''Take No Prisoners'' is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter
Peabo Bryson It was released by
Elektra Records
Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the 1 ...
in June 1985 in the United States.
Produced by
Arif Mardin and
Tommy LiPuma, the album peaked at number 102 on the US
''Billboard'' 200 and number 40 on the US
R&B albums chart.
Three singles were released, including the title track and the
pop crossover ballad "Love Always Finds a Way", the latter of which peaked at number 26 on the US
Adult Contemporary chart
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stat ...
in early 1986. The album's title track became a minor hit on both the pop and R&B charts, supported by a
Miami Vice-inspired music video.
[Peabo Bryson - "Take No Prisoners (In the Game of Love)" Official Music Video.] In addition to
Chaka Khan
Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...
, contributing artists include
Jennifer Holliday,
Kashif
Kashif (also spelled Kaashif, Kaşif, Khasif or Kashef, ar, کاشف) is an Arabic word, commonly used as a male given name in the Muslim world. Its meaning is close to the "revealer", "discoverer", "uncoverer" or "pioneer", "explorer".
When use ...
and Robbie Buchanan.
Critical reception
In a retrospective review, William Ruhlmann of
AllMusic found that ''Take No Prisoners'' "represented a missed opportunity for Bryson, even though he sang with his usual assurance, the material was of good quality, and the production was sympathetic."
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians
* Robbie Buchanan – acoustic piano (1, 3, 7), synthesizers (1, 3, 5-9), programming (1, 3, 7), rhythm arrangements (1, 3, 5-9), keyboards (2, 5, 6, 8, 9), synthesizer programming (2)
*
Philippe Saisse – additional synth solo (2), keyboards (4), synthesizers (4), programming (4), rhythm arrangements (4)
*
Dann Huff – guitars
*
Will Lee – bass (1)
*
Marcus Miller
William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandros ...
– bass (3, 7)
*
Anthony Jackson – bass (5, 6, 8, 9)
*
Steve Ferrone
Steve Ferrone (born 25 April 1950) is an English drummer. He is known as a member of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from 1994 to 2017, replacing original drummer Stan Lynch, and as part of the "classic lineup" of the Average Whi ...
– drums (1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9), cymbal (2), tom-tom (2)
*
Dave Weckl – drums (6)
*
Lenny Castro
Lenny or Lennie may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Lenny (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Lennie (surname), a list of people
* Lenny (singer) (born 1993), Czech songwriter
Arts and entertainment Music
* ''L ...
– percussion (5, 8, 9)
* Ron Dover – saxophone (6)
*
Arif Mardin – rhythm arrangements (2, 4)
Vocalist
* Peabo Bryson – lead vocals
*
Erin Dickins – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 7)
* Tommy Funderburk – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
*
Diva Gray – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 7)
* Gordon Grody – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 7)
*
Tom Kelly – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
* Edie Lehmann – backing vocals (1, 3, 7)
*
Chaka Khan
Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...
– backing vocals (2), rap (2)
* Mark Stevens – backing vocals (2)
*
Kashif
Kashif (also spelled Kaashif, Kaşif, Khasif or Kashef, ar, کاشف) is an Arabic word, commonly used as a male given name in the Muslim world. Its meaning is close to the "revealer", "discoverer", "uncoverer" or "pioneer", "explorer".
When use ...
– backing vocals (4)
* Yolanda Lee Lewis – backing vocals (4)
* Brenda Nelson – backing vocals (4)
*
Jennifer Holliday – backing vocals (5)
* Stephanie James – backing vocals (5)
*
Michael Sembello – backing vocals (8)
Production
* Producers – Arif Mardin (Tracks 1-4 & 7); Tommy LiPuma (Tracks 5, 6, 8 & 9).
* Project Coordinator on Tracks 1-4 & 7 – Phillip Namanworth
* Music Contractor on Tracks 1-4 & 7 – Frank DeCaro
* Production Coordinator on Track 6 – Larry Fishman
* Engineers – Lew Hahn (Tracks 1-4 & 7); Ed Rak (Tracks 5, 8 & 9); Jay Rifkin (Track 6).
* Additional Engineers – Jerry Garcia, Jon Ingoldsby, Michael O'Reilly, Gary Skardina and Jeremy Smith (Tracks 1-4 & 7); Kevin Halpin (Track 5); Mark Linett (Tracks 5 & 9); Erik Zobler (Track 6);
Al Schmitt and Nick Spigel (Track 8).
* Assistant Engineers – Jerry Garcia, Jon Ingoldsby and Michael O'Reilly (Tracks 1-4 & 7)
* Second Engineers – Gene Curtis (Tracks 5, 8 & 9); Leslie Klein (Track 5); Peggy McCreary and Garry Rindfuss (Track 6); Bud Rizzo and Steven Strassman (Track 8).
* Tracks 1-4 & 7 mixed by Lew Hahn at Atlantic Studios.
* Track 6 mixed by
Bill Schnee at
Bill Schnee Studio (Los Angeles, CA), assisted by Dan Garcia and Mike Ross.
* Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
* Art Direction and Photography – Carol Friedman
* Design – Carin Goldberg
* Sleeve Notes – Peabo Bryson
* Management – David M. Franklin and Associates, Ed Howard and Skip Williams.
Charts
References
{{Authority control
Peabo Bryson albums
1985 albums
Elektra Records albums
Albums produced by Arif Mardin
Albums produced by Tommy LiPuma