1995-1996

Head Over Heels

My Love Is For RealCrazy CoolAin't Never Gonna Give You UpHead Over HeelsDiscography

Overview

Album photo session outtake.

By 1995, Paula Abdul had recovered from her battle with an eating disorder (bulimia) and a divorce from actor Emilio Estevez. After a four-year absence from the music scene Paula prepared to return to the spotlight with her new album “Head Over Heels”, a bold departure from her first two studio albums.

The album was hoped to bring Abdul back into the limelight and was considered Abdul's comeback album. However, this would be the last album Abdul would release before taking a hiatus from music.

Released on June 13th, 1995, “Head Over Heels,” is a new chapter, and a more mature sound for Paula Abdul: the result of Paula’s growth as a singer and songwriter as well as an individual who’s spiritually risen to the challenges that life brings and emerged strong as a result. The album is also driven with the same spirit and joy that propelled her to mega-stardom.

Album photography by Walter Chin.

For “Head Over Heels”, Paula decided to work with an array of different producers, the same creative scenario that was in place for her landmark #1 1988 debut album, “Forever Your Girl” (a seven million-seller in the United States alone).

Some of the talented musicians that helped Paula on her “Forever Your Girl” and “Spellbound” albums returned with new songs on the “Head Over Heels” album including Oliver Leiber, Elliot Wolff, Darryl Simmons (all three lent their talents to “Forever Your Girl”); Peter Lord and Jeff Smith (the Family Stand members who produced most of “Spellbound”).

Says Paula, “I’ve now experienced both sides. On my first album, I worked with seven producers; on “Spellbound” I worked with only a few. Going into my third album, I wanted to again experiment with many different people and flavors."

At the same time, adds Paula, “I went into this album thinking I didn’t want to be in any compromising situations, as I was at times, on my last two albums. Going into the studio and creating an album is a very intimate experience. I’m now more involved in the production end of my songs. I’m unafraid to state what my feelings and opinions are. All my producers were so open to my input and they were very honest. They said, ‘Thank God you thought of that.’ It was a good feeling.”

Paula collaborated with songwriters Stacey Piersa and Elliot Wolff on the album.

The new album strikingly builds on Paula’s distinctive mix of pop, funk, R&B and ballads. “My Love Is For Real,” the first single from the album, merges a heavy funk groove with Middle Eastern styling’s and guest vocals by critically revered Israeli singer Ofra Haza.

“Ho-Down” is built on an infectious hip-hop groove. “Under The Influence” captivatingly blends pop, funk and rock. And, “Ain’t Never Gonna Give You Up” has the irresistible bounce of an old-school R&B classic, but done in modern context.

And in true Paula style, she journeyed to exotic Morocco— with her dancers, who she choreographs— to shoot the video for the bewitching “My Love Is For Real” with director Michael Hausman.

“It’s a completely different space and time for me,” says Paula. “I’ve experienced some spiritual growth that has allowed me to really get back to what I enjoy doing best. And that’s totally being connected to the creative source as a recording artist and dancer.”

Image from "My Love Is For Real."

The album contained fourteen new tracks on the US release and two bonus tracks (“Crazy Love” and “High School Crush”) on the Japanese release. “Crazy Love” was later released on Abdul’s “Greatest Hits” album.

Recording sessions for the album began in 1994.

Three singles were released from "Head over Heels." The first single, "My Love is for Real" featuring background vocals from Israeli singer Ofra Haza was a moderate hit peaking at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Abdul's first single to not reach the Top 20 and was considered her last hit in her career. However, the song went to #1 on the U.S. dance charts (her only song to do so).

The following single, "Crazy Cool" peaked at #58 and was considered a flop, due to low promotion coupled with negative publicity from MTV about the racy music video.

The last single from the album "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up," was released in 1996 and failed to chart and was considered another flop for her, due to lack of promotion. However, it did peak at #12 on Bubbling Under Hot 100.

A fourth single, "If I Were Your Girl" was due to be released, but was canceled after disappointing album sales and the failure of "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up".

Due to a lack of promotion by Virgin Records, 'Head Over Heels' peaked at just 18 on the Billboard 100.  The album sold just under 3 million copies worldwide, Abdul's lowest selling studio album (in terms of international sales) in her career.  The album has gained a cult following among fans, and continues to sell and stream to fans delight twenty-five years later.  It was certified RIAA Gold on October 31st, 1995.

