Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby is the debut studio album by Terence Trent D'Arby. It was first released in the United Kingdom on July 13, 1987 on Columbia Records, and debuted at number one there, spending a total of nine weeks (non-consecutively) at the top of the UK Albums Chart. It also hit number one in Switzerland and number two in New Zealand and The Netherlands. It was eventually certified 5× Platinum (for sales of 1.5 million copies). Worldwide, the album sold a million copies within the first three days of going on sale.

The album was also a hit in the US, although its success was slower. It was released there in October 1987, eventually peaking at number four on May 7, 1988, – the same week that the single "Wishing Well" hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. It did peak higher on the Billboard R&B Albums chart at number one around the same time.

Other singles from the album included "If You Let Me Stay", which was a top-ten hit in the UK, and "Sign Your Name", which reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the UK. A fourth single, "Dance Little Sister", reached the UK top 20 as well. As was common for big-selling artists at that time, the singles were released in a plethora of limited editions in multiple formats. These were bolstered by a multitude of non-album studio and live tracks.

Legacy
The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2012, journalist Daryl Easlea said the album was crystallized as Trent's moment, "a soundtrack to the turning point when the 80s turned from austerity to prosperity. It's as central to that decade as the much-seen image of the city trader waving his wad of banknotes to the camera. It remains one big, infectiously glorious record."

Track listing
All tracks written by D'Arby, except where noted.
 * 1) "If You All Get to Heaven" – 5:17
 * 2) "If You Let Me Stay" – 3:14
 * 3) "Wishing Well" (D'Arby, Sean Oliver) – 3:30
 * 4) "I'll Never Turn My Back on You (Father's Words)" – 3:37
 * 5) "Dance Little Sister" – 3:55
 * 6) "Seven More Days" – 4:32
 * 7) "Let's Go Forward" – 5:32
 * 8) "Rain" – 2:58
 * 9) "Sign Your Name" – 4:37
 * 10) "As Yet Untitled" – 5:33
 * 11) "Who's Loving You" (William "Smokey" Robinson) – 4:24

Personnel

 * Terence Trent D'Arby – lead vocals (1-8, 11), backing vocals (1-7), keyboards (1, 3, 6, 7), drums (1, 7), percussion (2-7), baritone saxophone (3), acoustic piano (4, 5), clavinet (5), string arrangements (7, 9), all vocals (9, 10), all instruments (9, 10)
 * Nick Plytas – keyboards (2, 6, 7), Hammond organ (5)
 * Andy Whitmore – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 11)
 * Pete Glenister – guitars (1-4, 6)
 * Christian Marsac – guitars (4, 5, 8, 11), saxophone (11)
 * "Blast" Murray – guitars (4, 5, 8, 11)
 * Tim Cansfield – guitars (7)
 * Sean Oliver – bass (2, 6)
 * Phil Spalding – bass (3, 7)
 * Cass Lewis – bass (4, 5, 8, 11)
 * Bruce Smith – drums (2, 6)
 * Preston Heyman – percussion (1, 7), drums (3)
 * Frank Ricotti – percussion (2, 6)
 * Clive Mngaza – hi-hat (3), drums (4, 5, 8, 11)
 * Ivar Ybrad – sinubla (7)
 * Mel Collins – saxophone (5)
 * Chris Cameron – string scoring (9)
 * Glenn Gregory – backing vocals (1)
 * Lance Ellington – backing vocals (2, 6)
 * Tony Jackson – backing vocals (2, 6)
 * Frank Collins – backing vocals (8, 11)
 * Ebo Ross – backing vocals (8, 11)

The 'Shout It Out' Reply Vocal Chorale Ensemble on "Dance Little Sister"
 * Terence Trent D'Arby, Phil Legg, Michele Oldland and Martyn Ware

Production

 * Terence Trent D'Arby – producer (1, 3-5, 7-11), arrangements (1-10)
 * Martyn Ware – producer (1, 3-5, 7-11)
 * Howard Gray – producer (2, 6)
 * Phil "Foghorn" Legg – recording, mixing
 * Michael H. Brauer – remixing (2), additional overdubs (2)
 * Peter Barrett – sleeve design
 * Andrew Biscomb – additional sleeve design
 * Sheila Rock – photography

Awards and nominations

 * 1988 – Soul Train and Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist
 * 1988 – BRIT Awards International Breakthrough Act – Terence Trent D'Arby
 * 1988 – Grammy Awards Best Male R&B Vocal Performance