Take It to the Limit (Norman Connors album)

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

Critical reception

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. 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.

Track listing Side one

1.Take It to the LimitLead vocals: AdarithaWriter: Phyllis St. James3:442.Melancholy FireLead vocals: Glenn JonesWriter: David DeMarco3:573.You've Been on my MindLead vocals: AdarithaWriter: Shelby Flint4:204.I Don't Need Nobody ElseLead vocals and backing vocals: Al JohnsonWriter: Lou Courtney3:49 Side Two 5.JustifyVocals: AdarithaWriter: David Lasley3:476.Black CowFlugelhorn: Freddie HubbardWriters: Donald Fagen, Walter Becker4:557.You Bring Me JoyLead Vocals: AdarithaWriter: David Lasley3:358.Everywhere Inside Of MeLead vocals and backing vocals: Leon WareWriter: Leon Ware4:48 2013 remaster bonus tracks 9.Melancholy – 7"3:5110.Take It to the Limit – 12"4:1911.Take It to the Limit – 7"3:35

Charts Chart (1980)Peakposition

Personnel

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

Norman Connors – drums, percussion, vocals Alex Brown, Eric Butler, Gwen Matthews, Jim Gilstrap, Marlene Jeter, Vanetta Fields – backing vocals David T. Walker, Marlo Henderson – guitar Billy McCoy, Bobby Lyles, Sonny Burke – keyboard Nathan East, Byron Miller – bass James Gadson – drums Myungo, Paulinho Da Costa – percussion Dorothy Ashby – harp Allen Robinson, Sidney Muldrow – French Horn Don Myrick, John Kip, Ralph Jones, Bill Green – Saxophone Gary Bartz – soprano saxophone, soloist Buzzy Jones – tenor saxophone Garnet Brown, George Bohanon – trombone Bobby Bryant, Eric Butler, Nolan Smith, Oscar Brashear – trumpet

Production

Ron Averez, Jackson Schwartz – engineer Norman Connors, Jean Carn, Gerald Roberts – producer John Golden – mastering Tony Barboza, Garry Gross – photography Donn Davenport – art direction Norman Connors – director Harry Bluestone – concertmaster (strings) Ben Barrett – contractor (strings) George Bohanon – contractor (horns)

References