Fourplay (Fourplay album)

This article is about the album by Fourplay. For the album by Clifford Jordan, see Four Play (album).

Fourplay
Studio album by Fourplay
Released	September 17, 1991
Recorded	1990–1991
Studio	Ocean Way Recording and Sunset Sound (Hollywood, California) Pyramid Studios (Los Angeles, California) Starlight Studios (Malibu, California)
Genre	Jazz
Length	62:38
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Fourplay
Fourplay chronology
Fourplay (1991) Between the Sheets (1993)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Fourplay is the debut album by the American smooth jazz group Fourplay released in 1991 on Warner Bros. records. The album went to number 1 ^[2] on the Contemporary Jazz charts, number 16 ^[3] on the R&B charts and number 97 ^[4] on the US Billboard 200. As an album, Fourplay has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA. ^[5]

Overview

With this debut LP Fourplay's original lineup consisted of keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason. ^[1]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bali Run"	Lee Ritenour, Bob James	5:32
2.	"101 Eastbound"	Nathan East, Marcel East	5:57
3.	"Foreplay"	Lee Ritenour	5:26
4.	"Moonjogger"	Bob James	6:16
5.	"Max-O-Man"	Harvey Mason, Sr., Michael Lang	5:33
6.	"After the Dance" (featuring El DeBarge)	Marvin Gaye, Arthur Ross, Leon Ware	6:05
7.	"Quadrille"	Bob James	5:43
8.	"Midnight Stroll"	Harvey Mason, Sr.	4:44
9.	"October Morning"	Lee Ritenour	5:01
10.	"Wish You Were Here"	Lee Ritenour	6:11
11.	"Rain Forest"	Bob James	6:05

Personnel

Fourplay

• Bob James – Yamaha C7 MIDI grand piano, keyboards, synthesizers, programming
• Lee Ritenour – electric guitars, electric classical guitars, guitar synthesizer
• Nathan East – 5-string bass, 6-string bass, backing vocals (6)
• Harvey Mason – drums

Additional musicians

• Harvey Mason Jr. – synthesizer programming, Atari computer programming
• El DeBarge – lead vocals (6), backing vocals (6)
• Darryl DeBarge – backing vocals (6)
• Patti LaBelle – backing vocals (6), BGV arrangements (6)
• Philip Bailey – backing vocals (11)

Production

• Bob James – executive producer
• Fourplay – producers
• Don Murray – recording, mixing
• Geoff Gillette – additional recording
• Khaliq Glover – additional recording
• Femi Jiya – additional recording
• Mike Kloster – assistant engineer
• Paul May – assistant engineer
• Clif Norrell – assistant engineer
• Harvey Mason Jr. – technical assistance
• Robert Vosgien – digital editing
• Wally Traugott – mastering at Capitol Mastering (Hollywood, California).
• Debra Johnson – production coordinator
• Kim Champagne – art direction
• Leslie Wintner – design
• Stuart Watson – photography
• O'Brien and Schridde – band photography

Track information and credits adapted from AllMusic ^{[1] [6]}

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991–1992) Peak position US Billboard 200 [7] 97 US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums ( Billboard ) [8] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [9] 16

Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [10] 67

References

1. Yanow, Scott. Fourplay - Fourplay at AllMusic. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
2. "Fourplay (Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard. October 25, 1991. Retrieved February 14, 2020.^{[ dead link ]}
3. "Billboard (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard. January 3, 1992. Retrieved February 14, 2020.^{[ dead link ]}
4. "Billboard 200". billboard.com. Billboard. December 13, 1991. Retrieved February 14, 2020.^{[ dead link ]}
5. "Fourplay: Fourplay". RIAA . Retrieved July 2, 2023.
6. "Fourplay - Fourplay". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
7. "Fourplay, TLP" . Billboard . Retrieved April 18, 2021.
8. "Fourplay, JCR" . Billboard . Retrieved April 18, 2021.
9. "Fourplay, BLP" . Billboard . Retrieved April 18, 2021.
10. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.