as soon as I get home
and bathe & all of that
good stuff
I'm gonna put this on
and maybe have a cocktail

what are your favorites
from this gem?

I love the whole thing
but some notables are
"Expecting", "Whenever, Wherever"
"Oh, By The Way", "Only When I'm Dreaming"

wow.. this lady was a beast

I brought this album up
because there is a question I'd like to ask
the original pressings...
were they on Janus records?
or was that the remaster?

I have the Janus label
with the brown background
and sometimes I see the album
dated as released in '69
and othertimes '71...

what kinda trickery is this?
[Edited 3/19/08 13:31pm]

also, most of you know
there are 2 album covers
which one is the original
and which one is the remaster?

2nd cover I know of

[Edited 3/19/08 13:33pm]

and actually I know of 3 covers
this one didn't have her picture

it says this one was released
in 1997...

You'd think the Luvs will give this thread the time o' day?

I have the 2nd version btw

Man, I love this album! Everytime I hear it, it feels I am in heaven and Minnie's voice is just sublime. Charles Stepney's production is mindblowing also, with him mixing beautiful strings, jazzy pianos, horns, and infectious rhythms into this powerful suite of songs that just puts you in a mellow and calming mood. The songs are at once romantic, dramatic, engaging, relaxing, joyful, and sweetly sad...similar to Bacharach, but different. The music is a far cry from Minnie's later hit-driven work, which makes this quite possibly her finest moment on record (even though Adventures In Paradise, Stay In Love, and Perfect Angel are masterpieces also.) What's even more sad is that this was a very incredible collaboration of two great talents who are unfortunately no longer with us: Minnie and Charles Stepney.

Harlepolis said:

you see where I started
the thread at right?

I only expect music & laughs
from "over there"

even though there are some
Minnie admirers there too
but half of that small percentage
don't even post anymore so...
here I am

silverchild said:

didn't this guy have some
affiliation with EW+F?
I remember reading that somewheres
maybe it was an album jacket or something

I have a hard time picking
THE FINEST among her solo albums
Stay In Love is just so cotdamn sexy
I feel even sexier than I am
when I put that record on...
same with AIP...
Minnie is probably my least favorite

and I don't have to mention
Purrfect Angel AT ALL...
I'd probably list that one
as THE finest... if I had
a gun to my head
[Edited 3/19/08 15:11pm]

DirtyChris said:

You're correct, my brotha.

Charles was the pulse of the Rotary Connection and then became the heartbeat of Minnie's solo album,,,but he became the talk of the town when he produced/arranged the EW&F albums(Speaking of which, he made a heavy input in Deniece Williams' debut album).

He died young and its a wonder what he could've been had he lived to this day,,,,he might've been the rival for the likes of Arif Mardin, Quincy Jones and Mizell Brothers.
[Edited 3/19/08 15:18pm]

Harlepolis said:

PRECISELY!!!
that's where I know that name from
Niecy's debut... fuckin right...
speaking of Kalimba...



[Edited 3/19/08 15:28pm]

DirtyChris said:

Charles did play a major role in EWF's development and sound from 1973 to 1976. I don't mean to be cruel, but without the contributions of Charles Stepney, EW&F wouldn't be where they are today in American music history. I'm not saying EW&F's first albums were flukes or anything, but Charles and Maurice White helped expand the reach and scale of EWF music from 1974 to 1976 with albums like That's The Way Of The World, Spirit, Graditude, and Open Our Eyes. Charles also helped the group have a uniquely universal sound that influenced masses of people.

I also find it hard to find out her single best moment on record. I really got into Minnie's music last year and I picked up 'Come To My Garden' and the excellent 'Petals' compilation, which really introduced me to her diversity and incredible artistry. Then I picked up the two-fers which included Perfect Angel, AIP, Minnie, and Stay In Love. Those albums are great, but Minnie really outdid herself with 'CTMG'. If you really think about it, this was the only true singular moment where her voice was pure and rich, and the production didn't try to sugarcoat it.

silverchild said:

I agree

thank GOD for Charles Stephney
cuz those you mentioned are among
my favorite albums of theirs

Like Philip Bailey said many times, Charles was the ONLY man who could tell Maurice White to "sit down and shut up" and Mr.White would do exactly that. Thats how BAD Charles Stepney was

Harlepolis said:

Didn't Philip say that in their documentary DVD? I laughed when I first heard him say that!

silverchild said:

The funny part to me was when he talked about people running to him talking about playing "Reasons" in their weddings Now THAT was some funny shit,,,esp hearing him talking about it

Harlepolis said:

He did make a good point though! Some people really don't listen to the lyrics real closely nor do they read them. Reasons just ain't nor will it ever be a wedding song.

haha I need to see this DVD

DirtyChris said:

It's a very nice documentary on the rise and fall of the band. What really shocked me is how long the mainstream audiences got used to them. Before the monster success of That's the Way of the World, some people just could not get used to their jazz, Afro-Cuban soul sound. That was so insane to me when I first heard that.