Reaching for the Sky

Reaching for the Sky
Studio album by Peabo Bryson
Released	January 16, 1978
Recorded	1977
Studio	P.S. Studios and Universal Recording Corporation (Chicago, Illinois) ABC Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Soul, funk
Length	36:16
Label	Capitol
Producer	Peabo Bryson Richard Evans
Peabo Bryson chronology
Peabo (1976) Reaching for the Sky (1978) Crosswinds (1978)

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

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Released in 1978, Reaching for the Sky was Bryson's debut album on Capitol Records, charting with Quiet Storm staple "Feel the Fire" at number 13 on the R&B singles chart. This tune was covered by Stephanie Mills in 1979 on her What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin' album and again in 1980 by Teddy Pendergrass as a duet with Mills on his TP album. The midtempo title track, "Reaching for the Sky", was even more commercially successful, reaching number 6 on the R&B chart.

Track listing

All songs written by Peabo Bryson

1. "Reaching for the Sky" - 4:56
2. "Feel the Fire" - 5:03
3. "A Fool Already Knows" - 4:02
4. "Hold On to the World" - 4:41
5. "Love from Your Heart" - 5:22
6. "Love Walked Out on Me" - 5:36
7. "You Haven't Learned About Love" - 3:32
8. "Have a Good Time" - 4:58

Personnel

• Peabo Bryson – lead vocals, backing vocals
• Paul Libman – keyboards
• Terry Fryer – Moog synthesizer
• Ross Traut – lead guitars, guitar solo (7)
• Danny Leake – rhythm guitars
• Larry Ball – bass
• Morris Jennings – drums, percussion
• Bobby Christian – vibraphone, percussion, bells
• Sonny Seals – saxophone solo (8)
• Richard Evans – arrangements
• Dr. Warric Carter – horn and string conductor
• Johnny Pate – rhythm conductor
• Jynean Bell – backing vocals
• Chuck Colbert – backing vocals
• Sharon Johnson – backing vocals
• Cynthia White – backing vocals

Production

• Larkin Arnold – executive producer
• Peabo Bryson – producer
• Richard Evans – producer
• Bob Brooks – recording
• Harry Brotman – recording
• Zollie Johnson – recording
• Barney Perkins – recording
• Jim Scheffler – recording
• Paul Serrano – recording
• Stu Walters – recording
• Ken Perry – mastering at Capitol Records (Hollywood, California)
• Roy Kohara – art direction
• Art Sims – design
• Dick Zimmerman – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1978) Peak position US Billboard 200 [2] 49 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [3] 11

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Position US Billboard 200 [4] 85 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [5] 12 Singles Year Single Chart positions [6] US R&B 1978 "Feel The Fire" 13 "Reaching For The Sky" 6

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [7]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

External links

• Peabo Bryson-Reaching for the Sky at Discogs

References

1. Wynn, Ron. Peabo Bryson: Reaching for the Sky > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
2. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
3. "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
4. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
5. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
6. "Peabo Bryson US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
7. "American album certifications – Peabo Bryson – Reaching for the Sky". Recording Industry Association of America.