Jody Watley (album)
Jody Watley is the eponymous debut studio album by American singer Jody Watley, released on February 23, 1987, by MCA Records. Although the singer already found success as a part of the trio Shalamar, the impact of this album made Watley a cultural style icon in contemporary R&B, pop and dance music. Its success culminated in Watley winning a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1988 against fellow artists Breakfast Club, Cutting Crew, Terence Trent D'Arby and Swing Out Sister. The album also produced three top-ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: "Some Kind of Lover", "Looking for a New Love" and "Don't You Want Me". The album has sold 2 million copies in the United States and 4 million copies worldwide.
Track listing
Personnel
- Jody Watley – lead vocals, background vocals
- Jeff Bova – keyboards
- Gardner Cole – background vocals
- André Cymone – all instruments
- Bernard Edwards – bass
- Terrence Elliot – guitar
- Bruce Gaitsch – guitar
- Roy Galloway - background vocals
- Tampa Lann – background vocals
- Patrick Leonard – synthesizers, drum programming
- Eddie Martinez – guitar
- George Michael – vocals
- Larry Schneider – saxophone
- John "LBJ" Staehely – guitar
- Tony Thompson – drums
- Fonzi Thornton – background vocals
Production
- Producers: André Cymone ; Bernard Edwards ; Patrick Leonard ; David Z.
- Engineers: Josh Abbey, Darren Chadwick, Bridget Daly, Jon Ingoldsby, Glenn Kurtz, Csaba Petocz, Chris Porter, Erik Zobler
- Assistant engineer: Scott Church.
- Mixing: André Cymone ; Coke Johnson ; Michael Verdick ; David Z..
- Remixing on tracks 1 & 10: Taavi Mote and Louis Silas, Jr.
- Mix assistant: Michael Blum
- Art direction and design: Lynn Robb
- Cover art concept and hair stylist: Jody Watley
- Photography: Victoria Pearson
- Make-up: Beth Katz
Awards
- 1987 - American Music Award Nomination for R&B Single of the Year
- 1988 - Grammy Award for Best New Artist
- 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Album of the Year
- 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Single of the Year
- 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Best Music Video
- 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Female Video of the Year
- 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Best New Artist Video of the Year
- 1988 - Billboard Music Award for Top Dance / Club Play Artist of the Year
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| US Billboard 200 | 35 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 21 |