How Could It Be

How Could It Be
Studio album by Eddie Murphy
Released	July 20, 1985
Recorded	1984–1985
Studio	Wonderland Studios, Joint Recording Studios, Soundworks Studios, Clinton Recording, The Power Station
Genre	R&B new wave synthpop
Length	34:53
Label	Columbia
Producer	Rick James Aquil Fudge Stevie Wonder
Eddie Murphy chronology
Eddie Murphy: Comedian (1983) How Could It Be (1985) So Happy (1989)

How Could It Be is the debut musical studio album by comedian/actor Eddie Murphy. The album was released on July 20, 1985, on Columbia Records and was produced by Aquil Fudge, with the exception of the hit top ten single "Party All the Time", which was produced by Rick James. The album was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews but was a commercial success, making it to #26 on the Billboard 200 and #17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Two singles were released: "Party All the Time", which made it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the title track, which became a minor R&B hit.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(C-)[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Do I"	Stevie Wonder	3:56
2.	"C-O-N Confused"	Murphy	3:41
3.	"How Could It Be" (featuring Crystal Blake)	Frank Hamilton, Rick James, Murphy	4:39
4.	"I Wish (I Could Tell You When)"	David Allen Jones, Murphy	4:28
5.	"Party All the Time" (featuring Rick James)	Rick James, Murphy	4:12
6.	"I, Me, Us, We"	David Allen Jones, Murphy	4:41
7.	"My God Is Color Blind"	Murphy	4:42
8.	"Everything's Coming Up Roses"	Stevie Wonder	4:34

Personnel

• Drums: James Allen, Dennis Davis, Rick James
• Percussion: Aquil Fudge
• Bass: Frank Hamilton, Michael McKinney, Fred Washington
• Guitars: Gordon Banks, Ben Bridges, Kenny Hawkins, Larry John McNally, Mike O'Neil, Paul Pesco, Greg Poree, David Williams, Larry Menally
• Keyboards, Synthesizers: Frank Hamilton, Greg Levias, Jeff Lorber, Greg Phillinganes, Darryl Ross, Levi Ruffin, Bill Wolfer, Stevie Wonder, Bill Young
• Synthesizer programming: Abdoulaye Soumare, Bob Bradlove
• Harmonica: Stevie Wonder
• Horns: Earl Gardner, Richard Gibbs, Larry Gittens, Bob Malach, Keith Quinn
• Backing Vocals: Roderick Bascom, Crystal Blake, Alvin "Blues" Broussard, Anthony Clark, Carlotta Clark, Lisa Clark, Paul Freudenburg, Larry Gittens, Rod Gordon, Cynthia Green, Bruce Hawes, Rick James, David Allen Jones, Jacque Kimbrough, Derek Lawrence, Lorelei McBroom, Daryl Murphy, LaMorris Payne, Daryl Phinnessee, William Rivera, Dwayne Roberson, Darryl Ross, Levi Ruffin, Howard Smith, Spartacus R., Michelle Wiley, Philip "Bully" Williams

Technical

• Larkin Arnold - executive producer
• Nancy Greenberg - art direction
• Annie Leibovitz - photography

Charts

Chart (1985)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	26
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	17

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[3]	Gold	500,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Brian Flota. "How Could It Be - Eddie Murphy | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
2. "CG: Eddie Murphy". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
3. "American album certifications – Eddie Murphy – How Could It Be". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH