Paula Abdul discography


The discography of American R&B and pop singer and dancer Paula Abdul consists of three studio albums, one remix album, five compilation albums, eight video albums, eighteen singles, and seven other appearances. Having found success as a choreographer for artists such as Janet Jackson, Abdul launched her own music career with the release of her debut studio album Forever Your Girl (1988). The album topped the Billboard 200 chart, and to date holds the record for the longest climb to number one for an album. The project spawned a number of successful singles, and is one of only nine albums to have four singles top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It went on to earn a seven-times platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Paula Abdul discography
Paula Abdul 2005.JPG
Releases
Studio albums 3
Compilation albums 5
Extended plays 1
Singles 18
Video albums 8
Music videos 20
Remix albums 1
Other appearances 7

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions, sales, and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[1]
AUS
[2]
CAN
[3]
FRA
[4]
GER
[5]
JPN
[6]
NLD
[7]
NZ
[8]
SWE
[9]
UK
[10]
Forever Your Girl 1 1 1 12 24 95 19 19 6 3
Spellbound
  • Released: May 14, 1991
  • Label: Virgin (#91611)[17]
  • Formats: LP, CD, cassette
1 3 6 36 17 12 45 14 6 4
Head over Heels
  • Released: June 13, 1995
  • Label: Virgin (#40525)[18]
  • Formats: LP, CD, cassette
18 27 21 32 74 61
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
R&B

[19]
The Greatest
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Virgin (#VJCP 51044)[20]
  • Formats: CD
Greatest Hits
  • Released: September 26, 2000
  • Label: Virgin (#48980)[21]
  • Formats: CD
Greatest Hits: Straight Up! 86
10 Great Songs
  • Released: June 14, 2011
  • Label: Virgin (#83249)[23]
  • Formats: CD, digital download
46
Icon
  • Released: October 8, 2013
  • Label: Virgin (#B0018870-02)
  • Formats: CD
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Remix albums

List of remix albums, with selected details, chart positions, and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[1]
AUS
[2]
CAN
[3]
FRA
[4]
GER
[5]
NLD
[7]
NZ
[8]
SWE
[9]
UK
[10]
Shut Up and Dance: Mixes
  • Released: May 8, 1990
  • Label: Virgin (#91362)[24]
  • Formats: LP, CD, cassette
7 16 14 44 37 29 4 24 40

Extended plays

List of extended plays with selected details
Title EP details
The Singles
  • Released: January, 1992
  • Label: Virgin (#VJCP 14038)[26]
  • Formats: CD (Japan exclusive)

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[27]
AUS
[28]
CAN
[29]
FRA
[30]
GER
[5]
IRL
[31]
NLD
[32]
NZ
[33]
SWE
[34]
UK
[10]
"Knocked Out" 1988 41 82 27 45 17 21 Forever Your Girl
"(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" 3 76 5 12 74
"Straight Up" 1 27 2 12 3 6 2 6 2 3
"Forever Your Girl" 1989 1 51 1 17 21 13 11 24
"Cold Hearted" 1 68 2 33 38 63 25 46
"Opposites Attract"
(with The Wild Pair)
1 1 1 23 14 8 4 6 11 2
"1990 Medley Mix" 1990 33 Shut Up and Dance: Mixes
"Rush Rush" 1991 1 2 1 24 12 11 6 7 7 6 Spellbound
"The Promise of a New Day" 1 31 2 86 39 26 37 52
"Blowing Kisses in the Wind" 6 7
"Vibeology" 16 63 19 29 20 50 19
"Will You Marry Me?" 1992 19 54 6 74 73
"My Love Is for Real" 1995 28 7 20 87 20 28 Head over Heels
"Crazy Cool" 58 76 49 89
"Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up"
1996 [a] 110
"Dance Like There's No Tomorrow"
(with Randy Jackson)
2008 62 68 Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1
"I'm Just Here for the Music" 2009 87 Non-album single
"Dream Medley" 2012
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other appearances

