Trey Lorenz (album) explained
Trey Lorenz is the debut solo album by R&B singer-songwriter Trey Lorenz. It was released on Epic Records in 1992, and features 11 tracks, 8 of which Lorenz co-wrote.
The album featured 3 singles: "Someone to Hold", which peaked at 19 on the pop charts and reached number 5 on the R&B chart. The next single, "Photograph of Mary", peaked at number 46 on the R&B charts while reaching number 11 on the dance charts. The third and final single, the Lionel Richie-penned "Just to Be Close to You" got as far as number 66 on the R&B charts.
Critical reception
Critics considered the album's musical direction derivative.[1] [2] In the Northants Herald & Post, John Marrs felt Lorenz "never really ventures off onto an experimental path". Hartford Courant critic Dana Tofig said the songs are largely indistinguishable from those by other R&B singers;[3] Michael Freedberg of The Boston Phoenix specified Lillo Thomas, Keith Washington, and Alexander O'Neal as artists Lorenz "seems to kiss the beat with". Given his perceived musical similarities with her, J. D. Considine of The Baltimore Sun suggested the album is suited as a Christmas gift for Carey fans.[4] Greg Forman, a reviewer for The Post and Courier, said Lorenz emulated Carey to bad effect.[5]
Reviews complimented Lorenz for demonstrating vocal range and control on the album. Billboard described Trey Lorenz as a "fitting showcase for his vocal prowess".[6] Interview writer Peter Galvin compared his voice favorably to those of singers Barry White, Philip Bailey, and Stevie Wonder.[7] Peter Kinghorn described Lorenz as "wonderfully emotive" in the Evening Chronicle.[8] Entertainment Weeklys Amy Linden considered Lorenz a capable lead singer and Sheila Rayam of the Democrat and Chronicle predicted "he should be around long after his superstar mentor has left his side."[9]
Charts
Personnel
Musicians
- Trey Lorenz – songwriting (1, 4–10), lead vocals, background vocals (2–7, 9, 10), background vocals arranger (4, 7), handclaps (10)
- Walter Afanasieff – songwriting (1, 5), arranger (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), keyboards (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), Synclavier programming (1), acoustic guitar (1), synth bass (2, 5, 8, 9), rhythm programming (2, 5, 8, 9), Hammond B3 (3, 9)
- Mariah Carey – songwriting (1, 5), arranger (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), vocal arranger (1), background vocals (1–3, 5, 9)
- Dan Shea – keyboards (1), synth bass (1), rhythm programming (1), additional keyboards (2, 5, 9), additional programming (2, 5, 9)
- Gary Cirimelli – Akai programming (1), Macintosh programing (1, 2, 5, 8, 9), Synclavier programming (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
- Ren Klyce – additional programming (1), Akai programming (2, 5, 8, 9), Synclavier programming (2, 5, 8, 9), keyboard programming (3)
- Michael Landau – guitars (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
- Cindy Mizelle – background vocals (1, 4, 7, 10), background vocals arranger (7), handclaps (10)
- Audrey Wheeler – background vocals (1, 4, 5, 7, 10), background vocals arranger (7), handclaps (10)
- Will Downing – background vocals (1, 9, 10), handclaps (10)
- Seth Swirsky – songwriting (2)
- Mark C. Rooney – background vocals (2, 6), songwriting (6), keyboards (6)
- Patrique McMillan – background vocals (2, 5)
- Karen Anderson – background vocals (2)
- Lionel Richie – songwriting (3)
- Jeff Bova – keyboard programming (3), arranger (3)
- Randy Jackson – synth arranger (3), drum arranger (3), additional synth bass (3)
- Bobby Wooten – Moog lead synth (3)
- Scott Cutler – songwriting (4, 9), background vocals arranger (4)
- Brian O'Doherty – songwriting (4, 9), background vocals arranger (4)
- Keith Thomas – arranger (4, 7), keyboards (4, 7), bass (4, 7), drum programming (4, 7), songwriting (7), background vocals arranger (7)
- Michael Morris – horns arranger (4)
- Jerry McPherson – guitars (4, 7)
- Barry Green – trombone (4)
- Mark Douthit – alto saxophone (4), baritone saxophone (4)
- Mike Haynes – trumpet (4)
- Cheree Price – background vocals (5)
- Kelly Price – background vocals (5)
- Deborah Cooper – background vocals (5)
- Mark Morales – songwriting (6), drum programming (6)
- Ginger Collins – background vocals (6)
