''Kiss Me with the Wind'' is the fifth studio album by the American singer/songwriter

Brenda Russell Brenda Russell (née Gordon; born April 8, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical range which encompasses Rhythm and blues, R&B, pop music, pop, soul music, soul, dance music, dance, and ...

, released in August 1990 on

A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...

Album history

After the success of her fourth album, ''

Get Here "Get Here" is a ballad written by American singer and songwriter Brenda Russell. The title track of her fourth studio album, '' Get Here'' (1988), it became a moderate hit on the US ''Billboard'' R&B chart after the album's successful first hi ...

'' (1988), Russell collaborated again with a variety of different producers and songwriters. Taking more of a dance-oriented slant than her previous album, Russell worked with the famed songwriter/producer

Narada Michael Walden Narada Michael Walden ( ; Michael Walden; born April 23, 1952) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He acquired the nickname Narada from Sri Chinmoy. He began his career as a drummer, working primarily in the jazz ...

, who co-wrote and produced two tracks for the album with her, including the title track and "Stop Running Away", both of which were released as singles. Also included on the album is Russell's own version of " Dinner with Gershwin", a track that Russell had written years earlier and given to

Donna Summer Donna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music ...

who had a hit with it in 1987 (Russell had co-produced Summer's version with

Richard Perry Richard Van Perry (June 18, 1942 – December 24, 2024) was an American record producer. He began his musical career as a performer while attending Poly Prep, his high school in Brooklyn. After graduating from college he rose through the late ...

Track listing

# "Kiss Me with the Wind" (Brenda Russell,

) – 4:29 # "Stupid Love" (Brenda Russell) – 3:47 # "All American" (Brenda Russell, Sharon Robinson) – 4:16 # "Stop Running Away" (Brenda Russell, Narada Michael Walden) – 5:25 # "Waiting for You" (Brenda Russell) – 5:18 # "Justice in Truth" (

Matthew Wilder Matthew Wilder ( Weiner; January 24, 1953) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his 1983 hit single " Break My Stride", which hit No. 2 on the '' Cashbox'' chart and No. 5 on the ''Billboard'' Ho ...

, Brenda Russell) – 4:21 # " Dinner with Gershwin" (Brenda Russell) – 4:33 # "Good for Love" (

Larry Williams Lawrence Eugene Williams (May 10, 1935 – January 7, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, and pianist from New Orleans. He is best known for writing and recording some rock and roll classics from 1957 to ...

, Brenda Russell) – 5:22 # "Night Train to Leningrad" (Brenda Russell) – 5:11 # "Drive My Car ('Til Sunset)" (Paul Chiten, Brenda Russell) – 4:50 # "On Your Side" (Brenda Russell) – 3:54

Personnel

Musicians

* Brenda Russell – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5–8, 10, 11), arrangements (2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11), synthesizers (2, 5, 7, 9, 11), synthesizer programming (2), drums (5, 7, 9, 11), drum programming (5, 7, 9, 11), percussion (9) *

Louis Biancaniello Louis John Biancaniello is an American songwriter and record producer. Career Biancaniello's skills were developed while working alongside producer Narada Michael Walden with whom he produced hits for Shanice '' I Love Your Smile'', Whitney H ...

– rhythm arrangements (1), synthesizers (1), keyboards (1), rhythm programming (1), drum programming (1) *

– rhythm arrangements (1), synth bass (1), percussion (1), acoustic piano (4), hi-hat (4), cymbal (4) *

Ren Klyce Ren Klyce is a Japanese-American sound designer and sound mixer. Career He has been nominated for nine Academy Awards; six for Best Sound and three for Best Sound Editing. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with director David F ...

– Fairlight programming (1, 4) * Don Boyett – synth bass (2), bass programming (2) *

Kurt Farquhar Kurt Farquhar is a Los Angeles–based television and film composer. Farquhar is a ten-time BMI award winner, including three for '' The Neighborhood'', four for ''The King of Queens'' one for '' The Game'' and two for '' Being Mary Jane''. He ...

