Energy (Pointer Sisters album)

Energy
Studio album by
the Pointer Sisters
ReleasedOctober 24, 1978
StudioStudio 55
(Los Angeles, California)
GenreR&B, rock, soul
LabelPlanet
ProducerRichard Perry
The Pointer Sisters chronology
Having a Party
(1977) 		Energy
(1978) 		Priority
(1979)
Singles from Energy
  1. "Fire"
    Released: October 2, 1978
  2. "Happiness"
    Released: March 1979

Energy is the fifth studio album by the Pointer Sisters, released in 1978 on the Planet label.

History

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After a brief split following sister Bonnie's departure from the group, a musically reinvented and recharged Pointer Sisters returned composed of Ruth, Anita and June. Their first album for Planet, this was also the first album produced by Richard Perry. The record spawned a number two pop smash (and gold-certified single) with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire". "Happiness" also scored on the US pop Top 40.

Energy became the group's first gold-certified release since 1974's That's a Plenty. The album was remastered and issued on CD with bonus tracks in 2009 by Wounded Bird Records.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]
Smash Hits6/10[4]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide praised "Fire" as an "absolute killer single."[3]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lay It on the Line"Patrick Henderson, Wornell Jones3:16
2."Dirty Work"Walter Becker, Donald Fagen3:33
3."Hypnotized"Bob Welch5:02
4."As I Come of Age"Stephen Stills2:42
5."Come and Get Your Love"Russ Ballard3:40
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Happiness"Allen Toussaint4:19
7."Fire"Bruce Springsteen3:41
8."Angry Eyes"Ken Loggins, Jim Messina2:42
9."Echoes of Love"Patrick Simmons, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle3:06
10."Everybody Is a Star"Sylvester Stewart3:15
2009 remastered bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Love Is Like a Rolling Stone"Jean Anne Chapman, Brian Cadd3:34
12."If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady" (Dance Mix)John Lewis Parker, Brian Potter6:09
13."Happiness" (12" Version) 5:47

Personnel

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The Pointer Sisters

  • Anita Pointer – lead vocals (2–4, 7, 9, 10), backing vocals, tambourine (5)
  • Ruth Pointer – lead vocals (3–5, 10), backing vocals
  • June Pointer – lead vocals (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10), backing vocals

Musicians

  • David Paich – acoustic piano (1, 4, 6), electric piano (2, 3, 5, 10), organ (7), high piano (7)
  • James Newton Howard – Hohner clavinet (3), synthesizers (3, 6, 9, 10), electric piano (4)
  • Steve Porcaro – organ (4), synthesizers (9)
  • Jimmy Phillips – organ (5), synthesizers (5), acoustic piano (8), organ (8)
  • Jai Winding – acoustic piano (7)
  • Danny Kortchmar – rhythm guitar (1, 5), electric guitar (3, 4), guitar (8, 10)
  • Waddy Wachtel – lead guitar (1, 4, 5), electric guitar (2), slide guitar (3), guitar (6, 10)
  • Fred Tackett – acoustic guitar (2), guitar (6, 8), rhythm guitar (9)
  • Randy Bachman – acoustic guitar (3)
  • Davey Johnstone – slide guitar (5), guitar (7), lead guitar (9)
  • David Hungate – bass (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10)
  • Eddie Watkins Jr. – bass (3)
  • Mike Porcaro – bass (4)
  • Gerald Johnson – bass (7)
  • Abraham Laboriel – bass (9)
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums (1, 3–6, 9, 10)
  • Rick Jaeger – drums (2, 7)
  • Mike Baird – drums (8)
  • Lenny Castro – percussion (1, 9), tambourine (7)
  • Richard Perry – percussion (8)
  • Bryan Cumming – saxophone solo (2)

Production

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  • Richard Perry – producer
  • Dennis Kirk – recording engineer
  • Bill Schnee – remix engineer
  • Gabe Veltri – assistant engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering engineer at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Robin Rinehart – production coordinator
  • Kathleen Carey – song coordinator
  • Marylin Vance – fashion coordinator
  • Kosh – design, art direction
  • James M. Shea – photography

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for Energy
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[12] Platinum 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[13] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Hanson, Amy. Energy review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 550.
  4. ^ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (February 22 - March 7, 1979): 25.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pointer Sisters – Energy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  7. ^ "Charts.nz – Pointer Sisters – Energy". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Pointer Sisters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "The Pointer Sisters Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  10. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1979". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  11. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  12. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Pointer Sisters – Energy". Music Canada. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Pointer Sisters – Energy" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved December 26, 2019. Enter Energy in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1980 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  14. ^ "American album certifications – Pointer Sisters – Energy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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