Before the Dawn (Patrice Rushen album)

Last updated
Before the Dawn
PRBeforeDawn.jpg
Studio album by
Released1975
RecordedAugust 1975
StudioFantasy Studios, Berkeley, California
Genre Jazz
Length36:58
Label Prestige
Producer Reggie Andrews
Patrice Rushen chronology
Prelusion
(1974)
Before the Dawn
(1975)
Shout It Out
(1977)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Variety (favourable) [3]

Before the Dawn was the second album by jazz/R&B singer Patrice Rushen. While 1974's Prelusion was essentially a straight-ahead record with fusion references, 1975's Before the Dawn album was essentially a fusion album. With this album Rushen brings a fusion of R&B, pop, and rock elements to her jazz foundation.

Contents

The album included the song "What's the Story," which was the only song that did not have a jazz artist's sound; it has a more funk tune which features singer Josie James. This would later be compared with songs from her follow-up albums as it showed great resemblance to her work as an R&B singer with Elektra Records. Everything else on the album, however, is instrumental jazz — although instrumental jazz that is mindful of R&B, pop, and rock. The album was a clear step for Rushen as it showed her entrance to R&B music and exit from jazz music.

Her next album was Shout It Out , which would be her last with Prestige Records.

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Patrice Rushen.

  1. "Kickin' Back" - 7:27
  2. "Jubilation" - 6:05
  3. "What's the Story" – 5:15
  4. "Before the Dawn" - 8:30
  5. "Razzia" - 9:41

Personnel

Production

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References

  1. Henderson, Alex. "Patrice Rushen: Before the Dawn". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  2. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 173. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  3. "Music Records: Stevens, Anka, Pryor, Wingfield, Brubeck-Desmond, Paul, Queen, Kraft werk, Scott, Foxx Top LPs". Variety. Vol. 281, no. 6. 17 December 1975. p. 52. ProQuest   1285991589.