Maurice White (album)
Maurice White is an album by American singer and musician Maurice White released in September 1985 on Columbia Records. The album rose to number 12 upon the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.
Overview
A cover of Ben E. King's"Stand by Me" got to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, No. 11 on the BillboardAdult Contemporary Songs chart and No. 5 on the RPM Canadian Adult Contemporary Songs chart.
Another single called "I Need You" rose to No. 20 upon the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.
The album was reissued in 2001 with four bonus tracks; Life, Life, Adventures of the Heart and Sam the Jam.
Critical reception
of The Guardian called the album a "lush collection of self produced dance tracks, and the occasional ballad, with synths and drum programming immaculately in place, and the vocals as classy as ever". Andrew Hamilton of Allmusic wrote "Maurice White gives an excellent account on his solo debut". Simon Warner of Popmatters described the LP as a "treasure" which "distils the fervent energy of his group but offers an appealing showcase for White's confident vocal manner." J.D. Considine of Musician said the "Given his status as Earth, Wind & Fire's Shining Star, it comes as no surprise that White's first solo project sounds a lot like classic EW&F: tight, focused and punchy. But while White remembers to sink a hook into every verse and chorus, the emphasis here is on subtlety and sophistication as he works his way from R&B basics..with a sense of craft that makes slickness irrelevant".Track listing
Original release
2001 reissue
Personnel
Musicians
- Gerald Albright - saxophone
- Gerald Brown - drums
- Bill Bottrell - finger snapping
- Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
- Michel Colombier - keyboards
- Paulinho da Costa - percussion
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. - trombone
- Sheldon Reynolds - guitar
- Greg Phillinganes - synthesizer, soloist
- Michael Boddicker - synthesizer programming
- Robbie Buchanan - synthesizer, arrangements, keyboards, drum programming, assistant producer
- Brian Fairweather - background vocals, chants, associate producer, vocal arrangement, drum programming, vocoder, rhythm arrangements
- Dean Gant - synthesizer, arrangements, drum programming
- Rupert Greenall - synthesizer
- Donald Griffin - guitar
- Jerry Hey - trumpet
- Marva Holcolm - background vocals
- Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitar, rhythm arrangements
- Abraham Laboriel - bass guitar
- Michael Landau - guitar
- Ricky Lawson - drums
- Paul Leim - Simmons drum programming
- Jeff Lorber - synthesizer
- Marlon McClain - guitar
- Martin Page - bass guitar, arrangements, background vocals, chants, associate producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
- John "J.R." Robinson - drums
- Julia Tillman - background vocals
- Wanda Vaughn - background vocals
- Wayne Vaughn - synthesizer, arrangements
- Maurice White - percussion, lead vocals, background vocals, kalimba, producer, chants, mixing, original recording producer, vocoder
- David Williams - guitar
- Peter Wolf - keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming, chants
Miscellaneous Credits
- Mixing: Paul Klingberg
- Mixing: Bill Bottrell
- Mixing: Eric ET Thorngren
- Art Direction: Donald Lane, Howard Fritzson
- Photography: Harry Langdon
- Make-Up: Tara Posey
- Liner Notes: Ramsey Lewis
- Tape Research: Matthew Kelly
- Packaging Manager: Mike Cimicata
- Assistant: Cameron Marcarelli
- Reissue: Leo Sacks- Liner Notes, Reissue Producer, Mixing
Charts
| Year | Single | Chart positions | - |
| 1985 | "I Need You" | US Adult Contemporary Songs | 20 |
| 1985 | "I Need You" | US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks | 30 |
| 1985 | "I Need You" | US The Billboard Hot 100 | 95 |
| 1985 | "Stand by Me" | US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 6 |
| 1985 | "Stand by Me" | RPM Canadian Adult Contemporary Songs | 5 |
| 1985 | "Stand by Me" | New Zealand Singles | 8 |
| 1985 | "Stand by Me" | US Adult Contemporary Songs | 11 |
| 1985 | "Stand by Me" | Dutch Singles Dutch Single Top 100 | 38 |
| 1985 | "Stand by Me" | US Billboard Hot 100 | 50 |
| 1985 | "Lady Is Love" | US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 89 |