In interviews for the album, Abdul stated she had plans to tour to promote the album.  Aside from a quick promotional tour in Japan, these plans never materialized due to lack of support from the label. After the relative commercial failure of the album, by comparison to Abdul's first two musical outings, Paula left the music scene and would not return until 2008’s “Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow.”

In 1995, Abdul also released a dance workout video titled "Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance!" (re-released on DVD in 2003), a fast-paced, hip-hop style workout.

Brad Beckerman and Paula Abdul

In her personal life, Abdul married clothing designer Brad Beckerman in 1996, at the New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, Connecticut. They divorced in 1998, after 17 months of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

In 1997, Abdul co-wrote a song called "Spinning Around" with record producer and composer Kara DioGuardi, which was intended to be her comeback single from a new album, but the plan never materialized and the song was later discovered three years later by Kylie Minogue and became a #1 mega-hit worldwide in 2000. The songs lyrics were written about Abdul's marriage to Beckerman.

In 1997, Abdul also appeared in the ABC television film Touched By Evil, playing a businesswoman who discovers that her boyfriend is a serial rapist.

Track Lists and Formats

US / Canada 5" CD LP - Virgin 7243 8 40525 2 2:

1. Crazy Cool 4:42
2. My Love Is For Real 5:20
3. Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up 3:53
4. Love Don't Come Easy 4:05
5. If I Were Your Girl 3:55
6. Sexy Thoughts 4:09
7. The Choice Is Yours 4:47
8. Ho-Down 4:22
9. Under The Influence 4:29
10. I Never Knew It 4:27
11. Get Your Groove On 4:02
12. Missing You 3:52
13. It's All About Feeling Good 3:46
14. Cry For Me 3:38

Taiwan  5" CD LP –  EMI (Taiwan) ‎7243 8 40525 2 2:

1. Crazy Cool 4:42
2. My Love Is For Real 5:20
3. Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up 3:53
4. Love Don't Come Easy 4:05
5. If I Were Your Girl 3:55
6. Sexy Thoughts 4:09
7. The Choice Is Yours 4:47
8. Ho-Down 4:22
9. Under The Influence 4:29
10. I Never Knew It 4:27
11. Get Your Groove On 4:02
12. Missing You 3:52
13. It's All About Feeling Good 3:46
14. Cry For Me 3:38

UK 12" Vinyl LP - VUSLP 90:

A1. Crazy Cool 4:42
A2. My Love Is For Real 5:20
A3. Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up 3:53
A4. Love Don't Come Easy 4:05
A5. If I Were Your Girl 3:55
A6. Sexy Thoughts 4:09
A7. The Choice Is Yours 4:47
B1. Ho-Down 4:22
B2. Under The Influence 4:29
B3. I Never Knew It 4:27
B4. Get Your Groove On 4:02
B5. Missing You 3:52
B6. It's All About Feeling Good 3:46
B7. Cry For Me 3:38

Japan 5" CD LP - Virgin ‎– VJCP-25172:

1. Crazy Cool 4:42
2. My Love Is For Real 5:20
3. Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up 3:53
4. Love Don't Come Easy 4:05
5. If I Were Your Girl 3:55
6. Sexy Thoughts 4:09
7. The Choice Is Yours 4:47
8. Ho-Down 4:22
9. Under The Influence 4:29
10. I Never Knew It 4:27
11. Get Your Groove On 4:02
12. Missing You 3:52
13. It's All About Feeling Good 3:46
14. Cry For Me 3:38
15. Crazy Love 4:31
16. Highschool Crush 4:36

Taiwan 5" CD, Compilation, Promo, Sampler:

1. My Love Is For Real
2. Forever Your Girl
3. Cold Hearted
4. The Way That You Love Me
5. Opposites Attract
6. Rush Rush
7. The Promise Of A New Day
8. Blowing Kisses In The Wind
9. Straight Up

Canada Cassette LP, Virgin ‎– 7243 8 40525 4 6:

A1. Crazy Cool 4:42
A2. My Love Is For Real 5:20
A3. Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up 3:53
A4. Love Don't Come Easy 4:05
A5. If I Were Your Girl 3:55
A6. Sexy Thoughts 4:09
A7. The Choice Is Yours 4:47
B1. Ho-Down 4:22
B2. Under The Influence 4:29
B3. I Never Knew It 4:27
B4. Get Your Groove On 4:02
B5. Missing You 3:52
B6. It's All About Feeling Good 3:46
B7. Cry For Me 3:38

