Out of the Blue (Debbie Gibson album) explained

Out of the Blue
Type:	studio
Artist:	Debbie Gibson
Cover:	OOTB.gif
Border:	yes
Recorded:	1986–1987
Genre:	Dance-pop^[1] teen pop
Length:	40:53
Label:	Atlantic
Next Title:	Electric Youth
Next Year:	1989

Out of the Blue is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson, released on August 18, 1987, by Atlantic Records. The album received favorable reviews from music critics and sold more than three million copies in the United States (three times platinum by RIAA) and five million copies worldwide.^[2]

Background

Gibson (who was then 16 years old) wrote all ten songs on this album, which reveals her very early talent for composing.^[3] As executive producer, Douglas Breitbart of Broadbeard Productions, Inc. (whom Gibson's mother had hired as manager five years before), assembled a team of producers from both New York and Florida: Fred Zarr, John Morales, Sergio Munzibai and Lewis A. Martineé.

Zarr produced "Shake Your Love" and "Fallen Angel" in addition to "Only in My Dreams," and co-produced "Out of the Blue," "Staying Together" and "Wake Up to Love" with Gibson, sole producer for "Foolish Beat." Morales and Munzibai produced "Red Hot" and "Between the Lines." Martineé produced "Play the Field".

While posing for the album cover, Gibson was told by the photographer that her knee was pulling focus; as she refused to change her pose, a compromise was reached by having the makeup artist draw a face on her knee; consequently, it became a trend among her young female fans.^[4]

Out of the Blue made No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and No. 26 on the UK Albums Chart.^{[5] [6]} The album sold over three million copies in the United States,^[7] and five million copies worldwide.^{[8] [2]}

Reception

In their review of the album, Billboard stated that the "sixteen- year-old singer's low profile is not commensurate with her talent or success. "Only In My Dreams" is a top 15 hit; title track should follow up handily. Both - along with rest of thealbum's material - were written by Gibson, portending much in the way of staying power." ^[9]

Cashbox noted that the album was "a fond remembrance of pop idols of times past. This 16-year old Long Island native has leaped into the pop/dance arena with wide eyes and a penchant for writing flowing ballads and sizzling dance grooves."^[10]

Allmusic concedes that "while Out of the Blue does possess the slick, processed dance-pop production and squeaky-clean innocence of most '80s teen pop, it stands out from the competition due to Gibson's talent as a singer, musician, pop songwriter, arranger, and even producer...Gibson's youthful exuberance and energy shine through infectiously...it's some of the best teen pop you're likely to hear."

Reissues

Out of the Blue was included in the 2017 box set We Could Be Together, with six remixes as bonus tracks.^[11]

A special four-disc digipack edition was released by Cherry Red Records on October 15, 2021. This release includes two remix CDs and a DVD containing the album's five music videos, the live video Live in Concert: The "Out of the Blue" Tour, and a special interview video.^[12]

Personnel

Musicians^[13]

• Deborah Gibson – lead and backing vocals, rhythm programs, keyboard, synthesizer, additional keyboards
• Fred Zarr – rhythm programs, keyboards, synthesizer, additional keyboards (tracks 1–4, 6–8)
• John Morales – programming, sequencing (tracks 5, 10)
• David "Jaz" Grant – keyboard overdubs, guitar (tracks 5, 7–8, 10)
• Lewis A. Martineé – rhythm programs, keyboards, backing vocals (track 9)
• Mike Baskt – keyboards (track 9)
• Ira Siegel – guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar (tracks 1–4)
• Tommy Williams – guitar, electric guitar (tracks 1, 6)
• Nestor Gomez – guitar (track 9)
• Gary Down – bass (track 3)
• Bashiri Johnson – percussion (tracks 1–4, 6–8)
• Billy Amendola – Tom Tom overdubs (track 3)
• Jimmy Maelen – percussion overdubs (tracks 5, 10)
• Jeff Smith – saxophone, saxophone overdubs, backing vocals (tracks 2–8, 10)
• LaRita Gaskins – backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 6)
• Carrie Johnson – backing vocals (tracks 1–2, 4, 6–8)
• Libby Johnson – backing vocals (tracks 1–2, 6–8)
• Norma Jean Wright – backing vocals (track 3)
• Tim Lawless – backing vocals (track 4)
• Connie Harvey – backing vocals (tracks 5, 10)
• Janet Wright – backing vocals (tracks 5, 10)
• Wendell Morrison – backing vocals (tracks 5, 10)
• Haydee – backing vocals (track 9)

