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 Albums chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hop-Hop Albums chart.

Production[edit]

Deniece Williams produced six of the album's tracks while George Duke produced the remaining four.[2] The production of the album was completed in early May 1984 before the album was released a few weeks later.[3]

Singles[edit]

The album's title track reached No. 1 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Soul Singles, and Dance Club Play charts.[4][5][6] On the UK Pop Singles chart, it peaked at No. 2.[7] The song was written for the 1984 feature film Footloose and appears on its soundtrack. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Other tracks from the album released as singles include, "Next Love", which reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart,[8] and "Black Butterfly", which reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.[9]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Baltimore Sun[10]
Boston Globeunrated[11]
Los Angeles Timesunrated[12]
New York Daily Newsunrated[13]
Stereo Reviewunrated[14]

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".[14] Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times scribed "Williams' sound may be light, but it always has a proficient and artful base."[12]

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[edit]

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

Chart performance[edit]

Year Chart Peak
position
1984 US Billboard Top 200 Albums[15] 26
US Billboard Top Black Albums[16] 10
Dutch Albums[17] 17
German Albums 59

References[edit]

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