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Wendy and Lisa (album)

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Wendy and Lisa
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 24, 1987 (1987-08-24)
Recorded1987
StudioOcean Way Recording, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length50:36
Label
Producer
Wendy & Lisa chronology
Wendy and Lisa
(1987)
Fruit at the Bottom
(1989)
Alternative cover
European cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

Wendy and Lisa is the 1987 debut album by American pop duo Wendy & Lisa, formerly of Prince's band, the Revolution.

Background

Five of the eleven tracks on the album were co-written by Bobby Z., Wendy and Lisa's former colleague from the Revolution, who also co-produced the album with the duo. Wendy's twin sister, Susannah Melvoin (an extended Revolution member herself) co-wrote the track "Honeymoon Express".

The album, released in the United States on August 24, 1987, peaked at No. 88 in the US[3] and at No. 84 in the UK. The UK and European release features different cover artwork to the US release.

The album contains several singles, including "Honeymoon Express" and "Waterfall" (which was re-released two years later as "Waterfall '89"). In the US, the only single to hit the Billboard Hot 100 was "Waterfall" which peaked at No. 56 in 1987.[4] "Sideshow" was also released as a single in the UK and Europe. The track "The Life" was re-recorded in the 1990s when it was retitled as "This Is the Life" and produced by Trevor Horn. This version was included on the number-one hit soundtrack album of the film Dangerous Minds (1995) and released as a single in Europe.

The album was reissued in the US in 2006 by Wounded Bird Records, featuring four bonus tracks including "To Trip Is to Fall", which was originally a 12" B-side track. The album was reissued in the UK in 2013 by Cherry Pop Records also featuring four bonus tracks, though two of the tracks differ from the US reissue.

Critical reception

Upon release columnist of pan-European magazine Music & Media highlighted "Sideshow", "Stay" and instrumental "White" and concluded that although the album's compositions "remain heavily influenced by Prince," the album "proves that not only can they stand on their own two feet, but also how important they are to Prince's Revolution."[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman; except where indicated

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Honeymoon Express"
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Susannah Melvoin
  • Bobby Z.
3:46
2."Sideshow"
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
4:41
3."Waterfall"
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
5:03
4."Stay" 4:27
5."White" 5:37
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Blues Away"
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
4:58
7."Song About" 4:29
8."Chance to Grow"
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
3:31
9."The Life" 4:07
10."Everything But You" 5:03
11."Light" 4:54
Total length:50:36
2006 Wounded Bird reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Waterfall" (single version)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
4:16
13."Honeymoon Express" (12" version)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • S. Melvoin
  • Z.
4:56
14."Sideshow" (Dance Mix)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
8:56
15."To Trip Is to Fall" (full-length version)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Kris Bell
6:54
2013 Cherry Pop reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Honeymoon Express" (12" version)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • S. Melvoin
  • Z.
4:56
13."Sideshow" (extended version)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
6:31
14."Waterfall '89" (Alice & Sundial Seven)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman
  • Z.
4:17
15."Waterfall" (Psychedelic Teepee Twelve)
  • W. Melvoin
  • Coleman, Z.
7:16

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Wendy and Lisa liner notes.[6]

Wendy & Lisa

  • Wendy Melvoin – lead and background vocals, guitar, bass, drums and percussion, organ
  • Lisa Coleman – lead and background vocals, keyboards, piano, synth

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart performance for Wendy and Lisa
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[7] 54
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 84
US Billboard 200[9] 88

References

  1. ^ a b c Deggans, Eric (1998). "Wendy & Lisa". In Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds.). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 1222.
  2. ^ "Wendy and Lisa". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  3. ^ "Billboard 200: November 7, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  4. ^ "Billboard Hot 100: November 7, 1987". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "Previews: Albums: Wendy & Lisa – Wendy & Lisa" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 40. Amsterdam: European Music Report BV. October 10, 1987. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 8, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ Wendy and Lisa (CD booklet). Wendy & Lisa. Columbia Records. 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Wendy and Lisa – Wendy and Lisa" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  9. ^ "Wendy and Lisa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.