Follow the Rainbow explained

Follow the Rainbow
Type:	Studio
Artist:	George Duke
Cover:	George Duke-Follow the Rainbow.jpg
Released:	1979
Genre:	Jazz-funk
Length:	43:11
Label:	Epic
Producer:	George Duke
Prev Title:	Don't Let Go
Prev Year:	1978
Next Title:	Master of the Game
Next Year:	1979

Follow the Rainbow is the twelfth studio album by American keyboardist George Duke released in 1979 through Epic Records. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 17 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.

Overview

Follow the Rainbow was produced by George Duke. Recording sessions for the album took place at Westlake Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, except for track 8, "Corine", which was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.^[1]

Duke played various keyboard instruments on Follow the Rainbow, including Fender Rhodes, Yamaha Electric Grand, Yamaha Grand Piano 9', Hohner D-6 clavinet, ARP Odyssey, Minimoog, Oberheim, Prophet, Funkosizer, Crumer Strings. The album features contributions from Napoleon Murphy Brock & Lynn Davis on vocals, Roland Bautista & Charles "Icarus" Johnson on guitars, Ricky Lawson & Leon Chancler on drums, Larry Williams, Jerry Hey and Sheila Escovedo among others.

Singles

"Say That You Will" reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.^[2]

Personnel

• George Duke – vocals, acoustic grand piano, electric grand piano, electric piano, clavinet, synthesizers
• Charles Foster Johnson – guitars
• Roland Bautista – electric guitar (1, 2)
• Kevin "Serious Biz" Dugan – guitars, bass (1, 2, 4-10)
• Byron Miller – bass (3), vocals (3)
• Ricky Lawson – drums (1-6, 9, 10)
• Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (7, 8)
• Sheila E. – percussion, vocals
• Larry Williams – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
• Rick Culver – trombone
• Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Napoleon Murphy Brock – vocals
• Lynn Davis – vocals
• Josie James – vocals
• Darrell "Sweet D" Cox – cosmotic narrator (1, 3)
• Children of Distinction – choir (6)

Production

• George Duke – producer
• Kerry McNabb – recording (1-7, 9, 10), mixing
• David Palmer – recording (8)
• Dave Rideau – assistant engineer
• John Golden – mastering at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California)
• Tony Lane – art direction
• Tom Drennon – design
• John Laven – illustration
• Bruce Talamon – photography

Chart history

Chart (1979)	Peak position
US Top LPs & Tape	56
US Top Jazz LPs^[3]	3
US Top Soul LPs^[4]	17

Notes and References

1. George Duke: Follow the Rainbow. 1979. Epic Records.
2. Web site: George Duke - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs . 2023-07-09 . Billboard . en-US.
3. Billboard's Best Selling Jazz LPs. 14. 91. 50. April 7, 1979. Billboard. American Radio History.
4. Web site: George Duke Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums). Billboard.