Pulse is the title of the second solo album from session keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. Released on July 17, 1984, the album included what is perhaps Phillinganes’ best-known solo “hit,” a cover of Japanese synthpop band Yellow Magic Orchestra’s song, “Behind the Mask,” with additional lyrics by Michael Jackson. The track “Countdown to Love” was also featured in the 1984 film, Streets of Fire, while both “Playin’ with Fire” and “Signals” would later appear in the 1986 film, Touch and Go. In addition, the song “Lazy Nina” was written by Donald Fagen exclusively for Phillinganes, and has never been recorded by Fagen himself.
Tracks
1 Behind The Mask (Chris Mosdell; Michael Jackson; Ryuichi Sakamoto) 04:52 2 Won’t Be Long Now (Mark Muller; Robbie Nevil) 05:08 3 Playin’ With Fire (Jack Wargo; Jackie Jackson; Pamela Phillips Oland) 04:45 4 I Have Dreamed (Richard Rodgers; Oscar Hammerstein II) 04:41 5 Come As You Are (Brock Walsh; Robbie Nevil) 04:14 6 Lazy Nina (Donald Fagen) 05:27 7 Signals (Greg Phillinganes; John Lang; Nathan East; Richard Page) 04:58 8 Countdown To Love (Kenny Vance; Marty Kupersmith) 02:59 9 Shake It (Anthony Marinelli; Brian Banks; Share Stallings) 06:10
Musicians
1 Behind The Mask Guitar - David Williams Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Vocoder - Michael Boddicker Programming - Anthony Marinelli Programming - Brian Banks Background Vocals - Richard Page Background Vocals - Michael Jackson Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
2 Won’t Be Long Now Guitar - Robbie Nevil Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Programming - Anthony Marinelli Programming - Brian Banks Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa Vocals - Pointer Sisters Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
3 Playin’ With Fire Drums - Carlos Vega Guitar - Carlos Rios Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer - Michael Boddicker Programming - Bo Tomlyn Horns - Jerry Hey Background Vocals - James Ingram Background Vocals - Phillip Ingram Background Vocals - Howard Hewett Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
4 I Have Dreamed Cymbal - JR Robinson HiHAt - JR Robinson Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Programming - Anthony Marinelli Programming - Brian Banks Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
5 Come As You Are Guitar - Robbie Nevil Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa Background Vocals - Clydene Jackson Background Vocals - Julia Tillman Waters Background Vocals - Maxine Willard Waters Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
6 Lazy Nina Drums - JR Robinson Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Programming - Michael Boddicker Background Vocals - Darryl Phinnessee Background Vocals - Gwen Matthews Background Vocals - Maxine Anderson Background Vocals - Phil Perry Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
7 Signals Bass - Nathan East Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Programming - Bo Tomlyn Percussion - Paulinho Da Costa Background Vocals - Richard Page Background Vocals - Steve George Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
8 Countdown To Love Guitar - Dennis Herring Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer - Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer - Howie Rice Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
9 Shake It Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Synthesizer - Anthony Marinelli Synthesizer - Brian Banks Programming - Anthony Marinelli Background Vocals - Darryl Phinnessee Vocals - Greg Phillinganes
Liner Notes
