Love's the Place to Be Last updated August 17, 2025 Critical reception The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called the album "the kind of romantic, elegant material that fans of the highly touted Luther Vandross wish he would return to." [ 13] The Charlotte Observer deemed it "a masterpiece," writing that "the three-song suite 'Do You Still Love Me'/'Hey Girl'/'Break Up to Make Up' is one of the best things to hit CD in a long time." [ 9] The Dallas Morning News thought that "Downing has matured into a stunning stylist, caressing such classics as Nat 'King' Cole's 'That's All' [and] the Stylistics' 'Break Up to Make Up' ... with a reverence that still leaves room for redefining." [ 14]
The Daily Breeze wrote that "most of the 11 tracks spin at the same speed and intensity, thus there is no chance for the highs and lows." [ 10] The New York Times said that Downing's "rich baritone is tailor-made for intimacy, his phrasing both deliberate and effortless." [ 15]
AllMusic editor Jason Birchmeier wrote that "these songs were all some of Downing's best work ... showcasing his vocal prowess." [ 8]
Track listing Love's the Place to Be track listingTitle Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "There's No Living Without You" 4:15 2. "Sailing on a Dream" Bob Baldwin James Robinson Downing 6:09 3. "One Moment" Ronnie Garrett Vastine Pettis Rideout Barry Eastmond 4:43 4. "Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This" (featuring Rachelle Ferrell ) Ferrell Eastmond 6:21 5. "Love's the Place to Be" Ronnie Foster Foster 5:00 6. "Lovers Paradise" Foster 4:42 7. "Everything to Me" 4:20 8. "Do You Still Love Me" Eastmond 4:55 9. "Hey Girl " 5:25 10. "Break Up to Make Up " 5:07 11. "That's All " Foster 5:37 Total length: 56:34
Personnel Will Downing – vocals, backing vocals (1-3, 6-10) Rex Rideout – all instruments (1), keyboards (7), drum programming (7) Bob Baldwin – keyboards (2, 9, 10), acoustic piano solo (2), backing vocals (2) Barry Eastmond – keyboards (3, 8), electric piano (4), acoustic piano solo (8) Jason Miles – synthesizer programming (3, 8) Rachelle Ferrell – grand piano (4), vocals (4), arrangements (4) Ronnie Foster – keyboards (5, 6, 11), vibraphone solo (5), arrangements (5, 6), backing vocals (6), string arrangements (11) Eddie Martinez – guitars (3, 8) Kevin Eubanks – guitars (4), guitar solo (9) Mike Campbell – guitars (4) Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (6, 11) Mike Ciro – guitars (7) Clarance "Binky" Brice – guitars (9) Georg Wadenius – sitar (10) Larry Kimpel – bass (2) Victor Bailey – bass (3) Anthony Jackson – bass (4, 8, 10) Jimmy Johnson – bass (5) Gerald Albright – bass (6), sax solo (10) Carl Carter – bass (9) Freddie Washington – bass (11) Omar Hakim – drums (2) Rayford Griffin – drums (3, 8) Buddy Williams – drums (4, 10) Harvey Mason – drums (5, 6, 11) Neal Adams – drums (9) Bashiri Johnson – percussion (3, 8) Steve Thornton – percussion (4) Luis Conte – percussion (6) Steve Kroon – percussion (9, 10) Marion Meadows – saxophone (8) Stevie Wonder – harmonica solo (11) Chris Cameron – string arrangements (5) Onaje Allan Gumbs – string arrangements (10) George Del Barrio – string conductor (5), string arrangements (11) B.J. Nelson – backing vocals (1) Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals (2, 10) Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (3, 8) Audrey Wheeler – backing vocals (3, 7-9), vocals (7) Craig Derry – backing vocals (9) Curtis King – backing vocals (10) Vaneese Thomas – backing vocals (10) References 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Vol. 3. MUZE. pp. 104– 105. ↑ Hudson, Alexia (October 8, 1993). "Music Reviews: Love's the Place to Be Will Downing". The Philadelphia Inquirer . p. 7E. 1 2 3 Smith, Danyel (August 14, 1993). "Downing Plays to Listener Loyalty". Billboard . Vol. 105, no. 33. p. 18. ↑ McNally, Owen (October 28, 1993). "Hot Autumn Night". Calendar. Hartford Courant . p. 6. ↑ "Will Downing" . Billboard . ↑ "Will Downing Full Official Chart History" . Official Charts . ↑ "Five Touring Performers Joining Forces for Jazz Explosion". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . November 13, 1994. p. 1E. 1 2 "Love's the Place to Be" . AllMusic . 1 2 "R&B". The Charlotte Observer . February 11, 1994. p. 5F. 1 2 Tranfa, Anthony D. (November 19, 1993). "Will Downing, 'Love's the Place To Be'Daily Breeze . p. K15. ↑ Jones, Alan (August 7, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Albums" (PDF) . Music Week . p. 13. Retrieved January 30, 2023 . ↑ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide . Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 183. ↑ Murray, Sonia (April 15, 1994). "Preview – Will Downing". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . p. P3. ↑ "Will Downing". The Dallas Morning News . November 11, 1993. p. 5C. ↑ Linden, Amy (September 26, 1993). "Pop Briefs". The New York Times . p. H45. ↑ "Will Downing Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard ↑ "Will Downing Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard This page is based on this
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