Timeless: The Classics

Timeless: The Classics
Timeless: The Classics
Studio album by Michael Bolton
Released	September 29, 1992
Recorded	February–June 1992
Studio	Record Plant and Westlake Studios (Los Angeles, California); Ocean Way Recording, Conway Studios and A&M Studios (Hollywood, California); The Plant (Sausalito, California); The Enterprise (Burbank, California); The Hit Factory (New York City, New York); Passion Studios (Westport, Connecticut);
Genre	Soul, pop
Length	40:05
Label	Columbia; 52783
Producer	Walter Afanasieff; Michael Bolton; David Foster;
Michael Bolton chronology
Singles from Timeless: The Classics
	"To Love Somebody"; Released: September 1992; "Drift Away"; Released: October 1992; "Reach Out I'll Be There"; Released: November 1992;

Timeless: The Classics is a 1992 album of cover versions by Michael Bolton. It was #1 on the Billboard charts when it was released. After a rather long chart run, the album has been certified 4× Platinum in the US and has sold over 7 million copies worldwide.^[1]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link
Entertainment Weekly	D link
Los Angeles Times	link
Orlando Sentinel	^[2]
Q	link
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[3]

Track listing

*Timeless: The Classics*
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Originally Recorded by	Length
1.	"Since I Fell for You"	Buddy Johnson	Ella Johnson	3:09
2.	"To Love Somebody"	Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb	The Bee Gees	4:09
3.	"Reach Out I'll Be There" (featuring The Four Tops)	Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland	The Four Tops	3:54
4.	"You Send Me"	Sam Cooke	Sam Cooke	4:00
5.	"Yesterday"	Lennon–McCartney	The Beatles	3:31
6.	"Hold On, I'm Comin'"	Isaac Hayes, David Porter	Sam & Dave	3:15
7.	"Bring It On Home to Me"	Cooke	Sam Cooke	4:27
8.	"Knock on Wood"	Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd	Eddie Floyd	3:51
9.	"Drift Away"	Mentor Williams	Mike Berry	6:07
10.	"White Christmas"	Irving Berlin	Bing Crosby	3:42
Total length:				40:05

Production

Michael Bolton – producer
David Foster – producer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Walter Afanasieff – producer (3, 6, 8, 9)
Christopher Austopchuk – art direction
Matthew Rolston – photography
Sarah Hall – personal assistant
Gemina Aboitiz – stylist
Nancy Sprague – grooming
Louis Levin – direction
Jill Tiger – management for Louis Levin Management

Technical

Vlado Meller – mastering at Sony Music Studio Operations (New York, NY)
Dave Reitzas – engineer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7), vocal engineer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10), mixing (7)
Bill Schnee – engineer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7)
Al Schmitt – orchestra engineer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7), mixing (1, 5, 10), engineer (10)
Mick Guzauski – mixing (2, 4)
Dana Jon Chappelle – engineer (3, 6, 8, 9), mixing (3, 6, 8, 9)
Kyle Bess – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10) second engineer (3, 6, 8)
Craig Brock – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Chris Fogel – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Steve Harrison – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Noel Hazen – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Steve Milo – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Marnie Riley – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Eric Rudd – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10) second engineer (3, 6, 8)
Brian Scheuble – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Brett Swain – recording assistant (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10)
Mark Hensley – second engineer (3, 6, 8)
Manny LaCarubba – second engineer (3, 6, 8)

