1983 studio album by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
Born to Love is a 1983 studio album of duets by American singers Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack . It was released by Bryson's label Capitol Records on July 22, 1983, in the United States. The album yielded the hit single "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love ", written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser . The track "Maybe" was written and recorded for the film Romantic Comedy (1983).
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Rob Theakston called Born to Love "not an essential album by any means, but nonetheless an enjoyable listen."[ 1]
Track listing
Side A Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love " Masser 3:29 2. "Blame It on Me" 4:12 3. "Heaven Above Me" 4:34 4. "Born to Love" Bryson Bryson 4:25
Side B Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 5. "Maybe" Bryson 3:19 6. "I Just Came Here to Dance " Kenneth Bell Terry Skinner J.L. Wallace 3:59 7. "Comin' Alive" Masser 3:34 8. "You're Lookin' Like Love to Me" 3:59 9. "Can We Find Love Again" 4:29
Personnel
Musicians
Roberta Flack – lead vocals, backing vocals (9)
Peabo Bryson – lead vocals, backing vocals (4)
Randy Kerber – Fender Rhodes (1), acoustic piano (1)
Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (2, 5)
Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano (2, 5)
Paul Delph – Prophet-10 programming (3), Prophet-10 (6)
Bob Gaudio – acoustic piano (3), Rhodes piano (3), Prophet-10 (3), programming (3), LinnDrum (3), arrangements (3, 6, 8), vocal arrangements (3, 6, 8), synthesizers (6, 8)
Mark Parrish – Oberheim OB-X (4), Prophet-5 (4)
Vance Taylor – Fender Rhodes (4), Oberheim OB-X (4), Synclavier (4)
Jai Winding – Rhodes piano (6), arrangements (6, 8)
Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (7), synthesizers (7), strings (7), arrangements (7)
Jerry Corbetta – Fender Rhodes (8), Prophet-10 (8), synthesizer solo (8), arrangements (8)
Richard Tee – keyboards (9)
Marcus Miller – synthesizers (9), bass (9)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (1, 2, 5)
Dann Huff – guitars (2, 5)
John Hauser – guitars (4)
Richard Horton – guitars (4), guitar synthesizer (4)
Tim May – guitars (6), acoustic guitar (8), electric guitar (8)
Georg Wadenius – guitars (9)
Nathan East – bass (1, 7)
Abraham Laboriel – bass (2, 5)
Leland Sklar – bass (6, 8)
Carlos Vega – drums (1, 6, 7, 8)
Jim Keltner – drums (2, 5)
John Gilston – Simmons drums (3)
Andre Robinson – drums (4)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (2, 5)
Charles Bryson – percussion (4)
Bobbye Hall – bongos (8), congas (8)
Anthony MacDonald – percussion (9)
Pete Christlieb – saxophone solo (3, 6)
Ron Dover – tenor saxophone (4), backing vocals (4)
Daniel Dillard – trumpet (4)
Thaddeus Johnson – trumpet (4), flugelhorn (4)
Felipe Mantine – flute (9)
Michael Masser – rhythm arrangements (1)
Gene Page – rhythm arrangements (1), orchestration (1), strings (7)
Frank DeCaro – music contractor (2, 5)
Mary Bridges – backing vocals (3)
Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (3)
Patricia Hall – backing vocals (3)
Luther Waters – backing vocals (3)
Oren Waters – backing vocals (3)
Mona Lisa Young – backing vocals (3, 6, 8)
Terry Young – backing vocals (3, 6, 8)
Myra Walker – backing vocals (4)
Dwight W. Watkins – backing vocals (4)
Shirley Brewer – backing vocals (6, 8)
Al Johnson – backing vocals (9), arrangements (9)
Production
Don Grierson – executive producer
Varnell Johnson – executive producer
Michael Masser – producer (1, 7)
Burt Bacharach – producer (2, 5)
Carole Bayer Sager – producer (2, 5)
Bob Crewe – producer (3, 6, 8)
Bob Gaudio – producer (3, 6, 8)
Peabo Bryson – producer (4)
Ed Seay – assistant producer (4), engineer (4)
Roberta Flack – producer (9)
Al Johnson – associate producer (9)
Jeremy Smith – engineer (1, 7)
Howard Wolin – engineer (1, 7)
Bruce Swedien – engineer (2, 5)
Tony D'Amico – engineer (3, 6, 8), recording (3, 6, 8), mixing (8)
Jay Messina – vocal recording (3, 6, 8)
Tom Swift – vocal recording assistant (3, 6, 8)
Eric Calvi – first engineer (9)
Kendall Brown – second engineer (9)
Steve Marcantonio – recording (9)
Dick Bogart – mixing (1, 7)
Russ Terrano – mixing (1, 7)
Lee DeCarlo – mixing (3, 6)
Jim Bell – mix assistant (3, 6, 8), assistant engineer (8), recording assistant (8)
Roy Kohara – art direction
John O'Brien – design
Beverly Parker – photography
Lamarries Moses – stylist
Roger St. Pierre – liner notes
Studios
Charts
Certifications
References
^ a b Theakston, Rob. Born to Love at AllMusic
^ Dellar, Fred (29 September – 12 October 1983). "Albums: Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack — Born to Love (Capitol)" (PDF) . Smash Hits . Vol. 5, no. 20. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 21. ISSN 0260-3004 . Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023 – via World Radio History.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Born To Love" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ "Charts.nz – Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Born To Love" . Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Born To Love" . Hung Medien. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ "PEABO BRYSON & ROBERTA FLACK | Artist | Official Charts" . UK Albums Chart . Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ "Peabo Bryson Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved April 30, 2021.
^ "American album certifications – PEABO BRYSON & ROBERTA FLACK – Born to Love" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 30, 2021 .
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