1980 Syreeta – Syreeta

David T Walker, Dennis Budimir, Fred Washington, Gary Coleman, Greg Mathieson, Harvey Mason Sr, James Gadson, Jay Graydon, Lee Ritenour, Lenny Castro, Leon Chancler, Paul Jackson Jr, Paulinho Da Costa, Ray Parker Jr, Richard Tee, Scott Edwards, Steve Lukather, Syreeta

Syreeta is the fourth solo album by Motown recording artist and American singer-songwriter Syreeta Wright (also known as “Syreeta”), released by the Tamla label on April 26, 1980. It’s also the second album to be titled Syreeta after her 1972 debut album.

The album was released shortly after Wright’s duet with Billy Preston, “With You I’m Born Again”, gave her the biggest charted success of her career. The album included Wright’s take of her famous compositions, “I Blame It On the Sun”, which she wrote for ex-husband Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book and a funky take on Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)”, which she also co-wrote. Wright provided lyrics and composition on one other song – “Dance For Me Children”, with Curtis Robertson. Wright also collaborated with Preston on the album with the duets, “Please Stay” and “One More Time for Love”, the latter duet charted modestly successful on the pop and R&B charts upon its release. The album features a smiling Wright in her trademark multi-colored braids.

Tracks

1 Blame It On The Sun (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) 4:20
2 Let Me Be The One (Bill WIthers, Skip Scarborough) 4:00
3 You Bring Out The Love In Me (Ken Peterson) 3:31
4 Please Stay (Carol Connors, David Shire) 4:08
5 He’s Gone (Arlene Smith, George Goldner, Richard Barrett) 3:28
6 Love Fire (Bob Esty, Michele Aller) 4:55
7 Here’s My Love (Anthony Miller, Keith Echols) 3:31
8 Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Your’s) (Lee Garrett, Lula Hardaway, Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) 3:27
9 Dance For My Children (Curtis Robertson Jr, Sheree Brown, Syreeta Wright) 2:49
10 One More Time For Love (Jerry Peters) 4:55

Biography

Syreeta Wright

Musicians

1 Blame It On The Sun

Bass	Scott Edwards
Drums	Leon Chancler
Drums	Harvey Mason Sr
Guitar	Paul Jackson Jr
Guitar	Tim May
Guitar	David T. Walker
Guitar	Fred Washington
Fender Rhodes	Jerry Peters
Percussion	Audie Watkins
Background Vocals	Jerry Peters
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

2 Let Me Be The One

Bass	Scott Edwards
Drums	Mike Baird
Strings	David Campbell
Guitar	Jay Graydon
Guitar	Steve Lukather
Guitar	Fred Washington
Guitar	Ray Parker Jr
Guitar	Lee Ritenour
Fender Rhodes	Billie Preston
Piano	Bob Esty
Piano	Ken Peterson
Piano	Richard Tee
Keyboards	Greg Mathieson
Synthesizer	Dan Wyman
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Percussion	Lenny Castro
Percussion	Oliver Brown
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

3 You Bring Out The Love In Me

Bass	Scott Edwards
Drums	Mike Baird
Strings	David Campbell
Guitar	Jay Graydon
Guitar	Steve Lukather
Guitar	Fred Washington
Guitar	Ray Parker Jr
Guitar	Lee Ritenour
Piano	Bob Esty
Piano	Ken Peterson
Piano	Richard Tee
Keyboards	Greg Mathieson
Synthesizer	Dan Wyman
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Percussion	Lenny Castro
Percussion	Oliver Brown
Background Vocals	Sheree Brown
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

4 Please Stay

Bass	Reginald McBride
Guitar	Dennis Budimir
Guitar	David T. Walker
Piano	David Shire
Percussion	Gary Coleman
Percussion	Oliver Brown
Background Vocals	Billie Preston
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

5 He’s Gone

Bass	Scott Edwards
Drums	Mike Baird
Strings	David Campbell
Guitar	Jay Graydon
Guitar	Steve Lukather
Guitar	Fred Washington
Guitar	Ray Parker Jr
Guitar	Lee Ritenour
Piano	Bob Esty
Piano	Ken Peterson
Piano	Richard Tee
Piano	Billie Preston
Keyboards	Greg Mathieson
Synthesizer	Dan Wyman
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Percussion	Lenny Castro
Percussion	Oliver Brown
Background Vocals	Becky Lopez
Background Vocals	Sherlie Matthews
Background Vocals	Venetta Fields
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

6 Love Fire

Bass	Scott Edwards
Drums	Mike Baird
Strings	David Campbell
Guitar	Jay Graydon
Guitar	Steve Lukather
Guitar	Fred Washington
Guitar	Ray Parker Jr
Guitar	Lee Ritenour
Clavinet	Billie Preston
Piano	Bob Esty
Piano	Ken Peterson
Piano	Richard Tee
Keyboards	Greg Mathieson
Synthesizer	Dan Wyman
Percussion	Paulinho Da Costa
Percussion	Lenny Castro
Percussion	Oliver Brown
Background Vocals	Francine Howard
Background Vocals	Vanciele Faggett
Background Vocals	Alphanetts Silas
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

7 Here’s My Love

Bass	Scott Edwards
Drums	Leon Chancler
Drums	Harvey Mason Sr
Guitar	Paul Jackson Jr
Guitar	Tim May
Guitar	David T. Walker
Guitar	Fred Washington
Fender Rhodes	Jerry Peters
Percussion	Audie Watkins
Background Vocals	Sheree Brown
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

8 Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Your’s)

Bass	David Shields
Drums	James Gadson
Drums	Melvin Webb
Guitar	Art Wright
Keyboards	Reginald Burke
Percussion	Oliver Brown
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

9 Dance For My Children

Bass	David Shields
Drums	James Gadson
Drums	Melvin Webb
Guitar	Art Wright
Percussion	Oliver Brown
Keyboards	Reginald Burke
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

10 One More Time for Love

Bass	Scott Edwards
Drums	Leon Chancler
Drums	Harvey Mason Sr
Guitar	Paul Jackson Jr
Guitar	Tim May
Guitar	David T. Walker
Guitar	Fred Washington
Fender Rhodes	Jerry Peters
Percussion	Audie Watkins
Background Vocals	Billie Preston
Background Vocals	Sheree Brown
Vocals	Syreeta Wright

Liner Notes

Producer – Jerry Peters
Producer – Billy Preston, David Shire (Track 4)
Producer – Hal Davis (Tracks 7, 9)
Producer (Executive) – Suzanne De Passe Le Mat, Tony Jones
Co-producer (Associate) – Russ Terrana
Remastered By – Alan Wilson

Art Direction – Ginny Livingston
Design – Betsy Rodden
Photography – Harry Langdon

Mastered At Motown Recording Studios
Mixed At Motown Recording Studios
Recorded At Studio 55, Los Angeles
Recorded At Kendun Recorders
Recorded At NSP Studios
Recorded At Motown Recording Studios
Remastered At Western Star
Phonographic Copyright Motown Records
Copyright SoulMusic Records

2 Comments

Paulo Simões on Facebook
July 26, 2014 @ 14:04

With five guitarists credited as playing on the same track, this is one of those instances where it is difficult for me to identify Luke guitar. On the other hand I would say that in this case, Lee Ritenour is the most identifiable guitar player.

Jan Lücker on Facebook
July 26, 2014 @ 14:16

On the album there are three lists of songs defined. I don’t know if Steve is playing on all these tracks.