Don't Turn Around (Black Ivory song) explained

Don't Turn Around
Cover:Don't turn around 45 record.JPG
Type:single
Artist:Black Ivory
Album:Don't Turn Around
Released:1971
B-Side:I Keep Asking You Questions
Studio:Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Length:2:53
Producer:Adams
Next Title:You and I
Next Year:1972

"Don't Turn Around" is the debut single by the American soul/R&B vocal group Black Ivory. The song was written, produced, and arranged by record producer Patrick Adams[1]

Song information

Black Ivory's debut single, "Don't Turn Around", was released in April 1971 and serves as the title track of their debut album. The song entered the Billboard Soul singles chart in November 1971, reaching its peak at No. 38 in January 1972.[2] The single, along with the B-side, "I Keep Asking You Questions", written by Black Ivory and Adams, was recorded at Sigma Sound Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews, with Andrew Hamilton of AllMusic describing it as Black Ivory's first single, this hurtin' Patrick Adams ballad released by Today Records in the spring of 1971. Leroy Burgess' sweet, innocent falsetto worms right into your heart as he tries to convince himself that an affair is over".[3]

Covers and samples

In 1989, the Washington, D.C.-based go-go band E.U. covered, "Don't Turn Around"[4] on their album, Livin' Large.

Rapper Raekwon sampled "I Keep Asking You Questions" for his song "Criminology",[5] on his 1995 album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.

In 2010, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man sampled, "I Keep Asking You Questions" on their single, "Criminology 2.5." from the album, Wu-Massacre.

On her album Black Ivory, Poet Wanda Robinson used the instrumental track "Don't Turn Around" as the background for her poem "The Final Hour" and "I Keep Asking You Questions" for her poem "Instant Replay." Robinson was Black Ivory's labelmate at Today/Perception.[6]

Personnel

Black Ivory

Production

Produced, conducted and arranged by Patrick Adams

"Don't Turn Around" / "I Keep Asking You Questions" (singles)

Vibes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patrick Adams. Discogs.
  2. Black Ivory. Billboard.
  3. Web site: Don't Turn Around - Black Ivory | Song Info. AllMusic.
  4. Web site: E.U.'s 'Don't Turn Around' . WhoSampled . 2020-07-25.
  5. Web site: Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah's 'Criminology' - Discover the Sample Source. Whosampled.com. May 16, 2022.
  6. Web site: Wanda Robinson, In So Many Words. June 8, 2015. Sanangelolive.com.