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Deborah (album)

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Deborah
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 11, 1997 (1997-06-11)
RecordedNovember 1996–March 1997
Studio
  • Blue
  • On the Mark Productions
  • Cocoa Butt
  • Studio 19
  • Valley
Genre
Length56:41 (DGIF release)
56:34 (Standard release)
62:38 (Japan release)
LabelEspiritu
Portazul (Japan)
Producer
Debbie Gibson chronology
Greatest Hits
(1995)
Deborah
(1997)
Lost in Your Eyes and Other Hits
(1999)
Singles from Deborah
  1. "Only Words"
    Released: April 1997
  2. "Moonchild"
    Released: November 1997
  3. "Naturally"
    Released: February 1998
Japan release cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Deborah is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson. Released on June 11, 1997, under Gibson's own record label, Espiritu Records, this was the first release where the singer was credited with her full name. The original release sold to Debbie Gibson International Fan Club (DGIF) members includes her covers of "People" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl, as she starred in the off-Broadway production tour of the musical the previous year.[2][3] The second release for the general market replaced the Funny Girl covers with "Only Words" (Dance Edit) and a re-recording of Gibson's 1987 debut single "Only in My Dreams".

In Japan, the album was released as Moonchild on November 29, 1997, by Nippon Columbia under the Portazul label. It includes all tracks from both versions of the U.S. release.[4]

The album was included in the 2017 box set We Could Be Together, with the track listing based on the original DGIF release and two additional songs and three remixes as bonus tracks.[5]

Singles

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  • "Only Words" is the first dance maxi-single from the album. Released in the U.S. in 1997 and peaking at #38 on the Hot Dance chart,[6]
  • "Moonchild" released in 1997.
  • "Naturally" is the third and final single from Deborah Gibson's album, released in 1997. "Naturally" was released as a single exclusively in Japan in 1998.

Reception

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In their review of the first single, "Only Words" Billboard stated that "Gibson has decided to have a little fun again. She hits the dancefloor with exhausting energy, romping through this fast-paced anthem with an infectious grin and a sing-along chorus. This may be characteristic of Gibson's past club glories, but it sure isn't indicative of superstar remixer Junior Vasquez's past efforts. He momentarily eschews the tribal darkness of his previous recordings in favor of a sunny sound that is awash in delightful, pastel-like keyboards. Perfect for the tambourine-shaking tea-dance set."[7]

AllMusic were favorable in their review of the album, commenting that "after a brief flirtation with both alternative rock and adult contemporary balladeering, Debbie Gibson decided it was time to return to her pop roots with her sixth album. The only difference is, this time she's in control. Forming her own label, Espiritu, and billing herself as Deborah Gibson (evidently to convey that she is indeed mature), she turns in a surprisingly winning effort with Deborah. Although the record still suffers from inconsistent material, it's nice to hear her play dance-pop again, and her ballads are generally more melodic and memorable than those on Think With Your Heart. It may not be a commercial success on the level of Out of the Blue, but Deborah is a considerable artistic comeback."[1]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Deborah Gibson, except where indicated

Original DGIF release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Prelude" 0:19
2."Ode to a Would Be Lover" 4:11
3."Moonchild"
  • Gibson
  • Joy Swinea
4:40
4."Only Words" 3:24
5."Naturally" 3:55
6."Nobody's You" 3:45
7."Cry Tonight"
  • Gibson
  • Swinea
3:25
8."Where I Wanna Be" 4:53
9."Butterflies Are Free" 3:41
10."Give Me Your Love" 4:11
11."Just Wasn't Love" 4:07
12."I Can't" 4:14
13."People"3:03
14."Don't Rain on My Parade"
  • Styne
  • Merrill
2:59
15."I Will Let You Go" 3:13
Total length:56:41
Standard release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Prelude" 0:19
2."Ode to a Would Be Lover" 4:11
3."Moonchild"
  • Gibson
  • Swinea
4:40
4."Only Words" 3:24
5."Naturally" 3:55
6."Nobody's You" 3:45
7."Cry Tonight"
  • Gibson
  • Swinea
3:25
8."Where I Wanna Be" 4:53
9."Butterflies Are Free" 3:41
10."Give Me Your Love" 4:11
11."Just Wasn't Love" 4:07
12."I Can't" 4:14
13."I Will Let You Go" 3:13
14."Only Words (Dance Edit)" 3:56
15."Only in My Dreams (1997 Dance Edit)" 4:38
Total length:56:34
Japan release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Prelude" 0:19
2."Ode to a Would Be Lover" 4:11
3."Moonchild"
  • Gibson
  • Swinea
4:40
4."Only Words" 3:24
5."Naturally" 3:55
6."Nobody's You" 3:45
7."Cry Tonight"
  • Gibson
  • Swinea
3:25
8."Where I Wanna Be" 4:53
9."Butterflies Are Free" 3:41
10."Give Me Your Love" 4:11
11."Just Wasn't Love" 4:07
12."I Can't" 4:14
13."I Will Let You Go" 3:13
14."Only Words (Dance Edit)" 3:56
15."Only in My Dreams (1997 Dance Edit)" 4:38
16."People"
  • Styne
  • Merrill
3:03
17."Don't Rain on My Parade"
  • Styne
  • Merrill
2:59
Total length:62:38

Personnel

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  • Deborah Gibson - vocals, backing vocals, piano, musical arrangements, keyboards
  • Carlos Alomar – acoustic & electric guitar
  • Reynaldo Andrews – handclapping
  • Carlton Batts – mastering
  • Bob Biles – sound engineering
  • Anna-Jane Casey – vocals, performance
  • Chris Childs – bass
  • Robin Clark – background vocals
  • Richard Cottle – keyboards
  • Richard Drummie – guitar, mandolin, musical arrangement, production, drum programming, keyboard programming
  • Dave Goodermuth – assistant engineer
  • Marc Goodman – sound engineering
  • Andy Grassi – vocals, sound engineering, mixing
  • Dave Hancock – mixing assistant
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion
  • Larry Knight – acoustic & electric guitar
  • David Matthews – sound engineering
  • P. Dennis Mitchell – sound engineering, mixing
  • Richie Morales – drums
  • Joey Moskowitz – programming
  • B.J. Nelson – backing vocals
  • Rafael Padilla – percussion
  • Dean Parks – acoustic guitar
  • John Patitucci – bass samples
  • George Perilli – drums
  • Mark Portmann – arrangement, production, sound engineering, keyboard programming
  • Sally Ries – backing vocals
  • Andrea Robinson – backing vocals
  • Alex Rodriguez – mixing
  • Steve Rosen – piano, arrangement, keyboards, production
  • Tom Salta – keyboards, programming
  • Bill Schnee – mixing
  • Michael Thompson – electric guitar
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
  • Junior Vasquez – production, mixing, post production

References

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  1. ^ a b Deborah at AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "Debbie Gibson Funny Girl Tour Cancels 1996 Engagements". Playbill. November 26, 1996. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Scaduto, Anthony (August 6, 1996). "Singer Debbie Gibson Now A 'Funny Girl'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Moonchild at Discogs
  5. ^ Sinclair, Paul (September 20, 2017). "New content added to Debbie Gibson 'We Could Be Together' deluxe set". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Deborah Gibson - Chart history". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Reviews & Previews" (PDF). Billboard. March 29, 1997. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
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