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Emotional
Studio album by Jeffrey Osborne
Released	May 27, 1986
Recorded	1985–1986
Length	44:18
Label	A&M
Producer	T.C. Campbell George Duke Michael Masser Frank Musker Jeffrey Osborne Richard Perry Hamish Stuart Rod Temperton
Jeffrey Osborne chronology
Don't Stop (1984) Emotional (1986) One Love – One Dream (1988)

Emotional is the fourth album by American singer Jeffrey Osborne. It was released by A&M Records on May 27, 1986. Produced by Osborne, Rod Temperton, Richard Perry, T. C. Campbell, Michael Masser, and George Duke, Emotional reached number five on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart and number 27 on the Billboard 200. It spawned one of Osborne's biggest pop hits, "You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song)" which peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Other tracks that charted include "In Your Eyes", "Soweto", and "Room with a View."

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Village Voice	B

AllMusic editor Jason Elias, who had praised previous albums by Osborne, called it "quite a disappointment" and "not exactly a work of cohesion." He found that Emotional "is overly slick with poor song choices and barely there vocals" and compared it to Whitney Houston's early material "with its use of multiple producers and pop material." Connie Johnson from Los Angeles Times felt that "while lacking a blockbuster this album is well-balanced in its blend of exuberant, up-tempo cuts and heart-rending love songs. Simplicity would have gotten the point across far better. Still, in his bid for a broader audience, Osborne hasn’t sacrificed all of the soul basics."

Track listing

Personnel

Performers and Musicians

• Jeffrey Osborne – lead and backing vocals, handclaps (1), percussion (9)
• Bobby Lyle – keyboards (1), handclaps (1)
• T.C. Campbell – keyboard solo (1), keyboards (3, 6, 9, 10), synthesizers (10)
• Andy Goldmark – synthesizers (2), drum programming (2)
• Bruce Roberts – synthesizers (2), drum programming (2)
• Robbie Buchanan – additional synthesizers (2), electric piano (4)
• Jeff Lorber – additional synthesizers (2), synth solo (7), guitar (7), drum programming (7)
• Hamish Stuart – keyboards (3), synth solo (3), guitar solo (3), backing vocals (3)
• Bob Moore – keyboards (3)
• Randy Kerber – acoustic piano (4)
• Bill Payne – acoustic piano (5)
• David Tyson – synthesizers (5), drum programming (5)
• Steve George – additional synthesizers (5)
• Howie Rice – additional synthesizers (5)
• Steve Mitchell – additional synthesizers (5), synthesizers (7), drum programming (7)
• George Duke – Yamaha DX7 (8), Synclavier (8)
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1, 2, 4, 9)
• Dann Huff – guitar (2, 5)
• Charles Fearing – guitar (5, 6)
• Chuck Gentry – guitar (8)
• Maitland Ward – guitar (9, 10)
• Freddie Washington – bass (1), handclaps (1)
• Nathan East – bass (4, 5, 7)
• Byron Miller – bass (10)
• John Robinson – drums (1, 2, 4, 6, 8), handclaps (1), brushes (9), tom-tom fills (9)
• Ricky Lawson – drums (3, 9, 10)
• Paul Fox – drum programming (5)
• Eddie Schwartz – drum programming (5)
• Rod Temperton – Roland TR-808 (1), handclaps (1)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (2, 5, 7)
• Michael Masser – arrangements (4)
• Gene Page – arrangements (4)
• Alex Brown – backing vocals (1, 2, 10)
• Portia Griffin – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 8, 10), lead vocals (6)
• Joyce Kennedy – backing vocals (1)
• Marcy Levy – backing vocals (1)
• Vesta Williams – backing vocals (1)
• Bunny Hall – backing vocals (2)
• Stephanie Spurill – backing vocals (2)
• Yolanda Davis – backing vocals (3, 6, 10)
• Kevin Dorsey – backing vocals (3)
• Lynette Hawkins – backing vocals (5, 7)
• Tramaine Hawkins – backing vocals (5, 7)
• Michelle Jordan – backing vocals (5)
• Jeanie Tracy – backing vocals (5, 7)
• Walter Hawkins – backing vocals (7)
• Lynn Davis – backing vocals (8)
• Marta Woodhull – children's choir director on "Soweto"
• Children's choir on "Soweto" – Monica Calhan, David Chan, Kelly Chan, Kristina Chan, Susan Guzman, Michelle Poston, Becky Ramirez, Jessica Robertson, Teri Robin, Andrea Scott, Tasha Scott, Veronique Vicari, Angela White and Christopher White

