''The Lover in Me'' is the ninth studio album by Scottish singer

Sheena Easton Sheena Shirley Easton (; born 27 April 1959) is a Scottish singer and actress. Easton came into the public eye in an episode of the first British musical reality television programme '' The Big Time: Pop Singer'', which recorded her attempts to ...

. It was released in November 1988 and was her debut for MCA. The album has a more Urban/R&B sound than Easton's previous recordings due to the production by well-known acts such as

L.A. Reid Antonio Marquis "L.A." Reid (born June 7, 1956) is an American record executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He is the founder and served as co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment. He also previously served as the chairman and CEO of Ep ...

Babyface Babyface or Baby Face can refer to: Nicknames * Lester Joseph Gillis a.k.a. Baby Face Nelson, an infamous 1930s bank robber * Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (1933–1971), an American hard bop and soul-jazz musician * "Baby Face", Jimmy McLarnin ...

and

John "Jellybean" Benitez John Benitez (born November 7, 1957), also known as Jellybean, is an American musician, songwriter, DJ, remixer, and music producer. He has produced and remixed artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and the Pointer Sisters ...

. The album's title track became a major hit, reaching #2 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and #15 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. The album reached #44 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 and #30 in the

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...

, and was certified Gold by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

. It is one of Easton's best selling albums to date and returned her to the US and UK charts. Significantly, in the UK it was her first charting album for over five years, with the lead single becoming her first top 20 hit in nearly eight years. In 2006,

Cherry Red Records Cherry Red Records is a British independent record label founded in Malvern, Worcestershire by Iain McNay in 1978. The label has released recordings by Dead Kennedys, Everything But the Girl, The Monochrome Set, and Felt, among others, as well ...

(UK) re-released ''The Lover in Me'', remastered and with added bonus tracks. On May 27, 2016, the album was officially released in the US for digital download on

iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...

Single releases

The album's title track was the first single from the album to be released, reaching #2 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, #5 on ''Billboard'''s

Hot Black Singles The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by ''Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 p ...

chart, and #15 on the

. Other singles from the album include "Days Like This" (#35 on the US R&B chart, UK #43) and " 101" (UK #54 US Dance #2). "101" was written for Easton by

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...

under the pseudonym Joey Coco (as was album track "(Cool Love"). One last single was released in the US; "No Deposit, No Return", but failed to chart. "Follow My Rainbow" made #16 on the Dutch and New Zealand singles chart. It is featured in an episode (''Deliver Us from Evil'') of ''

Miami Vice ''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann (director), Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo ...

'' in which Easton's character (Caitlin Davies-Crockett) is singing the song minutes before her character is eliminated.

Reviews

''Billboard'' magazine, December 1988: "The Lover In Me" shows Sheena Easton taking her career in a new direction. With production by L.A. & Babyface, Angela Winbush, Jellybean Benitez, and Prince, the album is smart, sexy, and soulful. ''People'' magazine, December 5, 1988: Anyone who likes to see Maseratis used to plow snow or filet mignon ground into hamburger may like this record, in which Easton does a convincing imitation of a fourth-rate R&B singer. Maybe she got turned around by her collaboration with Prince, in which—during the U Got the Look video—she groveled around in a fashion that would have been humiliating to the most desperate starlet, let alone to a singer of Easton's stature and talent. Prince produced two of this album's 10 tracks (with little of the distinction he often shows on his own records), and the rest were done by such dance poppers as Babyface and Jellybean Benitez. Easton just blares away, fighting a losing battle against the rhythm backgrounds on the hotter tracks and sounding nondescript on the ballads, except Without You, where she sounds so much like Streisand it seems an outright imitation. That just accentuates the revolting developments of Easton's recent career.Picks and Pans Review: The Lover in Me.
Picks and Pans Review: The Lover in Me
" '' ''People'' (magazine)''. Dec. 5, 1988. ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, 1989: "The Lover In Me" (MCA) by Sheena Easton has got to be one of the most satisfying comeback albums this year. A new label and a clearer musical vision stretches Easton's vocal gifts considerably. Adopting a genuine R&B dance mode, the album's material overall is quite strong and is destined to garner Easton many new fans. Of the L.A. & Babyface productions on the album, the hit title track, "Days Like This" and "No Deposit, No Return" are the standouts featuring the production duo's customary style. One of our favorites is the Angela Winbush penned and produced "Fire and Rain," a sultry, soulful and very Isley-ish slow number that we hope clicks at radio.