Personnel

Michael Bolton – lead vocals, arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10), rhythm arrangements (1, 2, 5, 7), backing vocals (6)
David Foster – arrangements (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10), rhythm arrangements (1, 2, 5, 7), additional keyboards (2, 5)
Randy Kerber – acoustic piano (1, 2, 4, 5, 8), Hammond B3 organ (6), organ (7), electric piano (10)
Greg Phillinganes – organ (2), acoustic piano (7)
Robbie Buchanan – additional keyboards (2, 5)
Walter Afanasieff – keyboards (3, 9), synthesizers (3, 9), Hammond B3 organ (3, 8, 9), bass (3, 9), rhythm programming (3, 9), acoustic piano (6), horn arrangements (6, 8)
Gary Cirimelli – Akai programming (3), Macintosh programming (3, 6, 8, 9), Synclavier programming (3, 9), additional backing vocals (9)
Ren Klyce – Synclavier programming (3, 9), Akai programming (3, 9)
Ian Underwood – acoustic piano (10)
Dean Parks – acoustic guitar (1, 5)
Michael Thompson – electric guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7), guitars (6, 8)
Vernon "Ice" Black – guitars (3)
Michael Landau – additional guitars (6, 8), guitars (9)
Neil Stubenhaus – bass (1, 4, 5, 8)
Nathan East – bass (2, 7)
Randy Jackson – bass (6)
John Robinson – drums (1, 2, 4-8)
Joel Peskin – saxophone solo (4)
Portia Griffin – backing vocals (2, 7, 8), additional backing vocals (3, 9)
Pat Hawk – backing vocals (2, 7, 8), additional backing vocals (3, 9)
Vann Johnson – backing vocals (2, 7, 8), additional backing vocals (3, 9)
Janis Liebhart – backing vocals (2, 7, 8), additional backing vocals (3, 9)
Carmen Twillie – backing vocals (2, 7), additional backing vocals (3)
Mona Lisa Young – backing vocals (2, 7, 8), additional backing vocals (3, 9)
The Four Tops – backing vocals (3)
Yvonne Williams – backing vocals (8), additional backing vocals (9)
Claytoven Richardson – additional backing vocals (9)
The PH1 Choir – backing vocals (9)
Patrick Henderson – choir director and vocal arrangements (9)

Tower Of Power Horn Section (Tracks 6 & 8)

Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone
Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone
Gary Herbig – tenor saxophone
Lee Thornburg – trombone, trumpet
Greg Adams – trumpet, horn arrangements

Orchestra (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 10)

Johnny Mandel – orchestra arrangements and conductor (1, 5, 7, 10)
Jeremy Lubbock – orchestra arrangements and conductor (2)
David Foster – string arrangements (4)
Gerald Vinci – concertmaster
Debbie Datz-Pyle and Patti Zimmitti – contractors
Donald Ashworth, Jon Clarke, Gary Foster, Glen Garrett, Dan Higgins, Marty Krystall, Jack Nimitz and Bob Sheppard – woodwinds
Jim Atkinson, Jeff DeRosa, Brian O'Connor, Calvin Smith, Richard Todd and Brad Warnaar – French horn
Larry Bunker – percussion
Chuck Domanico, Edward Meares, Buell Neidlinger and Margaret Storer – bass
Robert Adcock, Jodi Burnett, Larry Corbett, Ronald Cooper, Christine Ermacoff, Marie Fera, Paula Hochholter, Judy Johnson, Anne Karam, Suzie Katayama, Dane Little, Frederick Seykora, Christina Soule and David Speltz – cello
Gayle Levant – harp
Denyse Buffum, Brian Dembow, Alan DeVeritch, Roland Kato, Donald McInnis, Cynthia Morrow, Carole Mukogawa, Dan Neufeld, Kazi Pitelka, Harry Shirinian, Linn Subotnick, Ray Tischer and Mihail Zinovyev – viola
Dixie Blackstone, Mari Botnick, Robert Brousseau, Russ Cantor, Isabelle Daskoff, Assa Drori, Henry Ferber, Ronald Folsom, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Harris Goldman, Gwen Heller, Reginald Hill, Bill Hybel, Lisa Johnson, Karen Jones, Kathleen Lenski, Norma Leonard, Rene Mandel, Michael Markman, Betty Moor, Irma Neumann, Donald Palmer, Claudia Parducci, Sheldon Sanov, Haim Shtrum, Robert Sushel, Gerald Vinci and Dorothy Wade – violin

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Timeless: The Classics*
Chart (1992–1993)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[4]	2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[5]	25
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[6]	5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[7]	27
European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)^[8]	13
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[9]	11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[10]	42
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[11]	9
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[12]	10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[13]	14
UK Albums (OCC)^[14]	3
US Billboard 200^[15]	1

Year-end charts

1992 year-end chart performance for *Timeless: The Classics*
Chart (1992)	Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[16]	48
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)^[17]	87
UK Albums (OCC)^[18]	7
US Billboard 200^[19]	68

1993 year-end chart performance for *Timeless: The Classics*
Chart (1993)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[20]	50
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[21]	28
European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)^[8]	97
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[22]	37
US Billboard 200^[23]	11

