-14.
4. Web site: NZ Charts > Jody Watley. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. 2011-11-14.
5. Web site: JODY WATLEY - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company. www.officialcharts.com. 14 December 2017.
6. Web site: JODY WATLEY - Billboard Chart History. www.billboard.com. 14 December 2017.
7. Web site: JODY WATLEY - Billboard Chart History. www.billboard.com. 14 December 2017.
8. Top 100 Albums of 1987. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 27, 2022.
9. Web site: Billboard Pop Albums - 1987. 2011-12-14.
10. Web site: Billboard Black Albums - 1987. 2011-12-14. 2012-07-23. https://archive.today/20120723211619/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855256. dead.
11. Web site: Billboard Pop Albums - 1988. 2011-12-14. 2012-07-22. https://archive.today/20120722160645/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/854919. dead.
12. Web site: Billboard Black Albums - 1988. 2011-12-14. 2012-07-22. https://archive.today/20120722054949/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/854928. dead.