Everybody's Crazy

''Everybody's Crazy'' is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The album was released on March 15, 1985 by Columbia Records.

The lead guitarist on the album is Bruce Kulick, later of KISS fame. After Kulick left to join KISS in late 1984, Kevin Reye/Reyes (Black Sheep, Fortress, White Lie/TRIIX, Martial Law, Network, Power Squadron, Zodiac) replaced him on guitar for post album support and performed in the CBS/Columbia MTV video of the title track, produced and directed by Wayne Isham and Curt Marvis of the New Company. The title track was a minor hit on hard rock radio stations, and the MTV video of the title track was also featured in the 1986 Rodney Dangerfield movie ''Back to School''. The album was reissued overseas in the mid-1990s with a then-current photo of Bolton on the cover. It was reissued again on CD in the UK on February 25, 2008 by Rock Candy Records with a 12-page full colour booklet with original and new artwork.

Given the contrast in musical style between this album and the majority of Bolton's later (and more successful) musical output, songs from the album rarely appear on Bolton compilations. However, the title track was included on Bolton's entry in the ''Playlist'' series of Greatest Hits compilations.Michael Bolton - ''Playlist: The Very Best of Michael Bolton'' @AllMusic.com
Retrieved 6-12-2016.

Background

Producer Neil Kernon described how he became involved with the album: "Well, I got a call from Michael's manager asking me if I'd be interested. I'd heard 'Fools Game' Michael Bolton''] and liked that, so we met and hit it off straight away. Michael was one of the funniest people I've ever met." Kernon also said that later on, Bolton did not want to re-release ''Everybody's Crazy'' or his self titled 1983 album on CD for fear of confusing and alienating fans of his later adult contemporary music.Interview with the album's producer, Neil Kernon
Retrieved 12-02-2007.

Reception

In their retrospective review, AllMusic criticized ''Everybody's Crazy'' for muting Bolton's distinctive vocals, remarking that "much of the time he seemed to be fighting to be heard, and when he was, all he had was a mouthful of cliches to offer."

The album has an average rating of 88/100 on the hard rock/AOR database ''Heavy Harmonies''.Heavy Harmonies entry for ''Everybody's Crazy''
Retrieved 12-02-2007.

Track listing

Personnel

* Michael Bolton – lead vocals, backing vocals, additional guitars, arrangements (1, 3, 5)
* Randy Goodrum – keyboards, synthesizer programming, drum programming, backing vocals (all on 6 only)
* Larry Fast – synthesizer programming
* Lloyd Landesman – keyboards
* Mark Mangold – keyboards, arrangements (1, 3, 5)
* Jan Mullaney – keyboards
* Mark Radice – keyboards
* Allan St. John – keyboards
* Doug Katsaros – additional keyboards
* Neil Kernon – additional keyboards
* Bruce Kulick – lead guitars (1-5, 7-9)
* Kevin Dukes – guitars (6)
* Paul Pesco – additional guitars (6)
* Dennis Feldman – bass, backing vocals
* Schuyler Deale – additional bass
* Chuck Burgi – drums (uncredited on the original release, but credited in the reissue)
* Mark Rivera – saxophones
* Terry Brock – backing vocals
* Peppy Castro – backing vocals
* Joe Cerisano – backing vocals

Production

* Producers – Neil Kernon (tracks 1–5, 7, 8 & 9); Randy Goodrum (track 6)
* Co-producer – Michael Bolton (tracks 1–5, 7, 8 & 9)
* Executive producer – Louis Levin
* Engineers – John Abbey, Bruce Buchalter, Bobby Cohen, John Davenport, Neil Kernon, Bruce Lampcov, Andrew Milano and Malcolm Pollack.
* Additional engineer on track 6 – Larold Rebhun
* Assistant engineers on track 6 – Michael Sommers-Abbott and Paul Ericksen.
* Recorded at The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios and Delta Recording Studios (New York, NY).
* Additional overdubs on track 6 engineered by Jay Graydon at Garden Rake Studios (Sherman Oaks, CA).
* Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 & 9 mixed by Neil Kernon.
* Track 4 mixed by Bobby Cohen, Jan Mullaney and Michael Bolton at The Hit Factory (New York, NY).
* Track 6 mixed by Elliot Scheiner at Soundcastle (Los Angeles, CA).
* Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk (New York, NY).
* Studio maintenance – Bruce Friedman
* Direction – Louis Levin, in association with David Krebs and Steve Leber for Contemporary Communications Corporation
* Photography – Randee St. Nicholas
* Stylist – Fleur Thiemeyer

Music videos

Cover versions

* Starship covered "Desperate Heart" for their 1985 album ''Knee Deep in the Hoopla''.
* Jennifer Rush covered "Call My Name" (with slightly altered lyrics, thus earning Rush a co-writing credit on her version) for her 1987 album '' Heart Over Mind''.

Charts

References

External links

''Everybody's Crazy''
at Discogs

{{Authority control

Michael Bolton albums
1985 albums
Albums produced by Neil Kernon
Columbia Records albums