Tiffany (album)

Tiffany is the debut studio album by American singer Tiffany, released in July 1987 by MCA Records. At the age of 14 years, Tiffany signed a contract with MCA Records in April 1986. Her contract enabled her to work on the album during her high school sophomore year. The album was recorded in North Hollywood, California. The album peaked at number-one for two weeks in the US, becoming the first female solo and third artist to have an album chart on Billboard 200 under 18 years of age, and the youngest female artist to achieve a No. 1 album.

Tiffany
Studio album by
Tiffany
ReleasedJuly 1987
Recorded1986–1987
GenreTeen pop
Length39:08
LabelMCA
ProducerGeorge E. Tobin
Tiffany chronology
Tiffany
(1987)		 Hold an Old Friend's Hand
(1988)
Singles from Tiffany
  1. "Danny"
    Released: June 1987
  2. "I Think We're Alone Now"
    Released: August 1987
  3. "Could've Been"
    Released: November 1987
  4. "I Saw Him Standing There"
    Released: March 1988
  5. "Feelings of Forever"
    Released: June 1988

Her first single, "Danny", was released in June 1987, but failed to chart. To support the album, Tiffany embarked a shopping mall tour called "The Beautiful You: Celebrating the Good Life Shopping Mall Tour '87". Due to her popularity, her second single, "I Think We're Alone Now", was picked up by rock radio stations and became her first number-one hit in the US. Her third single, "Could've Been", made Tiffany the youngest artist to achieve two No. 1 consecutive singles. Her last singles, "I Saw Him Standing There" and "Feelings of Forever", failed to replicate the success of her previous singles, though the former peaked at the top-ten in the US. The album received mixed-to-negative reviews. Contemporaneous critics panned the calculated production, though her vocals were mostly praised.

Background

Tiffany started singing at the age of two when she learned the lyrics to the Tanya Tucker song "Delta Dawn" at a supermarket.[1][lower-alpha 1] At the age of nine, she started her singing career with her stepfather's permission.[3] After Tiffany performed "Delta Dawn" on a trailer bed at a street party in Norwalk, California, the Country Hoe Downers offered her to perform at special events and county fairs.[4] Tiffany spent time as the group's lead singer after being encouraged by her parents.[4] Tiffany also toured with country and western bands at social gatherings in Norwalk.[5] By the age of 11, she became a frequent performer at school assemblies and parties.[1][4] She abandoned country music and left the group for mainstream pop music at the age of 13, after she discovered Stevie Nicks on her radio dial, and realizing that her fashion was not "going to make it."[1][4][5]

Tiffany had begun working with manager and record producer George Tobin at 12-years-old.[6] After singing some demo tapes in a recording studio,[7] Tiffany signed a recording contract with George Tobin. In 1985, she appeared as a junior singer on Star Search with Ed McMahon, where she finished in second place overall. During spring 1987, Tiffany toured with the Jets in regular venues, which received an "overwhelming" response.[1][4]

Production

After Tiffany signed a recording contract with George Tobin, Tobin visited several record companies for a record label contract.[8] He chose MCA Records from five record labels, and in April 1986, Tiffany signed a contract with MCA Records at the age of 14.[1][8][9][10] Shortly, production on the album began.[11] Eight of the songs were originals written for Tiffany.[4] The album had 41 recorded songs, and only ten of the songs were picked for the album.[7] Production of the album lasted ten months.[12]

Tiffany rehearsed and recorded the songs in a recording studio in North Hollywood, California.[4] Tiffany recorded her vocals for more than two days on each song, with the exception of "Could've Been", which only took two recording sessions.[3] Tiffany and Tobin listened to everything from black pop to hard rock and "settled on a mix" to create the "best possible album" for them.[11] According to Tiffany, some songs were recorded in three or four different ways, with different styles and tempos.[3] Tiffany's vocal style and the album's material were influenced by Stevie Nicks.[1] In an August 16, 1987, interview with reporter Russell A. Stamets, Tiffany recalled that when she was in the studio, she and Tobin would "try each song in several [different] styles", including a "Stevie Nicks sound" for Tobin.[1] The singing style was eventually done for the album's opening track "Should've Been Me".[1]

Music and lyrics

The album's opening track, "Should've Been Me", is about jealousy from a teen's point-of-view.[13] It incorporates "slow, steady" drum beats and raspy vocals reminiscent of Stevie Nicks.[14] "Danny" conveys the "urgency of Tiffany's youth" during the refrains.[14] "Spanish Eyes" incorporates latin pop elements in the spirit of Madonna's "La Isla Bonita".[14] "Feelings of Forever" is a pop rock ballad about love.[15][16][17] It incorporated the Fendar Rhodes piano and had a "gigantic build-up".[18] Music critic Paul Taylor stated that the song was reminiscent of music by Heart.[17] "Kid on a Corner" is a backbeat ballad about a determination to grow up.[13][14]

