It's Real (James Ingram album)
# It's Real (James Ingram album)

It's Real is the third full-length recording by American R&B singer-songwriter James Ingram. It was released in May 1989 on Qwest/Warner Bros. Records, and features the smash hit single "I Don't Have the Heart", which peaked at number 1 for 1 week. It also features a remake of the classic song "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", re-written with different lyrics and entitled "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man".

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Boston Globe | (favourable) |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |

Robin Katz, reviewer of British music newspaper Music Week, left mainly favourable overlook on this album, saying that "Ingram presents his usual standard of contemporary sophisticated soul." He concluded: "Title track could be a smash and will appeal to Bobby Brown boppers while final cut is weepie in Whitney style."

## Track listing

### Side one - It's Real Hard

* "It's Real" (Kemp Frank, Gene Griffin, Barry Hankerson, Ingram) - 5:13
* "I Wanna Come Back" (Marc Gordon, Gerald Levert) - 4:51
* "Call On Me" (Ingram, Bernard Taylor) - 4:03
* "So Fine" (Ingram, Bernard Taylor) - 4:04
* "Love Come Down" (Gene Griffin, Ingram) - 5:40
* "Baby Be Mine" (Bell, Ingram) - 5:00

### Side two - It's Real Soft

* "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler) - 5:04
* "Love One Day At a Time" (Ingram, Monty Seward) - 4:31
* "I Don't Have the Heart" (Jud Friedman, Allan Rich) - 4:14
* "Someday We'll All Be Free" (Donny Hathaway, Edward Howard) - 4:10
* "When Was the Last Time the Music Made You Cry" (Ingram, Dennis Matkosky, Kathy Wakefield) - 4:57

## Production

* Executive Producers – James Ingram and Thom Bell
* Producers – Gene Griffin (Tracks 1 & 5); Gerald Levert and Marc Gordon (Track 2); James Ingram (Tracks 3, 4 & 7-10); Bernard Taylor (Track 3); Michael J. Powell (Track 6); Monty Seward (Track 7); Thom Bell (Tracks 8, 9 & 10); Dennis Matkosky (Track 10).
* Associate Producers – Barry Hankerson and Benny Medina
* Production Coordination – John Tominaga (Track 6); Yolandra Fletcher King (Tracks 7-10).
* Engineers – Dave Way (Tracks 1 & 5); Mike Tarsia (Track 2); Barney Perkins (Tracks 2 & 6); Paul Ericksen (Tracks 3, 4 & 7-10); Winston Johnson (Tracks 3, 4 & 7-10); Steve Van Arden (Track 3); Robert Loftus (Track 4); Dennis Matkosky (Track 10).
* Assistant Engineers – Tony Shimkin (Tracks 1 & 5); Tom Biener, Marty Hozenberg, Fred Kelly Jr., David Radin and Mitch Zelinsley (Tracks 2, 3, 4 & 6-10).
* Additional Engineer on Track 6 – Milton Chan
* Mixing – Barney Perkins (Track 2); Mike Tarsia (Track 2); Sidney Burton (Tracks 3 & 4); Winston Johnson (Tracks 3, 4, 7, 9 & 10); Paul Ericksen (Tracks 7-10).
* Mastered By Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
* Management – Barry Hankerson at The Midwest Group.

## Personnel

* James Ingram – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7), arrangements (3, 4, 7, 9, 10), keyboards (3, 4, 9), drums (3, 4)
* Winston Johnson – keyboard programming (all tracks), Synclavier programming (all tracks),
* Dwayne Russell – keyboard programming (all tracks)
* Brian Simpson – keyboard programming (all tracks)
* Frank Stangerup – keyboard programming (all tracks)
* Teddy Riley – all instruments (1, 5), backing vocals (1, 5), arrangements (1, 5),
* Jim Salamone – keyboard sequencing (2)
* Bernard Taylor – keyboards (3, 4), drums (3, 4), arrangements (3, 4)
* Aaron Zigman – keyboards (3, 4)
* Vernon Fails – keyboards (6), rhythm arrangements (6)
* Robbie Buchanan – synthesizer programming (6)
* Monty Seward – keyboards (7), synthesizers (7), backing vocals (7), arrangements (7)
* Jud Friedman – keyboards (8), programming (8), arrangements (8)
* Dennis Matkosky – keyboards (10), synthesizers (10), arrangements (10)
* Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (3, 7, 8)
* Abraham Laboriel – bass (6, 10)
* Freddie Washington – bass (7)
* Thom Bell – bass (8), arrangements (8, 9, 10), horn and string arrangements (8, 9, 10), conductor (8, 9, 10)
* Nathan East – bass (9)
* Ricky Lawson – drums (6, 8, 9)
* Jeff Porcaro – drums (7)
* Paulinho da Costa – percussion (7)
* Dan Higgins – saxophones (4)
* Larry Williams – saxophones (4)
* Gerald Albright – saxophone solo (6)
* Ernie Watts – saxophone (7)
* Gary Grant – trumpet (4)
* Jerry Hey – trumpet (4), horn arrangements (4)
* Toots Thielemans – harmonica solo (9)
* Marc Gordon – arrangements (2)
* Michael J. Powell – rhythm arrangements (6)
* Sephra Winters – horn and string contractor (8, 9, 10)
* Bernard Belle – backing vocals (1)
* Regina Belle – backing vocals (1)
* Marsha McClurkin – backing vocals (1)
* William Aquart, Jr. – backing vocals (1)
* Gerald Levert – backing vocals (2), arrangements (2)
* Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (3)
* Phil Perry – backing vocals (3, 4)
* Bobbette Jamerson – backing vocals (6)
* Tim Johnson – backing vocals (6)
* Valerie Pinkston-Mayo – backing vocals (6), BGV arrangements (6)
* Carl Calwell – backing vocals (7)
* Josie James – backing vocals (7)
* Marva King – backing vocals (7)
* Kimaya Seward – backing vocals (7)
* The Aquarian Singers – backing vocals (8, 9)

Additional Credits

* Art Direction – Kim Champange and Jeri McManus
* Design – Andy Engel
* Photography – Aaron Rapoport
* Personal Assistant – Yolandra Fletcher King
* Stylist – Cecille Parker
* Hair and Make-up – Elbert Oliver

## Charts

| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
| - | - |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 34 |
| US Billboard 200 | 117 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 44 |
