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The album has gained a cult following among fans, and continues to sell and stream to fans delight twenty-five years later. The album sold just under 3 million copies worldwide, Abdul's lowest selling studio album (in terms of international sales) in her career. However, it did peak at #12 on Bubbling Under Hot 100.Ī fourth single, "If I Were Your Girl" was due to be released, but was canceled after disappointing album sales and the failure of "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up".ĭue to a lack of promotion by Virgin Records, 'Head Over Heels' peaked at just 18 on the Billboard 100. The last single from the album "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up," was released in 1996 and failed to chart and was considered another flop for her, due to lack of promotion. The following single, "Crazy Cool" peaked at #58 and was considered a flop, due to low promotion coupled with negative publicity from MTV about the racy music video. It was Abdul's first single to not reach the Top 20 and was considered her last hit in her career. Three singles were released from "Head over Heels." The first single, "My Love is for Real" featuring background vocals from Israeli singer Ofra Haza was a moderate hit peaking at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. Recording sessions for the album began in 1994. “Crazy Love” was later released on Abdul’s “Greatest Hits” album. The album contained fourteen new tracks on the US release and two bonus tracks (“Crazy Love” and “High School Crush”) on the Japanese release. And that’s totally being connected to the creative source as a recording artist and dancer.” “I’ve experienced some spiritual growth that has allowed me to really get back to what I enjoy doing best. “It’s a completely different space and time for me,” says Paula. And, “Ain’t Never Gonna Give You Up” has the irresistible bounce of an old-school R&B classic, but done in modern context.Īnd in true Paula style, she journeyed to exotic Morocco- with her dancers, who she choreographs- to shoot the video for the bewitching “My Love Is For Real” with director Michael Hausman. “Under The Influence” captivatingly blends pop, funk and rock. “Ho-Down” is built on an infectious hip-hop groove. “My Love Is For Real,” the first single from the album, merges a heavy funk groove with Middle Eastern styling’s and guest vocals by critically revered Israeli singer Ofra Haza. The new album strikingly builds on Paula’s distinctive mix of pop, funk, R&B and ballads. Paula collaborated with songwriters Stacey Piersa and Elliot Wolff on the album. They said, ‘Thank God you thought of that.’ It was a good feeling.” All my producers were so open to my input and they were very honest.
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I’m unafraid to state what my feelings and opinions are. I’m now more involved in the production end of my songs. Going into the studio and creating an album is a very intimate experience. Going into my third album, I wanted to again experiment with many different people and flavors."Īt the same time, adds Paula, “I went into this album thinking I didn’t want to be in any compromising situations, as I was at times, on my last two albums. On my first album, I worked with seven producers on “Spellbound” I worked with only a few. Says Paula, “I’ve now experienced both sides. Some of the talented musicians that helped Paula on her “Forever Your Girl” and “Spellbound” albums returned with new songs on the “Head Over Heels” album including Oliver Leiber, Elliot Wolff, Darryl Simmons (all three lent their talents to “Forever Your Girl”) Peter Lord and Jeff Smith (the Family Stand members who produced most of “Spellbound”). As well as containing Abdul's hits, it includes the Head Over Heels album tracks "If I Were Your Girl" and "It's All About Feeling Good".For “Head Over Heels”, Paula decided to work with an array of different producers, the same creative scenario that was in place for her landmark #1 1988 debut album, “Forever Your Girl” (a seven million-seller in the United States alone). Like its predecessor album, Greatest Hits: Straight Up! did not chart on the Billboard 200 (though it did chart near the bottom of the R&B Albums chart). This compilation also includes the top-20 single " Will You Marry Me?" which was left off her 2000 Greatest Hits album, but excludes the track "Crazy Love". Greatest Hits: Straight Up! is the second greatest hits compilation by singer Paula Abdul.