View All Formats

Promotional Singles

My Love Is For Real
Released: May 30, 1995

Peak Position: 10
Weeks as a #1: 0
Weeks in Top 40: 10

Single Details

Crazy Cool
Released: August 22, 1995

Peak Position: 16
Weeks as a #1: 0
Weeks in Top 40: 7

Single Details

Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up
Released: January 9, 1996

Peak Position: 37
Weeks as a #1: 0
Weeks in Top 40: 2

Single Details

Canada Interview

Head Over Heels Album Canada Promo Interviews

Japan Interview

Japanese Promotional Interview

U.S. Album Interview

TV Interview on CBS This Morning (1995)

Live Performances and Interviews

Related Articles

02-23-01 • MTV Article on Head Over Heels
09-04-95 • Crazy Cool Too Hot for MTV
06-19-95 • Paula Abdul Speaks Out About Bulimia
06-19-95 • Paula's Battle with Bulimia [People Magazine]
06-16-95 • Head Over Heels Review - Entertainment Weekly
06-01-95 • Paula Abdul BigO Interview on Head Over Heels and More

Japan Concert Promo

This is a rare Japanese flyer for what seemed to be Paula's only live concert tour to promote the Head Over Heels album. Paula Abdul headlined the Live In Super Colosseum show in Japan on November 11 & 12, 1995.

Album Press Kit

These are two original, very limited May 1995 press releases for Paula Abdul's "Head Over Heels" album. One is four pages and deals with "Head Over Heels" and the other is three pages and deals with the "My Love is For Real" video.

Publicity Photos and Outtakes

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Fun Facts

My Love Is For Real

Paula's first promotional single from Head Over Heels was My Love Is For Real.  The B-side of the single included a new unreleased song titled "Didn't I Say I Love You". The song was written by Elliot Wolff and Stacey Piersa. Although it does not appear on the Head over Heels album although it was considered by Virgin for inclusion on the final album release. Two versions of “Didn’t I Say I Love You” were produced; an uptempo version for release in the United States and a slower version for the United Kingdom and Europe.

 Didn't I Say I Love You (U.S.) Didn't I Say I Love You (U.K.)

Bend Time Back Around

The Elliot Wolff song Bend Time Back Around was meant to be the lead promotional single off of Paula’s then-untitled third studio album, which would eventually become Head Over Heels. Abdul’s management insisted the song be included on Beverly Hills 90210: The Soundtrack instead. The song was permitted to be included on the 90210 Soundtrack with the understanding that it would be the first single released from the soundtrack, but due to management issues within the record label, "Saving Forever for You" by Shanice was instead released as the first single. Bend Time Back Around can be heard on Paula Abdul's Greatest Hits.

Bend Time Back Around

Japan Lyrics Insert

Autographed Album Cover

The Head Over Heels album cover, autographed by Paula Abdul, songwriter/ producer Oliver Leiber and the late songwriter/producer Elliot Wolff.  It's the only known autographed copy by all three contributors of the album.

Promo Posters

June 13th 1995
June 13th 1995

Album Credits

Executive Producer: Gemma Corfield

Mastered by: Danny Hersch at DigiPrep

Recording Studios: Capitol Studios, Record One, Larrabee Studios, Conway, Oakshire, River Sound NY,
Neptune Factor Studios, A-Pawling Studios NY, Lasmine Sound, The Record Plant LA, Knighlight Studios Dallas TX, Dallas Sound Lab, Ocean Way, Westlake Studios, DARP Studios, Bosstown Studios, The Enterprise, Palette Studios, Sony Studios NY, Ollywood, A&M Studios, Rumbo Recorders, Howie & Iki’s Place, and Encore.

Art Direction: Len Peltier
Design: Steve Gerdes
Photography: Alan Silfen, Walter Chin

Ofra Haza appears courtesy of BMG/Ariola Munchen GmbH

Sam Watters, Kevin Thornton, Bryan Abrahms and Mark Calderon from Color Me Badd appear courtesy of Giant Records.

“Ho-Down” contains samples from “Ain’t Got A Gal In Town” (Greer/Robinson) Mills Music, Inc. (BMI)/Jay Russell Robinson, Inc. admin by Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. (ASCAP) Used by permission. All rights reserved. Performed by Cab Calloway. Used courtesy of MCA Records.

Management: Bob Cavallo & Scott Welch for Atlas/Third Rail

My Love Is For RealCrazy CoolAin't Never Gonna Give You UpHead Over HeelsDiscography
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