Unfinished Business is the second studio album by American singer Ronnie Spector, released in 1987.
Two singles were released from the album; "Who Can Sleep" in April 1987 (featuring Eddie Money as a guest vocalist) and "Love on a Rooftop", released in August 1987. A music video for "Who Can Sleep" was directed by David Hogan and produced by Amanda Temple for Limelight Productions. It achieved medium rotation on MTV.
Background
In 1986, Spector saw a resurgence in her music career after providing vocals on Eddie Money's Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Take Me Home Tonight". In the wake of the song's success, Columbia Records offered Spector a contract to record a solo album, which became Unfinished Business. In her 1990 memoir Be My Baby, Spector recalled the offer as "like the dream of a lifetime come true". However, the album was not a commercial success, with Spector recalling: "I could tell within two weeks [of the album's release] that it was a flop. I know the excitement that happens when you've got a hit - the telephone rings off the hook, and everybody wants a piece of you. But none of that was happening."
Critical reception
Upon release, Billboard commented: "Former Ronette's voice is an American classic, and she puts it to good use on this nice update of the Spector sound." They praised Susanna Hoffs' backing vocals on "Dangerous", noting how she "complements Spector expertly" on the track. Cash Box listed the album as one of their "feature picks" during May 1987 and commented: "More than a few cleverly placed Ronettes touches gives the LP its charm".
Track listing
Personnel
- Ronnie Spector - vocals
- Eddie Money - additional vocals (track 1)
- Bob Christianson, Pepy Castro - backing vocals (tracks 1, 4âÂÂ5)
- Doug Worthington - guitar (tracks 1, 3âÂÂ4)
- Danny Lewis - keyboards (tracks 1, 3âÂÂ5), backing vocals (track 1), trumpet (track 4)
- Kenny Aaronson - bass (track 1)
- David Prader - drums (track 1)
- Desmond Child and Rouge - backing vocals, backing vocal arrangement (track 2)
- Bruce Kulick - guitar (track 2)
- Seth Glassman - bass (track 2)
- Jerry Marotta - drums (track 2)
- Robert Stern - saxophone (track 2)
- Gregg Mangiafico - keyboards (track 2)
- Susanna Hoffs - backing vocals (track 3)
- Jimmy Vivino - guitar (track 3)
- Peter Scherer - Synclavier (tracks 3âÂÂ4), Synclavier programming (track 5)
- Kasim Sulton - tambourine, wind chimes (track 3)
- Thommy Price - drums (track 3)
- Margaret Dorn - backing vocals (tracks 4âÂÂ5)
- Rick De Pofi - saxophone (track 4)
- Larry Sarello - trombone (track 4)
- Ada Dyer - backing vocals (tracks 6, 8)
- Deva Gray, Janie Barnet - backing vocals (tracks 6âÂÂ10)
- Kenny White - piano (tracks 6, 8)
- Paul Shaffer - organ (tracks 6âÂÂ7), piano (tracks 9âÂÂ10), arranger (tracks 9âÂÂ10), Hammond organ (track 10)
- Douglas Berlent - synthesizer (tracks 6âÂÂ10), synthesizer programming (tracks 6âÂÂ8, 10), synthesizer arrangement (tracks 6âÂÂ8, 10), production assistant coordinator (tracks 6âÂÂ10), piano (track 7), arrangement (track 7)
- Will Lee - bass (tracks 6âÂÂ10)
- Michael Dawe - drums (tracks 6, 8)
- Lonie Groves - backing vocals (tracks 7, 10)
- Russ Palamino - tenor saxophone (tracks 7, 10), alto saxophone (track 9)
- Anton Fig - drums (tracks 7, 9âÂÂ10)
- Tommy Rotella - guitar (track 8)
- Janice Pendarvis - backing vocals (track 9)
Production
- Chris Floberg - assistant engineer (track 1), assistant mixer (track 10)
- Jim Grove, Mario Rodriguez - assistant engineers (track 1)
- Michael Young - producer (tracks 1, 3âÂÂ5), engineer (tracks 1, 3âÂÂ5), arrangement (tracks 1, 3âÂÂ5), mixing (tracks 3âÂÂ5, 10)
- Stephen Rosen - coordinator (tracks 1âÂÂ5)
- Frank Filipetti - mixing (track 2)
- Arthur Payson - engineer (track 2)
- Mike Morgan - assistant engineer (track 2)
- Ralph Schuckett - arrangement (track 2)
- Desmond Child - producer (track 2), arrangement (track 2)
- Roy Hendrickson - assistant engineer (track 3)
- John Hegedes - mixing (track 3)
- Chris Floberg - assistant engineer (track 4)
- Gary Klein - producer (tracks 6âÂÂ10)
- Mark Gadie - remix (tracks 6, 8âÂÂ9), mixing (track 7)
- John Davenport - engineer (tracks 6âÂÂ10)
- Tim Lightner - assistant engineer (tracks 6âÂÂ7, 9)
- David Wolfert - rhythm arrangement (track 6)
- Craig Vogel - assistant engineer (tracks 8, 10)
- George Marino - mastering
Other
- Stacy Drummond - art direction
- Sante D'Orazio - photography
- David Cameron - back cover photography
- Charles Koppelman, Don Rubin - executive producers
- Janet Oseroff, Jonathan Greenfield - management
References