Melissa Manchester announced her independence from Arista Records when she signed to MCA Records after nearly a decade with Clive Davis’ famous label.  At Arista, Manchester had established herself as one of the finest singer-songwriters of her era (or any other!) as well as a first-class pop interpreter.  At MCA, she reinvented herself further by jumping headfirst into the world of dance-oriented synthpop, Hi-NRG, and new wave.  1985’s Mathematics bore the period’s hallmark of multiple big-name producers: George Duke, Brock Walsh, Robbie Nevil, Trevor Veitch, and executive producer Quincy Jones.  Mathematics featured the A-list of Los Angeles’ session musicians like John Robinson, Jerry Hey, Paulinho DaCosta, and Lee Ritenour, plus backgrounds from the Waters family and special guests such as Toto’s Steve Lukather, gospel pioneer Andrae Crouch, and “Maniac” star Michael Sembello.  But the real star of the album was Melissa Manchester’s powerful voice in a new setting of infectious, bubbly dance-pop rhythms (and one beautiful ballad, “Just One Lifetime,” which was later sung by Barbra Streisand at her wedding to James Brolin and on disc.)  Over the years, the bold Mathematics has become one of Melissa’s most beloved albums, and certainly her most in-demand.  But it’s never been released on CD anywhere in the world…until now.

Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to present the definitive, 2-CD edition of this classic album, coming on October 12.  Mathematics: The MCA Years boasts the newly-remastered, full-length original album on Disc One while Disc Two boasts all of the original period remixes, the B-side “So Full of Yourself,” and three outtakes: the never-before-heard “Water from the Moon” and “Skin on Skin,” and the never commercially available “Just One Star Beyond,” written by Craig Safan, Mark Mueller, and Melissa for the sci-fi cult classic The Last Starfighter.

And that’s not all.  Mathematics: The MCA Years also adds all three versions of the Oscar-nominated “The Promise (I’ll Never Say Goodbye)” from the soundtrack of The Promise for the very first time on CD plus the U.S. CD debut of the Al Jarreau duet “The Music of Goodbye” from Out of Africa. 

This deluxe package has been remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision Mastering and has been designed by John Sellards.  TSD’s Joe Marchese has written the liner notes based on a fresh interview with Melissa, and the 28-page booklet also includes lyrics, photos, and memorabilia.  Look for Mathematics: The MCA Years on October 12!  Pre-order links are available below.

Melissa Manchester, Mathematics: The MCA Years (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: The Original Album (MCA LP MCA-5587, 1985 – reissued Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music, 2018)

1. Victims of the Modern Heart
2. Mathematics
3. Energy
4. Shocked
5. All Tied Up
6. The Dream
7. Restless Love
8. Thunder in the Night
9. Night Creatures
10. Just One Lifetime

CD 2: Bonus Tracks

1. Water from the Moon (previously unreleased)
2. Skin on Skin (previously unreleased)
3. Just One Star Beyond (previously unreleased)
4. So Full of Yourself (Non-LP B-side) (MCA single MCA-52575, 1985)
5. Just One Lifetime (Single Edit) (MCA single MCA-52688, 1985)
6. Mathematics (Dance Mix) (MCA 12-inch single MCA-23554, 1985)
7. Mathematics (Dub Version) (MCA 12-inch single MCA-23554, 1985)
8. Energy (Power Mix) (MCA 12-inch single MCA-23563, 1985)
9. Energy (Dub Version) (MCA 12-inch single MCA-23563, 1985)
10. Main Title: The Promise (I’ll Never Say Goodbye) (The Promise: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, MCA LP 3082, 1979)
11. Remembrance Montage/The Promise (I’ll Never Say Goodbye)/Ben’s Drive (MCA LP 3082, 1979)
12. The Promise Kept/End Title: The Promise (I’ll Never Say Goodbye) (MCA LP 3082, 1979)
13. The Music of Goodbye (Love Theme from Out of Africa) – with Al Jarreau (MCA single MCA-52784, 1986)