– synthesizer programming (2), synthesizer programming (2) * Winston Johnson – Synclavier programming (2, 5, 7, 9, 10), special effects (9) * Sharon Robinson – arrangements (3), synthesizers (3), drums (3), drum programming (3), backing vocals (3, 5, 10) * Sam Ward – additional synthesizer sounds (3, 6, 11) *

Walter Afanasieff Walter Afanasieff (born Vladimir Nikitich Afanasyev; February 10, 1958), formerly nicknamed Baby Love in the 1980s, is an American record producer and songwriter. He was a frequent collaborator of Mariah Carey on her first six studio albums. Af ...

– keyboards (4), synthesizers (4), synth bass (4), drum programming (4) * Eric Daniels – synth bass (4) *

– additional synthesizers (5, 9), arrangements (8), synthesizers (8), synthesizer programming (8), synth bass (8), sax solo (8) *

– arrangements (6), synthesizers (6), drums (6), drum programming (6) *

Greg Phillinganes Gregory Arthur Phillinganes (born May 12, 1956) is an American keyboardist, vocalist, and arranger. A session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums over a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with artists includin ...

–

Rhodes piano The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, th ...

(6), acoustic piano (7), synth bass (7) *

William "Smitty" Smith William Daniel "Smitty" Smith (August 30, 1944 – November 28, 1997) was a Canadian keyboardist and session musician. Background He had been playing together with Steve Kennedy, Eric Mercury, Eric "Mouse" Johnson, Terry Logan and Diane Brook ...

–

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

(7) * Paul Chiten – arrangements (10), synthesizers (10), drums (10), drum programming (10) *

Russell Ferrante Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion band founded in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. History In 1977, guitarist Robben Ford, for his first solo album, recruited keyboardist Russell Ferrante, electric bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer ...

– acoustic piano (11) *

Ray Obiedo Ray Obiedo (born January 27, 1952, in Richmond, California) is an American contemporary jazz guitarist. Obiedo grew up in Richmond, California, and began playing guitar at age 16. Initially he played both jazz and R&B. Ray has appeared on records ...

– rhythm guitar (1) *

Don Griffin Donald Frederick Griffin (born March 17, 1964) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Griffin was selec ...

– guitars (2, 3) *

Dean Parks Weldon Dean Parks (born December 6, 1946) is an American session guitarist and record producer from Fort Worth, Texas. Parks has one Grammy nomination. Albums Parks was member of the North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band before moving to Los A ...

– lead guitar (3) *

Earl Klugh Earl Klugh ( ; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. He has won one Grammy Award and received 13 nominations. Biography At the age of six, Klugh commenced training on the piano until he switched to the guitar ...

– acoustic guitar (5, 10) * Michael Thompson – guitars (8) * Bill Sharpe – additional electric bass (8) *

Jimmy Haslip James Robert Haslip (born December 31, 1951) is an American bass guitarist who was a founding member of the jazz fusion group the Yellowjackets, which he left in 2012. He was also an early user of the five-string electric bass. Early life and ...

– bass (11) *

Jeff Porcaro Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro (April 1, 1954 – August 5, 1992) was an American drummer. He is best known for being the co-founder and drummer of the rock band Toto, but is also one of the most recorded session musicians in history, working on hundr ...

– drums (6, 11) * John Robinson – drums (8) * Paul Rekow – percussion (4) *

Lenny Castro Lenny Castro (born September 19, 1956) is an American percussionist from the Los Angeles area. He is one of the most prolific percussionists of all time, appearing on hundreds of albums, including those by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele, Maroon ...

– percussion (5, 10) *

Luis Conte Luis Conte (born 16 November 1954) is a Cuban percussionist best known for his performances in the bands of artists including James Taylor, Madonna, Pat Metheny Group, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart and Shakira. He began ...

– percussion (8) *

Aaron Zigman Aaron Zigman (born January 6, 1963) is a classically trained American composer, producer, arranger, songwriter, and musician who has scored music for films including '' The Notebook'', '' The Company Men'', '' Bridge to Terabithia'', '' John Q. ...

