Three decades ago, a 17-year-old girl from Brooklyn quite literally came from out of the blue with an infectious blend of pop that was all her own. Now, two different labels are celebrating Debbie Gibson's classic catalogue with a double-disc collection and a no-holds-barred box set.
Gibson, the third of four girls born to a family of music lovers, was writing and recording her own material before she reached her teens. In 1986, her demo "Only In My Dreams" earned her a development deal at Atlantic Records, who encouraged her songwriting and secured her gigs at New York City clubs. Soon, Gibson's first record, Out of The Blue, was produced by her with producers Fred Zarr, the "M+M" production duo of John Morales and Sergio Munzibal and Exposé producer Lewis A. Martineé. It would go triple platinum off the strength of four Billboard Top 5 hits: "Only In My Dreams," "Shake Your Love," "Out of the Blue" and the chart-topping "Foolish Beat," making Gibson the youngest female artist to have written, produced and performed a No. 1 single.
Lightning struck twice for Gibson when follow-up Electric Youth (1989) topped the Billboard 200 and went double platinum, spinning off another chart-topper in "Lost In Your Eyes." While her mainstream popularity faded in the ever-changing 1990s, Gibson thrived as a stage actress, appearing in Les Miserables on Broadway and Grease at London's West End. She never stopped recording, finding some success as an independent artist (also briefly courting a more adult audience going by "Deborah Gibson") with a dance-pop bent. Gibson's fans remain loyal to her as she continues to record, tour and act.
For those looking for a thorough new overview of her career highlights, Wounded Bird Records' The Singles A's & B's collects 34 Atlantic-era songs on two discs spanning from 1987 to 1993. All nine of Gibson's Top 40 hits are here, plus rarer dub versions and B-sides. Look for it September 26.
The Debbie Gibson superfan will no doubt go wild for We Could Be Together, a new box set by Edsel that offers an even deeper dive into her career. This 10CD/3DVD set features expanded editions of eight of Gibson's albums, including works for Atlantic, SBK and independent releases, two additional discs of remixes and rarities, and DVDs of music videos and live shows (much of which is either unreleased or otherwise unavailable on DVD). The box is rounded out with a 32-page scrapbook of photos selected by Gibson herself, plus new interviews and commentary by Gibson and Out of the Blue co-producer Fred Zarr. That box is available November 3.
Take a look at full track lists and pre-order links for both titles below.
The Singles A's & B's (Wounded Bird Records, 2017)
Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K.
Disc 1
- Only In My Dreams (Vocal)
- Only In My Dreams (Dub)
- Wake Up To Love
- Shake Your Love (Vocal)
- Shake Your Love (Bad Dub Version)
- Red Hot (Vocal/LP Version)
- Out of the Blue
- Out of the Blue (Edited Dub)
- Fallen Angel
- Foolish Beat
- Staying Together (Vocal)
- Staying Together (Dub Edit)
- No More Rhyme
- Over the Wall (Dub Version)
- Lost In Your Eyes
- Silence Speaks (A Thousand Words) (Acoustic Mix)
- Lost In Your Eyes (Piano & Vocal Mix)
Disc 2
- We Could Be Together
- No More Rhyme (Acoustic Version)
- Electric Youth
- One Step Ahead (Hot Radio Mix)
- One Step Ahead (LP Version)
- Anything Is Possible
- So Close To Forever
- One Hand, One Heart
- The Most Beautiful Love Song
- Without You
- This So-Called Miracle (Edited Version)
- This So-Called Miracle (Full Version)
- Shock Your Mama (The London Apprentice Edit)
- Love Or Lust
- In His Mind
- Eyes of the Child
- Love Or Money
We Could Be Together (Edsel DGBOOK01 (U.K.), 2017)
Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K.
