At the height of Moonlighting mania and after the Seagram's wine cooler commercials showcased his vocal skills, Motown asked Bruce Willis to record a full album of blues, R&B, and soul -- hence, The Return of Bruno. Willis has more vocal talent than, say, Cybill Shepherd, but he doesn't quite have the conviction or skill of the Blues Brothers. Often, it's difficult to hear him strain for notes on familiar items like "Under the Boardwalk," "Young Blood," and "Respect Yourself," but that same limited talent makes the ready-made originals "Jackpot," "Down in Hollywood," and "Flirting with Disaster" appealing kitsch. And, really, The Return of Bruno isn't anything more than a kitsch artifact -- Willis may deeply believe he has vocal talent, but the album stands more as a testament to the excesses of Reagan-era celebrity and baby-boomer nostalgia than as a piece of music. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
John Vigran (Vocals (Background)), Dann Huff (Guitar), Greg Smith (Saxophone), Robert Kraft (Arranger), Lynn Davis (Vocals (Background)), Greg Smith (Arranger), Rob Trow (Vocals (Background)), Joel Peskin (Saxophone), Alexis England (Vocals (Background)), Duane Sciacqua (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Lorber (Keyboards), David Alexander (Photography), Neil Stubenhaus (Bass), Ron Dasilva (Assistant Engineer), Brock Walsh (Producer), Jeff Lorber (Drum Programming), Jeff Steele (Bass), Booker T. Jones (Organ (Hammond)), Andy Engel (Design), Dave Chamberlain (Arranger), Dan Grenier (Vocals (Background)), Steve Thomas (Vocals (Background)), Jon Lind (Vocals (Background)), Johnny Lee (Art Direction), Dan Garcia (Assistant Engineer), Dan Grenier (Guitar), Robert Kraft (?), Brock Walsh (Arranger), Siedah Garrett (Vocals (Background)), Elliott Federman (Mastering), Phillip Ingram (Vocals (Background)), Dave Chamberlain (Bass), Robert Kraft (Vocals (Background)), Rick Marotta (Drums), Duane Sciacqua (Arranger), David Richman (Project Coordinator), Jolie Jones Levine (Production Coordination), Greg Philinganes (Keyboards), Jerry Hey (Trumpet), Jolie Jones Levine (Vocals (Background)), Mike Ragogna (Project Director), Daniel Lazerus (Mixing), Jerry Hey (Brass Arrangement), James Harrah (Guitar), Brock Walsh (Rhythm Arrangements), Tim Stone (Vocals (Background)), Robert Kraft (Producer), Dave Chamberlain (Vocals (Background)), The Temptations (Vocals (Background)), Duane Sciacqua (Guitar), Mike Ross (Assistant Engineer), Steve Thomas (Keyboards), Jeff Lorber (Arranger), Brock Walsh (Vocals (Background)), Ken Johnson (?), Julie Last (Assistant Engineer), Michael Fisher (Percussion), Steve Thomas (Arranger), Dan Grenier (Arranger), David Eaton (Assistant Engineer), Bruce Willis (Arranger), Darryl Phinnessee (Vocals (Background)), George Budd (?), Gary Grant (Trumpet), Cliff Kane (Assistant Engineer), John Vigran (Engineer), Alan Pasqua (Keyboards)
If It Don't Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger
(1989)
The Return of Bruno is the debut album by actor Bruce Willis. Released by Motown in 1987, this album is an electric gathering of R&B music sung by Willis, with backing musicians including Booker T. Jones, Ruth Pointer and The Temptations. Every song is a cover with the exception of "Jackpot (Bruno's Bop)", for which Willis receives a co-writing credit with producer Robert Kraft.
The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[1] Leadoff single "Respect Yourself" received considerable airplay, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Follow-up singles "Young Blood" and "Under the Boardwalk" did not fare nearly as well, peaking at #68 and #59, respectively. [1] However, in the UK Under The Boardwalk was a massive success, reaching #2 in the charts and becoming the 12th best-selling single of 1987 in the UK.
The album is a companion piece to an HBO special of the same name which aired shortly after the record's release. A re-issue was distributed by Razor & Tie in 1997.
