Take It to the Limit (Norman Connors album)

Last updated

Take It to the Limit
Take It to the Limit (Norman Connors album).jpg
Studio album by
Released1980 (1980)
Genre
  • Soul
  • R&B
Length32:55
Label Arista
Producer
  • Norman Connors
  • Jean Carn
  • Gerald Roberts
Norman Connors chronology
Invitation
(1979)
Take It to the Limit
(1980)
Mr. C
(1981)
Singles from Take It to the Limit
  1. "Take It to the Limit"
    Released: 1980
  2. "Melancholy Fire"
    Released: 1980

Take It to the Limit is the tenth studio album by American musician Norman Connors, released in 1980 on Arista Records.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Andy Kellman of AllMusic cited that the singles from Take It to the Limit rightfully deserved their modest success. He continued, "...but a small clutch of other gems deserved similar achievements. "I Don't Need Nobody Else," sung by Al Johnson, sparkles brightly, while Adaritha's "Justify" is just as gorgeous as the album's hit singles. One minor disappointment is Leon Ware's set-closing "Everywhere Inside of Me," which falls toward the sappy side. One major dud is a plonking cover of Steely Dan's "Black Cow", which has inexplicably shown up on a number of Connors anthologies. Six out of eight ain't bad by any stretch."

Chart performance

The album peaked at number 145 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and number 30 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart. [2] The singles from the album "Take It To The Limit" and "Melancholy Fire" charted and peaked at number 28 and number 20, respectively, on the Billboard R&B chart. [3]

Track listing

Side one

1.Take It to the LimitLead vocals: AdarithaWriter: Phyllis St. James3:44
2.Melancholy FireLead vocals: Glenn JonesWriter: David DeMarco3:57
3.You've Been on my MindLead vocals: AdarithaWriter: Shelby Flint4:20
4.I Don't Need Nobody ElseLead vocals and backing vocals: Al JohnsonWriter: Lou Courtney3:49

Side Two

5.JustifyVocals: AdarithaWriter: David Lasley3:47
6.Black CowFlugelhorn: Freddie HubbardWriters: Donald Fagen, Walter Becker4:55
7.You Bring Me JoyLead Vocals: AdarithaWriter: David Lasley3:35
8.Everywhere Inside Of MeLead vocals and backing vocals: Leon WareWriter: Leon Ware4:48

2013 remaster bonus tracks

9.Melancholy – 7"3:51
10.Take It to the Limit – 12"4:19
11.Take It to the Limit – 7"3:35

Charts

Chart (1980)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [4] 145
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [5] 30

Personnel

[6] The album features several guest musical acts courtesy of their respective record labels.

Columbia Records: Adaritha – vocals, Al Johnson – arrangements & vocals, Freddie Hubbard – flugelhorn and Starship Orchestra – instrumentation

Philadelphia International Records: Jean Carn, The Jones Girls – vocals

Savoy Records: Glenn Jones – vocals

Elektra / Asylum Records: Leon Ware – vocals

Other musicians

Production

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References

  1. Kellman, Andy. Review of Take It to the Limit at AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  2. "Norman Connors". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  3. "Norman Connors Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  4. "Norman Connors Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. "Norman Connors Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  6. "Take It to the Limit – Norman Connors | Credits | AllMusic".