Certifications

Certifications and sales for *Timeless: The Classics*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[24]	2× Platinum	140,000^{^}
Canada (Music Canada)^[25]	4× Platinum	400,000^{^}
Japan (RIAJ)^[26]	Gold	100,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[27]	Gold	7,500^{^}
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[28]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Sweden (GLF)^[29]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[30]	3× Platinum	900,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[31]	4× Platinum	4,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Bolton, Michael (January 29, 2013). The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life. Center Street. ISBN 978-1-4555-2366-5.
^ Gettelman, Parry (October 16, 1992). "Michael Bolton". Orlando Sentinel.
^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 90. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone michael bolton album guide.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1834". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "1993 Year-End Sales Charts - Eurochart Hot 100 Albums 1993" (PDF). Music & Media. December 18, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 105. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Charts.nz – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
^ "Michael Bolton | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "The RPM Top 100 Albums of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. December 19, 1992. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. OCLC 29800226. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022 – via American Radio History.
^ "Year End Charts: Top Albums" (PDF). Music Week. January 16, 1993. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1993". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1993" (PDF). RPM. December 12, 1994. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". Music Canada. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
^ "Japanese album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless (The Classics)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 16, 2019. Select 1993年12月 on the drop-down menu
^ "New Zealand album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^ "British album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
^ "American album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 16, 2019.

[1] Bolton, Michael (January 29, 2013). The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life. Center Street. ISBN 978-1-4555-2366-5.

[2] Gettelman, Parry (October 16, 1992). "Michael Bolton". Orlando Sentinel.

[3] Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 90. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone michael bolton album guide.

[ac_Australia_Michael_Bolton-4] "Australiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[ac_Austria_Michael_Bolton-5] "Austriancharts.at – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[group=-6] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1834". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

[ac_Netherlands_Michael_Bolton-7] "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[Europe-8] "1993 Year-End Sales Charts - Eurochart Hot 100 Albums 1993" (PDF). Music & Media. December 18, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

[9] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 105. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[ac_Germany_Michael_Bolton-10] "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[ac_New_Zealand_Michael_Bolton-11] "Charts.nz – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[ac_Norway_Michael_Bolton-12] "Norwegiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[ac_Sweden_Michael_Bolton-13] "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Bolton – Timeless - The Classics". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

[ac_UK_Michael_Bolton-14] "Michael Bolton | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_Michael_Bolton-15] "Michael Bolton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[16] "The RPM Top 100 Albums of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. December 19, 1992. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

[17] "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. OCLC 29800226. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022 – via American Radio History.

[18] "Year End Charts: Top Albums" (PDF). Music Week. January 16, 1993. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

[19] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[20] "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1993". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[21] "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1993" (PDF). RPM. December 12, 1994. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2022.

[22] "Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved November 3, 2021.

[23] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[24] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.

[CanadaMichael_BoltonTimelessalbumCertRef-25] "Canadian album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". Music Canada. Retrieved July 16, 2019.

[JapanMichael_BoltonTimeless_(The_Classics)albumCertRef-26] "Japanese album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless (The Classics)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 16, 2019. Select 1993年12月 on the drop-down menu

[New_ZealandMichael_BoltonTimelessalbumCertRef-27] "New Zealand album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[Spanish_certifications_1979-1990-28] Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.

[SwedenMichael_BoltonTimeless_(The_Classics)albumCertRef-29] "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2019.

[United_KingdomMichael_BoltonTimelessalbumCertRef-30] "British album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 16, 2019.

[United_StatesMichael_BoltonTimelessalbumCertRef-31] "American album certifications – Michael Bolton – Timeless". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 16, 2019.

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v t e Michael Bolton
Discography
Studio albums	Michael Bolotin (1975) Everyday of My Life (1976) Michael Bolton (1983) Everybody's Crazy (1985) The Hunger (1987) Soul Provider (1989) Time, Love & Tenderness (1991) The One Thing (1993) All That Matters (1997) Only a Woman Like You (2002) One World One Love (2009) Gems: The Duets Collection / Duette (2011) Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville U.S.A. (2013) Songs of Cinema (2017)
Cover albums	Timeless: The Classics (1992) This Is the Time: The Christmas Album (1996) My Secret Passion: The Arias (1998) Timeless: The Classics Vol. 2 (1999) Vintage (2003) Bolton Swings Sinatra: The Second Time Around (2006)
Compilation albums	The Artistry of Michael Bolotin (1993) Greatest Hits (1985–1995) (1995) The Essential Michael Bolton (2005) 'Til the End of Forever (2005)
Singles	"(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" "How Can We Be Lovers" "When I'm Back on My Feet Again" "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" "Time, Love and Tenderness" "When a Man Loves a Woman" "Missing You Now" "To Love Somebody" "Drift Away" "Reach Out I'll Be There" "Said I Loved You... But I Lied" "Lean on Me" "I Found Someone" "Go the Distance" "Nessun dorma!" "Sexual Healing" "Jack Sparrow" "I'm Not Ready"
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