Joy (Teddy Pendergrass album)

Last updated
Joy
Tpjoy.jpg
Studio album by
Released1988
RecordedQCA Studios, Cincinnati, Ohio; Kajem/Victory Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre Soul
Length45:18
Label Elektra
Producer Teddy Pendergrass, Miles Jaye, Nick Martinelli, Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway
Teddy Pendergrass chronology
Workin' It Back
(1985)
Joy
(1988)
Truly Blessed
(1991)

Joy is a studio album by the American singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1988 on Elektra Records. [1] [2] It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" category. [3]

Contents

Joy peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B chart, Pendergrass's highest placing on the chart since 1979's No. 1 album Teddy . [4] It peaked at No. 45 on the UK Albums Chart. [5]

Production

The album was produced by Reggie and Vincent Calloway, Nick Martinelli, Miles Jaye, and Pendergrass. [6] It was mostly recorded at Victory Studios, in Philadelphia. [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The Chicago Tribune called the album "an accomplished meditation on romantic love and perhaps an exercise in imagination." [11] The Washington Post praised the "dusky purr on slow-groove songs like '2 A.M.' and 'Love Is the Power'." [12] The Los Angeles Times wrote that Pendergrass's "smoldering style has been replaced by a sleek, sophisticated sound that recalls the urbane elegance of Luther Vandross' best work." [9]

Track listing

  1. "Joy" (Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway, Joel Davis) - 6:18
  2. "2 A.M." (James S. Carter, Kevin J. Askins, Marvin Hammett) - 5:25
  3. "Good to You" (Miles Jaye) - 5:13
  4. "I'm Ready" (Jaye) - 5:12
  5. "Love Is the Power" (R. Calloway, V. Calloway, Davis) - 6:16
  6. "This Is the Last Time" (Gabriel Hardeman, Annette Hardeman) - 6:27
  7. "Through the Falling Rain (Love Story)" (Carter, Askins, Hammett) - 4:58
  8. "Can We Be Lovers" (Carter, Freddie Williams) - 5:29

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Pendergrass</span> American singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania

Theodore DeReese Pendergrass was an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter. He was born in Kingstree, South Carolina. Pendergrass spent most of his life in the Philadelphia area, and initially rose to musical fame as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. After leaving the group in 1976, Pendergrass launched a successful solo career under the Philadelphia International label, releasing five consecutive platinum albums. Pendergrass's career was suspended after a March 1982 car crash left him paralyzed from the waist down. Pendergrass continued his successful solo career until announcing his retirement in 2007. He died from respiratory failure in January 2010.

Calloway is an R&B duo of Cincinnati, Ohio brothers Reggie and Vincent Calloway. They had a major hit in 1990 with "I Wanna Be Rich".

<i>Now</i> (Patrice Rushen album) 1984 studio album by Patrice Rushen

Now is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter and pianist Patrice Rushen issued in May 1984 on Elektra Records. The album rose to No. 7 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Albums chart, No. 4 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 40 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Rhythm of Love</i> (Anita Baker album) 1994 studio album by Anita Baker

Rhythm of Love is the fifth album by American R&B/soul singer Anita Baker, released in 1994. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop chart and was certified double platinum, giving Baker her fourth platinum selling album.

<i>Teddy Pendergrass</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass is the debut solo album from the American R&B/soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1977.

<i>Live! Coast to Coast</i> 1979 live album by Teddy Pendergrass

Live! Coast to Coast is a live album by the R&B crooner Teddy Pendergrass. It was recorded in Philadelphia in 1978 and Los Angeles in 1979. It did rather well on the Billboard album charts, reaching #33 Pop and #5 R&B.

<i>Love Language</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Teddy Pendergrass

Love Language is the eighth album by R&B/Soul crooner Teddy Pendergrass. It was his first record for Asylum Records after being a longtime artist on Philadelphia International Records. It did much better on the Billboard 200 than his last two records, peaking at #38. He had not reached the top 40 on the album charts since 1981's It's Time for Love. The album was composed and produced by Michael Masser, with the exception of the track You're My Choice Tonight , which was produced by Luther Vandross and featured Cissy Houston on background vocals and as "Solo Female Voice".

<i>Workin It Back</i> 1985 studio album by Teddy Pendergrass

Workin' It Back is a studio album by the American R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1985. It was his second record for Asylum Records. The album didn't do nearly as well on the Billboard 200 as his last record, peaking at #96. It did reach US R&B #6, only two spots lower than his previous album. The album spawned two singles, "Love 4/2" and "Let Me Be Closer", though none made the Billboard Hot 100. The album has been certified gold.

"Joy" is a 1988 song by American singer Teddy Pendergrass. It written by Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway and Joel Davis. The single was Teddy Pendergrass' first number one on the Black Singles chart in ten years, where it stayed for two weeks. The single was also his first solo entry on the Hot 100 in seven years. "Joy" also peaked at number forty-two on the dance chart.

