Gemini (El DeBarge album)
| Gemini | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 20, 1989 | |||
| Recorded | 1988–1989 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||
| Length | 41:39 | |||
| Label | Motown Records | |||
| Producer | El Debarge (tracks 1–6, 9 & 10), Jay Graydon (tracks 7 & 8) and Gardner Cole (track 8) | |||
| El DeBarge chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Hi-Fi News & Record Review | A:1*[1] |
| Los Angeles Times |   [2] |
| Tom Hull – on the Web | B[3] |
| Allmusic | [4] |
| The Village Voice | B+[5] |
Gemini is the second album by American R&B singer El DeBarge released in 1989 on Motown Records. The album peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums charts.[6][7]
Overview
The lead single, "Real Love", reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart,[8] as well No. 11 on the Billboard Dance Single Sales chart, and No. 14 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart.[9][10] A second single, "Somebody Loves You", reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[11]
Critical reception
Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times, in a 3/5 stars review remarked, "If we pray together, maybe we can stay together,” El DeBarge earnestly sings on one track in a manner that recalls Marvin Gaye’s classic “What’s Going On.” The Gaye influence has always been obvious in this singer-songwriter’s music, and “Gemini” sounds like Gaye-meets-Guy."[2]
Jason Elias of Allmusic praised the album saying, "El DeBarge's first solo effort failed to lure the pop audience and left many R&B fans disenchanted. Gemini, released three years later, comes close to achieving the singer's potential as a solo artist. Since Gemini is mostly a self-production, it bares El's harmonic imprint and is more adventurous than many of the R&B albums released around the same time."[4]
Robert Christgau of the Village Voice called Gemini, "Just good black music, ancient to the future, all jumping rhythms and space-case melody, less catchy song than gorgeous sound."[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Real Love" | El DeBarge, Darryl DeBarge | 4:08 |
| 2. | "Cross My Heart" | E. DeBarge, D. DeBarge | 6:12 |
| 3. | "Somebody Loves You" | E. DeBarge, D. DeBarge | 5:06 |
| 4. | "Broken Dreams" | E. DeBarge, D. DeBarge, Tony Radic | 3:59 |
| 5. | "Broken Dreams (reprise)" | E. DeBarge, D. DeBarge, Radic | 1:52 |
| 6. | "Turn The Page" | E. DeBarge, D. DeBarge | 5:02 |
| 7. | "After You" | Jay Graydon, Clif Magness, Glen Ballard | 4:26 |
| 8. | "Love Life" | Graydon, Gardner Cole | 4:20 |
| 9. | "Think About It" | E. DeBarge, D. DeBarge, Radic | 1:19 |
| 10. | "Make You Mine" | E. DeBarge, D. DeBarge | 4:24 |
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums | 35[7] |
References
- ^ Dellar, Fred (September 1989). "Review: El DeBarge — Gemini" (PDF). Hi-Fi News & Record Review (magazine). Vol. 34, no. 9. Croydon: Link House Magazines Ltd. p. 101. ISSN 0142-6230. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b Johnson, Connie (June 4, 1989). "EL DEBARGE "Gemini." Motown". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Hull, Tom (April 19, 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Elias, Jason. "El DeBarge - Gemini". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (June 27, 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ El DeBarge (1989). Gemini (album). Motown Records.
- ^ a b "El DeBarge: Gemini (Top R&B Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ "El DeBarge: Real Love (Hot R&B Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ "El DeBarge: Real Love (Dance Single Sales)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ "El DeBarge: Real Love (Dance Club Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ "El DeBarge: Somebody Loves You (Hot R&B Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.