| Solo Man | |
| Type: | Studio album |
| Artist: | Victor Willis |
| Cover: | Willis_Solo_Man.jpg |
| Released: | July 13, 2015 |
| Recorded: | 1979 |
| Studio: | Sigma Sound, New York City |
| Genre: | Soul, R&B, Funk |
| Length: | 47:38 |
| Label: | Harlem West Records |
| Producer: | Victor Willis |
Solo Man is the debut studio album by Victor Willis, original lead singer of the disco group Village People. It was recorded in 1979 shortly after Willis' departure from the Village People, but not released until 2015, 36 years later. The album is a mixture of traditional R&B, gospel and soul styles.[1]
After five hit albums with Village People, Willis left the group in 1979 to record a solo album. The group's label at the time, Casablanca Records, anticipated releasing the album and announced it to the media. After Willis' departure, Village People album sales plummeted causing Casablanca to drop the band from the label. Willis was still under contract with the Village People production company and the album was caught up in the turmoil.[2]
In 1981, rights to the solo album were returned to Willis but soon after, the master tapes went missing. The tapes were finally located in 2007.[1]
For six of the nine tracks, Willis utilized the Village People band Gypsy Lane with rhythm arrangements by Horace Ott. For the remaining tracks, top studio musicians were assembled under the direction of Ray Chew.
As of 2019, this album is currently unavailable, physically or digitally.
All tracks written by Victor Willis
Tracks 3-5, 7-9
Tracks 1, 2, 6