Tiffany's new wave cover of The Beatles' song "I Saw Her Standing There" (renamed "I Saw Him Standing There") included a "Prince-style funk arrangement" with keyboards and guitar solos.[19][20][21] "Johnny's Got the Inside Moves" is a disco song that conveys her vocals of "adolescent emotional hunger."[13][22] "Promises Made" is a love song.[23] Music critic Agnes Torres stated that the song was reminiscent of "Voices Carry" by 'Til Tuesday.[16] "Could've Been" is a pop ballad about mourning the "great love of her life".[21]

Release and promotion

Tiffany was released in July 1987 by MCA Records.[4] To support the album and create a buzz for herself, Tiffany embarked on a shopping mall tour entitled "The Beautiful You: Celebrating the Good Life Shopping Mall Tour '87", which included 60 concerts.[6][24] It was done to build a marketing base for ages 12 to 18 before the album was released.[1] The tour included Tiffany performing in shopping malls across the United States; at first to small audiences but by the end to much larger crowds as her popularity grew.[24] By the end of the tour, she had triggered hundreds of sales for each performance.[6]

Singles

Her first single, "Danny", was released in June 1987, but it failed to chart. Rock radio stations started to play Tiffany's cover version of Tommy James & the Shondells' song "I Think We're Alone Now" due to several requests for the song.[6][25][26] It was later released as her second single in August 1987 as a promotion of her first tour.[26][27] On the week of November 7, 1987, the single peaked at number-one on Billboard Hot 100 and remained for two weeks.[28] It was also a huge success in the United Kingdom, peaking at number-one for three weeks.[29]

Her third single, "Could've Been", was released in November 1987. Being a successful follow-up to her previous single, it peaked at number-one on Billboard Hot 100 on the week of February 6, 1988, and remained for two weeks.[28] It also peaked at number-one on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.[30] At the age of 16 years, she became the youngest artist to have two consecutive No. 1 singles.[31] Internationally, the single was her first number-one hit in Canada and Ireland.[32][33]

Her fourth single, "I Saw Him Standing There", was released in March 1988. It received moderate success, peaking at No. 7 on Billboard Hot 100.[28] It also reached to the top-five in Canada and Ireland respectively.[34] Her final single of the album, "Feelings of Forever", was released in June 1988. Although not as successful as her previous singles, it received minor success in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada respectively.[28][29][35]

Commercial performance

On the week of September 26, 1987, the album debuted at No. 130 on Billboard's Top Pop Albums chart.[30] As of Thanksgiving 1987, the album sold an average of 400,000 copies per week.[36] By December 11, 1987, the album sold one million copies in the US.[37] It peaked at number-one on the week of January 23, 1988, and remained for two weeks.[30] At the age of 16 years, Tiffany became the youngest female artist to achieve a No. 1 album and the first female solo and third artist to chart on the Billboard 200 under the age of 18.[31] The album stayed for 96 non-consecutive weeks on the chart.[30] The album also peaked at number-one in Canada and New Zealand.[38][39] It was charted at the Top 10 in Australia and the United Kingdom.[40][41] The album was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 5, 1988.[42] In Canada, it was certified 5× Platinum for shipping over 500,000 copies.[38] In Australia, it sold over 100,000 copies.[43] In the United Kingdom, it was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for shipping over 100,000 copies.[44]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[45]
Record Mirror[46]
Robert ChristgauB[47]
Rolling Stone[48]

Upon its release, Tiffany received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "B", describing it as "a fantasy album about the growing pains of a wholesome California teen, flexing her sexuality slightly as she moons over that soulful Mexican boy, with two schlock classics of its own."[47] In a retrospective review, Bryan Buss of AllMusic described the material as "enjoyable without being schlocky", and reviewed tracks "Kid on a Corner", "Should've Been Me", "Johnny's Got the Inside Moves", and "Danny" as "all inoffensive, mid-tempo tunes that are more than just filler." Concluding the review, he states that even though this is a "fair debut for a young singer with a voice she'd grow into," her follow-up, Hold an Old Friend's Hand, is "more consistently realized."[45] Chris Tworney of Record Mirror reviewed the singer and album, at the time, as the "latest in seemingly inexhaustible supply of virgin prunes to dominate [the] charts."[46]

