Female west coast artist…
MOR singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester, whose father was a bassoonist for the New York Metropolitan Opera, began singing commercial jingles at age 15 and went on to become a staff writer for Chappell Music while attending the High School of Performing Arts.
After taking a songwriting class at New York University taught by Paul Simon, Manchester took her talents to the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Bette Midler and Barry Manilow; the two hired her as a backup singer in 1971. She recorded her debut album, Home to Myself, in 1973, co-writing many of the songs with Carole Bayer Sager.
1975’s Melissa produced her first Top Ten hit, “Midnight Blue,” and set the tone for most of her career with its direct, slickly produced MOR pop sound. She and Kenny Loggins co-wrote the latter’s 1978 duet hit with Stevie Nicks, “Whenever I Call You Friend,” and the following year, Manchester returned to the Top Ten with “Don’t Cry Out Loud.”
1980 saw Manchester become the first singer to have two movie themes nominated for Academy Awards (Ice Castles and The Promise); two years later she achieved her highest Billboard singles chart placing with the number five hit “You Should Hear How She Talks About You,” which won a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance.
Through the ’80s and ’90s, Manchester has alternated occasional recording with scriptwriting and acting, appearing with Bette Midler in For the Boys and on the television series Blossom as the title character’s birth mother.
In spring 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in 10 years. When I Look Down That Road, which included collaborations with Beth Nielsen Chapman and Keb’ Mo, marked her first proper release with Koch.
Picture from the official website.
Discography
Platinum & Gold Collection
Arista Records 2004
Tracks: To be updated.
Musicians on the Platinum & Gold Collection album: Melissa Manchester and others.
When I Look Down That Road
Koch Records 2004
Tracks: To be updated.
Musicians on the When I Look Down That Road album: Melissa Manchester and others.
Best Selection
BMG Records 2003
Tracks: To be updated.
Musicians on the Best Selection album: Melissa Manchester and others.
Midnight Blue
Collectables Records 2001
Tracks: Midnight Blue, Don't Cry Out Loud, Come In From The Rain, Through The Eyes Of Love, Just You And I, Whenever I Call You "Friend", My Boyfriend's Back, You Should Hear How She Talks About You, Someone To Watch Over Me & I Can't Get Started.
Musicians on the Midnight Blue album: Melissa Manchester and others.
Joy
Capitol Records 1998
Tracks: To be updated.
Musicians on the Joy album: Melissa Manchester and others.
The Essence Of Melissa Manchester
Arista Records 1997
Tracks: If It Feels Good (Let It Ride), Easy, Bright Eyes, Midnight Blue, Through The Eyes Of Grace, Home To Myself, Alone, O Heaven (How You've Changed Me), Good News, Through The Eyes Of Love (Theme From Ice Castles), Just Too Many People, Lovers After All, Fire In The Morning, Whenever I Call You Friend, Don't Cry Out Loud, You Should Hear How She Talks About You, Caravan, Just You And I & Come In From The Rain.
Musicians on the Essence Of Melissa Manchester album: Melissa Manchester, Peabo Bryson, Chris Dedrick, David Wolfert, Bob Mann, Dave Appell, Dennis Budmir, Lee Ritenour, Larry Byrom, David T. Walker, Steve Lukather, Stanley Schwartz, Billy Payne, James Newton Howard, Greg Phillinganes, Andy Feingold, Cooker LoPresti, Andy Muson, Richard Davis, David Hungate, Chuck Rainey, Tom Robb, Steve Tischer, Jim Keltner & Tower Of Power Horn Section.
The Colors Of Christmas
Capitol Records 1997
Tracks are: To be updated.
Musicians on the Colors Of Christmas album: Melissa Manchester and others.
Melissa Manchester Performs Pocahontas
Dove Audio 1995
Tracks are: To be updated.
Musicians on the Melissa Manchester Performs Pocahontas album: Melissa Manchester and others.
If My Heart Has Wings
Atlantic Records 1995
Tracks: The House That Love Built, In A Perfect World, If My Heart Had Wings, Heart Of Love, To Be In Love With Me, Here To Love You, Higher Ground, Crazy People, Moments Like This & Don't Let Me Walk This Road Alone.
Musicians on the If My Heart Has Wings album: Melissa Manchester, Wintley Phipps, Peter Hume, John Putnam, Tim Pierce, Dennis M. Budimir, Michael Landau, Daniel Wilensky, Andy Snitzer, Roger Rosenberg, James Hynes, Frank Szabo, Charles Loper, Tom Salisbury, Michael Lang, Joe Mardin, Robbie Kondor, Steve Skinner, Jud J. Friedman, Claude Gaudette, Robbie Buchanan, Will Lee, Cliff Hugo, Neil Stubenhaus, Carlos Vega & Vinnie Colaiuta.
The Many Moods Of Melissa Manchester
Pair Records 1990
Tracks are: To be updated.
