Michelle Gayle (album)

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Michelle Gayle
Studio album by
Released10 October 1994 (1994-10-10)[1]
Recorded1993–1994
Genre
Label
ProducerNarada Michael Walden
Michelle Gayle chronology
Michelle Gayle
(1994)
Sensational
(1997)
Singles from Michelle Gayle
  1. "Looking Up"
    Released: 26 July 1993[2]
  2. "Sweetness"
    Released: 12 September 1994[3]
  3. "I'll Find You"
    Released: 5 December 1994[4]
  4. "Freedom"
    Released: 15 May 1995[5]
  5. "Happy Just to Be with You"
    Released: 14 August 1995[6]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
NME7/10[8]

Michelle Gayle is the debut album by British R&B-soul singer Michelle Gayle, released in 1994 by RCA Records of BMG UK. The album was produced and co-written in parts by Narada Michael Walden who had previously worked with artists such as Whitney Houston. According to the sleeve notes of the single "Sweetness", the album was originally scheduled to be titled "Walk with Pride".

The album includes Gayle's biggest hit single "Sweetness", which reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, along with four other UK top-40 singles; "Looking Up" (No. 11), "I'll Find You" (No. 26), "Freedom" (No. 16) and "Happy Just to Be with You" (No. 11).[9] "Happy Just to Be with You" was remixed for single release; this version features on Gayle's second album, Sensational.

Critical reception[edit]

Emma Forrest from NME wrote, "She has an impressive range, from sharp and sassy on the upbeat numbers, to feathery and soothing on the soulful tracks. Over the 15 songs, she hits every note perfectly, unlike some other crossover stars we won't mention."[8]

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Get Off My Back" (Ronnie Wilson, Dennis Charles, Michelle Gayle) - 4:09
  2. "Happy Just to Be with You" (Narada Michael Walden, Gayle, Preston Glass) - 4:35
  3. "Walk with Pride" (Gayle, Ronnie Wilson, Dennis Charles) - 4:01
  4. "Looking Up" (Dave James, J. Rawe) - 4:33
  5. "Girlfriend" (Dave James, Gayle) - 4:10
  6. "Freedom" (Narada Michael Walden, S.J. Dakota) - 4:08
  7. "Personality" (Gayle, T. Morris) - 3:49
  8. "I'll Find You" (Steve Jervier, Jonathan Wales, Paul Jervier) - 5:32
  9. "Your Love" (Dave James, Gayle) - 5:10
  10. "Sweetness" (Narada Michael Walden, Preston Glass) - 3:36
  11. "One Day" (Steve Jervier, Jonathan Wales, Paul Jervier) - 3:45
  12. "Say What's on Your Mind" (Wilson, Charles, Gayle) - 3:44
  13. "Rise Up" Blacksmith Remix (Simon Climie) - 3:39
  14. "Baby Don't Go" (Narada Michael Walden, Gayle, S.J. Dakota) - 5:03
  15. "All Night Long" (Narada Michael Walden, Michael Mani, Monty Steward) - 4:42

Charts[edit]

Chart Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[9] 30

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Album Releases". Music Week. 8 October 1994. p. 24.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 24 July 1993. p. 25.
  3. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. 10 September 1994. p. 29.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 3 December 1994. p. 31.
  5. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 13 May 1995. p. 39.
  6. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 12 August 1995. p. 39.
  7. ^ Review: Michelle Gayle. AllMusic. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. ^ a b Forrest, Emma (29 October 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 46. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b "MICHELLE GAYLE - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.