1976 Melba Moore – This Is It
This Is It is the fifth album by singer Melba Moore, released in 1976.
Melba Moore would give credit to her husband/manager Charles Huggins, whom she married in September 1974, with getting her signed to Buddah Records in 1975 – ending a four-year recording studio absence – , and with arranging for veteran soul music songwriter/producer Van McCoy to helm Moore’s second Buddah album release, which she began recording in January 1976. The album included Moore’s rendition of McCoy’s deep soul ballad “Lean on Me”, first recorded in 1970 by Vivian Reed but most well known as the B-side to Aretha Franklin’s 1972 hit “Spanish Harlem”. Moore had herself recorded “Lean on Me” in 1972, her rendition being featured on her concert album Melba Moore Live!. However the recruitment of McCoy to helm Moore’s album was essentially due to McCoy’s success as a producer of disco records, it being hoped that a disco hit would consolidate the somewhat nebulous success Moore had to that point experienced as a recording artist: (Melba Moore quote:)”I just couldn’t ignore the (impact) that disco was having on music”.
Tracks
1 This Is It (Van McCoy) 03:29
2 Free (Charles Kipps) 04:30
3 One Less Morning (Charles Kipps) 04:37
4 Make Me Believe In You (Curtis Mayfield) 07:07
5 Lean On Me (Van McCoy) 04:52
6 Stay Awhile (Joe Cobb; Van McCoy) 03:54
7 Play Boy Scout (Nino Ferrer) 04:12
8 Blood Red Roses (John Lewin; Michael Valenti) 03:16
9 Brand New (Eddie Robinson) 04:49
Biography
Musicians
Bass | Gordon Edwards |
Drums | Herbie Lovelle |
Drums | Jimmy Young |
Drums | Steve Gadd |
Guitar | Eric Gale |
Guitar | John Tropea |
Clavinet | Leon Pendarvis |
Fender Rhodes | Leon Pendarvis |
Keyboards | Richard Tee |
Piano | Van McCoy |
Vibraphone | George Devens |
Congas | Crusher Bennett |
Percussion | George Devens |
Percussion | Crusher Bennett |
Vocals | Melba Moore |
Other Musicians
Chorus – The New York Community Choir (Track 9)
Liner Notes
Producer – Van McCoy
Arranged By – Van McCoy
Arranged By – Benny Diggs (Track 9)
Conductor – Van McCoy
Engineer – Alan Varner
Mixed By – Tom Moulton (Tracks 1, 4)
Art Direction – Milton Sincoff
Photography – Joel Brodsky
Recorded At Mediasound
Phonographic Copyright Buddah Records Inc
Copyright Buddah Records Inc