Self Control (album)

In their review of the album, Billboard commended the album as "a superbly balanced set of powerful rhythm pieces and big, torchy ballads. The stand-out in the latter category is a heartfelt version of the Carole King classic "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." Several of the songs were translated from French into English, and have the continental flair that characterized Branigan's top 10 hits "Gloria" and "Solitaire." {{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1984/BB-1984-04-14.pdf|magazine=Billboard Music Week|title=Album Reviews|issue=14 April 1984 |page=54 |access-date=July 27, 2024}}

Cashbox called it a "marvelously textured album" noting that "with the imminent success of the slow-grooving title track single, the album is sure to take hold of the public’s heart...this disc provides the powerful voiced songstress the variety of melody needed to show off her superior interpretive voice."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-04-24.pdf|magazine=Cash Box|title=Album Reviews|issue=14 April 1984 |page=14 |access-date=July 27, 2024}}

Allmusic noted that "Laura Branigan's third album capitalized on the Euro-dance-pop and affecting ballads that made her an international star while allowing her to grow as a vocalist. Her collections, always uneven in terms of material, benefit mostly from her stellar voice, and this is no exception."The Lucky One" and "Heart" start slow and build to a crescendo, perfectly showcasing her range without being obvious. The title track, about finding sex in the seamy side of town, sparked a bit of a controversy, but ended up being her second biggest hit. The song itself works, but Branigan was never a sex bomb, so the fact that she pulls it off is indicative of her power as a performer. "Ti Amo" is the album's theatrical ballad, which works well with breathy, dramatic vocals. She even pulls off a graceful cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" that is clear and simple" {{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/self-control-mw0000189209 | title=Self Control - Laura Branigan | Album | AllMusic | website=AllMusic }}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = The Lucky One

| lyrics1 = Bruce Roberts

| music1 = Roberts

| length1 = 4:10

| title2 = Self Control

| lyrics2 = Steve Piccolo

| music2 = {{hlist|Giancarlo Bigazzi|Raffaele Riefoli}}

| length2 = 4:08

| title3 = Ti Amo

| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Diane Warren{{ref |a|[a]}}}}

| music3 = {{hlist|Bigazzi|Tozzi}}

| length3 = 4:18

| title4 = Heart

| lyrics4 = Marie Cain

| music4 = Warren Hartman

| length4 = 4:08

| title5 = Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

| lyrics5 = Gerry Goffin

| music5 = Carole King

| length5 = 3:26

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title6 = Satisfaction

| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Mark Spiro|Warren}}

| music6 = {{hlist|Bernd Dietrich|Gerd Grabowski|Engelbert Simons}}

| length6 = 3:56

| title7 = Silent Partners

| lyrics7 = {{hlist|Warren|The Doctor}}

| music7 = {{hlist|Warren|The Doctor}}

| length7 = 4:10

| title8 = Breaking Out

| lyrics8 = {{hlist|Warren|The Doctor}}

| music8 = {{hlist|Warren|The Doctor}}

| length8 = 3:50

| title9 = Take Me

| lyrics9 = {{hlist|John Parker|Steve Kipner}}

| music9 = {{hlist|Parker|Kipner}}

| length9 = 3:43

| title10 = With Every Beat of My Heart

| lyrics10 = {{hlist|Bob Mitchell|Jamie Kaleth}}

| music10 = {{hlist|Bob Mitchell|Jamie Kaleth}}

| length10 = 4:12

| total_length = 40:01

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2013 expanded edition bonus tracks

| total_length = 61:24

| title11 = The Lucky One

| note11 = John Robie Mix

| lyrics11 = Roberts

| music11 = Roberts

| length11 = 5:23

| title12 = The Lucky One

| note12 = Jack White Mix

| lyrics12 = Roberts

| music12 = Roberts

| length12 = 5:04

| title13 = Self Control

| note13 = 12″ Version

| lyrics13 = Piccolo

| music13 = {{hlist|Bigazzi|Riefoli}}

| length13 = 5:00

| title14 = Satisfaction

| note14 = Special Dance Mix

| lyrics14 = {{hlist|Spiro|Warren}}

| music14 = {{hlist|Dietrich|Grabowski|Simons}}

| length14 = 5:56

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2020 expanded edition bonus disc{{cite web |url=https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/laura-branigan-self-control-2cd-expanded-edition/ |title=Laura Branigan: Self Control, 2CD Expanded Edition |publisher=Cherry Red Records |access-date=March 21, 2020}}

