1983 Irene Cara – What A Feelin’

What a Feelin’ is the second album by American singer-songwriter Irene Cara and her most successful album to date. Released in November 1983, this album is dominated by dance-pop and Euro disco songs produced by the legendary producer Giorgio Moroder, unlike her R&B-heavy debut. Many of the songs were co-written by Cara herself. The album includes the major hit singles, “Dream (Hold On to Your Dream)” (U.S. #37), “Flashdance… What a Feelin'” (her only #1 hit in the U.S.), “Why Me?” (U.S. #13), “You Were Made for Me” (U.S. #78) and “Breakdance” (which was her third and last Top 10 single in the U.S., reaching #8).

Although the album was a success thanks to its singles, it struggled to stay in the top 100 of the Billboard Top 200 Albums. Critics on Allmusic speculated that it was because the album was released at the end of 1983 and the lead-off single, “Flashdance…What a Feelin'” had been released earlier that spring and people had already purchased either copies of the single or the best-selling soundtrack album to Flashdance.

Tracks

Why Me? (Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara, Keith Forsey) 4:41
Breakdance (Giorgio Moroder, Bunny Hull, Irene Cara) 3:28
3  The Dream (Hold On To Your Dream) (Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara, Pete Bellotte) 4:50
4  You Took My Life Away (Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara) 3:55
5  Keep On (Arthur Barrow, Richie Zito, Irene Cara, Keith Forsey) 3:32
Flashdance…What A Feeling (Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara, Keith Forsey) 3:59
7  Romance 83 (Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara) 3:58
8  Cue Me Up (Giorgio Moroder, Irene Cara, Keith Forsey) 3:27
9  Receiving (Bill Seidman) 3:44
10  You Were Made For Me (Irene Cara, Eddie Brown) 4:23

Musicians

1 Why Me?

BassArthur Barrow
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
Background VocalsJoe Esposito
Background VocalsStephanie Spruill
Background VocalsMaxine Willard Waters
VocalsIrene Cara


2 Breakdance

BassArthur Barrow
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsRichie Zito
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
Background VocalsGiorgio Moroder
Background VocalsBunny Hull
VocalsIrene Cara


3 The Dream (Hold On To Your Dream)

BassArthur Barrow
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
VocalsIrene Cara


4 You Took My Life Away

BassArthur Barrow
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsSylvester Levay
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
PercussionKeith Forsey
Background VocalsGiorgio Moroder
VocalsIrene Cara


5 Keep On

BassArthur Barrow
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
PercussionIrene Cara
Background VocalsJoe Pizzulo
Background VocalsBeth Anderson
Background VocalsMary Hylan
VocalsIrene Cara


6 Flashdance…What A Feeling

DrumsKeith Forsey
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsSylvester Levay
Background VocalsJoe Esposito
Background VocalsStephanie Spruill
Background VocalsMaxine Willard Waters
VocalsIrene Cara


7 Romance 83

BassArthur Barrow
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
VocalsIrene Cara


8 Cue Me Up

BassArthur Barrow
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
KeyboardsArthur Barrow
Background VocalsBeth Anderson
Background VocalsMary Hylan
VocalsJoe Pizzulo
VocalsIrene Cara


9 Receiving

BassWill Lee
Drums (programming)Richie Zito
GuitarRichie Zito
GuitarWilliam Seidman
GuitarJoe Caro
PercussionCarol Steel
PercussionVictoria Berdy
PercussionLeo Adamian
Background VocalsBunny Hull
Background VocalsBeth Anderson
Background VocalsMaxine Willard Waters
VocalsIrene Cara


10 You Were Made For Me

BassNeil Stubenhaus
DrumsMike Baird
GuitarDean Parks
PianoJames Newton-Howard
SynthesizerJames Newton-Howard
PercussionLenny Castro
Background VocalsBruce Roberts
Background VocalsDavid Lasley
Background VocalsCharlotte Crossley
Background VocalsBunny Hull
Background VocalsWendy McKenzie
VocalsIrene Cara

Liner Notes

Producer – Giorgio Moroder
Producer – James Newton Howard (Track 10)
Arranged By – Richie Zito
Arranged By – Sylvester Levay (Track 6)
Arranged By (Co-arrangement) – Bill Seidman (Track 9)
Engineer – Brian Reeves, Michael Frondelli
Engineer – Dave Concors (Track 9),
Engineer – Elliot Scheiner, Rick Ruggieri (Track 10)
Engineer (Co-engineering) – Bill Seidman (Track 9)
Engineer (Mixing) – Jack Joseph Puig (Track 10)
Mastered By – Greg Fulginiti

Design – Christopher Whorf, Jeffery Fey
Photography By – Harry Langdon

Phonographic Copyright (p) – The David Geffen Company
Copyright (c) – The David Geffen Company
Phonographic Copyright (p) – PolyGram Records, Inc.
Manufactured By – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Designed At – Art Hotel
Recorded At – Electric Lady Studios
Recorded At – Oasis Recording Studios
Recorded At – Carla Ridge
Recorded At – Northern Music Recorders
Recorded At – Bill Schnee Studios
Recorded At – Sunset Sound
Mixed At – Oasis Recording Studios
Mixed At – Westlake Studios
Mastered At – Artisan Sound Recorders
Mastered At – Sheffield Lab Matrix