# Melissa Etheridge (album)

Melissa Etheridge is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on May 2, 1988.
The album was re-released on September 23, 2003, as a two-CD remastered edition containing a bonus disc of ten tracks recorded live at the Roxy in Los Angeles and a five-track session from BBC Kent in April 1988.
As of 2010, the album has tallied 1,145,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan. This figure does not include sales of the album between 1988 and 1991.

## Reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Q | (Deluxe edition) |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Uncut | (Deluxe edition) |
Billboard called the album an "excellent debut" and "as varied as Etheridge is talented," noting that "Bring Me Some Water" should bring album rock radio to its knees, while "Similar Features" and several other tracks have broader - even AC appeal." "
In their review, Cashbox stated that "nobody this side of Tina Turner can belt like Melissa Etheridge. Insiders are calling her the next Janis Joplin, and she's certainly got the whiskey voice, the Texas twang and the hard-luck stories of sexual pain. But she's also got an identity of her own and a big future."
AllMusic called it "one of the most stunning debut albums of the 1980s....Etheridge's true talent, however, is reconciling uncontrollable emotions such as jealousy with a strong and fiercely independent spirit. Perhaps that's why Etheridge became a role model for a generation of young women who found her to be an uncompromising artist unafraid to expose (and celebrate) her strengths and weaknesses."

## Track listing

All tracks written by Melissa Etheridge.
* "Similar Features" – 4:42
* "Chrome Plated Heart" – 3:59
* "Like the Way I Do" – 5:23
* "Precious Pain" – 4:15
* "Don't You Need" – 4:59
* "The Late September Dogs" – 6:33
* "Occasionally" – 2:36
* "Watching You" – 5:33
* "Bring Me Some Water" – 3:52
* "I Want You" – 4:07
Note
* The album lists the running time of "I Want You" as 4:07, but the actual running time is 3:43.
Remastered edition bonus disc
* "Chrome Plated Heart" – 3:55
* "Don't You Need" – 4:54
* "Similar Features" – 4:25
* "Precious Pain" – 5:55
* "Occasionally" – 3:11
* "The Late September Dogs" – 6:34
* "Watching You" – 5:57
* "I Want You" – 5:26
* "Bring Me Some Water" – 5:34
* "Like The Way I Do" – 10:31
* "Chrome Plated Heart" – 3:28
* "Don't You Need" – 4:22
* "Similar Features" – 4:07
* "Bring Me Some Water" – 3:37
* "Precious Pain" – 3:52

## Personnel

* Melissa Etheridge – 12-string Ovation acoustic guitar, vocals, production, arranger
* Johnny Lee Schell – guitar - additional overdubs
* Waddy Wachtel – guitar - additional overdubs
* Kevin McCormick – bass guitar, production
* Scott Thurston – keyboards - additional overdubs
* Wally Badarou – keyboards - additional overdubs
* Craig Krampf – drums, percussion, production, arranger
Overdubs recorded at Studio A, Sunset Sound Factory on November 16–18, 1987. Guitars on "Precious Pain" and "I Want You" recorded at Yo Dad Studio on October 25, 1987.
Technical
* Niko Bolas – production
* Chris Blackwell – executive producer
* Rob Fraboni – executive producer
* Engineers: Allan Blazek – engineer
* Jim Nipar – engineer
* David Kane – assistant engineer
* Duane Seykora – mixing assistant
* Bob Vogt – mixing assistant
* Stephen Marcussen – mastering
* George DuBose – photography
* Tony Wright – cover design

## Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Melissa Etheridge :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 2× Platinum | 300,000 |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 3× Platinum | 300,000$^^$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000$^^$ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Gold | 50,000$^^$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 15,000$^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000$^^$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||