It's Real (James Ingram album)

It's Real is the third full-length recording by American R&B singer-songwriter James Ingram. It was released in May 1989 on Qwest/Warner Bros. Records, and features the smash hit single "I Don't Have the Heart", which peaked at number 1 for 1 week. It also features a remake of the classic song "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", re-written with different lyrics and entitled "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man".

Critical reception

Robin Katz, reviewer of British music newspaper Music Week, left mainly favourable overlook on this album, saying that "Ingram presents his usual standard of contemporary sophisticated soul." He concluded: "Title track could be a smash and will appeal to Bobby Brown boppers while final cut is weepie in Whitney style."

Track listing Side one – It's Real Hard "It's Real" (Kemp Frank, Gene Griffin, Barry Hankerson, Ingram) - 5:13 "I Wanna Come Back" (Marc Gordon, Gerald Levert) - 4:51 "Call On Me" (Ingram, Bernard Taylor) - 4:03 "So Fine" (Ingram, Bernard Taylor) - 4:04 "Love Come Down" (Gene Griffin, Ingram) - 5:40 "Baby Be Mine" (Bell, Ingram) - 5:00 (Bonus Track (Side one, Track 6) on CD version)

Side two – It's Real Soft "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) - 5:04 "Love One Day at a Time" (Ingram, Monty Seward) - 4:31 "I Don't Have the Heart" (Jud Friedman, Allan Rich) - 4:14 "Someday We'll All Be Free" (Donny Hathaway, Edward Howard) - 4:10 "When Was the Last Time the Music Made You Cry" (Ingram, Dennis Matkosky, Kathy Wakefield) - 4:57

Personnel Credits adapted from CD release.

James Ingram – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 8), keyboards (3, 4, 10), drums (3, 4) Winston Johnson – keyboard programming (all tracks), Synclavier programming (all tracks) Dwayne Russell – keyboard programming (all tracks) Brian Simpson – keyboard programming (all tracks) Frank Stangerup – keyboard programming (all tracks) Teddy Riley – all instruments (1, 5), backing vocals (1, 5) Jim Salamone – keyboard sequencing (2) Bernard Taylor – keyboards (3, 4), drums (3, 4) Aaron Zigman – keyboards (3, 4, 6) Thom Bell – keyboards (6), bass (6, 9) Vernon Fails – keyboards (7) Robbie Buchanan – synthesizer programming (7) Monty Seward – keyboards (8), synthesizers (8), backing vocals (8) Jud Friedman – keyboards (9), programming (9) Dennis Matkosky – keyboards (11), synthesizers (11) Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (3, 8, 9) Abraham Laboriel – bass (7, 11) Freddie Washington – bass (8) Nathan East – bass (10) Ricky Lawson – drums (6, 7, 9, 10) Jeff Porcaro – drums (8) Paulinho da Costa – percussion (8) Dan Higgins – saxophones (4) Larry Williams – saxophones (4) Gerald Albright – saxophone solo (7) Ernie Watts – saxophone solo (8) Gary Grant – trumpet (4) Jerry Hey – trumpet (4) Toots Thielemans – harmonica solo (10) Sephra Winters – horn and string contractor (9–11) Bernard Belle – backing vocals (1) Regina Belle – backing vocals (1) Marsha McClurkin – backing vocals (1) William Aquart Jr. – backing vocals (1) Gerald Levert – backing vocals (2) Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (3) Phil Perry – backing vocals (3, 4) The Aquarian Singers – backing vocals (6, 9, 10) Bobbette Jamerson – backing vocals (7) Tim Johnson – backing vocals (7) Valerie Pinkston-Mayo – backing vocals (7) Carl Calwell – backing vocals (8) Josie James – backing vocals (8) Marva King – backing vocals (8) Kimaya Seward – backing vocals (8)

Music arrangements Teddy Riley – arrangements (1, 5) Marc Gordon – arrangements (2) Gerald Levert – arrangements (2) James Ingram – arrangements (3, 4, 6, 8–11) Bernard Taylor – arrangements (3, 4) Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (4) Thom Bell – arrangements and conductor (6, 9–11), horn and string arrangements (9–11) Vernon Fails – rhythm arrangements (7) Michael J. Powell – rhythm arrangements (7) Valerie Pinkston-Mayo – BGV arrangements (7) Monty Seward – arrangements (8) Jud Friedman – arrangements (9) Dennis Matkosky – arrangements (11)

Production James Ingram – executive producer, producer (3, 4, 6, 8–11) Thom Bell – executive producer, producer (6, 9–11) Gene Griffin – producer (1, 5) Gerald Levert – producer (2) Marc Gordon – producer (2) Bernard Taylor – producer (3) Michael J. Powell – producer (7) Monty Seward – producer (8) Dennis Matkosky – producer (11) Barry Hankerson – associate producer, management Benny Medina – associate producer JoAnn Tominaga – production coordinator (7), music contractor Yolandra Fletcher King – production coordinator (8–11), music contractor, personal assistant Sephra Winters – music contractor Kim Champange – art direction Jeri McManus – art direction Andy Engel – design Aaron Rapoport – photography Cecille Parker – stylist Elbert Oliver – hair, make-up The Midwest Group – management company

Technical credits Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California) Dave Way – recording (1, 5) Mike Tarsia – recording (2), mixing (2) Barney Perkins – recording (2, 7), mixing (2) Sidney Burton – mixing (3, 4) Paul Ericksen – recording (3, 4, 6, 8–11), mixing (6, 8–11) Winston Johnson – recording (3, 4, 6, 8–11), mixing (3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11) Steve Van Arden – recording (3) Bob Loftus – recording (4, 6) Dennis Matkosky – recording (11) Milton Chan – additional engineer (7) Tony Shimkin – assistant engineer (1, 5) Tom Biener – assistant engineer (2–4, 6–11) Marty Hozenberg – assistant engineer (2–4, 6–11) Fred Kelly Jr. – assistant engineer (2–4, 6–11) David Radin – assistant engineer (2–4, 6–11) Mitch Zelezny – assistant engineer (2–4, 6–11)

Charts Chart (1989) Peakposition

References