''Changes'' is the third solo album by former

Five Stairsteps The Five Stairsteps, known as "The First Family of Soul" and later "The Invisible Man's Band", was an American Chicago soul group made up of five of Betty and Clarence Burke Sr.'s six children: Alohe Jean, Clarence Jr., James, Dennis, and Ken ...

member

Keni Burke Kenneth M. "Keni" Burke (born September 28, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist who began his career with four siblings in the 1970s band the Five Stairsteps. Biography Five Stairsteps As a member ...

. It was released in 1982 on

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

and includes the often sampled track "Risin' to the Top"

Track listing

# "Shakin'" (

Norma Jean Wright Norma Jean Wright (born July 15, 1956) is an American singer and was the lead vocalist of the American group Chic, a soul, R&B and disco band, from 1977 to 1978.Hogan, EdNorma Jean Wright Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-08-08 Early life Norm ...

) # "Hang Tight" (Burke, Allan Felder) # "Can't Get Enough (Do It All Night)" (Burke, Allan Felder, Dean Gant) # "Who Do You Love" (Burke, Allan Felder) # "Let Somebody Love You" (Burke) # "Changes" (Burke) # "One Minute More" (Burke,

Linda Creed Linda Diane Creed (December 6, 1948 – April 10, 1986), also known by her married name Linda Epstein, was an American songwriter and lyricist who teamed up with Thom Bell to produce some of the most successful Philadelphia soul groups of the 19 ...

) # "

Risin' to the Top "Risin' to the Top" is a song by former Five Stairsteps member Keni Burke. Released in 1982 from the ''Changes'' album, it became his most successful hit as a solo artist, peaking at number 63 on the ''Billboard'' R&B charts'' and is considered ...

" (Burke, Allan Felder, Norma Jean Wright) # "All Night" (Burke, Allan Felder, Dean Gant)

Personnel

– Bass, Rhythm Guitar, Synthesizer (Prophet 5), Percussion, Wurlitzer, Vocals, Backing Vocals * Steve Ferrone – Drums * Ed "Tree" Moore – Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar * Leonard "Dockta" Gibbs, Jr. – Percussion *

Vince Montana Vincent Montana Jr. (February 12, 1928 – April 13, 2013), known as Vince Montana, was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist, and percussionist. He is best known as a member of MFSB and as the founder of the Salsoul Orchestra. He has ...

– Vibraphone *

Don Myrick Donald Myrick (April 6, 1940 – July 30, 1993) was an American saxophonist. A member of The Phenix Horns, he is best known for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins. He played alto, tenor, and soprano sax as a member of Earth, Wind ...

Louis Satterfield Louis Edward Satterfield (April 3, 1937 – September 27, 2004) was an American bassist and trombonist. Satterfield was a member of both The Pharaohs and the Phenix Horns. He also collaborated with prominent artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, ...

, Michael Harris, Rahmlee Lee Davis – Horns * "Sir" Dean Gant – Synthesizer (Moog Bass), Piano, Fender Rhodes * Ed Walsh – Vocoder (Obx), Synthesizer (Prophet 5) *

Barbara Ingram Barbara Jane Ingram (February 9, 1947 – October 20, 1994) was an American R&B singer and songwriter who was active throughout the early 1970s until the mid-late 1980s, enjoying modest success as a backup singer for almost two decades. ...

, Carla Benson, Evette L. Benton,

Tawatha Agee Tawatha Agee (born November 14, 1954) is an American backing vocalist and songwriter. Her voice has been described in ''The New York Times'' as an "acrobatic, gospel-charged soprano." She was the lead singer of funk and soul band Mtume; her soulf ...

, Day Askey Burke, Terri Askey – Backing Vocals *

Leon "Ndugu" Chancler Leon "Ndugu" Chancler ( ; July 1, 1952 – February 3, 2018) was an American pop, funk, and jazz drummer. He was also a composer, producer, and university professor. Biography Early life Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on July 1, 1952, Leon ...

– drums, percussion on "Let Somebody Love You" * Michael Thompson – guitar on "You're The Best" * Joe Tarsia – recording and mixing * Edward "Chappie" Johnson – Executive Producer

Charts

Singles

Samples

Doug E. Fresh Doug E. Fresh (born September 17, 1966) is a Barbados-born American rapper, record producer, and beatboxer, also known as the "Human Beat Box". The pioneer of 20th-century American beatboxing, Fresh is able to accurately imitate drum machines an ...

sampled "Risin' to the Top" on his song "Keep Risin' to the Top" on his album ''

The World's Greatest Entertainer ''The World's Greatest Entertainer'' is the second album released by Doug E. Fresh. It was released in 1988 on Reality Records, a short-lived subsidiary of Fantasy Records, and was produced by Doug E. Fresh, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, Ollie Cotton and ...

'' in 1988. *

Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hi ...

sampled "Risin' to the Top" on his song "Smooth Operator" on his album ''

It's a Big Daddy Thing ''It's a Big Daddy Thing'' is the second full-length album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane. It was released on September 19, 1989 by Cold Chillin' Records and Warner Bros. Records. Critics call it his best album by far. Background Unlike h ...

'' in 1989. *

LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, along ...

sampled "Risin' to the Top" on his song " Around the Way Girl" on his album ''

Mama Said Knock You Out ''Mama Said Knock You Out'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was produced mostly by Marley Marl and recorded at his "House of Hits" home studio in Chestnut Ridge and at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. Afte ...

'' in 1990 and Later Sampled it On his Song

Paradise In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...

on his Album 10 *

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...

sampled "Risin' to the Top" on her song "

Love No Limit "Love No Limit" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was co-written by Kenny Greene and Dave "Jam" Hall for her debut album, ''What's the 411?'' (1992), while production was overseen by Hall. Released as the album's fourth an ...

" on her album '' What's the 411? Remix'' in 1993. *

Pete Rock & CL Smooth Pete Rock & CL Smooth were a hip hop duo from Mount Vernon, New York. They made their debut with their 1991 EP, '' All Souled Out'' and followed that with their 1992 LP '' Mecca and the Soul Brother''. Career 1991–1994: The Golden Age As a p ...

sampled "Risin' to the Top" on their song " Take You There" on their album ''

The Main Ingredient The Main Ingredient was an American soul and R&B group best known for their 1972 hit song "Everybody Plays the Fool". Early history The group was formed in Harlem, New York City in 1964 as a trio called the Poets, composed of lead singer Dona ...

'' in 1994. * O.C. sampled "Risin' to the Top" on his song "Born 2 Live" on his album '' Word...Life'' in 1994.

References

External links

Keni Burke-Changes at Discogs
{{Authority control 1982 albums Keni Burke albums RCA Records albums Albums recorded at Sigma Sound Studios