Track listing

Side One #"No Deposit, No Return" (Babyface, Kayo, L.A. Reid,

Daryl Simmons Daryl L. Simmons is an American R&B musician, songwriter and record producer, who worked with the production duo of L.A. Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. In 1977–1980 Daryl, with Manchild (band) recorded 2 soul & funk albums & the minor h ...

) 5:55 #" The Lover in Me" (Babyface, Reid, Simmons) 5:02 #"Follow My Rainbow" (Babyface) 4:55 #"Without You" (

Angela Winbush Angela Lisa Winbush (born January 18, 1955) is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who rose to fame first in the 1980s R&B duo René & Angela, also scoring hits as a solo artist. To date, Winbush has sold over ...

) 5:37 #"If It's Meant to Last" (

Danny Sembello Daniel Sembello (January 15, 1963 – August 15, 2015) was an American songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. He produced recordings by artists including George Benson and Pebbles, and he had his compositions recorded by Chaka K ...

Allee Willis Alta Sherral "Allee" Willis (November 10, 1947 – December 24, 2019) was an American songwriter, multi-media artist, collector, and art director. Willis co-wrote hit songs including "September" and "Boogie Wonderland" by Earth, Wind & Fire. She ...

) 4:07 Side Two #"Days Like This" (Babyface, Reid, Simmons) 5:07 #"One Love" (Babyface, Reid) 4:54 #" 101" (

Joey Coco Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958April 21, 2016), more commonly known mononymously as Prince, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. The recipient of numerous awards and nominations, he is widely regarded as one ...

) 4:06 #"Cool Love" (Coco) 4:03 #"Fire and Rain" (Winbush) 5:56 2006 re-release bonus tracks #"The Lover in Me" (Extended Dub Version) #"Days Like This" (7' Version) #"101" (The Remix) #"No Deposit, No Return" (Radio Edit)

Personnel and production

* Sheena Easton: lead vocals, backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 & 10) * Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7 arranged, produced and mixed by L.A. Reid and Babyface; track 1 co-produced by Kayo. Recorded by Jon Gass. Kayo: bass (track 3), keyboards; Babyface: keyboards, backing vocals; L.A. Reid: drums, percussion;

Larry Williams Larry Williams (born Lawrence Eugene Williams, a.k.a. Lawrence Edward Williams; May 10, 1935 – January 7, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana. Williams ...

: saxophone (Track 2);

The Deele The Deele (pronounced like "deal") is an American band from Cincinnati, Ohio who achieved success in the 1980s with such hit singles as " Body Talk" and " Two Occasions". When the group began recording in the early 1980s, the lineup consisted of ...

: Rap (track 7).

Karyn White Karyn Layvonne White (born October 14, 1965) is an American singer who was popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s. She is known for several hit singles including "Superwoman" (1988), " Secret Rendezvous" (1989), " The Way You Love Me" (19 ...

(tracks 1, 2 & 6), Daryl Simmons (track 2) and Dee Bristol (track 7): backing vocals. * Tracks 4 & 10 arranged and produced by

. Recorded by Mitch Bristol. Mixed by Jon Gass. Angela Winbush: acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming;

Jeff Lorber Jeffrey H. Lorber (born November 4, 1952) is an American keyboardist, composer, and record producer. After six previous nominations, Lorber won his first Grammy Award on January 28, 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for '' Prototype' ...

