The Return of Bruno is the debut studio album by American actor Bruce Willis. Released by Motown Records in January 1987, the album contains backing musicians including Booker T. Jones, the Pointer Sisters, and the Temptations. It is a companion piece to an HBO special of the same name, which aired shortly after the album's release. A re-issue was distributed by Razor & Tie in 1997.

Overview

The album peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200. In the United Kingdom, the album peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Willis was awarded a US Gold album in March 1987. The lead single "Respect Yourself", a duet with June Pointer featuring background vocals by the Pointer Sisters, was a hit. It peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 7 on the UK Singles Chart and number 8 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. Follow-up singles "Young Blood" and "Under the Boardwalk" did not fare nearly as well, peaking at number 68 and number 59, in the US respectively. Though "Under the Boardwalk" fared poorly in the US, in the UK the single reached number 2 in the charts and became the UK's 12th best-selling single of 1987. Other singles were released in the United Kingdom, including "Secret Agent Man" (peaked at number 43) and "Comin' Right Up" (peaked at number 73). A TV special (and home video release), similarly titled The Return of Bruno, was released at the same time. It was produced as a "mockumentary" purporting to chronicle the career of Bruno Radolini (Willis). It was directed by Jim Yukich and produced by Paul Flattery for their company, Split Screen. It was nominated for a CableACE Award for writing.

Reception and legacy

Reviews of the album were mixed. In February 1987, People magazine gave the album a B+, calling Willis' cover of "Under the Boardwalk" "surprisingly okay", also noting that the album "shows us that he (Willis) can't shout songs quite as well as Don Johnson. So Springsteen he ain't. Funny he is." AllMusic observes that Willis "doesn't quite have the conviction or skill of the Blues Brothers", adding that The Return of Bruno is today little more than a kitsch artifact.

Track listing

Personnel

Production

Certifications