''Song Bird'' is the second studio album by American singer Deniece Williams, released on October 28, 1977, by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

. The album rose to No. 23 on the US

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

Top Soul Albums chart and No. 5 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Albums chart.

Overview

''Song Bird'' was produced by

Maurice White Maurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter, and producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and served as the ...

Critical reception

With a four out of five rating Simon Gage of The Daily Express described Song Bird as being "filled with gorgeous songs that showcase her four-octave range to full effect". John Rockwell of The New York Times stated "Deniece Williams's “Song Bird” is a most appealing album for anyone who likes varied, skillful and sophisticated singing in the black pop area." He also added "One can't be more stylistically precise than that because it is a characteristic of Maurice White's production and Miss Williams's virtuousically diverse singing that her disk ambles all over the stylistic map. But instead of sounding diffuse, it sounds refreshingly varied." Phyl Garland of Stereo Review commented "Here she is fitted out with material that is even better than that on her fine first album. Producer Maurice White poured all of the proper stuff into this one; the arrangements are imaginative, and several name musicians supply smooth, unobtrusive instrumental backing. Ms. Williams is also a songwriter of notable talent, for she helped write some of the best tunes here."

Singles

" Baby, Baby My Love's All for You" rose to No. 13 upon the US

Hot R&B Songs and No. 32 on the UK Pop singles chart.

Samples and Covers

"We Have Love for You" was sampled on the track "Remember Them Days" by

Beanie Sigel Dwight Equan Grant (born March 6, 1974), better known by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper from South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He first became known for his association with Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records, releasing his debut ...

featuring Eve off Sigel's 2000 album '' The Truth''. Williams also covered Ferlin Husky's ''Time'' upon the album

Appearances in other media

Williams went on to perform the album cut "God Is Amazing" at the

1984 Grammy Awards The 26th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1984, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1983. Michael Jackson, who had been recove ...

Track listing

Personnel

* Deniece Williams – lead vocals, backing vocals * Sidney Barnes – backing vocals * Jerry Peters – pianos * Larry Dunn – synthesizers * Charles Fearing – guitars *

Marlo Henderson Marlo Henderson was an American guitarist and saxophonist, who played in mainly blues and R&B genres. As a session musician he played on albums such as ''Off the Wall'' by Michael Jackson, '' Them Changes'' by Buddy Miles, '' Face to Face'' by ...

– guitars * Al McKay – guitars * John Rowin Jr. – guitars * Nathan Watts – bass * Verdine White – bass * David Garibaldi – drums * Fred White – drums *

– drums, backing vocals * Paulinho da Costa – percussion * Victor Feldman – vibraphone *

Azar Lawrence Azar Lawrence (born November 3, 1952) is an American jazz saxophonist, known for his contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw. Lawrence was the tenor saxophonist Tyner used following John Coltrane's ...

– saxophones *

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 ...

– saxophones, sax solo (6, 8) * George Patterson – saxophones *

Andrew Woolfolk Andrew Paul Woolfolk II (October 11, 1950 – April 24, 2022) was an American saxophonist. Woolfolk was a longtime member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire from 1973 to 1985, and from 1987 to 1993. He also collaborated with artists such as Deniece ...

– saxophones * George Bohanon – trombone * Charles Loper – trombone * Louis Satterfield – trombone *

Oscar Brashear Oscar Brashear (born August 18, 1944) is an American jazz trumpeter Chuck Findley Charles B. Findley (born December 13, 1947 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is an American trumpet player known for his diverse work as a session musician. He also plays other brass instruments such as flugelhorn and trombone. His technical abilities ...

– trumpet * Michael Harris – trumpet, trumpet solo (8) * Steve Madaio – trumpet * Tom Tom 84 (Tom Washington) – string and horn arrangements

Production

* Producer – Maurice White * Co-Producer – Jerry Peters * Engineer – Warren Dewey * Assistant Engineer – Jack Rouben * Design – Nancy Donald * Photography – Kenneth McGowan * Management – Cavallo-Ruffalo Management

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1977 albums Deniece Williams albums Albums produced by Maurice White Albums produced by Jerry Peters Columbia Records albums