Special Things Explained
| Special Things |
| Type: | Studio |
| Artist: | the Pointer Sisters |
| Cover: | PointersSpecial.jpg |
| Released: | August 1, 1980 |
| Studio: | Studio 55, Los Angeles, California |
| Genre: | R&B, pop, soul |
| Label: | Planet |
| Producer: | Richard Perry |
| Prev Title: | Priority |
| Prev Year: | 1979 |
| Next Title: | Black & White |
| Next Year: | 1981 |
Special Things is a studio album by the Pointer Sisters, released in 1980 on Planet Records.
History
The album marked their third venture with producer Richard Perry and featured a more stylized R&B/pop production, launching the group into its most successful period. The album spawned their second top three gold-certified single, "He's So Shy". The album also contains minor hit "Could I Be Dreamin’" and two songs written by Burt Bacharach, "The Love Too Good to Last" and "Where Did the Time Go".
Personnel
The Pointer Sisters
- Anita Pointer – lead vocals (1, 3, 5, 8), backing vocals, vocal arrangements
- June Pointer – lead vocals (2, 4, 6, 7), backing vocals, vocal arrangements
- Ruth Pointer – lead vocals (9), backing vocals, vocal arrangements
Musicians
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (1, 3−5, 7, 9), synthesizers (5), clavinet (6)
- Tom Snow – keyboards (2), synthesizers (2), arrangements (2)
- Lance Ong – synthesizers (3, 4)
- Michael Boddicker – synthesizer programming (5), synthesizers (8)
- John Barnes – Fender Rhodes (6), keyboards (8)
- Clarence McDonald – acoustic piano (6)
- Burt Bacharach – horn arrangements (3), string arrangements (3, 7), keyboards (7)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1, 3, 5, 9), guitar solo (4)
- Tim May – guitar (2, 6, 8)
- Ben Bridges – guitar (4)
- Marlo Henderson – guitar (4, 5, 7)
- Mark Goldenberg – guitar (6, 8)
- David Williams – guitar (7, 9)
- Nathan Watts – bass (1−5, 8, 9), percussion (5)
- John Pierce – bass (6)
- James Jamerson – bass (7)
- Ollie E. Brown – drums (1, 3, 5)
- James Gadson – drums (2, 6, 8)
- Raymond Pounds – drums (4)
- Ricky Lawson – drums (7, 9)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1−4, 8)
- Jay Hutson – alto flute (1), saxophone (4)
- Don Myrick – alto flute (1), saxophone (4), alto sax solo (9)
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1, 4)
- Dick Hyde – trombone (4)
- Chuck Findley – trumpet (1), flugelhorn (1, 3)
- Steve Madaio – trumpet (1, 4), flugelhorn (1)
- Warren Looney – flugelhorn (3)
- Larry Gittens – trumpet (4)
- Gary Grant – trumpet (4)
- Henry Sigismonti – French horn (1)
- Trevor Lawrence – arrangements (1, 6, 9), horn arrangements (1, 4, 6, 7, 9), string arrangements (1, 5, 6, 9), conductor (1, 5, 6, 9), orchestration (3)
- Sid Sharp – concertmaster (1, 3, 5−7, 9)
Production
- Richard Perry – producer
- Trevor Lawrence – associate producer
- Gabe Veltri – recording
- Tim Dennen – assistant engineer
- Jim Küenzi – assistant engineer
- Stephen Marcussen – assistant engineer
- Raven Royce-Jordan – assistant engineer
- James Guthrie – remixing
- Mike Reese – mastering
- Doug Sax – mastering
- The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA) – mastering location
- Daniel Kushnick – production coordinator
- Michael Solomon – production coordinator
- John Kosh – art direction, design
- Aaron Rapoport – photography
Chart positions
Notes and References
- Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 235.
