Blue Yonder (album)

Blue Yonder
Studio album by
Blue Yonder
Released1987
Length42:55
LabelAtlantic
Producer

Blue Yonder is the debut and sole studio album by American duo Blue Yonder, released by Atlantic in 1987.

Two singles were released from the album: "Windsong" and "House of Love".[1][2] "House of Love" was also recorded by American singer Maria Vidal for her 1987 self-titled debut album.[3]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Billboard praised Stewart's "intriguing vocals" for being "the chief asset of this debut album". They felt "Windsong" "might cut a radio groove" but added the album's "moody songs generally lack necessary momentum for chart longevity".[4] Cash Box praised the album's "powerful collection of good, honest songs" and added, "Stewart's vocals exhibit a passion that places her in a league with Annie Lennox and Chrissie Hynde."[5] Gary Graff of the Detroit Free Press described the album as "well-done, albeit same-sounding pop".[6] Music & Media picked Blue Yonder as one of their "albums of the week" on February 21, 1987.[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Sandy Stewart and David Munday except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Windsong" 4:11
2."House of Love"Stewart4:59
3."When Grace Is Falling" 4:39
4."In the Rain"Stewart3:36
5."Still I Love"Stewart, Munday, Never5:07
6."The Long Haul" 4:49
7."Something for the Pain" 5:09
8."Indigo" 5:38
9."Secret Miracle" 4:47

Personnel

Blue Yonder

  • Sandy Stewart – vocals, piano, synth, keyboards, percussion
  • David Munday – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, synth, piano, keyboards, percussion

Additional musicians

  • Philippe Saisse – keyboards (tracks 1–2), programming (tracks 1–2), additional arrangements (tracks 1–2)
  • Kip Winger – bass guitar (tracks 1–2)
  • David Rosenberg – drums (tracks 1–2)
  • David Ruffy – drums (tracks 3, 5, 7–9)
  • Chuck Sabo – percussion (tracks 1, 6), drums (track 6)
  • Anthony Thistlethwaite – saxophone (tracks 3, 8)
  • Roddy Lorimer – trumpet (track 5)
  • Tim Saunders – tenor sax (track 5)
  • Simon Clarke – alto sax (track 5)
  • Tessa Niles, Linda Taylor, Ruby James – additional backing vocals (tracks 2, 7)
  • Steve Hogarth – backing vocals (track 6), additional backing vocals (track 9)
  • Graeme Pleeth – additional keyboards (track 8)
  • Max Edie – additional backing vocals (track 9)

Production

  • John Brand – producer (all tracks), engineer (all tracks), mixing (all tracks)
  • Arif Mardin – producer (tracks 1–2), mixing (tracks 1–2)
  • Clive Martin – engineer (all tracks), mixing (all tracks)
  • Philippe Saisse – associate producer
  • Felix Kendall, Eddie Garcia, Tony Harris, Sandy McLelland, Gerrard Johnson – additional engineering
  • James Cassidy, Fiona Death, Jim Mark, Jon – assistant engineers

Other

References

  1. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 31, 1987. p. 85. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  2. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. March 14, 1987. p. 73. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  3. ^ "Maria Vidal - Maria Vidal – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. January 31, 1987. p. 84. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  5. ^ "Album Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. January 31, 1987. p. 8. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  6. ^ Graff, Gary (February 16, 1987). "Sound judgment - Briefly noted". Detroit Free Press. p. 3D.
  7. ^ "M&M Euro Tip Page" (PDF). Music & Media. February 21, 1987. p. 18. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via World Radio History.