Production

• Debbie Gibson – arranger (tracks 1–4, 6–8); producer (1–2, 4–6)
• Fred Zarr – arranger, mixing (tracks 1–4, 6–8); produced (1–3, 6–8)
• John Morales – arranger, mix engineer, producer (tracks 5, 10)
• Sergio Munzibai – arranger (track 5); producer (5, 10)
• Lewis A. Martineé – arranger, engineer, producer (track 9)
• Don Feinberg – recording engineer (tracks 1–4, 6–8)
• Bernard Bullock – recording engineer (tracks 1–4, 6–8)
• Phil Castellano – recording engineer, mixing (tracks 1–4, 6–8)
• Peter Sturge – recording engineer (tracks 5, 10)
• Billy Esses – assistant engineer (tracks 1–4, 6–8)
• Jim Goatley – assistant mix engineer (tracks 1–2, 4, 6–8)
• Carlos Santos – assistant (track 9)
• Michael Hutchinson – mixing (tracks 2, 6)
• "Little" Louie Vega – mixing (track 3)
• Doc Dougherty – mixing (track 3)
• Douglas Breitbart – executive producer, management (Broadbeard Productions, Inc.)
• Greg Porto – art direction
• Adrian Buckmaster – photography
• Howie Weinberg – mastering (Masterdisk)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year	Chart	Position
1987	Canada Albums Chart^[14]	22
1987	Dutch Albums Chart^[15]	41
1987	Japanese Oricon Albums Chart^[16]	75
1987	New Zealand Albums Chart^[17]	23
1987	Swedish Albums Chart^[18]	34
1987	UK Albums Chart^[19]	26
1987	US Billboard 200^[20]	7
2021	Scotland^[21]	66
1988	Official Finnish Charts^[22]	27
1988	European Albums (Eurotipsheet)^[23]	84
1988	US Cash Box Top 200^[24]	10

Year-end charts

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Debbie Gibson’s "Foolish Beat. . April 16, 2021. [''Out of the Blue''] is a cheap, giddy dance-pop whirlwind, full of winsome melodies and bubbly beats.. November 11, 2023.
2. Web site: Happy 30th: Debbie Gibson, Out of the Blue . . August 18, 2017 . October 14, 2020.
3. Out of the Blue (Debbie Gibson songbook), CatNo. HL00356822. Hal Leonard, 1988
4. Debbie Gibson Shares 30 Facts About Herself . Steve . Helling . . August 18, 2017 . February 26, 2021.
5. Keith Tuber. On Top with Tiffany. Orange Coast. June 1989. Emmis Communications. 244–. 0279-0483.
6. Web site: The Official Charts Company – Out of the Blue by Debbie Gibson . February 17, 2016. The Official Charts Company.
7. News: POP MUSIC : 10 QUESTIONS : Debbie Gibson . . December 9, 1990. Dennis. Hunt. February 17, 2016.
8. Book: Debbie Galante Block. Billboard. March 15, 1997. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 94–. 0006-2510.
9. Album reviews. Billboard. 15 August 1987 . 74 . March 7, 2024.
10. Album Releases. Cash Box. 15 August 1987. 9 . March 7, 2024.
11. Web site: New content added to Debbie Gibson 'We Could Be Together' deluxe set . Paul . Sinclair . Super Deluxe Edition . September 20, 2017 . November 7, 2020.
12. Web site: Debbie Gibson's debut album Out of the Blue set for four-disc expanded reissue . Retro Pop . August 9, 2021 . August 16, 2021.
13. Liner notes, SD 81780. NYC: Atlantic Recording Corp., 1987
14. Web site: Top Albums/CDs – Volume 48, No. 15 July 30, 1988 . . July 17, 2013 . May 21, 2017 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20160719050527/http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8577&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8577.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8577 . July 19, 2016 . . RPM.
15. Web site: Debbie Gibson – Out of the Blue . dutchcharts.nl. . February 29, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160229032436/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Debbie+Gibson&titel=Out+Of+The+Blue&cat=a. February 29, 2016.
16. Web site: アウト・オブ・ザ・ブルー デボラ・ギブソン . . October 14, 2020.
17. Web site: Debbie Gibson – Out of the Blue . charts.nz. Hung Medien . February 24, 2016.
18. Web site: Debbie Gibson – Out of the Blue . swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien . February 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160229030907/http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Debbie+Gibson&titel=Out+Of+The+Blue&cat=a. February 29, 2016.
19. http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24481/debbie-gibson/ UK charts – Debbie Gibson
20. Billboard charts – Debbie Gibson
21. Web site: Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company. OfficialCharts.com.
22. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. 2021. Debbie Gibson. 89. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. March 12, 2024. fi.
23. European Hot 100 Albums. Eurotipsheet. 5. 24. 11 June 1988. 27. 29800226. World Radio History.
24. Web site: Cash Box Top 200 Albums – Week ending March 12, 1988 . . 30 November 2024.
25. Web site: Billboard 200 Albums – Year-end charts. Billboard.com . December 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20130408044523/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1988/the-billboard-200. April 8, 2013. dead.