Producer – Richard Perry Producer (Associate) – Anthony Marinelli, Brian Banks (Track 9) Arranged By – Michael Jackson (Track 1) Arranged By – Greg Phillinganes (Tracks 2, 4, 6, 7, 9) Arranged By – Robbie Nevil (Tracks 2, 5) Arranged By – Jackie Jackson (Track 3) Arranged By – Donald Fagen (Track 6) Arranged By – Howie Rice (Track 8) Arranged By – Anthony Marinelli, Brian Banks (Track 9) Arranged By (Horns) – Jackie Jackson, Jerry Hey (Track 3) Arranged By (Synthesizer) – Brian Banks (Track 9) Coordinator – Marge Meoli, Brad Rosenberger Engineer – John Vigran (Track 3) Engineer – Robert Battaglia (Track 5) Engineer – Anthony Marinelli, Brian Banks (Track 9) Engineer (Additional) – John Arrias (Tracks 1, 8) Engineer (Additional) – John Vigran (Track 1) Engineer (Additional) – Roger Paglia (Tracks 3, 8) Engineer (Additional) – Alex Schmoll, Gary Skardina (Track 3) Engineer (Additional) – John Vigran (Tracks 4, 6) Engineer (Additional) – Jeremy Smith (Track 6) Engineer (Assistant) – Alex Schmoll, Bob Loftus, Glen Holguin Engineer (Recording) – Michael Brooks Engineer (Remix) – Bill Schnee, John Arrias, Lew Hahn, Michael Brooks Mastered By – Stephen Marcussen Design, Art Direction – John Kosh, Ron Larson Photography – Wist Thorpe Mastered At Precision Lacquer Mixed At Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA Recorded At Studio 55, Los Angeles, CA Recorded At The Room, Bodifications, Los Angeles, CA Recorded At The Music Grinder, Los Angeles, CA Copyright Planet Records
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"Behind the Mask" David Williams – guitars Brian Banks and Anthony Marinelli – synthesizer programming Michael Boddicker – vocoder Howie Rice – clap effects Richard Page – additional backing vocals Rumors have circulated that Michael Jackson himself also performed some backing vocals uncredited Arranger: Michael Jackson Additional Engineering: John Arrias and John Vigran
"Won't Be Long Now" Pointer Sisters – special guest (backing) vocals Robbie Nevil – guitars Paulinho da Costa – percussion Brian Banks and Anthony Marinelli – synthesizer programming Arrangers: Greg Phillinganes and Robbie Nevil
"Playin' With Fire" James Ingram, Howard Hewett, Phillip Ingram – special guest (backing) vocals Carlos Rios – guitar Carlos Vega – drums Bo Tomlyn – synthesizer programming Jerry Hey – horns Michael Boddicker – horn synthesizers Arranger: Jackie Jackson Horn Arrangements: Jackie Jackson and Jerry Hey Engineer: John Vigran Additional Engineering: Gary Skardina, Roger Paglia, Alex Schmoll
"I Have Dreamed" Brian Banks and Anthony Marinelli – synthesizer programming John Robinson – cymbals, hi-hat Arranger: Greg Phillinganes Additional engineering: John Vigran
"Come as You Are" Robbie Nevil – guitar Paulinho da Costa – percussion Julia Tillman, Maxine Willard, and Clydene Jackson – additional backing vocals Associate producers: Brock Walsh, Robbie Nevil Arranger: Robbie Nevil Track engineer: Bert Battaglia
"Lazy Nina" Michael Boddicker – synthesizer programming John Robinson – drums Philip Perry, Maxi Anderson, Darryl Phinnessee, and Gwen Matthews – additional backing vocals Greg Phillinganes, Cherron Taylor-Phillinganes, Shyra Mason, and Howard Dresden – claps Arrangers: Donald Fagen and Greg Phillinganes Additional engineering: Jeremy Smith and John Vigran
"Signals" Bo Tomlyn – synthesizer programming Nathan East – bass Paulinho da Costa – percussion Richard Page, Steve George – additional backing vocals Arranger: Greg Phillinganes
"Countdown to Love" Howie Rice – synthesizer Greg Phillinganes – additional keyboards, synthesizer solo Dennis Herring – guitar Arranger: Howie Rice Additional Engineering: John Arrias and Roger Paglia
"Shake It" Anthony Marinelli and Brian Banks – synthesizers and synthesizer programming Daryl Phinnessee – backing vocals and chants Associate Producers: Anthony Marinelli, Brian Banks Arrangers: Anthony Marinelli, Brian Banks, Greg Phillinganes Engineers: Anthony Marinelli, Brian Banks
