Song Bird (Deniece Williams album) explained

Song Bird
Type:	studio
Artist:	Deniece Williams
Cover:	Deniece Williams - Song Bird.jpg
Released:	October 28, 1977
Recorded:	April–July 1977
Studio:	Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, CA Sunset Sound Hollywood Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA The Burbank Studios, Burbank, CA
Genre:	R&B, soul, disco
Length:	37:25
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Maurice White
Prev Title:	This Is Niecy
Prev Year:	1976
Next Title:	That's What Friends Are For
Next Year:	1978

Song Bird is the second studio album by American singer Deniece Williams. It was produced by Maurice White and released on October 28, 1977, by Columbia Records.^[1] The album peaked at No. 23 on the US Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 5 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.^[2]

Critical reception

With a four out of five rating, Simon Gage of Daily Express described Song Bird as being "filled with gorgeous songs that showcase her four-octave range to full effect." John Rockwell of The New York Times stated: "Deniece Williams's “Song Bird” is a most appealing album for anyone who likes varied, skillful and sophisticated singing in the black pop area." He also added "One can't be more stylistically precise than that because it is a characteristic of Maurice White's production and Miss Williams's virtuousically diverse singing that her disk ambles all over the stylistic map. But instead of sounding diffuse, it sounds refreshingly varied."^[3] Phyl Garland of Stereo Review commented: "Here she is fitted out with material that is even better than that on her fine first album. Producer Maurice White poured all of the proper stuff into this one; the arrangements are imaginative, and several name musicians supply smooth, unobtrusive instrumental backing. Ms. Williams is also a songwriter of notable talent, for she helped write some of the best tunes here."^[4]

Singles

"Baby, Baby My Love's All for You" rose to No. 13 upon the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs and No. 32 on the UK Pop singles chart.^{[5] [6]}

Covers

Williams covered Ferlin Husky's "Time" on the album.^[7]

Appearances in other media

Williams performed "God Is Amazing" at the 1984 Grammy Awards.^{[8] [9]}

Personnel

• Deniece Williams – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Sidney Barnes – backing vocals
• Jerry Peters – pianos
• Larry Dunn – synthesizers
• Charles Fearing – guitars
• Marlo Henderson – guitars
• Al McKay – guitars
• John Rowin Jr. – guitars
• Nathan Watts – bass
• Verdine White – bass
• David Garibaldi – drums
• Fred White – drums
• Maurice White – drums, backing vocals
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion
• Victor Feldman – vibraphone
• Azar Lawrence – saxophones
• Don Myrick – saxophones, sax solo (6, 8)
• George Patterson – saxophones
• Andrew Woolfolk – saxophones
• George Bohanon – trombone
• Charles Loper – trombone
• Louis Satterfield – trombone
• Oscar Brashear – trumpet
• Chuck Findley – trumpet
• Michael Harris – trumpet, trumpet solo (8)
• Steve Madaio – trumpet
• Tom Tom 84 (Tom Washington) – string and horn arrangements

Production

• Producer – Maurice White
• Co-Producer – Jerry Peters
• Engineer – Warren Dewey
• Assistant Engineer – Jack Rouben
• Design – Nancy Donald
• Photography – Kenneth McGowan

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1977	US Billboard Top R&B Albums	23
	US Billboard 200	66
1978	UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums	5^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Deniece Williams: Song Bird. 45worlds.com.
2. Web site: Deniece Williams: Songbird (Top R&B Albums). Billboard. billboard.com.
3. Web site: The Pop Life. December 30, 1977. Rockwell, John. John Rockwell. The New York Times.
4. Deniece Williams: Song Bird. Garland, Phyl. 40. 4. 104. April 1978. Stereo Review. americanradiohistory.com.
5. Web site: Deniece Williams. Official Charts. officialcharts.com.
6. Web site: Deniece Williams: Baby, Baby My Love's All For You (Hot R&B Songs). Billboard. billboard.com.
7. Web site: Deniece Williams: Time. cover.info.
8. Web site: EXCLUSIVE! A Conversation with the Legendary Deniece Williams. sacculturalhub.com.
9. Web site: SAVING GRACE: DENIECE WILLIAMS. lafocusnewspaper.com.
10. Top British Soul Albums. 242. January 3, 1978. Blues & Soul.