Duotones is the fourth studio album by American saxophonist Kenny G, released on September 29, 1986 by Arista Records. It features one of Kenny G's best-known songs, "Songbird", which reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Duotones
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 29, 1986 (1986-09-29)
Recorded1985–1986
StudioTarpan Studios (San Rafael, California); Studio G (Seattle, Washington)
Genre
Length46:54
LabelArista
Producer
Kenny G chronology
Gravity
(1985)
Duotones
(1986)
Silhouette
(1988)
Singles from Duotones
  1. "Songbird"
    Released: March 1987
  2. "Don't Make Me Wait for Love"
    Released: August 1987[1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

The album peaked at number one on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number five on the Jazz Albums chart, number six on the Billboard 200 and number eight on the R&B Albums chart.[3] The album was later certified 5× Platinum by the RIAA.[4]

Track listing

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CD track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocal(s)Length
1."Songbird"Kenny G 5:03
2."Midnight Motion"Kenny G 4:08
3."Don't Make Me Wait for Love"Walter Afanasieff, Preston Glass, Narada Michael WaldenLenny Williams4:05
4."Sade"Kenny G 4:20
5."Champagne"Kenny G, Kenny McDougald 4:45
6."What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)"Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock, Harvey FuquaEllis Hall4:06
7."Slip of the Tongue"Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden, Lloyd Pianka 4:53
8."Three of a Kind"Kenny G, Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden, Lloyd Pianka 4:46
9."Esther"Kenny G, Lloyd Pianka 5:24
10."You Make Me Believe"Walter Afanasieff, Kenny G, Preston Glass, Narada Michael WaldenClaytoven Richardson5:19
Total length:47:40

An alternate track listing of this album also exists.[5] It includes a slightly altered track order. In addition, this version includes slightly longer versions of "Don't Make Me Wait For Love" and "What Does it Take (To Win Your Love)" and adds an extra track: "And You Know That". The track listing is as follows:

CD version 2 track listing
No.TitleLength
1."What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)"5:00
2."Midnight Motion"4:08
3."Don't Make Me Wait for Love"4:46
4."Sade"4:20
5."Champagne"4:45
6."And You Know That"4:45
7."Slip of the Tongue"4:53
8."You Make Me Believe"5:19
9."Songbird"5:03
10."Three of a Kind"4:45
11."Esther"5:25
Total length:53:09

Personnel

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Musicians

  • Kenny G – all saxophones, keyboards, synth bass, drum machine, backing vocals, all instruments (9), EWI controller (violins) (9)
  • Walter Afanasieff – keyboards, synth bass
  • Preston Glass – keyboards, drum machine, wind chimes (1), backing vocals
  • Roger Sause – keyboards
  • Alan Glass – guitars
  • John Raymond – guitars
  • Corrado Rustici – guitars
  • Randy Jackson – bass guitar, synth bass
  • Cory Lerios – synth bass, drum machine
  • Joe Plass – bass guitar
  • Gigi Gonaway – drums, percussion
  • Kenny McDougald – drums
  • Tony Gable – percussion
  • Sal Gallina – EWI controller (string sounds, violins and French horns) (3)
  • Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals
  • Gina Glass – backing vocals
  • Yolanda Glass – backing vocals
  • Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals
  • Lenny Williams – backing vocals

Production

  • Produced by Preston Glass
  • Executive producer – Narada Michael Walden
  • Co-producer on tracks 1, 2, 4 and 9 – Kenny G
  • Engineered by Gordon Lyon
  • Assistant engineers – Kay Arbuckle, Stuart Hirotsu, Matt Rohr and Jim Weyeneth
  • Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
  • Art direction and design – Kevin K. Takishita
  • Photography – Steven Rothfield
  • Styling – Kurt DeMunbrun

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for Duotones
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Platinum 100,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[19] Gold 10,000*
United States (RIAA)[20] 5× Platinum 5,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ https://www.45cat.com/record/as19625
  2. ^ "Duotones - Kenny G - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Charts & Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  4. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Riaa.com. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  5. ^ "Kenny G (2) - Duotones". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  6. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Kenny G – Duotones". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Kenny G – Duotones" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kenny G – Duotones" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  9. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kenny G – Duotones" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Charts.nz – Kenny G – Duotones". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "Kenny G | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  12. ^ "Kenny G Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  13. ^ "Kenny G Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  14. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  15. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  16. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  17. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Kenny G – Duotones". Music Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  19. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  20. ^ "American album certifications – Kenny G – Duotones". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 3, 2019.