Joy (Teddy Pendergrass album)
| Joy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Studios |
| |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 45:18 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producers | Teddy Pendergrass, Miles Jaye, Nick Martinelli, Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway | |||
| Teddy Pendergrass chronology | ||||
| ||||
Joy is a studio album by the American singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1988 on Elektra Records.[1][2] It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" category.[3]
Joy peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B chart, Pendergrass's highest placing on the chart since 1979's No. 1 album Teddy.[4] It peaked at No. 45 on the UK Albums Chart.[5]
Production
The album was produced by Reggie and Vincent Calloway, Nick Martinelli, Miles Jaye, and Pendergrass.[6] It was mostly recorded at Victory Studios, in Philadelphia.[7]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Los Angeles Times | [9] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [10] |
The Chicago Tribune called the album "an accomplished meditation on romantic love and perhaps an exercise in imagination."[11] The Washington Post praised the "dusky purr on slow-groove songs like '2 A.M.' and 'Love Is the Power'."[12] The Los Angeles Times wrote that Pendergrass's "smoldering style has been replaced by a sleek, sophisticated sound that recalls the urbane elegance of Luther Vandross' best work."[9]
Track listing
- "Joy" (Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway, Joel Davis) – 6:18
- "2 A.M." (James S. Carter, Kevin J. Askins, Marvin Hammett) – 5:25
- "Good to You" (Miles Jaye) – 5:13
- "I'm Ready" (Jaye) – 5:12
- "Love Is the Power" (R. Calloway, V. Calloway, Davis) – 6:16
- "This Is the Last Time" (Gabriel Hardeman, Annette Hardeman) – 6:27
- "Through the Falling Rain (Love Story)" (Carter, Askins, Hammett) – 4:58
- "Can We Be Lovers" (Carter, Freddie Williams) – 5:29
Personnel
Vocalists
- Teddy Pendergrass – lead vocals
- Annette Hardeman – backing vocals
- Charlene Hollaway – backing vocals, vocal solo (6)
- Cynthia Biggs – backing vocals (1, 5, 6)
- Elizabeth Hogue – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8)
- Tenita Jordan – backing vocals (4)
- Miles Jaye – backing vocals (8)
Musicians
- Joel Davis – keyboards (1, 5)
- Miles Jaye – synthesizers (2–4, 7, 8), bass guitar (2, 3, 7), rhythm tracks (2–4, 7), violin (2), percussion (8)
- Randy Cantor – synthesizers (6), strings (6)
- Donald Robinson – Rhodes electric piano (6), acoustic piano (6)
- John "Skip" Anderson – electric piano (8)
- Gene Robinson – guitars (1, 5)
- Jef Lee Johnson – guitars (2–4, 7)
- Randy Bowland – guitars (6)
- William "Doc" Powell – guitars (8)
- Doug Grigsby – bass (6)
- Tom Barney – bass guitar (8)
- Keith Robertson – tom drum programming (1, 5)
- Daryl Burgee – drums (6)
- J.T. Lewis – drums (8)
- Marc Russo – saxophones (1, 5)
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1, 5)
- Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 5)
- Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 5), horn arrangements (1, 5)
Production
- Teddy Pendergrass – executive producer, producer (2, 7, 8)
- Reggie Calloway – producer (1, 5)
- Vince Calloway – producer (1, 5)
- Miles Jaye – producer (2–4, 7, 8)
- Mike Martinelli – producer (6)
- Carol Friedman – art direction, photography
- Henrietta Condak – design
- Lisa Silvestri – stylist
- Bomba De Clereq – clothing
Technical credits
- Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
- Craig Burbidge – engineer (1, 5)
- Mitch Goldfarb – engineer (1–5, 7, 8), mix engineer (2–4, 7, 8)
- Robin Jenney – engineer (1, 5)
- Donnie Kraft – engineer (1, 5)
- Taavi Mote – mix engineer (1, 5)
- Harry Mosley – engineer (6)
- Bruce Weeden – engineer (6), mix engineer (6)
- Andy Batwinas – assistant engineer (1, 5)
- Liz Cluse – assistant engineer (1, 5)
- Brooke Hendricks – assistant engineer (1–5, 7, 8)
- Robert Kloss – assistant engineer (1, 5)
- Len Wehling – assistant engineer (1, 5)
- Paul Winger – assistant engineer (1, 5)
- Ryan Dorn – assistant engineer (2, 4)
- Jon Smeltz – assistant engineer (2)
References
- ↑ Wilker, Deborah (June 12, 1988). "Pendergrass a Joy to Hear". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3F.
- ↑ Jones IV, James T. (May 18, 1988). "Soul's sweet revival". USA Today. p. 1D.
- ↑ "Teddy Pendergrass". Recording Academy. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ↑ "Teddy Pendergrass". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ↑ "Teddy Pendergrass". Official Charts. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ↑ McAdams, Janine C. (July 9, 1988). "Pendergrass Finds 'Joy' in Hot New Elektra Album". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 28. p. 24.
- ↑ Waldron, Clarence (July 11, 1988). "Teddy Pendergrass Says Marriage and Career Are a 'Joy'". Jet. Vol. 74, no. 15. p. 36.
- ↑ "Joy Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- 1 2 Grein, Paul (July 31, 1988). "Teddy Serves Notice". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 60.
- ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 537.
- ↑ Milward, John (April 28, 1988). "Pop, Soul, and Sex". Chicago Tribune. p. 17C.
- ↑ Brown, Joe (May 27, 1988). "Between Soul Roles and a Rocky Place". The Washington Post. p. N25.