Rockbird was the second solo album by Debbie Harry.
Album information
Rockbird was Harry's first solo album following the split of Blondie in 1982 and was produced by Seth Justman, a key member of the J. Geils Band. Released in November 1986, there were five variations of the album artwork with the lettering either green, orange, purple, red or yellow.
The album peaked at number 32 in the UK, and remained in the charts for 11 weeks. Although one of her lowest charting solo albums to date, it was ironically the highest selling and was certified "Gold" by the BPI in January 1987. Three singles were released from the album, "French Kissin' In The USA", which reached number 8 in the UK to become Harry's only solo top 10 single in that territory, "In Love With Love", which reached number 45, and ballad "Free To Fall", which reached number 46. "French Kissin'" also reached number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Track listing
Side A:
- "I Want You" (Deborah Harry, Toni C.) - 4:28
- "French Kissin'" (Chuck Lorre) - 5:14
Listen (help·info)
- "Buckle Up" (Deborah Harry, Seth Justman) - 3:46
- "In Love With Love" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) - 4:34 Listen (help·info)
Side B:
- "You Got Me In Trouble" (Deborah Harry, Seth Justman) - 4:18
- "Free to Fall" (Deborah Harry, Seth Justman) - 5:31 Listen (help·info)
- "Rockbird" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) - 3:09
- "Secret Life" (Deborah Harry, Chris Stein) - 3:46
- "Beyond the Limit" (Deborah Harry, Nile Rodgers) - 4:37
Personnel
- Deborah Harry - lead vocals, backing vocals all tracks except "French Kissin'"
- Jimmy Ripp - guitar all tracks
- Toni C. - additional guitar "I Want You"
- Phil Ashley - drum and bass programming & keyboards "I Want You", "French Kissin'", "In Love With Love", "Rockbird" & "Secret Life", keyboards "You Got Me In Trouble" & "Free To Fall"
- Seth Justman - drum and bass programming & keyboards "I Want You", "French Kissin'", "In Love With Love", "Rockbird" & "Secret Life", keyboards "Buckle Up", "You Got Me In Trouble", "Free To Fall" & "Beyond The Limit", backing vocals all tracks except "French Kissin'"
- Magic Dick - harmonica "I Want You"
- James White - saxophone solo "I Want You"
- Jocelyn Brown - backing vocals "I Want You", "French Kissin'", "You Got Me In Trouble" & "Free To Fall"
- Connie Harvey - backing vocals "I Want You", "French Kissin'", "You Got Me In Trouble", & "Free To Fall"
- La Rita Gaskins - backing vocals "I Want You", "French Kissin'", "You Got Me In Trouble", & "Free To Fall"
- Crispin Cloe - alto saxophone solo "French Kissin'"
- Gordon Gottlieb - percussion "French Kissin'", "Buckle Up", "In Love With Love", "Secret Life" & "Beyond The Limit"
- Neil Jason - bass "Buckle Up", "You Got Me In Trouble", "Free To Fall", "Secret Life" & "Beyond The Limit"
- Yogi Horton - drums "Buckle Up", "You Got Me In Trouble", "Free To Fall" & "Beyond The Limit"
- The Uptown Horns - "Buckle Up", "You Got Me In Trouble" & "Beyond The Limit"
- Cripsin Cloe - alto sax, baritone sax
- Paul Litterel - trumpet
- Arne Hecht - tenor sax
- Robert Funk - trombone
- Cookie Watkins - backing vocals "Buckle Up"
- Judith Spears - backing vocals "Buckle Up"
- Fonda Rae - backing vocals "Buckle Up"
- Jay Siegel - backing vocals "In Love With Love"
- Chris Stein - additional guitar "In Love With Love", "Free To Fall" & "Rockbird", bass and drum programming "In Love With Love", "Rockbird" & "Secret Life"
- Mickey Curry - drums "You Got Me In Trouble"
- Bill Scheniman - additional percussion and backing vocals
Production
- Seth Justman - producer & arranger
- Chris Stein - additional arrangement "In Love With Love", "Rockbird", "Secret Life"
- Bill Scheniman - recording, mixing
- Kyle Davis - production coordinator
- Jack Kennedy - assistant sound engineer
- Rick Slater - assistant engineer
- Ken Collins - assistant engineer
- Ken Steiger - assistant engineer
- Jon Goldderger - assistant engineer
- Kent Wagner - assistant engineer
- John Alters - assistant engineer
- Dave Avidor - assistant engineer
- Michael O'Haro -assistant engineer
- Greg Calbi - sound
- Stephen Sprouse - cover
- Andy Warhol - background painting
- Paula Greif - art direction
- Christiaan - hair
- Linda Mason - make-up
- Guzman - photography
- Recorded at Mayfair Recording, Unique Recording, Electric Lady Studios, Sorcerer Sound, Power Station, A & R Recording, AMC Mission Control, Boston Mass.
- Mixed at Counterpoint Studios, NYC
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