Maurice White (album)

Maurice White
Studio album by
Maurice White
ReleasedSeptember 1985
StudiosBill Schnee Studios, Hollywood Sound Recorders, Mama Jo's, Ocean Way Recording, Soundcastle
GenresR&B, soul
Length47:18
LabelColumbia
ProducerMaurice 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]

Overview

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]

Singles

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]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStarStar[10]
People(favourable)[11]
Popmatters(favourable)[12]
Chicago Tribune(favourable)[13]
The Guardian(favourable)[14]
Musician(favourable)[15]
Tampa TribuneStarStarStar[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]

Track listing

Original release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Switch on Your Radio"Brian Fairweather, Martin Page, Maurice White4:18
2."Jamboree"Keith Echols, Alice Echols, Dean Gant3:26
3."Stand by Me"Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller4:09
4."Sea of Glass"Brian Fairweather, Peter Wolf0:43
5."I Need You"William Smith, Priscilla J. Coolidge, Mary Unobsky4:34
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Believe in Magic"Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White4:35
7."Lady Is Love"Michel Colombier, Martin Page, Maurice White5:05
8."Invitation"Gerald Brown, Wanda Vaughn, Wayne Vaughn, Maurice White3:55
9."The Sleeping Flame"Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf2:02
10."Children of Afrika"Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf4:38
11."Alpha Dance"Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White1:19

2001 reissue

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Switch on Your Radio"Brian Fairweather, Martin Page, Maurice White4:18
2."Jamboree"Keith Echols, Alice Echols, Dean Gant3:26
3."Stand by Me"Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller4:09
4."Sea of Glass"Brian Fairweather, Peter Wolf0:43
5."I Need You"Priscilla J. Coolidge, William Smith, Mary Unobsky4:34
6."Believe in Magic"Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White4:35
7."Lady Is Love"Michel Colombier, Martin Page, Maurice White5:05
8."Invitation"Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf3:55
9."The Sleeping Flame"Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf2:02
10."Children of Afrika"Martin Page, Maurice White, Peter Wolf4:38
11."Alpha Dance"Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren, Maurice White1:19
12."Life" (Freedom mix)Maurice White0:57
13."Life"Erich Bulling, Frannie Golde, Martin Page, Maurice White3:56
14."Adventures of the Heart"Brian Fairweather, Martin Page, Maurice White2:34
15."Sam the Jam"Maurice White0:18

[18]

Personnel

Musicians

Miscellaneous Credits

  • Mixing: Paul Klingberg
  • Mixing: Bill Bottrell
  • Mixing: Eric ET Thorngren
  • Art Direction: Donald Lane, Howard Fritzson
  • Photography: Harry Langdon
  • Make-Up: Tara Posey
  • Liner Notes: Ramsey Lewis
  • Tape Research: Matthew Kelly
  • Packaging Manager: Mike Cimicata
  • Assistant: Cameron Marcarelli
  • Reissue: Leo Sacks- Liner Notes, Reissue Producer, Mixing[1][18]

Charts

Album
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
Singles
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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Maurice White (1985). Maurice White (album). Columbia Records.
  2. 1 2 "Maurice White: Maurice White". billboard.com. Billboard.
  3. 1 2 "Maurice White: Maurice White". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
  4. ↑ "Maurice White: Stand By Me". secondhandsongs.com.
  5. ↑ "Maurice White: Stand By Me (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com.
  6. ↑ "Maurice White: Stand By Me (Adult Contemporary Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  7. 1 2 "RPM Adult Contemporary". bac-lac.gc.ca. Vol. 43, no. 10. RPM. November 16, 1985.
  8. ↑ "Maurice White: I Need You (Adult Contemporary Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  9. ↑ "Maurice White: I Need You (Hot R&B Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  10. 1 2 Hamilton, Andrew. "Maurice White: Maurice White". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  11. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Maurice White". people.com. People. November 11, 1985.
  12. 1 2 Warner, Simon (April 9, 2001). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes / Spirit". popmatters.com. Popmatters.
  13. ↑ Brogan, Daniel (October 11, 1985). "MORRIS DAY DECIDES TO LEAVE MINNEAPOLIS FOR NEW HORIZONS". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune.
  14. 1 2 Denselow, Robin (October 11, 1985). "Softly, softly for a one man band". newspapers.com. The Guardian. p. 19.
  15. 1 2 Considine, J.D. (December 1, 1985). "SHORT ROCK TAKES" (PDF). Musician. p. 108.
  16. 1 2 Okamoto, David (September 27, 1985). "Maurice White: Maurice White". newspapers.com. Tampa Tribune. p. 100.
  17. 1 2 Barton, David (October 20, 1985). "Thompson Twins don't double our pleasure". Sacramento Bee. p. 268. Retrieved April 29, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  18. 1 2 Maurice White (album). Columbia Records. 2001.
  19. ↑ "Maurice White: Maurice White (ALBUM)". charts.nz. RIANZ.
  20. ↑ "Maurice White: Stand By Me". charts.nz. RIANZ.
  21. ↑ "Maurice White: Stand By Me". dutchcharts.nl. Dutch Charts.
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