“Cheryl Lynn” by Cheryl Lynn (1978)
Release Date: October 13, 1978
Produced by David Paich, Marty Paich
Genre: R&B, Disco, Soul
Label: Columbia
Chart Positions: #23 (US), #22 (Canada), #5 (US R&B)
Certifications: 2xPlatinum (US)
Singles: “Got To Be Real” #12 (US), #23 (New Zealand), #29 (Japan), #60 (UK), #1 (US Disco, US R&B), #11 (US Dance), “Star Love” #62 (US), #63 (Canada), #11 (US Dance), #9 (US R&B)
Singles Certifications: “Got To Be Real” (US Platinum)
Other Charting Tracks: N/A
Best Tracks: “Got To Be Real,” “Star Love,” “Come In From The Rain,” “Nothing You Say”
Trivia: Cheryl Lynn started her career in music was in 1976 as a backup vocalist in the national touring company of the musical “The Wiz.” But her real start was in early 1976, shortly before her role in “The Wiz,” when she appeared on an episode of the Gong Show (which was not aired until many months later in 1976). She was scored a perfect 30 and tied with a Juggling Clown. In an audience applause tiebreaker it was the juggler that won the show but it is Cheryl Lynn that moved on to national and international success when record producers shopped her for a record contract. With in months she had a Top 10 hit with the classic disco track “Got To Be Real.”
Lynn’s self-titled debut album contains the two disco hits “Got To Be Real” and “Star Love” but is mostly an album filled with soulful ballads, which is the direction Lynn would take with the remainder of her career. Indicative of this direction is how she started as she did a soulful rendition of Joe Cocker’s ballad “You Are So Beautiful To Me” on the Gong Show.”
Despite the fact that Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real" received massive amounts of airplay both on radio and in dance clubs the song only reached #12 on the US charts (although it did stay at #12 for three weeks). The song has gone on to become a dance music classic and was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005. To this day the song still continues to get a decent amount of play in clubs, radio, streaming sites and youtube.
Ray Parker (of "Ghostbusters fame) played the guitar on "Got To Be Real" and several other tracks on the album. Parker also co-wrote the disco track "Give My Love To you" a song which could have easily been a hit for Cheryl. Cheryl wrote the vocal melody and lyrics for "Got To Be Real," while David Paich and soon to become well known songwriter David Foster composed the music. David Foster had his own hot with "Love Theme from St Elmo's Fire" in 1985 as well as winning 16 Grammy Awards for his work as a producer and songwriter.
The album includes a soulful and rhythmic jazz influenced rendition of the Carole Bayer Sager and Melissa Manchester penned "Come In From The Rain." Several recording artists have recorded the song including Captain & Tennille, Shirley Bassey, Diana Ross, Rosemary Clooney, Carole Bayer Sager and others.
"Got To Be Real" (1978)
With it's cosmic lyrics and Cheryl out of the world powerful lead vocals "Star Love" became another disco classic the minute it was released. Though the song was not a huge hit on the charts (only #62 on the US Billboard singles chart) it did get a ton of airplay in dance clubs and on dance oriented radio stations. Upon it's release it looked as if the song was going to follow "Got To Be Real" into the Top 15. Radio programmers were keyed up for another big hit.
IN reviewing "Star Love" billboard magazine wrote the following in their February 3, 1979 issue:
"Lynn follows her infectious hit "Got To Be Real" with an equally sizzling track. Repetitive synthesizer, strong horns and good vocals make this cut stand out."
Lynn’s album was co-produced by song and father David and Marty Paich. David is best known for being a member of the popular pop-rock band Toto who had hits such as “Hold The Line,” “Africa” and “Rosanna” all of which were written by Paich.
Cheryl Lynn (1978)
CHERYL LYNN
