Better Days Ahead (album) explained
Better Days Ahead is the third studio album of jazz guitarist Norman Brown released in 1996 on Motown Records. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.[1] [2]
Overview
Earth, Wind & Fire Horns appear on the album.
Personnel
- Norman Brown – guitars (1-9), arrangements (1-9), vocal scat (3), vocal arrangements (3, 6), lead guitar (10)
- Gail Johnson – keyboards (1), organ (7), synthesizers (7)
- Wayne Livsey – keyboards (1, 7)
- Herman Jackson – keyboards (2, 4-6, 8), synthesizer programming (3), drum programming (3), arrangements (3), grand piano (4, 8)
- The Characters (Charles Farrar and Troy Taylor) – instruments (9, 10)
- Troy Taylor – backing vocals (9, 10), additional arrangements (8), synthesizer programming (10), drum programming (10), rhythm and vocal arrangements (10)
- Larry Kimpel – bass (1, 2, 4-8)
- James Manning – bass (3)
- Rayford Griffin – drums (1, 2, 4-8)
- Munyungo Jackson – percussion (1, 2, 4-6)
- Gary Bias – horns (6, 7)
- Reggie Young – horns (6, 7)
- Ray Brown – horns (6, 7), orchestration (6, 7)
- Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals (3), vocals (6)
- Lynne Fiddmont-Linsey – backing vocals (3), vocal arrangements (3, 6), vocals (6)
- Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (3)
- Carl "Neuron" Thomas – backing vocals (9)
Production
- Bruce Walker – executive producer
- Norman Brown – executive producer, producer (1-8, 10)
- Herman Jackson – co-producer (1-8)
- Michael Vail Blum – co-producer (1, 2, 4-8), recording, mixing
- The Characters – producers (9, 10)
- Eliud "Lou" Ortiz – recording, mixing
- Ralph Sutton – recording
- Richard Huredia – recording assistant
- Tony Rambo – recording assistant
- James Saez – recording assistant
- Michael Sangrey – recording assistant
- Erick Labson – mastering at MCA Music Media Studios (North Hollywood, California)
- Eric Talbert – A&R direction
- Chad Gary – A&R production coordinator
- Kimberly Ross – production management assistant
- David Irvin – design
- Carol Friedman – art direction, photography
- Ellen Silverstein – wardrobe styling
- Michael Evans – hair stylist
- Quitefire – make-up
- Bruce Kramer – management
Notes and References
- Norman Brown: Better Days Ahead. 1996. Motown Records.
- Web site: Norman Brown: Better Days Ahead (Top Jazz Albums). Billboard.com.