Production and Technical

• Jeffrey Osborne – producer (1, 3, 6, 9, 10)
• Rod Temperton – producer (1)
• Richard Perry – producer (2, 5, 7)
• Andy Goldmark – co-producer (2)
• Bruce Roberts – co-producer (2)
• Frank Musker – co-producer (3)
• Hamish Stuart – co-producer (3)
• Michael Masser – producer (4)
• T.C. Campbell – producer (6, 9, 10)
• George Duke – producer (8)
• Bradford Rosenberger – production coordinator (2, 5, 7)
• Alice Murrell – production assistant (8)
• Thaddeus Edwards – album production assistant
• Tommy Vicari – recording (1, 3, 6, 9, 10), mixing (1, 3, 4, 6, 8–10), remix engineer (2, 5, 7)
• John Boghosian – recording (2, 5, 7)
• Michael Brooks – recording (2, 5, 7)
• Phil Moores – recording (3)
• Dean Burt – recording (4)
• Michael Mancini – recording (4)
• Erik Zobler – recording (8)
• Larry Ferguson – additional engineer (1, 3, 6, 9, 10)
• Khaliq Glover – additional engineer (1, 3, 6, 9, 10)
• David Luke – additional engineer (1, 2, 3, 5, 7)
• Sharon Rice – additional engineer (1, 9, 10)
• Wally Buck – additional engineer (2, 5, 7)
• Glen Holguin – additional engineer (2, 5, 7), assistant engineer (2, 5, 7)
• Jay Rifkin – additional engineer (2, 5, 7)
• Ernie Sheesley – additional engineer (2, 5, 7)
• Laura Livingston – additional engineer (6)
• Ken Fowler – additional engineer (9)
• Julie Last – assistant engineer (2, 5, 7)
• Craig Miller – assistant engineer (2, 5, 7)
• Mitch Gibson – assistant engineer (8)
• Ralph Sutton – mix assistant (4)
• Mixbusters – album remixing
• Brian Gardner – mastering
• Chuck Beeson – art direction, design
• Bonnie Schiffman – photography
• Ton Sur Ton – wardrobe
• Jack Nelson & Associates – management

Studios

• Recorded at Lion Share Recording Studio, The Complex, Studio 55 and Record One (Los Angeles, CA); Fantasy Studios (Berkeley, CA); Music Grinder Studios, Baby'O Recorders and Le Gonks West (Hollywood, CA); Devonshire Sound Studios (North Hollywood, CA); The Hit Factory (New York, NY).
• Track 8 mixed at Lion Share Recording Studio.
• Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).

Charts

Certifications

References

1. ^ Elias, Jason. Emotional - Review. Allmusic.com
2. Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Album Jeffrey Osborne: Emotional". robertchristgau.com. Village Voice.
3. Johnson, Connie (June 1, 1986). "MR. OSBORNE CARVES OUT A SOULFUL NICHE". Los Angeles Times.
4. "Jeffrey Osborne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
5. "Jeffrey Osborne Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
6. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
7. "American album certifications – Jeffrey Osborne – Emotional". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 18, 2021.

• 1986 albums
• Jeffrey Osborne albums
• A&M Records albums
• Albums produced by George Duke
• Albums produced by Richard Perry
• Albums produced by Rod Temperton
• Albums produced by Michael Masser