Disc 1: Out of the Blue (originally released as Atlantic 81780, 1987) and bonus tracks
- Out of the Blue
- Staying Together
- Only In My Dreams
- Foolish Beat
- Red Hot
- Wake Up to Love
- Shake Your Love
- Fallen Angel
- Play the Field
- Between the Lines
- Only In My Dreams (Extended Club Mix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86744, 1987)
- Shake Your Love (Club Mix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86651, 1987)
- Out of the Blue (Club Mix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86621, 1987)
- Staying Together (Remix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86533, 1987)
- Foolish Beat (Extended Mix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86556, 1988)
Disc 2: Electric Youth (originally released as Atlantic 81932, 1989) and bonus tracks
- Who Loves Ya Baby?
- Lost In Your Eyes
- Love In Disguise
- Helplessly In Love
- Silence Speaks (A Thousand Words)
- Should've Been the One
- Electric Youth
- No More Rhyme
- Over the Wall
- We Could Be Together
- Shades of the Past
- Lost In Your Eyes (Piano & Vocal Mix) (U.K. 12" B-side - Atlantic A8970T, 1989)
- Silence Speaks (A Thousand Words) (Acoustic Mix) (B-side to "Lost In Your Eyes" - Atlantic 7-88970, 1989)
- No More Rhyme (Acoustic Mix) (CD bonus track - Atlantic 81932-2, 1989)
- We Could Be Together (Campfire Mix) (CD bonus track and B-side to "Electric Youth" - Atlantic 7-88919, 1989)
- Electric Youth (Latin Edit) (12" promo B-side - Atlantic DMD 1315, 1989)
- Over the Wall (Dub Version) (B-side to "No More Rhyme" - Atlantic 7-88885, 1989)
- We Could Be Together (Extended Version) (promo CD single B-side - Atlantic PR 2724-2, 1989)
Disc 3: Anything Is Possible (originally released as Atlantic 82167, 1990) and bonus tracks
- Another Brick Falls
- Anything Is Possible
- Reverse Psychology
- One Step Ahead
- Stand Your Ground
- Deep Down
- It Must've Been My Boy
- Lead Them Home My Dreams
- One Hand, One Heart
- Sure
- Negative Energy
- Mood Swings
- Try
- In His Mind
- Where Have You Been?
- This So-Called Miracle
- So Close to Forever (B-side to "Anything is Possible" - Atlantic 7-87793, 1990)
- The Most Beautiful Love Song (B-side to "One Hand, One Heart" Japanese CD single - Atlantic AMDY-5046, 1990)
Disc 4: Body Mind Soul (originally released as Atlantic 82451, 1992) and bonus tracks
- Love or Money
- Do You Have It In Your Heart?
- Free Me
- Shock Your Mama
- Losin' Myself
- How Can This Be?
- When I Say No
- Little Birdie
- Kisses 4 One
- Tear Down These Walls
- Goodbye
- Eyes of the Child (Japanese bonus track - Atlantic/EastWest AMCY-505, 1993)
- Love or Lust (U.K. B-side to "Shock Your Mama" - Atlantic A 7386, 1992)
- Kisses 4 One (Percappella) (cassingle B-side to "Shock Your Mama" - Atlantic 87363-4, 1992)
- Losin' Myself (T-Ray's Acoustic Mix) (12" B-side - Atlantic 0-85785, 1992)
- Free Me (Extended Mix) (12" promo B-side - Atlantic DMD 2001, 1992)
Disc 5: Think With Your Heart (originally released as SBK Records 72438 33374 2 2, 1995) and bonus tracks
- For Better or Worse
- Didn't Have the Heart
- Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
- Dancin' in My Mind
- Dontcha Want Me Now?