– additional percussion (8) *

Bill Reichenbach Jr. William Frank Reichenbach Jr. (born November 30, 1949) is an American jazz trombonist and composer. He is the son of Bill Reichenbach, who was the drummer for Charlie Byrd from 1962 to 1973. He is best known as a session musician for television, ...

–

euphonium The euphonium ( ; ; ) is a tenor- and baritone-voiced valved brass instrument. The euphonium is a member of the large family of valved bugles, along with the tuba and flugelhorn, characterised by a wide conical bore. Most instruments have thr ...

(9) * Ronald B. Cooper – cello (9) * Andre Fischer – arrangements (2), rap (2) *

Philip Bailey Philip James Bailey (born May 8, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers (along with group founder Maurice White) of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his fo ...

– backing vocals (3) *

James Ingram James Edward Ingram (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He was a two-time Grammy Award-winner and a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song. After beginning his career ...

– backing vocals (3) *

Phil Perry Philip Eugene Perry (born January 12, 1952) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, musician and a former member of the soul group, The Montclairs, from 1971 to 1975. He was also known for performing the opening song to Disney� ...

– backing vocals (3) * Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals (4) * Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals (3) * Annie Stocking – backing vocals (4) * Tina Thompson – backing vocals (4) *

Maxayn Lewis Maxayn Lewis is an American soul singer, musician, songwriter, and producer. She began her career in the 1960s, under her birth name Paulette Parker, as member of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In the 1970s, Lewis sang lead in the ba ...

– backing vocals (5, 10) * Petsye Powell – backing vocals (5, 10) * The Sandra Crouch Singers – choir (11)

Production

* Producers – Brenda Russell (Tracks 1–11); Narada Michael Walden (Tracks 1 & 4); Andre Fischer (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11); Larry Williams (Track 8). * Executive Producers – Brenda Russell and Eric Borenstein * Production Coordination – Frank DeCaro (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11); Erik Hanson (Track 8). * Engineers – David Frazer (Tracks 1 & 4); Jeffrey Woodruff (Track 2);

Mick Guzauski Nathan "Mick" Guzauski is an American multi-platinum mixing engineer and sound engineer. He has nine Grammy Awards and eleven nominations. His work spans a wide range of styles, including jazz, R&B, Latin, rock, pop, easy listening, funk and ...

(Tracks 3, 6 & 11); Steve Sykes (Track 5); Richard McKernan (Tracks 7–10). * Assistant Engineers – Dana Jon Chappelle and Marc Reyburn (Track 1 & 4); Ric Butz (Tracks 2 & 5); Steve Montgomery (Tracks 2, 5, 7 & 9); Scott Gordon (Tracks 3, 6 & 11); Mark Hagen (Tracks 3, 7, 9 & 11); Stacy Baird (Track 11). * Additional Recording – Richard McKernan (Tracks 2 & 5); Steve Sykes (Track 2); Doug Rider (Track 5); Tony Phillipps, Larry Williams and Joe Wolpert (Track 8); Jeffrey Woodruff (Track 9). * Mixing – David Frazer (Tracks 1 & 4); Jeffrey Woodruff (Track 2); Mick Guzauski (Tracks 3, 5, 6, 10 & 11);

Brian Malouf Brian Malouf (born September 8, 1955) is an American producer, engineer, and mixer who has worked with acts such as Michael Jackson, Queen, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band, Tokio Hotel, Wolfmother, and All Time Low. Also se ...

(Track 7); Tommy Vicari (Track 8);

Bill Schnee William S. Schnee (born July 4, 1947) is an American musician, music producer, and audio engineer. Schnee has been nominated 11 times for the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Grammy Award and worked on a multitude of other Grammy nominated ...

(Track 9). * Mix Assistants – Richard McKernan (Tracks 3, 5, 6, 10 & 11); Scott Ralston (Track 7); Rob Harvey (Track 8); Ken Allerdyce (Track 9). * Mastered by Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA). * Art Direction – Chuck Beeson * Design – Julie Osaki * Photography – Vicki Pearson-Cameron * Stylists – Fern Matia and Carmel Passanisi * Make-up – Agostina

Charts

Singles

References

{{Authority control 1990 albums Brenda Russell albums Albums produced by Narada Michael Walden A&M Records albums