Wayne Robins of Newsday criticized most of the songs as "superficial" and "bland", describing "I Saw Him Standing There" as "wrong" and praising "Spanish Eyes" as the "best of her songs".[19] Len LaBarth of Delaware County Daily Times described the album as "far from spectacular". He praised "I Think We're Alone Now" as "nice and sprightly", but criticized "I Saw Him Standing There" as "quite horrid".[49] Music critic Agnes Torres rated the album two out of five stars, criticizing the production as "busy" and songs as "sluggish" and "grating". She ranked "I Saw Him Standing There" as the worst, but described "Spanish Eyes" as "equally unnerving".[16] Anthony Decurtis of Rolling Stone gave the album an unfavorable review, describing the album as an "artificial construction that Tiffany occupies with neither authority nor uniqueness." The reviewer criticized the production, songwriting, and management for "letting Tiff down" and described her cover of "I Think We're Alone Now" as "sterile" compared to the original and "I Saw Him Standing There" as a "conceptual disaster".[48] Cary Wills of The Courier-Journal gave the album an extremely negative review, calling the singer "annoying". He lamented "I Think We're Alone Now" as a "wad of fake funk/pop garbage" and "I Saw Him Standing There" as "equally embarrassing".[20]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Should've Been Me"Mark Paul3:39
2."Danny"Jody Moreing4:00
3."Spanish Eyes"
3:56
4."Feelings of Forever"
  • Paul
  • Duarte
3:52
5."Kid on a Corner"
4:02
6."I Saw Him Standing There"Lennon–McCartney4:12
7."Johnny's Got the Inside Moves"
  • Jon McElroy
  • Ned McElroy
3:20
8."Promises Made"
  • Paul
  • Duarte
4:50
9."I Think We're Alone Now"Ritchie Cordell3:48
10."Could've Been"Lois Blaisch3:31
Total length:39:08

Personnel
  • Tiffany – lead and backing vocals
  • John Duarte – arrangements, synthesizers (1-6, 8, 9), drum programming (1-9), keyboards (7), synth bass (7), additional synthesizers (10)
  • Ned McElroy – keyboards (7)
  • Steve Rucker – acoustic piano (10), synthesizers (10)
  • Dann Huff – guitars (1, 3, 4, 5, 10)
  • Chuck Yamek – guitars (1, 6, 9)
  • Carl Verheyen – guitars (2)
  • Craig T. Cooper – guitars (7)
  • Willie Ornelas – drums (10)
  • Richard Elliot – saxophone (1, 7)

Production

  • George Tobin – producer, remixing, management
  • Bill Smith – engineer and remixing (1-5, 7, 9, 10)
  • John Kerns – engineer and remixing (6, 8), additional recording
  • Steve Holroyd – second engineer
  • John Kliner – second engineer
  • David Means – second engineer
  • Bryan Rutter – second engineer
  • Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc (Hollywood, California)
  • Brenda Farrell – production coordination
  • Valerie Trotter – production coordination
  • Larry Solters – "stunt" coordinator
  • Irving Azoff – "miracles"
  • Randee St. Nicholas – photography
  • Brad Schmidt – management

Charts

Certifications and sales
Certifications and sales for Tiffany
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia — 100,000[43]
Canada (Music Canada)[38] 5× Platinum 500,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[65] Platinum 20,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[42] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 7,000,000[67]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Note
  1. Another reliable source states that Tiffany started singing when she learned the words to Tanya Tucker's Delta Dawn at the age of four.[2] It is unknown which source is accurate.

