Word Up!
Studio album by
Cameo
ReleasedSeptember 9, 1986
Recorded1985–1986
Studio
  • Quad Recording
  • Counter Point
  • Power Station
  • Sound Ideas (all in New York City)
GenreFunk[1]
Length34:46
LabelAtlanta Artists
ProducerLarry Blackmon
Cameo chronology
Single Life
(1985)		 Word Up!
(1986)		 Machismo
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Village VoiceB[2]

Word Up! is the 13th studio album by American funk group Cameo, released in 1986.[3] The album reached number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, number 8 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1 million copies. It took Cameo to their highest level of popularity, and solidified them as one of the most successful bands of the 1980s.[4] The album includes three of their biggest hit singles, "Word Up!", "Candy", and "Back and Forth".

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Word Up"Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins4:21
2."Candy"Blackmon, Jenkins5:39
3."Back and Forth"Kevin Kendrick, Nathan Leftenant, Blackmon, Jenkins6:33
4."Don't Be Lonely"Blackmon, Jenkins, Kendrick, Willlie Morris5:19
5."She's Mine"Blackmon, Leftenant, Antonio Matthews, Ray Malloy4:37
6."Fast, Fierce & Funny"Blackmon, Jenkins, Leftenant4:09
7."You Can Have the World"Blackmon, Jenkins, Leftenant4:38
  • Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7 published by All Seeing Eye Music-Better Days Music.
  • Tracks 4 & 5 published by All Seeing Eye Music-Better Days Music-Better Nights Music.

Personnel

Cameo
Other players
  • Kevin Kendrick - Keyboards
  • Charlie Singleton – guitar, backing vocals
  • Stanley Clarke, Aaron Mills – bass guitar
  • Michael Burnett – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Bernard Wright, Eric Rehl, Kenni Hairston, Kevin Kendrick, Merv de Peyer – keyboards
  • Duduka Fonseca, Giovanni Hidalgo, Steve Thornton – percussion
  • Melvin Wells – saxophone, backing vocals
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (solo on "Candy", "Don't Be Lonely" and "She's Mine")
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Arno Hecht – tenor saxophone
  • Crispin Cioe – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Robert Funk – trombone
  • Paul Litteral – trumpet
  • Sammy Merendino – drum programming
  • Pat Buchanan – guitars
  • Peter Scherer – Synclavier programming
  • Willie Morris – backing vocals

Critical reception

Accolades

Word Up! was ranked number 5 among the "Albums of the Year" by NME.[5]

Charts and certifications

Singles

  • "Word Up" – released July 1986
  • "Candy" – released November 1986
  • "Back and Forth" – released March 1987
  • "She's Mine" - released June 1987

References

  1. 1 2 AllMusic review
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert (December 30, 1986). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Cameo: Word Up! > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  4. ↑ O'Donnell, David (11 December 2008). "One of the most successful bands of the 80s". BBC. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. ↑ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  6. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ↑ "Discografie Cameo - dutchcharts.nl".
  8. ↑ "charts.nz - Discography Cameo". charts.nz. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "Cameo - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "CAMEO - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Word Up! - Cameo". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  12. ↑ "British album certifications – Cameo – Word Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  13. ↑ "American album certifications – Cameo – Word Up". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2018-12-26.


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