Year Title Role Notes
1991 "Anytime at All" by Dweezil Zappa Guest appearance
Sweet Insanity by Brian Wilson
  • Unreleased material with Wilson.[37]
1992 "Bend Time Back Around" Lead vocalist
1993 "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"
  • Appears on For Our Children: The Concert.[39]
2000 "Ooh La La La" by Nobody's Angel Co-writer
"Spinning Around" by Kylie Minogue
2012 "So Free" by Shine 2009 Guest appearance
  • Single released by Shine 2009.[42]

Videos

Video albums

Year Title Notes Certification
1989 Straight Up[R]
  • Release date: 1989
  • Record label: Virgin (#VVD 639)[43]
  • Format: VHS
  • Five-track album, featuring music videos: "Knocked Out (Re-edited Version)", "The Way That You Love Me", "Straight Up", "Forever Your Girl" and "Cold Hearted".[43]
 • RIAA: 2×Platinum[12]
 • CRIA: Gold[15]
1992 Captivated: The Video Collection '92
  • Release date: June 29, 1992
  • Record label: Virgin (#VIR 769)[44]
  • Format: VHS, LD
  • Five-track album, featuring music videos: "Opposites Attract", "Knocked Out (1990 Dance Remix Video)", "Rush Rush", "The Promise of a New Day" and "Blowing Kisses in the Wind".[44]
 • RIAA: Gold[12]
1996 Under My Spell: Live
  • Release date: February 27, 1996
  • Record label: Virgin (#6523)[45]
  • Format: VHS
2005 Video Hits
  • Release date: January 11, 2005
  • Record label: Virgin (#9771)[46]
  • Format: DVD
  • Six-track album, featuring music videos: "Straight Up (Edited Version)", "Forever Your Girl", "Cold Hearted", "Opposites Attract", "Rush Rush" and "The Promise of a New Day".[46]
  • R ^  Not to be confused with a VHS promotional release of the same title, featuring only "Straight Up" music video issued by Siren.[47]

Other video albums

Year Title
1995 Get Up and Dance!
  • Release date: August 22, 1995
  • Label: Artisan (#)[48]
  • Format: VHS • DVD
1998 Cardio Dance
  • Release date: November 24
  • Label: Anchor Bay (#)[49]
  • Format: VHS • DVD
2003 Zoe's Dance Moves
2006 Cardio Cheer
  • Release date: December 26, 2006
  • Label: Trinity Home (#)[51]
  • Format: 5×DVD (box set)

Music videos

Year Title Director
1988 "Knocked Out" (2 versions) Danny Kleinman (original version)[52]
Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson (remix)
"(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (2 versions) David Fincher[52]
1989 "Straight Up"
"Forever Your Girl"
"Cold Hearted"
"Opposites Attract" Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson
1990 "1990 Medley Mix" N/A
1991 "Skat Strut" by MC Skat Kat N/A
"Rush Rush" Stefan Würnitzer
"The Promise of a New Day" Big TV!
"Blowing Kisses in the Wind"
1992 "Vibeology" (2 versions) N/A
"Will You Marry Me?" N/A
1995 "My Love Is for Real" Michael Haussman
"Crazy Cool" Matthew Rolston
1996 "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up"
2008 "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" Paula Abdul[53]