Musicians on the Many Moods Of Melissa Manchester album: Melissa Manchester and others.
Tribute
Mika Records 1989
Tracks are: To be updated.
Musicians on the Tribute album: Melissa Manchester and others.
Mathematics
MCA Records 1985
Tracks: Victims Of The Modern Heart, Mathematics, Energy, Shocked, All Tied Up, The Dream, Restless Love, Thunder In The Night, Night Creatures & Just One Lifetime.
Musicians on the Mathematics album: Melissa Manchester, John Robinson, Carlos Vega, Paul Jackson Jr, Steve Lukather, Michael Sembello, Robbie Nevil, Lee Ritenour, Mike Landau, Freddie Washington, Abraham Laboriel, Greg Mathieson, Richard Gibbs, Robbie Buchanan, George Duke, Greg Phillinganes, Tom Faragher, Larry Williams, Brock Walsh, Paulinho Da Costa, Larry Williams, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Bill Reichenbach, Lynn Davis, Marcy Levy, Richard Page, Carl Carlwell, George Duke, Brock Walsh, Maxine Waters, Julia Waters, Steve George, Tata Vega, Maxi Anderson & Tom Kelly.
Greatest Hits
Arista Records 1983
Tracks: Don't Cry Out Loud, You Should Hear How She Talks About You, Midnight Blue, Just Too Many People, Whenever I Call You Friend, Come In From The Rain, Nice Girls, Just You And I, My Boyfriend's Back / Runaway & Through The Eyes Of Love.
Musicians on the Greatest Hits album: Melissa Manchester, David Wolfert, Dennis Budimir, Lee Ritenour, Steve Lukather, Larry Byrom, Dean Parks, Dan Carter, Mike Landau, Stanley Schwartz, Larry Williams, Trevor Lawrence, Billy Payne, James Newton Howard, Randy McCormick, Alan Feingold, Robbie Buchanan, Bob Christianson, Pete Cannarozzi, Joe Mardin, Arif Mardin, Cooker LoPresti, David Hungate, Abe Laboriel, Tom Robb, Nathan East, Kirk Bruner, James Stroud, Jim Keltner, Jeff Porcaro, Carlos Vega, Lenny Castro, Mickey Buckins, Ula Hedwig, Will Lee, Millie Whiteside, Vini Poncia, Arnold McCuller, Eva Haskell, Jude Johnstone, Robin Beck, Sharon O'Neal, Lenny Castro, Diva Gray & Lani Groves.
Emergency
Arista Records 1983
Tracks: No One Can Love You More Than Me, I Don't Care What The People Say, Stop Another Heart Breaking, End Of The Affair, Johnny And Mary, City Nights, White Rose, Emercency, That Boy And Time.
Musicians on the Emergency album: Melissa Manchester, Carlos Vega, Steve Ferrone, Dean Parks, Dan Huff, David Williams, Buzzy Feiten, Hugh McCracken, Nathan East, Abe Laboriel, Robbie Buchanan, Bob Christiason, Randy Kerber, Michael Boddicker, Michael Brecker, Larry Williams, Gary Herbig, Jerry Hey, David Lasley, Marcy Levy, Ula Hedwig, Karla Bonoff, Wendy Waldman, Will Lee, Lani Groves, Jason Scheff, Robin Beck & Arnold McCuller.
Hey Ricky
Arista Records 1982
Tracks: You should hear how she talks about you, Slowly, Hey Ricky (you're a low down heel), I'll always love you, Race to the end, Wish we were heroes, Come in from the rain, Looking for the perfect ahh, Your place or mine & Someone to watch over me.
Musicians on the Hey Ricky album: Melissa Manchester Jeff Porcaro, Ed Greene, John Robinson, Sinclair Lott, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, Dean Parks, David Gates, Hugh McCracken, David Spinozza, Nathan East, Abe Laboriel, Dennis Belfield, Cliff Hugo, Robbie Buchanan, Bob Christianson, Larry Williams, Don Brooks, Will Lee, Ula Hedwig, Hamish Stuart, Robin Beck, Tom Snow & Lani Groves.
For The Working Girl
Arista Records 1980
Tracks: If this is love, Any kind of fool, Working girl (for the), Without you, Boys in the back room, You and me, Talk, A fool's affair, Lovers after all, Tears of joy & Happier than I've ever been.
Musicians on the For The Working Girl album: Melissa Manchester, James Stroud, Larry Byrom, Steve Buckingam, Tom Robb, Randy McCormick, Alan Feingold, Beth Cooper, Don Henley, Sandra Rhodes, Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes, Paul Davis, Steve Carlisle, Kathleen Jackson, Ed Seay, Bernardine Mitchell & Patti Allinson.
