Jody Watley (album)

Jody Watley is the debut studio album by American singer Jody Watley, released on February 23, 1987, by MCA Records. Although Watley already found success as a part of the trio Shalamar, the impact of this album made Watley a cultural style icon in contemporary R&B, pop and dance music. Its success culminated in Watley winning a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1988 against fellow artists Breakfast Club, Cutting Crew, Terence Trent D'Arby and Swing Out Sister. The album also produced three top-ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: "Looking for a New Love" (#2), "Don't You Want Me" (#6) and "Some Kind of Lover" (#10). The album has sold two million copies in the United States and over four million copies worldwide.

Track listing
CD bonus track – Track 10. "Looking for a New Love" (Extended Club Version)

Personnel

 * Jody Watley – lead vocals, backing vocals
 * André Cymone – all instruments (1-4, 7, 8, 10)
 * Jeff Bova – keyboards (5, 6, 9)
 * Patrick Leonard – synthesizers (8), drum programming (8)
 * Terrence Elliot – guitars (5, 6, 9)
 * Eddie Martinez – guitars (5, 6, 9)
 * John "LBJ" Staehely – guitars (5, 6, 9)
 * Bruce Gaitsch – guitars (8)
 * Bernard Edwards – bass (5, 6, 9)
 * Tony Thompson – drums (5, 6, 9)
 * Larry Schneider – saxophone (2, 3)
 * Roy Galloway – backing vocals (5, 6, 9)
 * Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (5, 6, 9)
 * Gardner Cole – backing vocals (8)
 * Tampa Lann – backing vocals (8)
 * George Michael – lead vocals (9)

Production

 * Producers – André Cymone (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10); Patrick Leonard (track 8); Bernard Edwards (tracks 5, 6, 9); David Z (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10).
 * Engineers – Josh Abbey, Darren Chadwick, Bridget Daly, Jon Ingoldsby, Glenn Kurtz, Csaba Petocz, Chris Porter and Erik Zobler.
 * Assistant engineer – Scott Church (tracks 5, 6, 9)
 * Mixing – André Cymone (track 9); Coke Johnson (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10); Michael Verdick (track 8); David Z. (tracks 1-4, 7, 8, 10).
 * Remixing – Taavi Mote and Louis Silas, Jr. (tracks 1, 10)
 * Mix assistant – Michael Blum (track 8)
 * Art direction and design – Lynn Robb
 * Cover art concept and hair stylist – Jody Watley
 * Photography – Victoria Pearson
 * Make-up – Beth Katz

Awards and nominations

 * 1987 - American Music Award Nomination for R&B/Soul Single of the Year [Looking For A New Love]
 * 1988 - Grammy Award for Best New Artist
 * 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Album of the Year
 * 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Single of the Year [Looking For A New Love]
 * 1988 - Soul Train Award Nomination for Best Music Video [Looking For A New Love]
 * 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Female Video of the Year [Some Kind Of Lover]
 * 1988 - MTV Video Music Award Nomination for Best New Artist Video of the Year [Some Kind Of Lover]
 * 1988 - Billboard Music Award for Top Dance / Club Play Artist of the Year