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 (William Seidman) 3:44
10  You Were Made For Me (Irene Cara, Eddie Brown) 4:23

Musicians

1 Why Me?

Bass Arthur Barrow
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Arthur Barrow
Background Vocals Joe Esposito
Background Vocals Stephanie Spruill
Background Vocals Maxine Willard Waters
Vocals Irene Cara


2 Breakdance

Bass Arthur Barrow
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Richie Zito
Keyboards Arthur Barrow
Background Vocals Giorgio Moroder
Background Vocals Bunny Hull
Vocals Irene Cara


3 The Dream (Hold On To Your Dream)

Bass Arthur Barrow
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Arthur Barrow
Vocals Irene Cara


4 You Took My Life Away

Bass Arthur Barrow
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Sylvester Levay
Keyboards Arthur Barrow
Percussion Keith Forsey
Background Vocals Giorgio Moroder
Vocals Irene Cara


5 Keep On

Bass Arthur Barrow
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Arthur Barrow
Percussion Irene Cara
Background Vocals Joe Pizzulo
Background Vocals Beth Anderson
Background Vocals Mary Hylan
Vocals Irene Cara


6 Flashdance…What A Feeling

Drums Keith Forsey
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Sylvester Levay
Background Vocals Joe Esposito
Background Vocals Stephanie Spruill
Background Vocals Maxine Willard Waters
Vocals Irene Cara


7 Romance 83

Bass Arthur Barrow
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Arthur Barrow
Vocals Irene Cara


8 Cue Me Up

Bass Arthur Barrow
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Keyboards Arthur Barrow
Background Vocals Beth Anderson
Background Vocals Mary Hylan
Vocals Joe Pizzulo
Vocals Irene Cara


9 Receiving

Bass Will Lee
Drums (programming) Richie Zito
Guitar Richie Zito
Guitar William Seidman
Guitar Joe Caro
Percussion Carol Steel
Percussion Victoria Berdy
Percussion Leo Adamian
Background Vocals Bunny Hull
Background Vocals Beth Anderson
Background Vocals Maxine Willard Waters
Vocals Irene Cara


10 You Were Made For Me

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Mike Baird
Guitar Dean Parks
Piano James Newton-Howard
Synthesizer James Newton-Howard
Percussion Lenny Castro
Background Vocals Bruce Roberts
Background Vocals David Lasley
Background Vocals Charlotte Crossley
Background Vocals Bunny Hull
Background Vocals Wendy McKenzie
Vocals Irene 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 – Harry Langdon

Mastered At Artisan Sound Recorders
Mastered At Sheffield Lab Matrix
Mixed At Oasis Recording Studios
Mixed At Westlake Studios
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
Phonographic Copyright The David Geffen Company
Copyright The David Geffen Company