Melissa Manchester
Arista Records 1979
Tracks: Pretty girls, Fire in the morning, Don't want a heartache, When we loved, It's all in the sky above, How does it feel right now, Whenever I call you friend, Holdin' on to the lovin', I know your love won't let me down & Lights of dawn.
Musicians on the Melissa Manchester album: Melissa Manchester, James Stroud, Larry Byrom, Tom Robb, Steve Tischer, Randy McCormick, Alan Feingold, Mickey Buckins, Jay Scott, Emilio Castillo, Lenny Pickett, Steve Kupka, Greg Adams, Mic Gillettem Arnold McCuller, Sandra Rhodes, Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes & Paul Davis.
Don´t Cry Out Loud
Arista Records 1978
Tracks are: Shine like you should, Caravan, Don't cry out loud, Almost everything, Bad weather, Through the eyes of grace, To make you smile again, Such a morning, Knowin' my love's alive & Singin' from my soul.
Musicians on the Don´t Cry Out Loud album: Melissa Manchester, Lee Ritenour, Richard Tee, Jim Keltner, James Gadson, Art Rodriguez, Ed Greene, Jay Graydon, David T. Walker, Bill Payne, Sonny Burke, Michael Boddicker, Tommy Morgan, Chuck Findley, Steve Madaio, Leon Ware, Tom Saviano, Lew McCreary, David Lewel, Mike Caraghan, Lenny Castro and Claudia Cagan.
Singin´
Arista Records 1977
Tracks: Sad eyes, I wanna be where you are, A love of your own, No one's ever seen this side of me, You make it easy, Stand, My love is all I know, Time, Let me serenade you & The warmth of the sun.
Musicians on the Singin´ album: Melissa Manchester Steve Gadd, David Spinozza, Jeff Mironov, Sid McGinnis, Will Lee, Tony Levin, Don Gronilck, James Newton Howard, Lenny Castro, Tom Saviano, Stanley Schwartz, Rich Felts, Andrew Mackintosh, George Bohanon, Wendy Haas, Brie Howard, Vini Poncia, Claudia Cagan & The Faragher Brothers.
Help Is On The Way
Arista Records 1976
Tracks: Talkin' To Myself, Be Somebody, A Fool In Love, Headlines, Help Is On The Way, Monkey See, Monkey Do, Dirty Work, So's My Old Man, There's More Where That Came From & Singing From My Soul.
Musicians on the Help Is On The Way album: Melissa Manchester, Kirk Bruner, David Wolfert, John Vastano, Cooker LoPresti, Stanley Schwartz, Lenny Castro, Stanley Schwartz, Rich Felts, Andrew MacKintosh, Doug Wintz, Tom Saviano, Steve Madaio, Lew McCreary, Cooker LoPresti, Kirk Bruner, Lenny Castro, John Vastano, Joe Bean & Vini Poncia.
Better Days & Happy Endings
Arista Records 1976
Tracks: Happy Endings, You Can Make It All Come True, Better Days, My Sweet Thing, Come In From The Rain, Rescue Me, Just You And I, Stand Up Woman, Good News & Sing Sing Sing.
Musicians on the Better Days & Happy Endings album: Melissa Manchester, Kirk Bruner, Cooker LoPresti, David Wolfert, James Newton Howard, Trevor Lawrence, Steve Madaio, Lew McCreary, David Lasley, Lenny Castro, John Vastano, Vini Ponica, Farager Brothers, Arnold McCuller and others.
Melissa
Arista Records 1975
Tracks: We've got time, Party Music, Just Too Many People, Stevie's Wonder, This Lady's Not Home, Love Havin' You Around, Midnite Blue, It's Gonna Be Alright, I Got Eyes & I Don't Aant To Hear It Anymore.
Musicians on the Melissa album: Melissa Manchester, Kirk Bruner, Cooker LoPresti, David Wolfert, James Newton Howard, Trevor Lawrence, Steve Madaio, Lew McCreary, David Lasley, Arnold McCuller and others.
Bright Eyes
Arista Records 1974
Tracks: Bright Eyes, Alone, O Heaven (How You've Changed To Me), Inclined, No. 1 (Ahwant Gimmeh), Ode To Paul, I Can't Get Started, He Is The One & Ruby And The Dancer.
Musicians on the Bright Eyes album: Melissa Manchester, Allan Schwartzberg, David Wolfert, Cooker Lopresti, Jerry Friedman, Richard Davis, Stan Schwartz, Don Gronlick, Chris Dedrick and others.
Home To Myself
Arista Records 1973
Tracks: If It Feels Good (Let It Ride), Easy, Something to Do With Loving You, Funny That Way, Pick Up The Good Stuff, Be Happy Now, One More Mountain To Climb, Jenny, Doing the Best (That He Can) & Home To Myself.
Musicians on the Home To Myself album: Melissa Manchester, Allan Schwartzberg, Bob Mann, Dave Appell, Michael Johnson, Chris Dedrick and others.