| Maurice White | |
|---|---|
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| Studio album by | |
| Released | September 1985 |
| Studio | Bill Schnee Studios, Hollywood Sound Recorders, Mama Jo's, Ocean Way Recording, Soundcastle |
| Genre | R&B, soul |
| Length | 47:18 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Producer | Maurice White |
Maurice White is the debut album by American singer and musician Maurice White released in September 1985 on Columbia Records. The album rose to number 12 upon the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 35 on the Dutch Album Top 100.[1][2][3]
The self titled album was produced by Maurice White. Artists such as Gerald Albright, Jeff Lorber, Ricky Lawson of Yellowjackets, Paul Jackson Jr., Martin Page, Wayne Vaughn and Wanda Vaughn of The Emotions appeared on the record. The album was also reissued in 2001 with four bonus tracks entitled "Life" (Freedom mix), "Life", "Adventures of the Heart" and "Sam the Jam".[1]
A cover of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" got to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, No. 11 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and No. 5 on the RPM Canadian Adult Contemporary Songs chart.[4][5][6][7]
Another single called "I Need You" rose to No. 20 upon the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and No. 30 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[8][9][1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   .[10] |
| People | (favourable)[11] |
| Popmatters | (favourable)[12] |
| Chicago Tribune | (favourable)[13] |
| The Guardian | (favourable)[14] |
| Musician | (favourable)[15] |
| Tampa Tribune | [16] |
| Sacramento Bee | (favourable)[17] |
Robin Denselow of The Guardian called the album a "lush collection of self produced dance tracks, and the occasional ballad, with synths and drum programming immaculately in place, and the vocals as classy as ever".[14] With a four out of five star review Andrew Hamilton of Allmusic wrote "Maurice White gives an excellent account on his solo debut".[10] David Okamoto of the Tampa Tribune proclaimed "White offers an impressive collection of solid-state R&B that doesn't let the intricate arrangements get in the way of his warm vocals".[16] J.D. Considine of Musician said the "Given his status as Earth, Wind & Fire's Shining Star, it comes as no surprise that White's first solo project sounds a lot like classic EW&F: tight, focused and punchy. But while White remembers to sink a hook into every verse and chorus, the emphasis here is on subtlety and sophistication as he works his way from R&B basics..with a sense of craft that makes slickness irrelevant".[15] Simon Warner of Popmatters described the LP as "something of a lost treasure" which "distils the fervent energy of his group but offers an appealing showcase for White's confident vocal manner."[12] David Barton of the Sacramento Bee extolled "a fine return to form for Earth, Wind & Fire's mastermind. White's solo debut features upbeat, melodic dance cuts".[17]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Switch on Your Radio" | Brian Fairweather, Martin Page, Maurice White | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Jamboree" | Keith Echols, Alice Echols, Dean Gant | 3:26 |
| 3. | "Stand by Me" | Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | 4:09 |
| 4. | "Sea of Glass" | Brian Fairweather, Peter Wolf | 0:43 |
| 5. | "I Need You" | William Smith, Priscilla J. Coolidge, Mary Unobsky | 4:34 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Believe in Magic" | Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White | 4:35 |
| 7. | "Lady Is Love" | Michel Colombier, Martin Page, Maurice White | 5:05 |
| 8. | "Invitation" | Gerald Brown, Wanda Vaughn, Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White | 3:55 |
| 9. | "The Sleeping Flame" | Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf | 2:02 |
| 10. | "Children of Afrika" | Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf | 4:38 |
| 11. | "Alpha Dance" | Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White | 1:19 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Switch on Your Radio" | Brian Fairweather, Martin Page, Maurice White | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Jamboree" | Keith Echols, Alice Echols, Dean Gant | 3:26 |
| 3. | "Stand by Me" | Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | 4:09 |
| 4. | "Sea of Glass" | Brian Fairweather, Peter Wolf | 0:43 |
| 5. | "I Need You" | Priscilla J. Coolidge, William Smith, Mary Unobsky | 4:34 |
| 6. | "Believe in Magic" | Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White | 4:35 |
| 7. | "Lady Is Love" | Michel Colombier, Martin Page, Maurice White | 5:05 |
| 8. | "Invitation" | Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf | 3:55 |
| 9. | "The Sleeping Flame" | Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf | 2:02 |
| 10. | "Children of Afrika" | Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf | 4:38 |
| 11. | "Alpha Dance" | Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White | 1:19 |
| 12. | "Life" (Freedom mix) | Maurice White | 0:57 |
| 13. | "Life" | Erich Bulling, Frannie Golde, Martin Page, Maurice White | 3:56 |
| 14. | "Adventures of the Heart" | Brian Fairweather, Martin Page, Maurice White | 2:34 |
| 15. | "Sam the Jam" | Maurice White | 0:18 |
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 12[2] |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 35[3] | |
| New Zealand Albums | 49[19] | |
| US Billboard 200 | 61 |
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "I Need You" | US Adult Contemporary Songs | 20 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks | 30 | ||
| US The Billboard Hot 100 | 95 | ||
| "Stand by Me" | US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 6 | |
| RPM Canadian Adult Contemporary Songs | 5[7] | ||
| New Zealand Singles (RIANZ) | 8[20] | ||
| US Adult Contemporary Songs | 11 | ||
| Dutch Singles Dutch Single Top 100 | 38[21] | ||
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 50 | ||
| "Lady Is Love" | US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 89 |