''Stories'' is the eighth album by

Gloria Gaynor Gloria Gaynor ( née Fowles; born September 7, 1943) is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits "I Will Survive" (1978), " Let Me Know (I Have a Right)" (1979), " I Am What I Am" (1983), and her version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" ( ...

, released in 1980. Failing to produce any hit singles, ''Stories'' didn't fare as well as its predecessors and peaked at #178 on the ''Billboard'' 200. This album has yet to be reissued on CD.

Critical reception

Billboard's ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music ...

'' reviewer noted with satisfaction that "Gaynor deserts the dictates of disco for an album of classic pop-soul songs". He singled out "Ain't No Bigger Fool" and "Make Me Yours" as fine examples of the

Motown sound Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

brought up-to-date, with powerful bass lines, beefy brass and call-and-response backup vocals". As well as a couple of ballads, "Don't Read Me Wrong" and "The Luckiest Girl In The World," that "underscore Gaynor's versatility". As a result critic called ''Stories'' a "singer's best LP in years".

Track listing

Personnel

*Gloria Gaynor - vocals *

Nathan East Nathan Harrell East (born December 8, 1955) is an American jazz, R&B, and rock bass player and vocalist. With more than 2,000 recordings, East is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degr ...

- bass guitar *

Freddie Perren Frederick James Perren (May 15, 1943 – December 16, 2004) was an American songwriter, record producer, arranger, and orchestra conductor. He co-wrote and co-produced songs including "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gay ...

- keyboards *Bob Bowles - guitar *Bob Zimmitti - percussion *

Ernie Watts Ernest James Watts (born October 23, 1945) is an American jazz and rhythm and blues saxophonist who plays soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone. He has worked with Charlie Haden's Quartet West and toured with the Rolling Stones. On Frank Zappa's ...

- saxophone, flute *

James Gadson James Gadson ( James Edward Gadson; born June 17, 1939) is an American drummer and session musician. Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Gadson has since become one of the most-recorded drummers in the history of R&B. He is also a singer and ...

- drums * Paulinho da Costa -

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). ...

s *

Nathan Watts Nathan or Natan may refer to: People *Nathan (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name *Nathan (surname) *Nathan (prophet), a person in the Hebrew Bible *Nathan (son of David), biblical figure, son of King David and ...

- bass guitar * David T. Walker - guitar *

Clarence McDonald Clarence "Mac" McDonald (1944 or 1945 – July 21, 2021) was a Los Angeles-based American pianist, composer, arranger, and producer. McDonald was known for his musical diversity, enduring melodies and signature groove. His most famous composition ...

- keyboards *Alan Estes - percussion *Gayle Levant - harp *

Bobbye Hall Bobbye Jean Hall is an American percussionist who has recorded with a variety of rock, soul, blues and jazz artists, and has appeared on 20 songs that reached the top ten in the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Early career, work for Motown and move to ...

- congas *Julia Waters - backing vocals *Maxine Waters - backing vocals *Stephanie Spruill - backing vocals

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1980 albums Gloria Gaynor albums Albums produced by Freddie Perren Polydor Records albums