Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Jeffrey Osborne - Stay With Me Tonight

This Fall marked the thirtieth anniversary of Stay With Me Tonight, the second studio album from Jeffrey Osborne. This R&B release went to number 56 in the UK, number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 3 on the US Billboard R&B chart.


Joining Osborne on the record were George Duke (piano and keyboards), Steve Ferrone (drums), David Wolinski (drums and synthesizer), Earl Klugh (guitar), Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar), Michael Sembello (guitar), Brian May (guitar), Abraham Laboriel Sr. (bass), Alphonso Johnson (bass), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone), Jerry Hey (trumpet), and Larry Williams (saxophone).

Side one opens with the mid-tempo groove of “Don’t You Get So Mad”. As the first single, it reached number 54 in the UK, number 29 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

The third single, the ballad “We’re Going All the Way”, showed its commitment by going to number 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 16 on the US Billboard R&B chart and number 6 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

The title track “Stay With Me Tonight” is next. As the second single, it hit number 31 on the US Billboard Dance chart, number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 18 in the UK, and number 4 on the US Billboard R&B chart. This was a favorite jam of mine in late 1983 and early 1984 when it was a big party and club hit.

Things slow down again with “Greatest Love Affair”, a ballad celebrating the triumphs of a successful love affair.

“Plane Love”, a promotional single, went to number 10 on the US Billboard R&B chart. It tells the tale of hooking up with a perfect stranger on a coast-to-coast flight.

We flip over to side two with “Other Side of the Coin”, a funky throw-down complete with powerful horns.

The trading off pattern of fast-slow continues with “I’ll Make Believe”.

Next Osborne asks the question “When Are You Comin’ Back?”. It opens with a very funky bass riff. Osborne gets down-and-guttural with his vocals too. This one is easily my favorite of the deeper cuts on the record.

“Forever Mine” is, as you’ve probably guessed, a slow ballad. The good thing is that Osborne is very skilled at delivering these kinds of love songs.

“Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right”, the closing track, was also the B-side to the third single. This one too is a solid dance track; I like how it ends the record on a high note.

2 comments:

HERC said...

You didn't include your usual album summary with this one but it seems like you liked it.

It's long been a favorite of mine and based on his comments on this week's Radio Daze post, the soft rock kid likes it too.

After this one and his previous solo outting, I finally made the connection that Osborne had been the voice of L.T.D. so I began gobbling up their albums. "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again" is a jam of the highest magnitude.

Martin Maenza said...

You are right. I forgot the summary. Yes, I did like it and yes, it is one that is on my to-download list.