The Best of Fourplay - featuring Phil Collins, Chaka Khan & Nathan East
COMPILATION
[click here to see more vinyl featuring Fourplay]
Fourplay :
- Bob James (Keyboards) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Bob James]
- Lee Ritenour (guitar)
- Nathan East (bass)
- Harvey Mason (drums)
Lead Vocals – Phil Collins (B5) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Phil Collins]
Lead Vocals - David Thomas (A3), El DeBarge (A5), Chaka Khan (B3), Nathan East (B3),
Synth – Harvey Mason Jr. (A3)
Keyboards – Dan Shea (B5)
Arranged by Dan Shea (B5), Paul Brown (B5)
Written by Harvey Mason (A1), Michael Lang (A1), Marcel East (A2), Stevie Wonder (A3), Lee Ritenour (A4), Arthur Ross (A5), Leon Ware (A5), Marvin Gaye (A5), Bob James (B1-2), Lee Ritenour (B2), Chris Jasper (B3), Ernie Isley (B3), Marvin Isley (B3), O'Kelly Isley (B3), Rudolph Isley (B3), Nathan East (A2, B4), Sam Purkin (B4), Phil Collins (B5)
1 LP, gatefold jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Germany
Label : Evosound
Original Label : Evosound
Engineered by Brad Gilderman (A3), Don Murray (A1, A4-5, B1-5)
Produced by Fourplay, Harvey Mason (A3), Harvey Mason Jr. (A3)
Compilation Produced by Matt Pierson
Remixed by Don Murray (A1-2, A4, B1-4), Dan Shea (B5), Paul Brown (B5)
Remastered by Steve Vavagiakis
Originally released in 1997 (as a CD)
Reissued in November 2020 (first time on vinyl)
Tracks:
Side A:
- Max-O-Man
- 101 Eastbound
- Higher Ground feat. Take 6
- 4 Play And Pleasure
- After The Dance feat. El DeBarge
Side B:
- Chant
- Bali Run
- Between The Sheets feat. Chaka Khan & Nathan East
- Any Time Of Day
- Why Can't It Wait Till Morning feat. Phil Collins
Reviews:
“Rather than show off their jazz chops, Fourplay focused on setting a relaxed, romantic mood that was enhanced by a clean, velvety sound. The new Evosound reissue was remastered using hi-res digital transfers from the original analog master tapes, and sonics are as pristine as the performances. While the instrumental tracks are appealing, the best moments match Fourplay with vocal guest artists, as when Take 6 delivers a thoughtful reading of Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground' or Phil Collins sings 'Why Can't I Wait till Morning.' For bedroom music you can't beat the performances where Fourplay joins forces wtih El DeBarge ('After the Dance'), Chaka Khan and Nathan East ('Between the Sheets'), and Patti Austin and Peabo Bryson ('The Closer I Get to You') - talk about setting the mood.” Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound, July/August 2021
“What looked at first like a premature marketing ploy -- a greatest-hits collection after only three albums? -- now makes some historical sense, for founding member Lee Ritenour left the quartet not long after the CD's release. So this is in essence a summary of Fourplay's first edition, a collection of mildly funky, ethereally voiced selections from Fourplay, Between the Sheets, and Elixir, where Ritenour, Bob James, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason integrate their personalities into a smoothly homogenized whole. To sweeten the pot for the hardcore fans, Fourplay recorded three new tracks for the album -- Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" with vocals by Take 6, "4 Play and Pleasure," and "Any Time of Day" -- all fairly uneventful. The musicianship is impeccable, the production velvety, and despite the suitable-for-lovemaking-and-commuting stamp of approval, one wishes that these fine players would just cut loose and really rip once in a while.” AllMusic Review by Richard S. Ginell
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.6 / 5 ; The Absolute Sound : 3.5/5 Music, 4.5/5 Sonics