David Williams, Eddie Murphy, Freddie Washington, Greg Phillinganes, Jeff Lorber, Phil Perry, Stevie Wonder
How Could It Be is the debut musical studio album by comedian/actor Eddie Murphy. The album was released on July 20, 1985, on Columbia Records and was produced by Aquil Fudge, with the exception of the hit top ten single “Party All the Time”, which was produced by Rick James. The album was a commercial success, making it to #26 on the Billboard 200 and #17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Two singles were released: “Party All the Time”, which made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the title track, which became a minor R&B hit.
Tracks
1 Do I (Stevie Wonder) 4:01
2 C-O-N Confused (Eddie Murphy) 3:55
3 How Could It Be (Frank Hamilton, Rick James, Eddie Murphy) 4:40
4 I Wish (I Could Tell You When) (David Allen Jones, Eddie Murphy) 4:25
5 Party All The Time (Rick James, Eddie Murphy) 4:14
6 I, Me, Us, We (David Allen Jones, Eddie Murphy) 4:41
7 My God Is Color Blind (Eddie Murphy) 4:42
8 Everything’s Coming Up Roses (Stevie Wonder) 4:35
Musicians
1 Do I
| Drums (programming) | James Allen |
| Guitar | David Williams |
| Keyboards | Greg Phillinganes |
| Keyboards | Stevie Wonder |
| Synthesizer | Greg Phillinganes |
| Background Vocals | Darryl Phinnessee |
| Background Vocals | Howard Smith |
| Background Vocals | Philip Williams |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
2 C-O-N Confused
| Background Vocals | Darryl Phinnessee |
| Background Vocals | Finis Henderson |
| Background Vocals | Keith John |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
3 How Could It Be
| Bass | Frank Hamilton |
| Drums (programming) | James Allen |
| Drums (programming) | Roger Nichols |
| Acoustic Guitar | Greg Poree |
| Acoustic Guitar | Larry Menally |
| Keyboards | Frank Hamilton |
| Piano | Darryl Ross |
| Synthesizer | Frank Hamilton |
| Flugelhorn | Larry Gittens |
| Vocals | Crystal Blake |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
4 I Wish (I Could Tell You When)
| Bass | Mike McKinney |
| Drums (programming) | Roger Nichols |
| Drums (programming) | Jeff Lorber |
| Guitar | Paul Pesco |
| Keyboards | Jeff Lorber |
| Harmonica | Stevie Wonder |
| Background Vocals | Darryl Phinnessee |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
5 Party All The Time
| Drums | Rick James |
| Guitar | Kenny Hawkins |
| Keyboards | Greg Levias |
| Keyboards | Levi Ruffin |
| Percussion | Rick James |
| Background Vocals | Lamorris Payne |
| Background Vocals | Levi Ruffin |
| Vocals | Rick James |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
6 I, Me, Us, We
| Bass | Freddie Washington |
| Drums | Dennis Davis |
| Drums (programming) | Fred Washington |
| Drums (programming) | Roger Nichols |
| Guitar | Ben Bridges |
| Guitar | Michael O\’Neal |
| Keyboards | Billy Young |
| Synthesizer | Bill Wolfer |
| Synthesizer | Billy Young |
| Horns | Bob Malach |
| Horns | Earl Gardner |
| Horns | Keith Quinn |
| Percussion | Aquil Fudge |
| Background Vocals | Anthony Clark |
| Background Vocals | Bruce Hawes |
| Background Vocals | Carlotta Clark |
| Background Vocals | Cynthia Green |
| Background Vocals | Darryl Ross |
| Background Vocals | David Allen Jones |
| Background Vocals | Derrick Lawrence |
| Background Vocals | Dwayne Roberson |
| Background Vocals | Jacque M Kimbrough |
| Background Vocals | Larry Gittens |
| Background Vocals | Lisa Clark |
| Background Vocals | Lorelei McBroom |
| Background Vocals | Michelle Wiley |
| Background Vocals | Paul Freudenberg |
| Background Vocals | Philip Williams |
| Background Vocals | Roddrick Gordon |
| Background Vocals | Roderick Bascom |
| Background Vocals | Spartacus R |
| Background Vocals | William Rivera |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
7 My God Is Color Blind
| Drums (programming) | James Allen |
| Guitar | Gordon Banks |
| Piano | Eddie Murphy |
| Synthesizer | Eddie Murphy |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
8 Everything’s Coming Up Roses
| Drums | James Allen |
| Drums (programming) | Stevie Wonder |
| Keyboards | Stevie Wonder |
| Programming | Bob Bradlove |
| Background Vocals | Billy Durham |
| Background Vocals | Crystal Blake |
| Background Vocals | Dana Essex |
| Background Vocals | Darryl Phinnessee |
| Background Vocals | Joyce Vincent |
| Background Vocals | Keith John |
| Background Vocals | Letitia Body |
| Background Vocals | Melody Mccully |
| Background Vocals | Pam Vincent |
| Background Vocals | Phil Perry |
| Vocals | Eddie Murphy |
Liner Notes
Producer – Aquil Fudge
Producer – Rick James (Track 5)
Producer – Stevie Wonder (Track 8)
Producer (Executive) – Larkin Arnold
Arranged By – Aquil Fudge (Track 2)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Stevie Wonder (Track 1)
Arranged By (Strings) – Greg Poree (Track 2)
Arranged By (Vocals) – Eddie Murphy (Track 2)
Contractor – Ernie Fields (Track 2)
Mastered By – Stephen Marcussen
Mixed By – Bob Harlan
Mixed By – Rick James, Tom Flye (Track 5)
Art Direction – Nancy Greenberg
Photography – Annie Leibovitz
Mastered At Precision Lacquer
Mixed At Wonderland Studios, Los Angeles
Mixed At Joint Recording Studio
Recorded At Wonderland Studios, Los Angeles
Recorded At Joint Recording Studio
Recorded At Soundworks Studio
Recorded At Clinton Recording Studio
Recorded At Power Station
Phonographic Copyright CBS Inc
Copyright CBS Inc
How Could It Be is the debut musical studio album by comedian/actor Eddie Murphy. The album was released on July 20, 1985, on Columbia Records and was produced by Aquil Fudge, with the exception of the hit top ten single “Party All the Time”, which was produced by Rick James. The album was a commercial success, making it to #26 on the Billboard 200 and #17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Two singles were released: “Party All the Time”, which made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the title track, which became a minor R&B hit.