Paula Abdul › Forever Your Girl

Personnel: Paula Abdul (vocals); Oliver Leiber (guitar, keyboards, programming); Dave Cochrane (guitar, background vocals); Bobby Gonzales, Basil Fung, Dann Huff, Bob Somma (guitar); Troy Williams, Eddie M. (saxophone); St. Paul (keyboards, organ, bass); Jesse Johnson (keyboards, drums); Ricky P. (keyboards); Jeff Lorber (keyboards, programming); Babyface (keyboards, background vocals); Elliot Wolff (synthesizer, programming); Kayo (synthesizer); Curtis Williams (programming, background vocals); L.A. Reid, Chuck Wild, Glen Ballard (drums, programming); Randy Weber (programming); Pebbles, The Wild Pair, Yvette Marine, Darryl Simmons, Patti Brooks, Angel Rogers, Tami Day, Lucia Newell, Delissa Davis, Evelyn Halus, Jimmy Demers (background vocals).

Producers include: L.A. Reid, Babyface, Glen Ballard, Jesse Johnson, Dave Cochrane.

Personnel: Paula Abdul (vocals, background vocals); Wild Pair (vocals, background vocals); Oliver Leiber (guitar, keyboards, programming, drum programming); Dave Cochran (guitar, background vocals); Dann Huff, David Cochrane, Basil Fung, Bob Somma, Bobby Gonzales (guitar); Eddie M., Troy Williams (saxophone); St. Paul (organ, keyboards, vocoder); Jesse Johnson (keyboards, drums); Jeff Lorber (keyboards, drum programming); Babyface (keyboards, background vocals); Ricky P. (keyboards); Kayo (synthesizer, bass synthesizer); Elliot Wolff (synthesizer, programming, drum programming); Curtis "Fitz" Williams (synthesizer, programming, background vocals); Randy Weber (synthesizer, programming); Chuck Wild, Glen Ballard (drums, programming); L.A. Reid (drums, percussion programming); Daryl Simmons, Lucia Newell, Delissa Davis, Yvette Marine, Jimmy Demers, Evelyn Halus, Tami Day, Pattie Brooks, Pebbles, Angel Rogers (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Keith "KC" Cohen; Francis Buckley; Jon Gass; Tim Jaquette.

Recording information: Creation Audio, Minneapolis, MN; JHL Studio, Palasades, CA; Kren Studio, Hollywood, CA; Silverlake Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Studios Masters & Silverlake, Hollywood, CA.

Arrangers: Elliot Wolff; Curtis "Fitz" Williams; St. Paul; Oliver Leiber.

Although it had a slow build to number one, Paula Abdul's debut album eventually dominated the airwaves and MTV in the late 1980s, and made former dancer and Lakers Girl Paula Abdul a household name. An appealing mix of street-smarts, pixie cuteness, and sensuality established Abdul as a girl-next-door type for the hip-hop generation, and her catchy dance hits exemplified the pop-R&B production standards of the day.

The album spawned four Top Ten hits, including the cute and funky "Opposites Attract," the tough yet vulnerable "Straight Up," and the sugary title track. Two additional singles from the album charted, and by the end of 1989, Paula Abdul was a bona fide star.

Genre:

• Dance

Music Categories:

• R&B: Dance