Fragile Fern – Cystopteris fragilis

The Real Me is an album of mostly standards by American singer Patti Austin released in 1988, and recorded for the Qwest label. The album reached #7 on Billboard's Jazz chart.

1. "I Can Cook Too" (Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) - 5:14
2. "Stockholm Sweetnin'" (Quincy Jones) - 1:37
3. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" (Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach) - 4:15
4. "True Love" (Cole Porter) - 3:49
5. "Across the Alley From the Alamo" (Joe Greene) - 3:47
6. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 4:07
7. "Lazy Afternoon" (Jerome Moross, John La Touche) - 5:46
8. "Love Letters" (Victor Young, Edward Heyman) - 3:55
9. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 3:59
10. "Mood Indigo" (Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills) - 3:26
11. "Cry Me a River" (Arthur Hamilton) - 4:21
12. "Someone Is Standing Outside" (Jimmy Webb) - 3:54
13. "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" (Tommy Wolf, Fran Landesman) - 5:08

• Patti Austin – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 7, 10, 12), vocal arrangements (1-5, 7, 9, 10, 12), arrangements (3, 7, 9, 10), percussion (5), bass (7), horn arrangements (9)
• David Benoit – synthesizers (1, 8, 10), organ (1), keyboards (3, 4, 7, 9), arrangements (3, 7, 9), string arrangements (4), Yamaha DX7 (6, 13), keyboard arrangements (6), horn arrangements (9), synth horns (9), synth strings (9, 11, 12), acoustic piano (10, 11)
• Greg Phillinganes – synth horns (1), synth bass (1, 9), horn arrangements (1), vocal arrangements (9)
• Bruce Hornsby – accordion (5)
• Richard Tee – acoustic piano (8, 12), Yamaha DX7 (12)
• David Pack – guitars (1, 7), arrangements (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9), horn arrangements (1, 5, 9), electronic congas (3), vocal arrangements (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12), lead vocals (4), backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 12), acoustic guitar (5), baritone guitar (5), percussion (5), electronic percussion (7)
• David Lindley – lap steel guitar (5), slide guitar (5)
• Earl Klugh – classical guitar (7), guitars (10)
• Nathan East – bass (3)
• Roscoe Beck – electric upright bass (4), bass (8)
• Chuck Domanico – bass (10, 11)
• Joe Puerta – bass (12)
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (1)
• George Perilli – drums (3, 9), percussion (4)
• Jeff Porcaro – drums (4, 7)
• John Robinson – drums (8, 12)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (3, 5, 7)
• Burleigh Drummond – percussion (5)
• Dan Higgins – saxophones (1, 9), woodwinds (1, 9)
• Ernie Watts – saxophone solo (3, 8)
• Michael Brecker – saxophone solo (4)
• Greg Huckins – saxophones (10)
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1, 9)
• Bill Watrous – trombone (10)
• Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 9)
• Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 9), horn arrangements (1, 9)
• Jon Faddis – flugelhorn solo (7), trumpet solo (11)
• John Rotella – clarinet (10)
• Red Callender – tuba (10)
• Marty Paich – string arrangements and conductor (6, 11, 13)
• Jimmie Haskell – horn arrangements and conductor (10)
• Jimmy Webb – arrangements (12)
• James Ingram – backing vocals (5, 8, 12), vocal arrangements (8)
• Michael McDonald – backing vocals (5, 8, 12), vocal arrangements (8), acoustic piano (8)
• Howard Hewett – backing vocals (12)
• Amy Holland – backing vocals (12)
• Luther Vandross – backing vocals (12)
• Tata Vega – backing vocals (12)

Strings (4, 6, 11, 13)

• Arnold Belnick
• Chuck Berghofer
• Jackie Brand
• Franklyn D'Antonio
• Alan DeVeritch
• Bonnie Douglas
• Arni Egilsson
• Richard Elegino
• Steve Erdody
• Henry Ferber
• James Getzoff
• Barry Gold
• Harris Goldman
• Nathan Kaproff
• Ray Kelley
• Gayle Levant
• Joy Lyle
• Michael Markman
• Donald McInnes
• Cynthia Morrow
• Dan Neufeld
• Nils Oliver
• Daniel Rothmuller
• Art Royval
• Sid Sharp
• Harry Shlutz
• Henry Shure
• Vicky Sylvester
• Charles Veal
• Evan Wilson
• Herschel Wise

• Producer – David Pack
• Executive and Associate Producer – Patti Austin
• Engineers – Ben Rodgers (Tracks 1-10, 12 & 13); Mark Linett (Tracks 7 & 9); James Guthrie (Track 11).
• Additional Recording – Ben Rodgers (Tracks 7, 9, 11 & 13); Mark Linett (Track 10); James Farber (Tracks 11 & 12).
• Mixing – Ross Pallone (Tracks 1, 3 & 5); Ben Rodgers (Tracks 1-10, 12 & 13); Rik Pekkonen (Tracks 7, 10 & 12).
• Recorded and Mixed at Pack's Place (Sunland, CA).
• Additional recording at Atlantic Studios and The Hit Factory (New York, NY).
• Strings recorded by Allen Sides at Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, CA).
• Art Direction and Design – Mary Ann Dibs
• Photography – Mark Raboy

• The Real Me at Discogs
• The Real Me at All Music
• Patti Austin's Official Site