Evelyn “Champagne” King - Music Box (1979) - €7,99

Music Box is the second album released by R&B singer Evelyn "Champagne" King by RCA Records in 1979. It was produced by Theodore Life, Bill Greene and Sam Peake. It's also noted for featuring Luther Vandross on background vocals.
Producer T. Lifeenlisted a few different players on King's sophomore set.
The resulting flavor is a bit jazzier than 1977's Smooth Talk, but also more formulaic and predictable. The fun, funky grooves are replaced here by thinner dance concoctions; and furthermore, the songs themselves aren't as substantial, lyrically or melodically. King does her best to shine over the humdrum, which she does most successfully on the two-part hustler "Steppin' Out" and catchy titletrack.
Both of these numbers are rhythmically enticing, offering more variety than the predominating safe outings (the washy "Out There," very repetitive "Make up Your Mind"). She also tries her hand at a pair of slow-grooves -via a typical soul ballad, "Let's Start All Over Again," and the subdued, percussive "I Think My Heart Is Telling."
The latter is remarkable for its restraint, and actually allows a nice forum for King to show her softer side. The jewels are few and considerably far between. Basically, the singer got caught up in what was probably RCA's attempt to fashion her into the somewhat mellowed-out, commercial disco trends of '79.
But in the end, Music Box proved much less commercially successful than its predecessor. For listeners who simply appreciate King's passionate vocals, the set is worth sifting through; but for those looking for classic King grooves a la "Love Come Down" and "Shame," Music Box is better passed on.


Side A
A1.  Music Box - 6:43
A2.  Let’s Start All Over Again - 3:52
A3.  Out There - 4:13
A4.  No Time For Fooling Around - 3:31
A5.  Steppin’ Out (Part 1) - 3:59

Side B
B1.  Steppin’ Out (Part 2) - 5:50
B2.  Make Up Your Mind - 5:01
B3.  I Think My Heart Is Telling - 4:22
B4.  It’s Ok - 3:49


Companies, etc.

• Manufactured By – RCA Nederland BV
• Phonographic Copyright (p) – RCA Records
• Recorded At – Secret Sound
• Recorded At – Alpha International Studios
• Published By – Mills & Mills Music
• Published By – Six Continents Music Publishing, Inc.
• Pressed By – EMI Uden – 39715-1
• Pressed By – EMI Uden – 39716-1

Credits

• Arranged By [Strings And Horns] – George Andrews 
• Art Direction – Acy R. Lehman
• Backing Vocals – Annie Sutton, Instant Funk, Irene Cara, Jocelyn Shaw, Kimberley Gene Carlson*, Luther Vandross
• Bass – Raymond Earl (tracks: A4, B4), Robert Berry Jr. (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3), Will Lee (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3)
• Contractor [Strings & Horns] – Art Kaplan
• Coordinator [Album Coordinator For Life's Galaxy Productions] – Dana Cobbs, Sheila Adkins
• Coordinator [RCA Album Coordinator] – Nancy Parisi
• Drums – Leo Adamian (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3), Scottie Miller (tracks: A4, B4)
• Electric Piano – Sam Peake (tracks: A4, B4)
• Engineer – Darroll Gustamachio (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3), Gene Leone (tracks: A4, B4), Rick Rowe (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3)
• Engineer [Assistant] – Frank Bernadine (tracks: A4, B4)
• Executive-Producer – Warren Schatz
• Guitar – Kim Miller (tracks: A4, B4), Stephen A. Love (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3), T. Life (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3), William Kimes (tracks: A4, B4)
• Keyboards – Dennis Richardson (tracks: A4, B4), Stephen Robbins (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3)
• Keyboards, Synthesizer – Nat Lee (tracks: A4, B4)
• Management [Direction] – Bob Schwaid
• Percussion, Congas – Rubens Bassini (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3)
• Photography By – Nick Sangiamo
• Producer – T. Life
• Producer [Assistant] – Bill Greene, Sam Peake
• Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Sam Peake (tracks: A1 to A3, A5, B1 to B3) 

Notes
Release:  1977
Format:  LP
Genre:  Soul
Label:  RCA Records
Catalog#  PL-13033
Prijs:  €7,99

Vinyl:  VG
Cover:  VG

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