- Can't Do It Alone
- Think With Your Heart
- Too Fancy
- You Don't Have to See
- Two Young Kids
- Interlude/Tony's Rehearsal
- Let's Run Away
- Call Yourself a Lover (Japanese bonus track - SBK TOCP-8638, 1995)
- You Know Me (Japanese bonus track - SBK TOCP-8638, 1995)
Disc 6: Deborah (originally released as Espiritu Records 9602, 1997) and bonus tracks
- Prelude
- Ode to a Would-Be Lover
- Moonchild
- Only Words
- Naturally
- Nobody's You
- Cry Tonight
- Where I Wanna Be
- Butterflies Are Free
- Give Me Your Love
- Just Wasn't Love
- I Can't
- People
- Don't Rain On My Parade
- I Will Let You Go
- My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (Maxi-Pop) (B-side to "Naturally" Japanese CD single - Portazul COCY-80847, 1998)
- You Belong To Me (promo CD single - Espiritu Records, 1999)
- Only In My Dreams (1997 Dance Edit) (second edition bonus track)
- Only Words (Dance Edit) (second edition bonus track)
- My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (Unplugged) (B-side to "Naturally" Japanese CD single - Portazul COCY-80847, 1998)
Disc 7: M.Y.O.B. (originally released as Golden Egg Records GER-1234-2, 2001) and bonus tracks
- M.Y.O.B.
- Your Secret
- What You Want
- Down That Road
- The One
- Wishing You Were Here
- What Part of No
- In Blue
- Jaded
- Knock Three Times (with Tony Orlando)
- Light the World (with Peabo Bryson) (Japanese CD single A-side - Portazul CODY-1723, 1999)
- Comes Right Back (Campfire Mix) (B-side to "What You Want" - Espiritu Records ESP 8317-2, 2000)
- M.Y.O.B. (Dance Mix) (CD bonus track)
- Your Secret (Hot Vocal Radio Mix) (CD single B-side - Golden Egg Records GER 11146, 2001)
Disc 8: Ms. Vocalist (originally released as Sony Music International SICP 2886 (JP), 2010)
- Tsunami
- Say Yes
- I Love You
- Roman Hiko
- Suddenly ~Love Story wa Totsuzen ni~
- True Love
- Hitomi o Tojite
- Sakurazaka
- However
- Robinson
- Lost In Your Eyes 2010 (English Version)
- Sekaiju No Dareyori Kitto (with Eric Martin)
- Lost In Your Eyes 2010 (Japanese Version)
Disc 9: Remixes
- Electric Youth (Deep House Mix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86427, 1989)
- We Could Be Together (House Mix) (U.K. 12" A-side - Atlantic A8896T, 1989)
- Anything Is Possible (Dance Mix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86101, 1990)
- One Step Ahead (Club Mix) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-86025, 1990)
- Losin' Myself (12" Masters At Work) (12" A-side - Atlantic 0-85785, 1992)
- Free Me (Smoove Free Club Mix) (12" promo A-side - Atlantic DMD 2001, 1992)
- Only Words (Arena Club Vocal Mix) (12" A-side - Jellybean Recordings JEL 2524, 1997)
- Only In My Dreams 1998 (Club Mix) (12" A-side - Jellybean Recordings JEL 2532, 1998)
- Your Secret (Secret Party Mix) (CD single B-side - Golden Egg Records GER 11146, 2001)
- Medley (Debbie Gibson Mega Mix) (12" B-side to "Foolish Beat" - Atlantic 0-86556, 1986)
Disc 10: Stage, Screen & Beyond
- In the Still Of the Night (I'll Remember) (from The Wonder Years: Music From the Emmy Award-Winning Show and Its Era - Atlantic 82032, 1989)
- Come Home (Wonder Years) (from The Wonder Years: Music From the Emmy Award-Winning Show and Its Era - Atlantic 82032, 1989)
- Without You (Japanese single - Atlantic AMDY-5034, 1990)
- Someday - Chris Cuevas with Debbie Gibson (from Somehow, Someway - Atlantic 82187, 1991)
- Hopelessly Devoted to You (from Grease: The Original London Cast Recording - Epic 474632, 1993)