<i>Truly Blessed</i> 1991 studio album by Teddy Pendergrass

Truly Blessed is the eleventh studio album by R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in March 1991 on the Elektra label. Four tracks were produced by Pendergrass, with four of the tracks produced by him and Terry Price, and the remaining three produced by Derek Nakamoto and Craig Burbidge.

<i>A Little More Magic</i> 1993 studio album by Teddy Pendergrass

A Little More Magic is the twelfth studio album by American R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass. It was released by Elektra Records on September 14, 1993 in the United States. This was the third and last album Pendergrass recorded for Elektra, and was commercially the least successful of the three despite featuring songwriting and production credits from well-known names such as Barry White, Gerald Levert and Leon Huff as well as Reggie and Vincent Calloway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston song)</span> 1984 single by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston

"Hold Me" is a ballad duet performed by American singers Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston. The song was originally recorded solo by Diana Ross for her 1982 album Silk Electric under the title "In Your Arms", with slightly different lyrics. The Pendergrass and Houston version appears on Pendergrass's eighth studio album Love Language (1984) and Houston's self-titled debut album (1985). It was written by Linda Creed and Michael Masser and production overseen by Masser. "Hold Me" was the first single release of Houston's career.

<i>Everlasting</i> (Natalie Cole album) 1987 studio album by Natalie Cole

Everlasting is the eleventh studio album by American singer Natalie Cole, released on June 14, 1987 by Manhattan Records. The album peak to number 8 on Billboards Top R&B Albums chart, and scored three hit singles – "Jump Start" and "I Live for Your Love" both hit top 5 on US R&B Songs, and "Pink Cadillac" a top five hit on the US Hot 100.

<i>Stephanie</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Stephanie Mills

Stephanie is the Grammy-nominated fifth studio album by American R&B/soul singer Stephanie Mills. It was released in 1981 and produced by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas. The album features hit song "Two Hearts" a duet with Teddy Pendergrass. By default, this fulfilled her contract with 20th Century-Fox Records, as the following year, the label was sold to PolyGram Records, which quickly folded it into Casablanca Records, to which Mills' contract was subsequently transferred. Stephanie scored Mills her second nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards in 1982.

<i>If I Were Your Woman</i> (Stephanie Mills album) 1987 studio album by Stephanie Mills

If I Were Your Woman is the eleventh studio album by American recording artist Stephanie Mills, released on June 1, 1987 on MCA Records. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. If I Were Your Woman was also certified Gold and Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Reaching for the Sky</i> 1978 studio album by Peabo Bryson

Reaching for the Sky is the second album by soul vocalist Peabo Bryson.

Miles Jaye Davis, known professionally as Miles Jaye, is an American R&B and jazz singer, jazz violinist, songwriter, and record producer. He had several hits on the US R&B chart in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the biggest of which was "Let's Start Love Over" in 1987. He was for a time the lead singer of Village People.

Gabriel S. Hardeman Jr., was an American gospel musician, pianist, and leader of the Gabriel Hardeman Delegation that included his wife Annette. He started his music career in 1976, with the release of Gabriel Hardeman Delegation by Savoy Records. Along with his wife, they formed Birthright Records, and in 1981 they released the album Talk along with Feels Like Fire in 1983. His fourth album, To the Chief Musician, released in 2001 by Crystal Rose Records, and this placed at No. 12 on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums chart. Hardeman was a noted songwriter along with his wife Annette of such songs as 1987's "I Feel Good All Over" by Stephanie Mills and "Love Under New Management" performed by Miki Howard in 1989.

<i>Is It Still Good to Ya</i> 1978 studio album by Ashford & Simpson

Is It Still Good to Ya is the sixth studio album recorded by American vocal duo Ashford & Simpson, released in 1978 on the Warner Bros. label. The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2015 by Big Break Records.

Reggie Calloway is a Grammy nominated American singer, songwriter, record producer, musician and record executive. His career spans 45 years in the entertainment industry. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as the founder and leader of the music group, Midnight Star whose album No Parking on the Dance Floor reached #2 on Billboard's R&B Album charts and was certified Platinum X2.

References

  1. Wilker, Deborah (12 June 1988). "Pendergrass a Joy to Hear". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3F.
  2. Jones IV, James T. (18 May 1988). "Soul's sweet revival". USA Today. p. 1D.
  3. "Teddy Pendergrass". Recording Academy. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  4. "Teddy Pendergrass". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  5. "Teddy Pendergrass". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  6. McAdams, Janine C. (Jul 9, 1988). "Pendergrass Finds 'Joy' in Hot New Elektra Album". Billboard. 100 (28): 24.
  7. Waldron, Clarence (Jul 11, 1988). "Teddy Pendergrass Says Marriage and Career Are a 'Joy'". Jet. 74 (15): 36.
  8. "Joy Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  9. 1 2 Grein, Paul (31 July 1988). "Teddy Serves Notice". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 60.
  10. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 537.
  11. Milward, John (28 Apr 1988). "Pop, Soul, and Sex". Chicago Tribune. p. 17C.
  12. Brown, Joe (27 May 1988). "Between Soul Roles and a Rocky Place". The Washington Post. p. N25.