| total_length = 47:29

| title1 = Self Control

| note1 = Extended Version

| writer1 = {{hlist|Piccolo|Bigazzi|Riefoli}}

| length1 = 5:06

| title2 = Self Control

| note2 = Edit

| writer2 = {{hlist|Piccolo|Bigazzi|Riefoli}}

| length2 = 3:57

| title3 = Self Control

| note3 = Classic Summer Mix 1992

| writer3 = {{hlist|Piccolo|Bigazzi|Riefoli}}

| length3 = 4:00

| title4 = Self Control

| note4 = 117 BPM Club 1992

| writer4 = {{hlist|Piccolo|Bigazzi|Riefoli}}

| length4 = 4:56

| title5 = The Lucky One

| note5 = Single Version

| writer5 = Roberts

| length5 = 3:12

| title6 = The Lucky One

| note6 = Jack White Mix

| writer6 = Roberts

| length6 = 5:08

| title7 = The Lucky One

| note7 = John Robie Mix

| writer7 = Roberts

| length7 = 5:27

| title8 = Satisfaction

| note8 = Single Version

| writer8 = {{hlist|Warren|Dietrich|Simons|Grabowski|Spiro}}

| length8 = 3:41

| title9 = Satisfaction

| note9 = Special Dance Mix

| writer9 = {{hlist|Warren|Dietrich|Simons|Grabowski|Spiro}}

| length9 = 5:58

| title10 = When

| note10 = Single Version

| writer10 = Laura Branigan

| length10 = 2:44

| title11 = Hot Night

| note11 = from the Ghostbusters soundtrack

| writer11 = {{hlist|Warren|Steve Angelica}}

| length11 = 3:20

}}

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies English lyrics

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Self Control.{{cite AV media notes |title=Self Control |type=liner notes |others=Laura Branigan |publisher=Atlantic Records |year=1984 |id=80147-1}}

{{div col}}

• Laura Branigan – vocals
• Carlos Vega – drums
• John Robinson – drums
• Michael Landau – guitar
• Dann Huff – guitar
• Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
• Nathan East – bass
• Robbie Buchanan – pianos, synthesizers {{small|(all tracks)}}; arrangements {{small|(tracks 3, 5, 7–9)}}
• Harold Faltermeyer – additional synthesizers {{small|(all tracks)}}; arrangements {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 10)}}
• Larry O. Williams – saxophone {{small|(track 9)}}
• Thomas Kelly – background vocals
• Steve George – background vocals
• Bill Champlin – background vocals
• Richard Page – background vocals
• Tommy Funderburk – background vocals
• Jon Joyce – background vocals
• Jim Haas – background vocals
• Joe Chemay – background vocals
• Beth Anderson – background vocals
• Joe Pizzulo – background vocals

{{div col end}}

• Jürgen Koppers – engineering, mixing{{efn|Mixed at Paradise Studio (Munich, West Germany) and Westlake Studios (Los Angeles, California)}}
• Harold Faltermeyer – additional engineering
• Peter Luedemann – additional engineering
• Jeremy Smith – additional engineering
• Gary Skardina – additional engineering
• Keith Buckley – engineering assistance
• Jon Ingoldsby – engineering assistance
• Matt Forger – engineering assistance
• Brian Gardner – mastering{{efn|Mastered at Allen Zentz Mastering (Hollywood, California)}}
• Jack White – production, executive production
• Robbie Buchanan – production

• Tim Lohman – front cover photo
• Paul Lohman – creative direction
• Bob Defrin – art direction
• Lynn Dreese Breslin – design
• Daniela Scaramuzza – back cover photo

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

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{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Self Control}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Laura Branigan|title=Self Control|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|date=November 1, 1984|access-date=August 6, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|artist=Laura Branigan|title=Self Control|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|salesamount=32,476|access-date=July 15, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Laura Branigan|title=Self Control|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1993|access-date=August 6, 2018}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|artist=Laura Branigan|title=Self Control|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1989|access-date=November 30, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Laura Branigan|title=Self Control|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|id=5755-3321-2|date=October 26, 1984|access-date=July 31, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Laura Branigan|title=Self Control|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1984|certyear=1995|date=May 3, 1995|access-date=August 6, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{discogs master|102038}}

{{Laura Branigan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Self Control (Album)}}

Category:1984 albums

Category:Albums produced by Jack White (music producer)

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Laura Branigan albums