- You're the One That I Want - Craig McLachlan & Debbie Gibson (from Grease: The Original London Cast Recording - Epic 474632, 1993)
- With All My Heart (fan club CD single, 2000)
- Someone You Love - The O'Neill Brothers with Debbie Gibson (from Someone You Love - Shamrock-n-Roll Inc. BK1214, 2006)
- Sounds Like Love (digital single, 2006)
- Say Goodbye - Jordan Knight with Debbie Gibson (from Love Songs - Trans Continental Records TC-1-003, 2006)
- Naked (Golden Egg Records single 0747-CD-1481, 2005)
- Already Gone (digital single, 2009)
- Rise (from 3 Billion and Counting, 2009)
- Promises (from UPTV's The Music In Me, 2015)
- Wonderland (Cutting Room Floor Mix) (from Hallmark's Summer of Dreams, 2016)
- Snake Charmer (from SyFy's Mega-Python Vs. Gatoroid, 2011)
- Famous (digital single, 2006)
- RCVR - Big Black Delta with Debbie Gibson (from Trágame Tierra - Masters of Bates MOBCD002, 2016)
- Rise (Revolution Mix) (digital single, 2009)
- Dance Dance
- Cougar (featured in Murad's Resurgence Skin Care commercial, 2010)
- Pop Circus
- Only In My Dreams (2016 Acoustic Version) (digital single, 2016)
DVD 1: The Videos
- Only In My Dreams
- Shake Your Love
- Out Of the Blue
- Foolish Beat
- Staying Together
- Lost In Your Eyes
- Electric Youth
- No More Rhyme
- We Could Be Together
- Anything Is Possible
- This So-Called Miracle
- One Hand, One Heart
- Someday - Chris Cuevas with Debbie Gibson
- Losin' Myself
- Shock Your Mama
- You're the One That I Want - Craig McLachlan with Debbie Gibson
- For Better Or Worse
- Didn't Have the Heart
- Only Words
- What You Want
- Already Gone
- I Love You
- Shake Your Love (12" Version)
- Out Of the Blue (12" Version)
- Electric Youth (Long Version)
- We Could Be Together (Long Version)
- Anything Is Possible (U.K. Version)
- Only Words (Dance Version)
- Electric Youth Reloaded (with Jace Hall)
DVD 2: Live In Pittsburgh: The Out Of the Blue Tour 1988 (Tracks 1-10, originally released as Atlantic VHS 50133-3, 1989) and Live In Atlanta: The Electric Youth World Tour 1989 (Tracks 11-20, originally released as A*Vision VHS 50171-3, 1990)
- Staying Together
- Foolish Beat
- Shake Your Love
- In the Still Of the Night (I'll Remember)
- Lost In Your Eyes
- Should've Been the One
- Out Of the Blue
- Only In My Dreams
- We Could Be Together
- Crocodile Rock
- Who Loves Ya Baby?
- Over the Wall
- Lost In Your Eyes
- Don't Flirt With Me
- Dance To the Music
- Love Under My Pillow
- Should've Been the One
- We Could Be Together
- No More Rhyme
- Electric Youth
DVD 3: Live In Nashville: Tin Pan South 4/19/1995 (previously unreleased)
- For Better Or Worse
- Didn't Have the Heart
- Your Love Amazes Me
- Too Fancy
- Lost In Your Eyes
- Let's Run Away
- Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
Bill says
Maybe it's me, but who has the extra money to spend on this! Chaque a son gout!
Jason Meow Meow says
Debbie is a nice guilty pleasure, but all these discs? I wish George Michael would have released something this exhaustive!
Bill says
I will hold out for an 8 track release!
Galley says
I was at the 1989 show in Atlanta, so you better believe I pre-ordered the boxed set!
Galley says
There was a last-minute addition to DVD 3. Their is a 16-song concert video from the Possibilities World Tour, recorded at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on June 14th, 1991. The tracks are only listed in the booklet.