References
  1. Stamets, Russell A. (August 16, 1987). "Reporter shares breakfast with Tiffany". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  2. Kat, Nashville (March 25, 2011). "Pop Singer Tiffany Hopes Fans 'Feel the Music' on Debut Country Album 'Rose Tattoo'". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 22, 2023. The first song she ever learned to sing (at 4-years-old) was Tanya Tucker's Delta Dawn.
  3. "Hits taking teen-ager Tiffany beyond shopping-mall circuit". The Post-Star. January 17, 1988. pp. 84–85. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  4. Churm, Steven R. (July 5, 1987). "Teen Singer Tiffany Taking Her Act Where Fans Are: Shopping Malls". The Los Angeles Times. p. 412. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  5. Lounges, Tom (July 24, 1987). "Teen singer pursues stardom". The Times. p. 30. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  6. Rosenfeld, Megan (May 15, 1988). "16-year-old singer is torn between mother and manager". The Gazette. p. 53. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  7. DeBarros, Anthony (July 3, 1987). "ON THE ROAD: Rock singer to tour the nation's malls". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  8. Gonzales, John D. (July 22, 1987). "Tiffany tours shopping malls". Transcript-Telegram. p. 5. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  9. Zorn, Eric (August 2, 1987). "BUT WILL SHE EVER SING AT CARNEGIE MALL?". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  10. "Tiffany album center of controversy". The Signal. November 4, 1989. p. 2. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  11. Jaeger, Barbara (June 26, 1987). "Tiffany: Shopping for fans this summer". The Record. p. 90. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  12. Churm, Steven R. (July 2, 1987). "Tiffany will hang out all summer in shopping malls and try to meet new friends". Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  13. "To see what 'Tiffany' is worth, look beyond the cover". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 2, 1987. p. 51. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  14. Page, Janice (May 3, 1988). "Tour of malls boosted Tiffany to pop chart top". Madison Capital Times. pp. 17, 22. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  15. Tessier, Denise (July 12, 1988). "Tiffany Leaves Young Audience Breathless". Albuquerque Journal. p. 17. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  16. Torres, Agnes (February 7, 1988). "Tiffany". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 274. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  17. Taylor, Paul (August 2, 1988). "Reviews". Manchester Evening News. p. 30. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  18. Coffey, Paul (July 29, 1988). "Heep of fans in Russia". Evening Post. p. 8. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  19. Robins, Wayne (October 4, 1987). "Two Pop Albums By and for Teens". Newsday. p. 31. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  20. Willis, Cary (December 5, 1987). "Reviews". The Courier-Journal. p. 52. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  21. Parlin, Geri (August 1, 1988). "Tiffany energizes mixed audience". The La Crosse Tribune. p. 6. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  22. Pickle, Betsy (October 2, 1987). "To see what 'Tiffany' is worth, look beyond the cover". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. 51. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  23. Zorn, Eric (August 3, 1987). "Taking the mall route to stardom". Springfield News-Sun. p. 17. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  24. Russell, Lisa (September 14, 1987). "Tiffany, the teenage mallflower who serenades the shoppers of America". People Weekly. Vol. 28. p. 81.
  25. "HARD-ROCKING KISS PROMISES BIGGER, BETTER 'CRAZY' SHOW". Orlando Sentinel. September 27, 1987. p. 4. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  26. "Hard-rocking Kiss promises bigger, better 'Crazy' show". The Orlando Sentinel. September 27, 1987. p. 39. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  27. Bishop, Pete (August 30, 1987). "Hooters off to another quick start". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 108. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  28. "Tiffany Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  29. "Tiffany - Official Charts". UK Official Charts. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  30. "Tiffany Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  31. Lynch, Joe. "Solo Artists Who Scored a No. 1 Album Before Turning 18". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  32. "Top 100 Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. December 24, 1988. p. 9. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  33. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Could've Been". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  34. "RPM Top 100 Singles – May 7, 1988" (PDF).
  35. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8580". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 30, 1988. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  36. Robison, Ken (March 25, 1988). "Tiffany, after 3 million albums sold". The Fresno Bee. p. 21. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  37. Hunt, Dennis (December 11, 1987). "POP LP CHART". Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  38. "Canadian album certifications – Tiffany – Tiffany". Music Canada.
  39. "Charts.nz – Tiffany – Tiffany". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  40. "Australiancharts.com – Tiffany – Tiffany". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  41. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  42. "American album certifications – Tiffany – Tiffany". Recording Industry Association of America. April 5, 1988.
  43. Baker, Glenn A. (January 28, 1989). "The Majors: CBS Is Sales Wizard in Oz but There's Plenty of Prosperity to Go Around" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 4. p. A-16. ISSN 0006-2510 – via World Radio History.
  44. "British album certifications – Tiffany – Tiffany". British Phonographic Industry. March 2, 1988. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  45. Allmusic review
  46. Twomey, Chris (February 27, 1988). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 14.
  47. "Robert Christgau: CG: tiffany". robertchristgau.com.
  48. Rolling Stone review
  49. LaBarth, Len (April 29, 1988). "New song puts Tiffany in bad light". Delaware County Daily Times. p. 26. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  50. "Revista Pelo - Argentina Albums Chart" (PDF). revistapelo.com.ar/. Revista Pelo. Vol. 313 p. 16.
  51. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0931". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  52. "Dutchcharts.nl – Tiffany – Tiffany" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  53. "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 10. March 5, 1988. p. 20. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  54. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tiffany – Tiffany" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  55. "ティファニーのランキング情報" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  56. "Norwegiancharts.com – Tiffany – Tiffany". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  57. "Swedishcharts.com – Tiffany – Tiffany". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  58. "Swisscharts.com – Tiffany – Tiffany". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  59. "ARIA Top 50 Albums for 1988". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  60. "Top 100 Albums of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. December 24, 1988. p. 13. ISSN 0033-7064 – via World Radio History.
  61. "Top Selling Albums of 1988". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  62. "Top 100 Albums – Year-End Chart 1988" (PDF). Music Week Awards. Music Week. March 4, 1989. p. 8. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  63. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  64. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1988 – Top 50 Pop Albums". Cash Box. December 31, 1988. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012.
  65. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1989". IFPI Hong Kong.
  66. "New Zealand album certifications – Tiffany – Tiffany". Recorded Music NZ.
  67. Boehm, Mike (February 10, 1989). "Heartaches of Two Songwriters' Are Behind Tiffany's Latest Hit". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.