Footnotes

  1. "Ain't Never Gonna Give You Up" did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, though did peak at number twelve on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Illegal name entered paula abdul/paula+abdul/chart?f=305 "Paula Abdul - US - Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard: billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/artist/Illegal name entered paula abdul/paula+abdul/chart?f=305. Retrieved 2015-03-21. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Paula Abdul - Australia - Albums". ARIA Charts. Hung Medien. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  3. 3.0 3.1 For peak positions of Abdul's albums in Canada, use a link depending on a title:
  4. 4.0 4.1 For peak positions of Abdul's albums in France, use the link below searching her name in the field Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé:
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Paula Abdul - Germany - Albums/Singles". Media Control Charts (in Deutsch). GfK Entertainment. officialcharts.de. Retrieved 2015-03-21.[dead link]
  6. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/ranking_list.asp?itemcd=298361&samecd=1&chart_kbn=11A&linkcd=30009423[dead link]
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Paula Abdul - Netherlands - Albums". GfK Dutch Charts (in Nederlands). Media Control GfK International. dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Paula Abdul - New Zealand - Albums". Recorded Music NZ (in Nederlands). ung Medien. charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Paula Abdul - Sweden - Albums". Hung Medien. eMedia Jungen. swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Paula Abdul - UK - Albums/Singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  11. Abdul, Paula (1988). Forever Your Girl (Liner Notes) (Vinyl Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  12. 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 For sales certifications received by Abdul in the US, use the RIAA link:
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 For sales certifications received by Abdul in the UK, use the BPI link:
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 For sales certifications received by Abdul in Canada, use the CRIA link:
  16. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  17. Abdul, Paula (1991). Spellbound (Liner Notes) (Vinyl Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  18. Abdul, Paula (1995). Head over Heels (Liner Notes) (Vinyl Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  19. Illegal name entered paula abdul/paula+abdul/chart?f=333 "Paula Abdul - US - R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/artist/Illegal name entered paula abdul/paula+abdul/chart?f=333. Retrieved 2015-03-21. 
  20. Abdul, Paula (1998). The Greatest (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Paula Abdul. Japan: Virgin Records. 
  21. Abdul, Paula (2000). Greatest Hits (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  22. Abdul, Paula (2007). Greatest Hits: Straight Up! (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  23. Abdul, Paula (2011). 10 Great Songs (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  24. Abdul, Paula (1990). Shut Up and Dance: Mixes (Liner Notes) (Vinyl Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  25. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  26. Abdul, Paula (1991). The Singles (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Paula Abdul. Japan: Virgin Records. 
  27. Illegal name entered paula abdul/paula+abdul/chart?f=379 "Paula Abdul - US Billboard Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/artist/Illegal name entered paula abdul/paula+abdul/chart?f=379. Retrieved 2015-03-21. 
  28. Australian (ARIA) singles chart peaks:
  29. For peak positions of Abdul's singles in Canada, use a link depending on a title:
  30. "Paula Abdul - France - Singles". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Webedia. chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  31. http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement Irishcharts.ie
  32. "Paula Abdul - Netherlands - Singles". GfK Dutch Charts (in Nederlands). Media Control GfK International. dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  33. "Paula Abdul - New Zealand - Singles". Recorded Music NZ (in Nederlands). ung Medien. charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  34. "Paula Abdul - Sweden - Singles". Hung Medien. swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  35. 35.0 35.1 "Archived copy" (PDF). www.ifpi.se. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. Zappa, Dweezil (1991). Confessions (Liner Notes) (Double Vinyl Album). Dweezil Zappa. United Kingdom: Barking Pumpkin Records. 
  37. Wilson, Brian (1991). Sweet Insanity (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Brian Wilson. Australia: Ocean Records. 
  38. The Beverly Hills 90210 (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Various artists. United States of America: Giant Records. 1992. 
  39. For Our Children: The Concert (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Various artists. United States of America: Walt Disney Records. 1992. 
  40. Nobody's Angel (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Nobody's Angel. United States of America: Hollywood Records. 2000. 
  41. Minogue, Kylie (2000). Light Years (Compact Disc). Kylie Minogue. United Kingdom: Parlophone Records. 
  42. "So Free (feat. Paula Abdul) – Single by Shine 2009". Apple Music. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  43. 43.0 43.1 Abdul, Paula (1989). Straight Up (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  44. 44.0 44.1 Abdul, Paula (1991). Captivated: The Video Collection '92 (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. European Union: Virgin Records. 
  45. 45.0 45.1 Abdul, Paula (1996). Under My Spell: Live (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  46. 46.0 46.1 Abdul, Paula (2005). Video Hits (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Virgin Records. 
  47. Paula Abdul - Straight Up (Promo, VHS)
  48. Abdul, Paula (1995). Get Up And Dance! (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Artisan Entertainment. 
  49. Abdul, Paula (1998). Cardio Dance (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Anchor Bay Entertainment. 
  50. Abdul, Paula (2003). Zoe's Dance Moves (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Trinity Home. 
  51. Abdul, Paula (2006). Cardio Cheer (Liner Notes) (Video Album). Paula Abdul. United States of America: Trinity Home. 
  52. 52.0 52.1 Music videos directors,
  53. "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow | Paula Abdul | Music Video". MTV. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved May 18, 2022.

External links