The Real Me is a studio album by American singer Patti Austin released in 1988 on Qwest Records. The album peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
Contents
Critical reception
William C. Trott of UPI declared, "Patti Austin says she grew up in a household where anything from Stravinsky to Muddy Waters was likely to be on the turntable (her father was a Big Band trombonist) and she seems to have chosen the middle ground.
'The Real Me' Austin speaks of emerges here in the works (of) Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and the Gershwins. The album is a tribute to the songs and singers that shaped Austin and the one-time child prodigy also shapes the songs herself on 'The Real Me,' filling them with her own soul and meaning."
William Rhulmann of Allmusic, in a 4/5 star review proclaimed, "Austin tackles standards such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me," and succeeds brilliantly."
Robert K. Oermann of USA Today with praise said, "I smiled from ear to ear: This is a complete delight from start to finish. Best known for contemporary sounds such as "Heat of Heat," "Rhythm of the Streets" and "Baby, Come to Me," Austin here reaches to the past for inspiration."
Track listing
"I Can Cook Too" (Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) - 5:14
"Stockholm Sweetnin'" (Quincy Jones) - 1:37
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach) - 4:15
"True Love" (Cole Porter) - 3:49
"Across the Alley From the Alamo" (Joe Greene) - 3:47
"How Long Has This Been Going On?" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 4:07
"Lazy Afternoon" (Jerome Moross, John La Touche) - 5:46
"Love Letters" (Victor Young, Edward Heyman) - 3:55
"They Can't Take That Away From Me" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 3:59
"Mood Indigo" (Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills) - 3:26
"Cry Me a River" (Arthur Hamilton) - 4:21
"Someone Is Standing Outside" (Jimmy Webb) - 3:54
"Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" (Tommy Wolf, Fran Landesman) - 5:08
Personnel
Musicians
Patti Austin – vocals, percussion (5), bass guitar (7)
David Benoit – synthesizers (1, 8, 10), organ (1), keyboards (3, 4, 7, 9), Yamaha DX7 (6, 13), synth horns (9), synth strings (9, 11, 12), acoustic piano (10, 11)
Greg Phillinganes – synth horns (1), synth bass (1, 9)
Bruce Hornsby – accordion (5)
Michael McDonald – acoustic piano (8)
Richard Tee – acoustic piano (8, 12), Yamaha DX7 (12)
David Pack – guitars (1, 7), electronic congas (3), acoustic guitar (5), baritone guitar (5), percussion (5), electronic percussion (7)
David Lindley – lap steel guitar (5), slide guitar (5)
Earl Klugh – classical guitar (7), guitars (10)
Nathan East – bass guitar (3)
Roscoe Beck – electric upright bass (4), bass guitar (8)
Chuck Domanico – bass guitar (10, 11)
Joe Puerta – bass guitar (12)
Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (1)
George Perilli – drums (3, 9), percussion (4)
Jeff Porcaro – drums (4, 7)
John Robinson – drums (8, 12)
Production
Patti Austin – executive producer, associate producer
David Pack – producer
Ben Rodgers – engineer (1–10, 12, 13), mixing (1–10, 12, 13), additional recording (7, 9, 11, 13)
Ross Pallone – mixing (1, 3, 5)
Allen Sides – string recording (4, 6, 11, 13)
Mark Linett – engineer (7, 9), additional recording (10)
Rik Pekkonen – mixing (7, 10, 12)
James Guthrie – engineer (11)
James Farber – additional recording (11, 12)
Russ Castillo – assistant engineer
Steve Holroyd – assistant engineer
Michael Mason – assistant engineer
Ira McLaughlin – assistant engineer
Ira Rubinez – assistant engineer
Joe Schiff – assistant engineer
Roger Talkov – assistant engineer
Shari Sutcliffe – production coordinator
Lu Snead – project coordinator
Mary Ann Dibs – art direction
Mark Raboy – photography