Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Inspiration
Label: | Capitol Records – SW-11912 |
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Format: | |
Country: | US |
Released: | |
Genre: | Funk / Soul |
Style: | Soul, Disco |
Tracklist
A1 | Lovely Inspiration | 5:08 | |
A2 | Feel That You're Feelin' | 5:33 | |
A3 | Call On Me | 5:42 | |
A4 | Timin' | 5:02 | |
B1 | Welcome Home | 5:08 | |
B2 | Woman Is A Wonder | 7:20 | |
B3 | Ain't It Strange | 5:23 | |
B4 | Lovely Inspiration (Instrumental) | 1:56 |
Companies, etc.
- Mastered At – Capitol Mastering
- Recorded At – Studio In The Country
- Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
- Record Company – Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Capitol Records, Inc.
- Copyright © – Capitol Records, Inc.
- Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles
Credits
- Art Direction, Design – Roy Kohara
- Bass – Robin Duhe
- Congas – Roame Lowry
- Drums – Ahaguna Sun
- Engineer – Bill Evans (5), David (Sparky) Farrell*, Gene Thompson, John Nowland
- Illustration – Shusei Nagaoka
- Keyboards – Sam Porter
- Lead Guitar – Wuane Thomas
- Mastered By – Wally Traugott
- Percussion – McKinley Williams*
- Photography By – Barbara Du Metz*
- Producer, Arranged By, Written-By, Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar – Frankie Beverly
- Vocals – McKinley Williams*, Roame Lowry
Notes
Mastered at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California
Recorded at Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc.
℗ © 1979, Capitol Records, Inc.
Recorded at Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc.
℗ © 1979, Capitol Records, Inc.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Rights Society: BMI
- Matrix / Runout (Printed on label, Side A): SW-1-11912
- Matrix / Runout (Printed on label, Side B): SW-2-11912
- Matrix / Runout (Runout, Side A): SW-2̶̷̲̅1-11912 F-6 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally
- Matrix / Runout (Runout, Side B): SW-1-11912 F-6 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally ✲
Other Versions (5 of 22)
View AllTitle (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recently Edited | Inspiration (LP, Album) | Capitol Records | SW-11912 | Canada | 1979 | ||
Recently Edited | Inspiration (LP, Album) | Capitol Records | 5C 062-85830 | Netherlands | 1979 | ||
New Submission | Inspiration (LP, Album, Winchester Pressing) | Capitol Records | SW-11912 | US | 1979 | ||
Recently Edited | Inspiration (LP, Album, Club Edition) | Capitol Records | SW-511912 | Canada | 1979 | ||
New Submission | Inspiration (Cassette, Album, Stereo) | Capitol Records | TC EST 11912 | UK | 1979 |
Recommendations
Reviews
- Edited 4 months agoAlbum Revolution #3:
After GRACING us with 2 Classic albums with "That SIGNATURE Maze Sound", "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly" DID NOT HESITATE, to get back into the Studio and Record their next offering "Inspiration".....
I personally don't get it, but this is the least mentioned album, out of the "Maze" Catalog...So I hope going through this album will change Peoples minds in realizing that this a TOTAL ULTIMATE CROWN JEWEL album!!!!!
The Band in; "Frankie", "Ronald (Roame) Lowry", "Robin Duhe", "Sam Porter", "Wayne Thomas" and "McKinley (Bug) Williams" was STILL intact...The only modification was that Drummer "Joe Provost" was no longer with the Band...He was replaced by "Ahaguna Sun", who was part of a group called "Sunbear", and was CONSTANTLY a Sessions Drummer for "Dick Griffey" and "Solar Records"....
With that in mind, SUPRISINGLY, the album started SLOW with, "Lovely Inspiration"....Continuing to HARVEST "That Maze Sound", this Smooth/Mellow Groove has the Band STILL sounding FRESH!!!! This also plays right into "Frankie's" Smooth/Sweet Vocals, surrounded by some SERIOUSLY SURREAL Keyboards....As USUAL, the Background Vocals of "Maze" ADDS to the ALLURE of this MASTERFUL Groove!!!!!
"That Maze Sound" continues with the first Single of the album, "Feel That You're Feelin'"....Another Smooth Groovy joint, this EASILY became another "Maze Classic"....It has a faster "Golden Time Of Day" feel to it, again making you want to let the Top or Windows DOWN, and CRUISE AROUND, WHEREVER You WANT TO GO!!!!!
"Call On Me" has a "Maze Sound" meets "Island Music" feel to it...Not only does "Frankie" KILLS this with his Smooth/Sweet Vocals, he displays his "Whistling" skills as well....The album theme seems to be the Keyboards (courtesy of "Sam Porter"), sounding like the Soundtrack of the Album Cover displayed....
"Timin'" is more of an UPBEAT "Maze Sounding" joint....Guitarist, "Wayne Thomas" gets to become part of the FOUNDATION of the Groove, while "Frankie" just FLAUNTS his Though Provoking Lyrics!!!!! (the Background Vocals are FIRE as well!!!!)
Side 2 also starts UPBEAT with "Welcome Home"....This HONESTLY sounds like a leftover from either the 1st or 2nd Albums...But that's not putting this GROOVY JOINT down AT ALL!!!!! It just SOLIDIFIES "That Maze Sound"!!!!!
"Woman Is A Wonder" is just a PURE GEM!!!!! Another LOVELY Woman's ANTHEM, the Mood of this FANTASTIC joint FITS the Title PERFECTLY!!!! What I LOVE about this one is, the APPROPRIATE Lyrics Penned by "Frankie", are MOSTLY sung by the Band, instead of just "Frankie" himself...To me, THAT WAS GENIUS!!!!! Also, the different LAYERED Keyboards of "Mr. Sam Porter", ADDS GUSTO to this 7 minute MASTERPIECE!!!!!!
To me, "Ain't It Strange" SHOULD BE considered a "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly" Classic!!!!! It may sound like it's just a simple Melody, but HONESTLY, I believe that it's the Songs CHARM!!!!! EVERY Instrument is INVOLVED with the Marriage of EXCELLENCE that SUPPORTS "Frankie's" Thought Provoking Lyrics!!!!! This joint DEFINATELY brings about my "Isaac D Body Sways"!!!!!
The ending "Lovely Inspiration (Instrumental)" (which is HONESTLY a Reprise) just puts a CAP on another "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly" Classic Album!!!!!
3 in a row!!!!
This album just CONTINUED to RAISE the STOCK of "Frankie" and "Maze"....Also the reputation of the Bands Live Shows started to get around, so when they came to your Town, it was COMPLETELY SOLD OUT!!!!! We will get a glimpse of that in the near future....
So, I said in the beginning that I wanted to show WHY this album should be held in High Esteem in the "Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly" Catalog...I HOPE I did JUST THAT!!!!!!! - Maze is an album band. Today's music lover wants singles. They don't have the attention span and maturity to appreciate the silky soul of this amazing band. This is what our parents use to listen to on date night, after the kids are asleep. All 8 studio albums are must haves if you just want to listen to smooth emotive music that is positively charged.
We need more music acts like Maze. - I don't understand why so little people have heard this album - it's a great fusion of jamming jazz-funk and wonderfuly composed funk and soul music. Great for nights and days, alone or with someone very special. This record is like an inspiration, inspiration for human beings, very beautyful and shining like a star - love this record, very, very much.
Release
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