Sheila E. is the third solo album by Sheila E., released on Paisley Park Records/Warner Bros. Records in 1987.
Two singles were released from the album in the US, "Hold Me" and "Koo Koo", although both failed to make a major impact on the Hot 100. "Love on a Blue Train" was the first single released in Japan. The album is notable for its Latin influence and prominent presence in this hybrid of jazz, rock, funk and salsa.
The album has the earliest recorded appearance of members from the group Tony! Toni! Toné!, who Sheila E. attempted to bring to Paisley Park, but Prince did not sign the group. Almost a decade later, in 1996, Sheila E. appeared on their final album, House of Music.
Contents
Critical reception
The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album "flat and mechanical, boasting some rhythmic flash but not enough melody to make it worthwhile."
Personnel
Sourced from the album liner notes and Duane Tudahl
Sheila E. – vocals, percussion
Levi Seacer, Jr. – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Juan Escovedo – percussion
Boni Boyer – keyboards, backing vocals
Timothy Riley – drums
Norbert Stachel – soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, flute, clarinet
Carl Wheeler – keyboards, backing vocals
Rafael Wiggins, Jr. – bass guitar, backing vocals
Peter Michael Escovedo – percussion
Eric Leeds – saxophone
Matt Blistan (aka Atlanta Bliss) – trumpet
Eddie Minnifield – backing vocals
Carlos Rios – guitar
Howard Kenney – backing vocals
Steph Birnbaum – guitar
Prince – backing vocals (1, 5–7, 10), electric guitar (1, 5–7, 10), Ensoniq Mirage (1, 5, 10), Fairlight CMI (1, 5), Yamaha DX7 (6, 7), Oberheim OB-8 (1), piano (5, 7), bass guitar (6, 7, 10), Linn LM-1 (5, 6), LinnDrum (7), drums (5), Simmons SDSV (1, 10), handclaps (10)
Technical
Coke Johnson, David Leonard, Peggy McCreary Leonard – recording engineers
Jeff DeMorris, Mike Kloster, Steve Himmelfarb, Leslie Ann Jones, Chuck Webb, Thom Kidd, Tom Wright – second engineers
Mary Ann Dibs – art direction and design
Jeff Katz – photography
Chris Bellman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering