Laura Branigan is the sixth studio album by American singer Laura Branigan, released on March 21, 1990, by Atlantic Records. The album's lead single, "Moonlight on Water", reached number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the second single, "Never in a Million Years", peaked at number 22 on Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The third and final single, a cover version of Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 song "Turn the Beat Around", failed to chart. The song "Unison" was recorded by Celine Dion the same year.

Critical reception

Billboard Magazine praised the album for its "jaunty, up-tempo dance tunes" but noted that "Branigan still excels at shimmering tear jerker ballads like 'Never in a Million Years' and 'No Promise, No Guarantee'."

In their review of the album, Cashbox noted that "Branigan rolled out some heavyweight producers who are known for delivering the goods," and that "this is one of the most solid efforts she has produced, ranging from the ballads for which she's known to a more conscious effort to court the dance crowd."

Allmusic were much more critical in their review, "short on ideas even with a three-year layoff (they couldn't even think of an album title!), the Laura Branigan brain trust put its faith in drum programs to carry a collection of mediocre originals, a lame cover of Vicki Sue Robinson's dance classic "Turn the Beat Around," and a Bryan Adams castoff. Branigan sang with her usual gusto, but even slick producers like Richard Perry and Peter Wolf couldn't animate the material."

Track listing

Notes signifies a co-producer

Personnel Credits adapted from the liner notes of Laura Branigan.

Musicians

Laura Branigan – lead vocals ; background vocals ; arrangements Howie Rice – drum programming, keyboards ; guitar ; synth guitar, percussion Andy Goldmark – drum programming, keyboards, background vocals Steve Kipner – drum programming Michael Dunlap – bass ; keyboards Steve Lindsey – keyboards ; drum programming ; synth strings, arrangements ; synthesizer James Harrah – lead guitar ; guitar Ramsey Embick – synth sax solo ; keyboards, percussion Richard Perry – drum programming Alfie Silas – background vocals Peggi Blu – background vocals Jean Johnson – background vocals Peter Wolf – arrangements, all instruments except guitars Peter Maunu – guitars Ina Wolf – background vocals Maxi Anderson – background vocals Joe Pizzulo – background vocals Phillip Ingram – background vocals Dorian Holley – background vocals Clif Magness – keyboards, drum programming ; guitar Steve Goldstein – keyboards ; drum programming Brandon Fields – sax Kate Markowitz – background vocals Donna de Lory – background vocals Jeff Porcaro – drums Dennis Matkosky – drum programming, keyboards, arrangements Larry Klein – bass Brenda Russell – background vocals Danny Peck – background vocals Bill Champlin – background vocals Leslie Hall – background vocals Khris Kellow – drum programming, synth strings, keyboards, arrangements John Robinson – hi-hat Aaron Zigman – synth strings, keyboards Paulinho da Costa – percussion Lenny Castro – percussion Mona Lisa Young – background vocals Peter Bunetta – arrangements, drum programming, percussion programming, background vocals Rick Chudacoff – arrangements, keyboards Robbie Buchanan – keyboards Dann Huff – guitar Leslie Smith – background vocals Joey Diggs – background vocals Ivory Stone – background vocals Patti Henley – background vocals Michael Williams – background vocals Greg Phillinganes – keyboards Francine Howard – background vocals Bernadette Barlow – background vocals Randy Kerber – piano The Pasadena Boys Choir – background vocals John Barron – choir direction

Technical

Richard Perry – production Peter Wolf – production Laura Branigan – production Steve Lindsey – production ; co-production Dennis Matkosky – production, engineering assistance Peter Bunetta – production Rick Chudacoff – production Steve Kipner – production Clif Magness – production, engineering Julie Larson – production coordination Ramsey Embick – engineering Gabe Veltri – engineering Norman (Slam) Whitfield Jr. – engineering ; mixing Jess Sutcliffe – engineering Paul Ericksen – engineering ; mixing Andy Batwinas – engineering assistance Eric Anest – engineering assistance ; engineering Bill Molina – engineering assistance Richard Engstrom – engineering assistance Keith Cohen – mixing Martin Schmelzel – engineering David Schober – engineering Ric Butz – engineering assistance Carlos Golliher – production coordination Richard Cottrell – engineering Charlie Pollard – engineering assistance John Karpowich – engineering assistance Alan Meyerson – mixing Guy DeFazio – engineering assistance Van Coppock – engineering assistance Charlie Brocco – engineering assistance Susanne Marie Edgren – production coordination Mike Kloster – engineering assistance Leon Johnson – recording, engineering Marnie Riley – engineering assistance Bryan Arnett – engineering assistance Russ Ragsdale – engineering assistance Steve Egelman – engineering assistance Peter Barker – engineering Ken Felton – engineering assistance Robert Hart – engineering assistance Humberto Gatica – mixing Gabe Moffat – engineering assistance Gail Esposito – production coordination Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Lacquer (Hollywood, California) Doug Morris – executive production

Artwork Bob Defrin – art direction Greg Gorman – photography

Charts + Chart performance for Laura Branigan Chart (1990) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) Note: The "High Point" number in the "NAT" column represents the release's peak position on the national chart. 143 US Cash Box Top 200 Albums 137

Notes

References