Merciless (album) explained

Merciless
Type:	studio
Artist:	Stephanie Mills
Cover:	Stephaniemillsmerciless.jpg
Released:	August 20, 1983
Recorded:	1982 - 1983
Studio:	The Hit Factory Automated Sound Studios (New York) Cherokee Recording Studios The Record Plant Bossa Nova Hotel (Los Angeles)
Label:	Casablanca
Prev Title:	Love Has Lifted Me
Prev Year:	1982
Next Title:	I've Got the Cure
Next Year:	1984

Merciless is the seventh studio album by American R&B singer Stephanie Mills. It was released in 1983 and Stephanie's second release on Casablanca Records.^[1] The album features two Billboard R&B hits in "Pilot Error", a cover version of Prince's "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" as well as "My Body" written by singer Luther Vandross. Merciless received a nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female at the 26th Grammy Awards in 1984.

Track listing

1. "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" (Prince) - 4:12
2. "Never Get Enough of You" (David Wolfert, Henry Gaffney) - 4:31
3. "Eternal Love" (Jay Asher, Paul Jabara) - 4:41
4. "His Name is Michael" (featuring Peggi Blu) (Cassandra Mills, Michael Sembello, Stephanie Mills) - 3:18
5. "Here I Am" (David Wolfert, Henry Gaffney) - 4:13
6. "My Body" (Luther Vandross) - 4:06
7. "Do You Love Him?" (Barbara Morr, Betsy Durkin Matthes) - 3:47
8. "Pilot Error" (Peter Kingsbery) - 5:07
9. "Since We've Been Together" (Ralph Schuckett, Richard Kleinberg) - 3:13

• track source^[2]

Personnel

• Stephanie Mills – lead and backing vocals
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, acoustic piano
• Richard Tee – keyboards, acoustic piano
• Johnny Mandel – synthesizers, arrangements (7)
• Danny Sembello – synthesizers
• Nyle Steiner – synthesizers
• Ian Underwood – synthesizers
• Ed Walsh – synthesizers
• Buzz Feiten – guitars
• Carlos Rios – guitars
• Thom Rotella - guitars
• Michael Sembello – guitars, backing vocals
• David Wolfert – guitars, arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9), BGV arrangements
• Nathan East – bass
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass
• Ed Greene – drums
• John Robinson - drums
• Carlos Vega – drums
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Victor Feldman – percussion
• Eddie Karam – arrangements (7)
• Ralph Schuckett – rhythm arrangements (9)
• Frank Floyd – BGV arrangements
• Peggi Blu – backing vocals
• Lani Groves – backing vocals
• Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals
• Cruz Sembello – backing vocals
• Myrna Smith – backing vocals

Technical

• John Arrais – engineer, mixing (1, 2, 3, 5-9), remixing (1, 2, 3, 5-9)
• Phil Ramone – mixing (4)
• Peter Chaiken – engineer
• Lee DeCarlo – engineer
• Bradshaw Leigh – engineer
• Brian McGee – engineer
• Marie Ostrosky – engineer
• Jay Rifkin – engineer
• Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)

Production

• Charles Koppleman – executive producer
• Gary Klein – producer (1, 2, 3, 5-9)
• David Wolfert – producer (1, 2, 3, 5-9)
• Phil Ramone – producer (4)
• Linda Gerrity – production coordinator
• Glen Christensen – art direction, photography
• Mac James – artwork, design
• Bill King – inner sleeve photography
• Cassandra Mills – cover concept
• Stephanie Mills – cover concept
• Frank DeCaro – LA contractor
• Phil Medley – NY contractor

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[3]	104
US Billboard Top R&B Albums^[4]	12

Notes and References

1. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stephanie-mills-mn0000021334/discography Stephanie Mills - Album Discography|Allmusic
2. http://www.discogs.com/Stephanie-Mills-Merciless/release/1401368 Stephanie Mills - Merciless (LP, Album)
3. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4918/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}} Stephanie Mills US albums chart history]. allmusic.com. 2011-05-07.
4. http://www.billboard.com/artist/280493/stephanie-mills/chart?f=333 Stephanie Mills - Chart history