Deniece Williams

When Love Comes Calling



Deniece Williams - When Love Comes Calling CBS 83202 (1979)

When Love Comes Calling; Why Can't We Fall In Love; Go Knows; I Found Love; Turn Around; I've Got The Next Dance; Are You Thinking; Touch Me Again; My Prayer

Produced by: David Foster & Ray Parker Jr.

As mentioned in the Lovelites blog Deniece first recorded for the Lock label in 1969 as Deniece Chandler. She has also appeared on the Lovelites CD as a guest artiste. Basically it looks like tracks from her un-released Love Lite album. I'm surprised that they didn't appear around the time of her biggest hits; Let's hear it for the boy and Free. This album was recorded for ARC, run by Earth Wind & Fire's Maurice White. The video footage of 'Free' shown below is taken from a CED Capacitance Detection RCA developed video disc that uses a stylus to track the picture, 'vinyl video' - way cool!

Born Deniece Chandler, 3 June 1951, Gary, Indiana, USA. As a child she sang in a gospel choir and made her first recordings in the late 60s for the Chicago-based Toddlin' Town/Lock label. After training as a nurse, she was hired by Stevie Wonder to join his Wonderlove vocal backing group.

Deniece williams - free Uploaded by mickeynold

She contributed to four of his albums before leaving Wonder to pursue a solo career. Produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind And Fire, her first album included the UK hits "That's What Friends Are For" and the number 1 "Free" which was revived in 1990 by British group BEF for their Music Of Quality & Distinction Vol II album of cover versions. In 1978, Williams joined Johnny Mathis for the immensely popular ballad "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" This was followed by an album of duets by the couple, That's What Friends Are For. Returning to a solo career, Williams moved to Maurice White's own label, ARC but her next two albums made little impact. However, a revival of the 1965 song "It's Gonna Take A Miracle', produced by Thom Bell, returned her to the US Top 10 in 1982.

Johnny mathis - too much too little too late Uploaded by mickeynold This was a prelude to the release of Williams" most well-known song, "Let's Hear It For The Boy". Originally made for the soundtrack of the 1984 film Footloose, it was issued as a single the following year and headed the US charts. Later records had no pop success although Deniece remained popular in the R&B audience and in 1988 she made her first gospel album for Sparrow. Williams is a prolific songwriter and her compositions have been recorded by Merry Clayton, the Emotions, the Whispers, Frankie Valli and others.