: synthesizers, drum programming;

Tony Maiden Tony Maiden (died 17 February 2004 in Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain) was an English actor, who is best known for playing “Albert Clifton” in all episodes in the first series of the British television series ''The Adventures of Black Beauty' ...

and

Danny Jacob Danny Jacob (born October 8, 1956) is an American composer, songwriter and guitarist. His credits include composing the score for the television series ''Phineas and Ferb'', and co-producing the music for the series ''Sofia The First''. He is a t ...

: guitars; John Robinson: drums, percussion; Ray Griffin: tom-toms and synthesizers (track 10);

Timothy B. Schmit Timothy Bruce Schmit (born October 30, 1947) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He has performed as the bassist and vocalist for Poco and the Eagles (band), Eagles, having replaced bassist and vocalist Randy Meisner in both cases ...

: backing vocals (track 4). * Track 5 arranged and produced by

Jellybean Benitez John Benitez (born November 7, 1957), also known as Jellybean, is an American musician, songwriter, DJ, remixer, and music producer. He has produced and remixed artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and the Pointer Sisters. H ...

. Recorded by Dave McNair and Eddy DeLena. Mixed by Dave McNair and Jellybean Benitez. Felicia Collins: guitars; Dave LeBolt and Ed Terry: synthesizers; Jellybean Benitez: drums, percussion; Alfa Anderson, Janice Pendarvis and

Robin Clark Robin Clark is an American vocalist known for her work as a vocalist on David Bowie's 1975 album ''Young Americans'' and Simple Minds' 1985 album ''Once Upon a Time''. Clark was born in New York. In 1966, when Clark was 16, she and future s ...

: backing vocals. * Tracks 8 & 9 arranged and produced by

; track 9 co-produced by David Leonard. Track 8 recorded by Susan Rogers; track 9 recorded by Eddie Miller. Mixed by David Leonard. Prince: all instruments and programming.

Additional Credits

* Assistant Engineers: Toni Greene (tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7); Fred Howard (tracks 1, 2, 6 & 7); Don Sullivan (tracks 1, 2, 6 & 7); Spence Chrislu (track 3); Jon Guggenheim (track 3); Dennis Stefani (tracks 4 & 10); Scott Gootman (track 5); Paul Logus (track 5); Jeff Poe (track 5); Dan Marnien (tracks 8 & 9). * Recorded at Galaxy Sound Studios and

Sunset Sound Sunset, also known as sundown, is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the horizon due to Earth's rotation. As viewed from everywhere on Earth (except the North and South poles), the equinox Sun sets due west at the moment of both the spring ...

(Hollywood, CA); Elumba Studios, Silverlake Studios and

Westlake Studios Westlake Recording Studios is a music recording studio in West Hollywood, California. History Westlake Recording Studios was founded in the early 1970s by the American audio engineer Tom Hidley under the name Westlake Audio. Hidley was experi ...

(Los Angeles, CA); Can-Am Recorders (Tarzana, CA);

Sigma Sound Studios Sigma Sound Studios was a recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.. It was founded in 1968 by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia. Located at 212 North 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was one of the first studios in the United States to ...

(New York, NY);

Paisley Park Studios Paisley may refer to: *Paisley (design), an ornamental Persian pattern or motif commonly identified with the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, in west Scotland People * Paisley (name), including a list of people with the name * Lord Paisley, in the ...

(Chanhassen, MN). * Mixed at Elumba Studios; Larrabee West (West Hollywood, CA); Summa Music Group and The Grey Room (Hollywood, CA);

The Hit Factory The Hit Factory is a recording studio in New York City owned and operated by Troy Germano. History On March 6, 1975, Edward Germano, a singer, record producer, and one of the principal owners of the Record Plant Studios New York, purchased the ...

(New York, NY). * Remixed at Elumba Studios and Summa Music Group. * Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc (Hollywood, CA). * Art Direction: Jeff Adamoff * Design: Michael Diehl * Photography: Randee St. Nicholas * Management: Harriet Wasserman at Gold Mountain Management.

Charts and certifications

Album

Singles

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lover In Me, The 1988 albums Sheena Easton albums New jack swing albums Albums produced by L.A. Reid Albums produced by Babyface (musician) Albums produced by Prince (musician) MCA Records albums