Energy (Pointer Sisters album)

1978 studio album by the Pointer Sisters

Energy

Studio album by

the Pointer Sisters

Released| October 24, 1978
Studio| Studio 55
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre| R&B, rock, soul
Label| Planet
Producer| Richard Perry
The Pointer Sisters chronology
| Having a Party
(1977)  | Energy
(1978)  | Priority
(1979)

|
|

Singles from  Energy

1. "Fire"
Released: October 2, 1978
2. "Happiness"
Released: March 1979

Energy is the fifth studio album by the Pointer Sisters, released in 1978 on the Planet label.

## History

[edit]

After a brief split following sister Bonnie's departure from the group, a musically reinvented and recharged Pointer Sisters returned composed of Ruth, Anita and June. Their first album for Planet, this was also the first album produced by Richard Perry. The record spawned a number two pop smash (and gold-certified single) with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire". "Happiness" also scored on the US pop Top 40.

Energy became the group's first gold-certified release since 1974's That's a Plenty. The album was remastered and issued on CD with bonus tracks in 2009 by Wounded Bird Records.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Christgau's Record Guide| B−[2]
Music Week| [3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide| [4]
Smash Hits| 6/10[5]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide praised "Fire" as an "absolute killer single."[4]

## Track listing

[edit]

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Lay It on the Line"| Patrick Henderson, Wornell Jones| 3:16
2.| "Dirty Work"| Walter Becker, Donald Fagen| 3:33
3.| "Hypnotized"| Bob Welch| 5:02
4.| "As I Come of Age"| Stephen Stills| 2:42
5.| "Come and Get Your Love"| Russ Ballard| 3:40

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

6.| "Happiness"| Allen Toussaint| 4:19
7.| "Fire"| Bruce Springsteen| 3:41
8.| "Angry Eyes"| Ken Loggins, Jim Messina| 2:42
9.| "Echoes of Love"| Patrick Simmons, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle| 3:06
10.| "Everybody Is a Star"| Sylvester Stewart| 3:15

2009 remastered bonus tracksNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

11.| "Love Is Like a Rolling Stone"| Jean Anne Chapman, Brian Cadd| 3:34
12.| "If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady" (Dance Mix)| John Lewis Parker, Brian Potter| 6:09
13.| "Happiness" (12" Version)|  | 5:47

## Personnel

[edit]

The Pointer Sisters

* Anita Pointer - lead vocals (2–4, 7, 9, 10), backing vocals, tambourine (5)
* Ruth Pointer - lead vocals (3–5, 10), backing vocals
* June Pointer - lead vocals (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10), backing vocals

Musicians

* David Paich - acoustic piano (1, 4, 6), electric piano (2, 3, 5, 10), organ (7), high piano (7)
* James Newton Howard - Hohner clavinet (3), synthesizers (3, 6, 9, 10), electric piano (4)
* Steve Porcaro - organ (4), synthesizers (9)
* Jimmy Phillips - organ (5), synthesizers (5), acoustic piano (8), organ (8)
* Jai Winding - acoustic piano (7)
* Danny Kortchmar - rhythm guitar (1, 5), electric guitar (3, 4), guitar (8, 10)
* Waddy Wachtel - lead guitar (1, 4, 5), electric guitar (2), slide guitar (3), guitar (6, 10)
* Fred Tackett - acoustic guitar (2), guitar (6, 8), rhythm guitar (9)
* Randy Bachman - acoustic guitar (3)
* Davey Johnstone - slide guitar (5), guitar (7), lead guitar (9)
* David Hungate - bass (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10)
* Eddie Watkins Jr. - bass (3)
* Mike Porcaro - bass (4)
* Gerald Johnson - bass (7)
* Abraham Laboriel - bass (9)
* Jeff Porcaro - drums (1, 3–6, 9, 10)
* Rick Jaeger - drums (2, 7)
* Mike Baird - drums (8)
* Lenny Castro - percussion (1, 9), tambourine (7)
* Richard Perry - percussion (8)
* Bryan Cumming - saxophone solo (2)

## Production

[edit]

* Richard Perry - producer
* Dennis Kirk - recording engineer
* Bill Schnee - remix engineer
* Gabe Veltri - assistant engineer
* Doug Sax - mastering engineer at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
* Robin Rinehart - production coordinator
* Kathleen Carey - song coordinator
* Marylin Vance - fashion coordinator
* Kosh - design, art direction
* James M. Shea - photography

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for Energy | Chart (1978–1979)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[6] | 21
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[7] | 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] | 38
US Billboard 200[9] | 13
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] | 9

### Year-end charts

[edit]

Year-end chart performance for Energy | Chart (1979)  | Position

|

Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] | 14
US Billboard 200[12] | 68

## Certifications

[edit]

Certifications for Energy Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[13] | Platinum  | 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[14] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] | Gold  | 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hanson, Amy. Energy review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 - via robertchristgau.com.
3. ^ "Album Preview: Pointer Sisters — "Energy"" (PDF). Music Week. Gwent: Pensord Press Ltd. February 10, 1979. p. 36\. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2025 - via WorldRadioHistory.com.
4. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 550.
5. ^ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (February 22 - March 7, 1979): 25.
6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235\. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Pointer Sisters – Energy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
8. ^ "Charts.nz – Pointer Sisters – Energy". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
9. ^ "The Pointer Sisters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
10. ^ "The Pointer Sisters Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
11. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1979". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
12. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1979". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
13. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Pointer Sisters – Energy". Music Canada. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
14. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Pointer Sisters – Energy" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved December 26, 2019. Enter Energy  in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1980 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
15. ^ "American album certifications – Pointer Sisters – Energy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Energy at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

The Pointer Sisters

* Ruth Pointer
* Issa Pointer
* Sadako Pointer

* Bonnie Pointer
* June Pointer
* Anita Pointer

Studio albums|

* The Pointer Sisters
* That's a Plenty
* Steppin'
* Having a Party
* Energy
* Priority
* Special Things
* Black & White
* So Excited!
* Break Out
* Contact
* Hot Together
* Serious Slammin'
* Right Rhythm
* Only Sisters Can Do That

Live albums|

* Live at the Opera House

Compilation albums|

* The Best of the Pointer Sisters

Singles|

* "Yes We Can Can"
* "Wang Dang Doodle"
* "Steam Heat"
* "Fairytale"
* "How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)"
* "Fire"
* "Everybody Is a Star"
* "Happiness"
* "He's So Shy"
* "Slow Hand"
* "Should I Do It"
* "I'm So Excited"
* "Automatic"
* "Jump (For My Love)"
* "Neutron Dance"
* "Dare Me"
* "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves" (with Natalia)

Related articles|

* Discography
* Pinball Number Count

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