Hero (Clarence Clemons album)

Hero
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 8, 1985
RecordedMarch−August 1985
StudioTarpan Studios (San Rafael, CA)
GenrePop
Length41:56
LabelColumbia/CBS Records
ProducerNarada Michael Walden
Michael Jonzun
Arthur Baker
Morrie Brown
Clarence Clemons chronology
The Chief
(1984)
Hero
(1985)
A Night With Mr. C
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Hero is a studio album by Clarence Clemons. Known for his saxophone work with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Clemons released this pop album at the height of Springsteen's popularity following the success of Born in the U.S.A. It spawned two hit singles, 1985's "You're a Friend of Mine", a duet with Jackson Browne also featuring Browne's then-girlfriend Daryl Hannah on background vocals, and 1986's "I Wanna Be Your Hero".

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You're a Friend of Mine"Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen4:49
2."Temptation"Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen4:53
3."It's Alright With Me Girl"Clarence Clemons, Michael Jonzun4:08
4."Liberation Fire (Mokshagun)"Narada Michael Walden3:59
5."The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio4:26
6."I Wanna Be Your Hero"Clarence Clemons, Jeffrey Cohen, Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden4:49
7."Cross The Line"Morrie Brown, Clarence Clemons, Jude Johnstone, Lloyd Landesman3:59
8."Kissin' On U"Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen5:13
9."Christina"Narada Michael Walden, Jeffrey Cohen5:51
Total length:41:56

Charts

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Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report) 55[2]

Personnel

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  • Clarence Clemons[a] – saxophone, lead vocals (1-3, 6, 8), backing vocals (3, 7, 9), vocals (5), lead rap (8)
  • David Sancious – keyboards (1, 2, 6, 9)
  • Preston Glass – additional keyboards (1, 2, 6), vibraphone (4), keyboard vibes (8), keyboards (9), acoustic guitar (9)
  • Booker T. Jonesorgan (1, 2, 6, 9)
  • Michael Jonzun – keyboards (3), synthesizer programming (3), drums (3), marimba (3), backing vocals (3)
  • Gordon Worthy – Hammond B3 organ (3)
  • Frank Martin – keyboards (4)
  • Richard Scher – keyboards (5)
  • Lloyd Landesman – keyboards (7), LinnDrum programming (7), backing vocals (7)
  • Walter Afanasieff – keyboards (8), keyboard bass sequencer (8), sound effects (8)
  • Corrado Rustici – guitars (1, 2, 4, 8), electric guitars (9)
  • Billy Loosigian – lead guitar (3), acoustic guitar (3)
  • Tony "Rocks" Cowans – rhythm guitar (3)
  • Carlos Pepper – rhythm guitar (3)
  • Lewis West – rhythm guitar (3)
  • Vernon "Ice" Black – guitars (4)
  • Stuart Kimball – guitars (5)
  • Bobby Messano – guitars (7)
  • Randy Jackson – bass (1, 2, 4, 6, 9), electric bass (8), drums (9), percussion (9)
  • Maurice Starr – bass (3)
  • Doug Wimbish – bass (5)
  • John Siegler – bass (7)
  • Narada Michael Walden – drums (1, 2, 4, 6, 8), percussion (1, 2, 6, 8), church bells (1), keyboards (4)
  • Billy Beard – drums (5)
  • Anton Fig – drums (7)
  • Greg "Gigi" Gonawayglockenspiel (1), electronic percussion (8)
  • Bill Sebastian – glockenspiel (3)
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion (5)
  • Premik McFly – baritone saxophone (1)
  • Michael Rado – harp (1)
  • David Frazer – sound effects (8)
  • Stuart "Satoshi" Hirotsu – sound effects (8)
  • Jackson Browne – lead vocals (1)
  • Daryl Hannah – backing vocals (1)
  • Craig Thomas – backing vocals (1, 7, 9), additional vocals (2, 6), additional saxophone (4), lead vocals (7, 9)
  • Hangsa – backing vocals (1)
  • Sundan – backing vocals (1)
  • Princess Loria – backing vocals (3)
  • Charles Robins – backing vocals (3)
  • Richard "Hock" Walsh – backing vocals (3)
  • Mark Weiner – spiritual advisor (3)
  • Darlene Love – vocals (5)
  • Tina B. – backing vocals (5)
  • Lotti Golden – backing vocals (5)
  • B.J. Nelson – backing vocals (5)
  • Norman Mershon – backing vocals (7)
  • Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals (8)
  • Jennifer Hall – backing vocals (8)
  • Liz Jackson – backing vocals (8)

Production

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  • Narada Michael Walden – producer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9), arrangements (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9), reducing (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Michael Jonzun – producer (3), arrangements (3), engineer (3)
  • Gordon Worthy – associate producer (3)
  • Arthur Baker – producer (5)
  • Morrie Brown – producer (7), arrangements (7)
  • Lloyd Landesman - co-producer (7), arrangements (7)
  • Michael H. Brauer – chief engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • David Frazer – chief engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Sidney Burton – engineer (3)
  • Frank Heller – engineer (3)
  • Tom Moore – engineer (3)
  • Ed Stasium – mix engineer (3)
  • Alvin Meyerson – engineer (5)
  • Rob Taustin – engineer (5)
  • Andy Wallace – engineer (5)
  • Tom Lord-Alge – mixing (5)
  • Steve Goldman – engineer (7)
  • Dana Jon Chappelle – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Tim Hatfield – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Stuart "Satoshi" Hirotsu – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Michael Hommel – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Geoff Keehn – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Gordon Lyon – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Arthur Payson – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • Scott Yetka – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9)
  • George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
  • Clarence Clemons – cover concept
  • Caroline Greyshock – photography
  • Christopher Austopchuk – art direction

Notes

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  1. ^ The album's liner notes credit Clemons' performing and songwriting to "Mokshagun Clarence Clemons";[3] Mokshagun is a spiritual name given to Clemons by Sri Chinmoy.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 66. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ Hero at Discogs
  4. ^ Clarence Clemons and Don Reo. Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales. Grand Central Publishing, 2009. p. 104. ISBN 9780446558242
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