Positive (Peabo Bryson album) explained
Positive is a studio album by the American singer Peabo Bryson, released in January 1988 by Elektra Records.[1] [2] The album peaked at number 157 on the US Billboard 200 and number 42 on the Billboard R&B albums chart. It was the last album Bryson recorded for Elektra before he briefly returned to Capitol Records. Positive was supported by the single "Without You", which was also the theme song to Leonard Part 6.
Critical reception
The Kingston Whig-Standard wrote that Bryson's "voice flutters and soars, delicate one moment, powerful the next, duelling with the different instruments."[3] The Washington Post deemed Bryson "a smoothly persuasive soul man, not too pleading, not too aggressive."[4]
Ron Wynn of AllMusic called Positive "largely undistinguished, although [Bryson] sang with more conviction and got better material and production than on most of his other Elektra albums. He scored another hit with a familiar weapon: the duet. This time his partner was Regina Belle."
Personnel and credits
Musicians
- Peabo Bryson – lead vocals, keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Gary Barlough – Synclavier programming (1-3, 6, 7, 10)
- Dean Gant – keyboards (1, 7), Synclavier (1-3, 6, 7, 10), synth bass (1, 7), arrangements (1-3, 6, 7, 10), acoustic piano (2), synthesizers (2-6, 10), BGV arrangements (10)
- Vernon Fails – electric piano (2)
- George Martin – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), computer programming (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Dwight W. Watkins – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), bass (4, 5, 8, 9), computer programming (4, 5, 8, 9), backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9), arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Michael J. Powell – guitars (1-3, 6, 7, 10), arrangements (1-3, 6, 7, 10), BGV arrangements (7, 10)
- Anthony Jackson – bass (2)
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass (3)
- Nathan East – bass (10)
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (1, 7, 10)
- Steve Ferrone – drums (2)
- Jonathan Moffett – drums (3)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 7, 10)
- Brandon Fields – saxophone solo (1, 6, 7, 10)
- Justo Almario – saxophone solo (3)
- George Del Barrio – string arrangements (2)
- Keni Burke – backing vocals (1, 7, 10), BGV arrangements (1, 7)
- Brenda Jones Williams – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7-10)
- Shirley Jones – backing vocals (1, 7, 10)
- Regina Belle – lead vocals (2)
- Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (2, 6)
- Bunny Hull – backing vocals (2, 6)
- Marva King – backing vocals (2, 6)
- Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (2), BGV arrangements (2)
- Valerie Pinkston – backing vocals (2, 6)
- Charles Bryson – backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Myra Walker – backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9)
Production
- Dean Gant – producer (1-3, 6, 7, 10)
- Michael J. Powell – producer (1-3, 6, 7, 10)
- Peabo Bryson – producer (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Dwight W. Watkins – producer (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Barney Perkins – engineer (1-3, 6, 7, 10), recording (2-6, 8, 9), mixing (2-6, 8, 9)
- Greg Townley – additional recording (1, 7, 10)
- Tom Wright – additional recording (1, 7, 10), recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Fred Law – additional recording (2, 3, 6)
- Keith Seppenen – additional recording (2, 3, 6)
- Milton Chan – assistant engineer (1-3, 6, 7, 10)
- Andy Harper – assistant engineer (1, 7, 10)
- Elliott Peters – assistant engineer (1-3, 6, 7, 10)
- Andrew Spiegelman – assistant engineer (2, 3, 6)
- Gerard Smerek – assistant engineer (2, 3, 6)
- Tom Kidd – recording (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Barry Leff – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Steve McCormick – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Lewis Padgett – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9)
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Carol Bobolts – art direction, design
- Gilles Larrain – photography
Studios
- Recorded at Cheshire Sound Studios (Atlanta, Georgia); Ambience Recorders (Farmington Hills, Michigan); Yamaha R & D Studio (Glendale, California); Electric Lady Studios (New York City, New York).
- Mixed at Yamaha R & D Studio.
- Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California).
Notes and References
- News: Heim . Chris . Peabo Bryson, Positive . Chicago Tribune . 4 Mar 1988 . Friday . 55.
- Hiltbrand . David . Song . People . Apr 18, 1988 . 29 . 15 . 22.
- News: Burliuk . Greg . Positive Peabo Bryson . The Kingston Whig-Standard . 12 Mar 1988 . Magazine . 1.
- News: Brown . Joe . Ballads Make a Better Bryson . The Washington Post . 25 Mar 1988 . N19.
