Sheena Easton: The Lover In Me Album (1988)

A Prince-Powered R&B Reinvention

Sheena Easton’s The Lover In Me LP, was released on November 7, 1988 on MCA Records (catalogue: MCG 6036) in the UK. This 10-track synth-pop, funk, and R&B album featured two Prince-written/produced tracks (“101” and “Cool Love,” credited to Joey Coco). Produced by L.A. & Babyface, Angela Winbush, and Jellybean Productions, Inc, it peaked at No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart where it remained for 7 weeks.

Album Overview:

The album features a more Urban/R&B sound compared to Easton's earlier work, thanks to production by renowned figures like L.A. Reid, Babyface, and John Jellybean" Benitez. Its title track became a significant hit, climbing to number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself reached number 44 on the US Billboard 200 and number 30 on the UK Albums Chart, earning a Gold certification from the RIAA. This album is among Easton's best sellers, marking her return to the US and UK charts. Notably, in the UK, it was her first album to chart in over five years, with the lead single becoming her first top 20 hit in nearly eight years.

In 2006, Cherry Red Records (UK) re-released "The Lover in Me" as an Expanded Edition, featuring remastered tracks and bonus content. On May 27, 2016, the album became available for digital download on iTunes in the US.

Single releases

The album's title track was the first single to be released, climbing to number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, and number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. Other singles from the album include "Days Like This," which reached No. 35 on the US R&B chart and No. 43 in the UK, and "101," which hit No. 54 in the UK and No. 2 on the US Dance chart. "101" was penned for Easton by Prince using the pseudonym Joey Coco, as was the album track "(Cool Love)." Another single, "No Deposit, No Return," was released in the US but did not chart.

"Follow My Rainbow" reached number 14 on the Dutch Single Top 100 and entered the top 40 in Belgium's Flanders region. The song is featured in the "Deliver Us from Evil" episode of Miami Vice, where Easton's character, Caitlin Davies-Crockett, performs it shortly before her character is killed off.

Album Breakdown:

Track List:

1 No Deposit, No Return Backing Vocals – Babyface, Karyn White, Sheena Easton

Co-producer – Kayo

Drums, Percussion – L.A. Reid

Keyboards – Babyface, Kayo

Producer – L.A. & Babyface

Written-By – Babyface, D. Simmons, Kayo , L.A. Reid

5:55

A2 The Lover In Me

Backing Vocals – Babyface, Daryl Simmons, Karyn White, Sheena Easton

Drums, Percussion – L.A. Reid

Keyboards – Babyface, Kayo

Producer – L.A. & Babyface

Saxophone [Solo] – Larry Williams

Written-By – Babyface, D. Simmons*, L.A. Reid

5:03

A3 Follow My Rainbow

Backing Vocals – Babyface, Sheena Easton

Bass – Kayo

Drums, Percussion – L.A. Reid

Keyboards – Babyface

Percussion – Daryl Simmons

Producer – L.A. & Babyface

Written-By – Babyface

4:55

A4 Without You

Backing Vocals – Timothy B. Schmit

Drums – John Robinson

Guitar – Danny Jacob, Tony Maiden

Keyboards, Percussion – Angela L. Winbush

Producer, Written-By – Angela L. Winbush

Sequenced By [Keyboard], Synthesizer [Additional], Percussion, Synthesizer [Solo], Synthesizer [Bass] – Jeff Lorber

5:37

A5 If It's Meant To Last

Backing Vocals – Alfa Anderson, Janice Pendarvis, Robin Clark

Drums – Jellybean

Guitar – Felicia Collins

Producer – Jellybean

Synthesizer – Dave Lebolt Ed Terry

Written-By – Allee Willis, Danny Sembello

4:07

B1 Days Like This

Backing Vocals – Babyface, Karyn White, Sheena Easton

Drums, Percussion – L.A. Reid

Keyboards – Babyface, Kayo

Producer – L.A. & Babyface

Written-By – L.A. Reid / Babyface

5:07

B2 One Love

Backing Vocals – Babyface, Dee Bristol, Sheena Easton

Drums, Percussion – L.A. Reid

Featuring, Rap [Deele Rap] – The Deele

Keyboards – Babyface, Kayo

Producer – L.A. & Babyface

Written-By – L.A. Reid / Babyface

4:54

B3 101

Producer – Prince

Written-By, Instruments [All] – Joey Coco

4:06

B4 Cool Love

Producer – Prince

Producer [Additional Production] – David Leonard

Remix – Csaba Petocz

Written-By, Instruments [All] – Joey Coco

4:03

B5 Fire And Rain

Backing Vocals – Angela L. Winbush, Sheena Easton

Drum Programming [Additional], Synthesizer – Jeff Lorber

Drum Programming, Synthesizer, Piano [Acoustic] – Angela L. Winbush

Guitar – Tony Maiden

Synthesizer, Percussion [Toms] – Rayford Griffin

Written-By, Producer – Angela L. Winbush

5:56

Licensed To – MCA Records Ltd.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – MCA Records, Inc.

Copyright © – MCA Records, Inc.

The album was also released on

Cassette Album (256 008-4):

A1 No Deposit, No Return

A2 The Lover In Me

A3 Follow My Rainbow

A4 Without You

A5 If It's Meant To Last

B1 Days Like This

B2 One Love

B3 101

B4 Cool Love

B5 Fire And Rain

Compact Disc Album (8DJL 420)

1 No Deposit, No Return

2 The Lover In Me

3 Follow My Rainbow

4 Without You

5 If It's Meant To Last

6 Days Like This

7 One Love

8 101

9 Cool Love

10 Fire And Rain

Do you have The Lover In Me in your vinyl stack? Which track loves you back? Share in the comments !

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTubeh