The Return Of Bruno is the debut album by actor Bruce Willis. Released by Motown in 1987, this album is an eclectic gathering of R&B music sung by Willis, with backing musicians including Booker T. Jones, The Pointer Sisters, and The Temptations. It is a companion piece to an HBO special of the same name, which aired shortly after the album’s release. A re-issue was distributed by Razor & Tie in 1997. The album peaked at #14 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. Leadoff single “Respect Yourself,” a duet with June Pointer featuring background vocals by the Pointer Sisters, was a hit. It peaked at #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. Follow-up singles “Young Blood” and “Under the Boardwalk” did not fare nearly as well, peaking at #68 and #59, in the US respectively. Though “Under the Boardwalk” fared poorly in the US, in the UK it was a different matter, as the single reached #2 in the charts and became the UK’s 12th best-selling single of 1987.
Tracks
1 Comin’ Right Up (Brock Walsh) 03:29 2 Respect Yourself (Luther Ingram; Mack Rice) 03:53 3 Down In Hollywood (Ry Cooder; Tim Drummond) 05:19 4 Young Blood (Mike Stoller; Jerry Leiber) 04:08 5 Under The Boardwalk (Artie Resnick; Kenny Young) 03:03 6 Secret Agent Man / James Bond Is Back (John Barry; PF Sloan; Steve Barri) 04:47 7 Jackpot (Bruno’s Bop) (Bruce Willis; Robert Kraft) 04:11 8 Fun Time (Allen Toussaint) 03:36 9 Lose Myself (Larry John McNally; Jon Lind) 03:57 10 Flirting With Disaster (Brock Walsh; Jeff Lorber) 04:28
Musicians
Harmonica - Bruce Willis Vocals - Bruce Willis
Other Musicians
1 Comin’ Right Up Bass - David Chamberlain Drums - Marty Fera Guitar - Danny Grenier Guitar - Duane Sciacqua Keyboards - Alan Pasqua Keyboards - Steve Thoma Sax - Christ Mostert Sax - Greg Smith Trumpet - Jerry Hey Trumpet - Gary Grant Percussion - Mike Fisher Background Vocals - Siedah Garrett
2 Respect Yourself Bass - David Chamberlain Bass - Jeff Steele Drums - Marty Fera Guitar - Danny Grenier Guitar - Duane Sciacqua Keyboards - Greg Phillinganes Keyboards - Michael Boddicker Keyboards - Steve Thoma Sax - Christ Mostert Sax - Greg Smith Trumpet - Jerry Hey Trumpet - Gary Grant Percussion - Mike Fisher Background Vocals - Lynn Davis
3 Down In Hollywood Bass - David Chamberlain Drums - Marty Fera Guitar - Danny Grenier Guitar - Duane Sciacqua Keyboards - Alan Pasqua Keyboards - Steve Thoma Sax - Christ Mostert Sax - Greg Smith Percussion - Mike Fisher Background Vocals - Danny Grenier Background Vocals - Darryl Phinnessee Background Vocals - David Chamberlain Background Vocals - Lynn Davis Background Vocals - Phillip Ingram Background Vocals - Rob Trow Background Vocals - Siedah Garrett
4 Young Blood Bass - David Chamberlain Drums - Marty Fera Guitar - Danny Grenier Guitar - Duane Sciacqua Keyboards - Steve Thoma Sax - Christ Mostert Sax - Greg Smith Background Vocals - Danny Grenier Background Vocals - Duane Sciacqua Background Vocals - Steve Thoma
5 Under The Boardwalk Bass - Neil Stubenhaus Guitar - James Harrah Percussion - Mike Fisher Background Vocals - The Temptations
6 Secret Agent Man / James Bond Is Back Bass - Neil Stubenhaus Drums - Rick Marotta Guitar - Dann Huff Keyboards - Alan Pasqua Organ - Booker T Jones Sax - Joel Peskin Percussion - Mike Fisher Background Vocals - Alexis England Background Vocals - Bruce Di Mattia Background Vocals - Darryl Phinnessee Background Vocals - Jan Gorman Background Vocals - John Vigran Background Vocals - Jolie Levine Background Vocals - Jon Lind Background Vocals - Phillip Ingram Background Vocals - Rob Trow Background Vocals - Robert Kraft Background Vocals - Shari Dub
7 Jackpot (Bruno’s Bop) Bass - David Chamberlain Drums - Marty Fera Guitar - Danny Grenier Guitar - Duane Sciacqua Keyboards - Steve Thoma Sax - Christ Mostert Sax - Greg Smith
8 Fun Time Bass - David Chamberlain Drums - Marty Fera Guitar - Danny Grenier Guitar - Duane Sciacqua Keyboards - Chris Mostert Keyboards - Greg Smith Sax - Christ Mostert Sax - Greg Smith Vocals - Bruce Willis Percussion - Mike Fisher Background Vocals - Darryl Phinnessee Background Vocals - Lynn Davis Background Vocals - Phillip Ingram Background Vocals - Rob Trow Background Vocals - Siedah Garrett Background Vocals - Tim Stone
9 Lose Myself Bass - David Chamberlain Drums - Marty Fera Guitar - Buzz Feiten Guitar - Danny Grenier Guitar - Duane Sciacqua Keyboards - Alan Pasqua Sax - Christ Mostert Sax - Greg Smith Percussion - Mike Fisher Background Vocals - Fred Mulvey Background Vocals - Rob Trow Background Vocals - Tim Stone
10 Flirting With Disaster Drums - Wendell Dhowell Drums (programming) - Brock Walsh Drums (programming) - Jeff Lorber Guitar - Dann Huff Keyboards - Jeff Lorber Keyboards - Steve Thoma Background Vocals - Lynn Davis Background Vocals - Phillip Ingram Background Vocals - Siedah Garrett Background Vocals - Brock Walsh
Liner Notes
Producer – Robert Kraft Producer (Assistant) – Jan Gorman Arranged By – Chris Mostert, Danny Grenier, Dave Chamberlain, Duane Sciacqua, Greg Smith, Marty Fera, Steve Thoma (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 8) Arranged By – Robert Kraft (Tracks 2, 5, 6, 7) Arranged By – Bruce Willis (Tracks 7) Arranged By – Brock Walsh, Jeff Lorber (Track 10) Arranged By (Brass) – Jerry Hey (Tracks 1, 2) Arranged By (Rhythm) – Brock Walsh (Track 1) Arranged By (Strings) – Hoogle D’Howell (Track 5) Coordinator – Jolie Levine Effects (SFX) – Ken Johnson Effects (SFX) – Robert Kraft (Track 5) Effects (SFX) – George Budd (Track 6) Engineer – John Vigran Engineer (Assistant) – Cliff Kane, David Eaton, Julie Last, Michael C Ross, Ron DaSilva Mastered By – Bernie Grundman Mixed By – Daniel Lazerus Technician – David Benson Art Direction – Johnny Lee Design – Andy Engel Photography – David AlexanderRecorded At Cherokee Studios Recorded At Bill Schnee Studios Recorded At Weddington Studios Recorded At Image Recording Studios Recorded At Ocean Way Recording Mastered At Bernie Grundman Mastering Phonographic Copyright Motown Record Corporation Copyright Motown Record Corporation
