Unfinished Business (Ronnie Spector album)
Unfinished Business is the second studio album by American singer Ronnie Spector, released in 1987.[1]
Unfinished Business | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 1987 | |||
Label | CBS Columbia | |||
Producer | Michael Young (tracks 1, 3-5) Desmond Child (track 2) Gary Klein (tracks 6-10) | |||
Ronnie Spector chronology | ||||
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Two singles were released from the album; "Who Can Sleep" in April 1987 (featuring Eddie Money as a guest vocalist) and "Love on a Rooftop", released in August 1987.[2][3] A music video for "Who Can Sleep" was directed by David Hogan and produced by Amanda Temple for Limelight Productions.[4] It achieved medium rotation on MTV.[5]
Background
In 1986, Spector saw a resurgence in her music career after providing vocals on Eddie Money's Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Take Me Home Tonight". In the wake of the song's success, Columbia Records offered Spector a contract to record a solo album, which became Unfinished Business.[6][7] In her 1990 memoir Be My Baby, Spector recalled the offer as "like the dream of a lifetime come true". However, the album was not a commercial success, with Spector recalling: "I could tell within two weeks [of the album's release] that it was a flop. I know the excitement that happens when you've got a hit - the telephone rings off the hook, and everybody wants a piece of you. But none of that was happening."[7]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Upon release, Billboard commented: "Former Ronette's voice is an American classic, and she puts it to good use on this nice update of the Spector sound." They praised Susanna Hoffs' backing vocals on "Dangerous", noting how she "complements Spector expertly" on the track.[8] Cash Box listed the album as one of their "feature picks" during May 1987 and commented: "More than a few cleverly placed Ronettes touches gives the LP its charm".[9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Who Can Sleep" | Alan Gordon, Jerry Friedman | 4:10 |
2. | "Love on a Rooftop" | Desmond Child, Diane Warren | 5:00 |
3. | "Dangerous" | Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly | 3:31 |
4. | "Burnin' Love" | Dennis Linde | 3:41 |
5. | "Unfinished Business" | Gregory Abbott | 4:07 |
6. | "(If I Could) Walk Away" | Don Dixon | 4:07 |
7. | "Heart Song" | Douglas Berlent | 4:24 |
8. | "True to You" | Gerard McMann | 4:00 |
9. | "When We Danced" | David Palmer, Philip Jost | 2:53 |
10. | "Good Love Is Hard to Find" | Gordon | 3:02 |
Personnel
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References
- "Unfinished Business - Ronnie Spector | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- "Ronnie Spector - Who Can Sleep / When We Danced - Columbia - USA - 38-07082". 45cat. 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- "Ronnie Spector - Love On A Rooftop / Good Love Is Hard To Find - Columbia - USA - 38-07300". 45cat. 2016-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- Billboard magazine - Video music: New videoclips - June 13, 1987 - page 48
- Billboard magazine - MTV Programming - June 20, 1987 - page 55
- By MARC SPITZAUG. 16, 2013 (2013-08-16). "'Be My Baby,' a Hit Single With Staying Power - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- Spector, Ronnie; Waldron, Vince (2015-06-17). Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life as a ... - Ronnie Spector, Vince Waldron - Google Books. ISBN 9780985278298. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
- Billboard magazine - Album reviews - May 30, 1987 - page 72
- Cash Box newspaper - May 23, 1987 - Album releases - page 10