- Glen Ballard – songwriting (8, 10), rhythm arranger (10), keyboards (10), programming (10)
- Jerry Hey – horns arranger (10), trumpet (10)
- Randy Kerber – Hammond organ (10)
- Dan Higgins – saxophone (10)
- The Soul Sisters – additional handclaps (10)
- BeBe Winans – songwriting (11)
- Cedric Caldwell – arranger (11), keyboards (11)
- Ron Huff – strings arranger (11)
- Marc Harris – additional keyboards (11)
- Tom Hemby – guitar (11)
- Victor Caldwell – bass (11)
- Steve Brewster – drums (11)
- Kelly O'Neal – saxophone (11)
- Kari Gorodetsky – Nashville String Machine (11)
Production
- Walter Afanasieff – producer (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
- Mariah Carey – producer (1–3, 5, 8, 9)
- Dan Shea – additional producer (1)
- Randy Jackson – additional producer (3)
- Keith Thomas – producer (4, 7)
- Todd Moore – production coordinator (4, 7)
- Mark C. Rooney – producer (6)
- Mark Morales – producer (6)
- Glen Ballard – producer (10)
- Jolie Levine – production coordinator (10)
- BeBe Winans – producer (11)
- Louis Upkins Jr. – production assistant (11)
- Carol Chen – art direction
- Eva Mueller – photography
- Jeffrey Tay – stylist
Technical
- Dana Jon Chappelle – engineering (1–3, 5, 8, 9), mixing (1–3, 5, 8, 9)
- Manny LaCarrubba – additional engineering (1), second engineering (5)
- Katherine Miller – vocal engineering (1, 5), engineering (3)
- Jim Caruana – second engineering (1–3, 5, 8, 9)
- Thom Kadley – second engineering (1, 3, 5)
- David Gleeson – second engineering (1), additional engineering (2, 9)
- Lolly Grodner – additional engineering (3)
- Michael White – additional engineering (3)
- Rich Lamb – second engineering (3, 5)
- Bill Whittington – engineering (4, 7), mixing (4, 7)
- Todd Moore – assistant engineering (4, 7)
- John Kunz – assistant engineering (4, 7)
- Amy Hughes – assistant engineering (4, 7)
- Michael Fronda – engineering (6)
- Bob Rosa – mixing (6)
- Francis Buckley – engineering (10), mixing (10)
- Chris Fogel – technical director (10)
- Brian Carrigan – assistant engineering (10)
- Lee Anthony – assistant engineering (10)
- Mike Poole – engineering (11)
- Mike McCarthy – engineering (11)
- Keith Compton – engineering (11)
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
Notes and References
- Jones. Alan. Mainstream – Albums. Music Week. 17. January 9, 1993.
- News: Jones. Andy. New Releases. FanFare. Newsday. 17. December 23, 1992. Newspapers.com.
- News: Tofig. Dana. Recordings. Calendar. The Hartford Courant. 5. December 10, 1992. Newspapers.com.
- News: Considine. J. D. . J. D. Considine. For Music Lovers Who Have it All, You Can Find More. The Baltimore Sun. 1L. December 20, 1992. Newspapers.com.
- News: Forman. Greg. November 5, 1992. Mariah Carey Taught Protege Too Well. The Post and Courier. 16D. GenealogyBank.
- Verna. Paul. Morris. Chris. Morris. Edward. Album Reviews. Billboard. 55. October 10, 1992. .
- Galvin. Peter. November 1992. Trey Lorenz: A Honey of a Voice. Interview. 22. Internet Archive.
- News: Kinghorn. Peter. Albums/Singles. Choices. Evening Chronicle. 5. November 29, 1992. Newspapers.com.
- News: Rayam. Sheila. Booker, Lorenz Show They're Star Material. Democrat and Chronicle. 3C. October 23, 1992. Newspapers.com.
- Web site: Trey Lorenz - Trey Lorenz. Hung Medien. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217050238/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Trey+Lorenz&titel=Trey+Lorenz&cat=a. February 17, 2017.
- Web site: Trey Lorenz - Trey Lorenz. Hung Medien. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230206181857/https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Mariah+Carey&titel=I+Don%27t+Wanna+Cry&cat=s. February 6, 2023.
- Trey Lorenz Chart History (Billboard 200). Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230117152807/https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Trey+Lorenz&titel=Trey+Lorenz&cat=a. January 17, 2023.
- Billboards Heatseekers Album Chart. Billboard. 28. December 5, 1992. .
- Trey Lorenz Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums). Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230715130218/https://www.billboard.com/artist/trey-lorenz/chart-history/blp/. July 15, 2023.
- November 21, 1992. Top 200 Pop Albums. Cash Box. 14–15. Internet Archive.
