The DeBarges

The DeBarges
The DeBarges
Studio album by The DeBarges
Released	April 6, 1981
Recorded	August 1980 – March 1981
Genre	R&B
Length	36:45
Label	Gordy
Producer	El DeBarge, Bunny DeBarge, Bobby DeBarge
The DeBarges chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Robert Christgau	A−^[2]
Tom Hull – on the Web	B+ ()^[3]

The DeBarges is the debut album by DeBarge, released by Gordy Records on April 6, 1981. It saw limited success and stalled on the charts; the group felt it was not properly promoted.^[4] As a result, they revisited The DeBarges by including two songs on their subsequent recordings: "Queen of My Heart" was included on their third album, In a Special Way,^[5] while "Share My World" was included on their fourth, Rhythm of the Night.

Track listing

Side A

"What's Your Name" (Bobby DeBarge, Bunny DeBarge, El DeBarge) - 4:35
"Dance The Night Away" (Mark DeBarge, Randy DeBarge) - 4:50
"You're So Gentle, So Kind" (Bunny DeBarge, El DeBarge) - 4:40
"Queen of My Heart" (El DeBarge) - 3:49

Side B

"Hesitated" (Bunny DeBarge, El DeBarge, Mark DeBarge, Randy DeBarge) - 3:42
"Saving Up (All My Love)" (Bill Gable, Jon Lind) - 4:16
"Share My World" (Bunny DeBarge, El DeBarge) - 5:39
"Strange Romance" (Joe Blocker, Reggie Andrews) - 5:00

Personnel

The DeBarges

Bunny DeBarge – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements (1–7)
El (Eldra) DeBarge – Fender Rhodes, lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements (1–7), rhythm arrangements
Bobby DeBarge – keyboards, lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements (1–7), rhythm arrangements, horn and string arrangements
Randy DeBarge – bass, lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements (1–7)
Mark DeBarge – percussion, lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements (1–7)

Additional personnel

Reggie Andrews – keyboards, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements (8)
Larry Von Nash – keyboards
Michael Boddicker – synthesizer programming
Todd Cochran – synthesizer programming
Charles Fearing – guitars
Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitars
Nathan East – bass
Eddie Watkins, Jr. – bass
Ollie E. Brown – drums
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums
Harvey Mason – drums
Joe Blocker – vocal arrangements (8)
Eric Butler – horn and string arrangements
Clare Fischer – horn and string arrangements

Production

Producer – Bobby DeBarge
Co-Producers – Bunny DeBarge and Eldra DeBarge
Engineer – Bobby Brooks
Assistant Engineer – Michael Johnson
Recorded and Mixed at Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA).
Art Direction – Johnny Lee
Design – Ginny Livingston
Photography – Matthew Rolston

References

^ The DeBarges at AllMusic
^ Christgau, Robert. "The DeBarges". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
^ Hull, Tom (April 19, 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
^ Williams, Chris. "DeBarge would skyrocket into another realm of superstardom with 1983's In a Special Way". waxpoetics.com. Wax Poetics Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
^ Williams, Chris. "DeBarge would skyrocket into another realm of superstardom with 1983's In a Special Way". waxpoetics.com. Wax Poetics Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2015.

[1] The DeBarges at AllMusic

[2] Christgau, Robert. "The DeBarges". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 2, 2013.

[3] Hull, Tom (April 19, 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

[4] Williams, Chris. "DeBarge would skyrocket into another realm of superstardom with 1983's In a Special Way". waxpoetics.com. Wax Poetics Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2015.

[5] Williams, Chris. "DeBarge would skyrocket into another realm of superstardom with 1983's In a Special Way". waxpoetics.com. Wax Poetics Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2015.

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v t e DeBarge
Bunny DeBarge Bobby DeBarge Randy DeBarge Marty DeBarge El DeBarge James DeBarge Chico DeBarge
Studio albums	The DeBarges All This Love In a Special Way Rhythm of the Night Bad Boys
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Ultimate Collection
Soundtracks	The Last Dragon
Singles	"Stop! Don't Tease Me" "I Like It" "All This Love" "Time Will Reveal" "Love Me in a Special Way" "Rhythm of the Night" "Who's Holding Donna Now" "You Wear It Well" "The Heart Is Not So Smart" "Dance All Night" "You Babe"
Related topics	DeBarge family Etterlene DeBarge Kristinia DeBarge Switch Discography
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