Joy is a studio album by the American singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1988 on Elektra Records.[1][2] It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" category.[3]
| Joy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | QCA Studios, Cincinnati, Ohio; Kajem/Victory Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 45:18 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer | Teddy Pendergrass, Miles Jaye, Nick Martinelli, Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway | |||
| Teddy Pendergrass chronology | ||||
| ||||
Joy peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B chart, Pendergrass's highest placing on the chart since 1979's No. 1 album Teddy.[4] It peaked at No. 45 on the UK Albums Chart.[5]
Production edit
The album was produced by Reggie and Vincent Calloway, Nick Martinelli, Miles Jaye, and Pendergrass.[6] It was mostly recorded at Victory Studios, in Philadelphia.[7]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Los Angeles Times | [9] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [10] |
The Chicago Tribune called the album "an accomplished meditation on romantic love and perhaps an exercise in imagination."[11] The Washington Post praised the "dusky purr on slow-groove songs like '2 A.M.' and 'Love Is the Power'."[12] The Los Angeles Times wrote that Pendergrass's "smoldering style has been replaced by a sleek, sophisticated sound that recalls the urbane elegance of Luther Vandross' best work."[9]
Track listing edit
- "Joy" (Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway, Joel Davis) - 6:18
- "2 A.M." (James S. Carter, Kevin J. Askins, Marvin Hammett) - 5:25
- "Good to You" (Miles Jaye) - 5:13
- "I'm Ready" (Jaye) - 5:12
- "Love Is the Power" (R. Calloway, V. Calloway, Davis) - 6:16
- "This Is the Last Time" (Gabriel Hardeman, Annette Hardeman, G Syier Hawkins Brown) - 6:27
- "Through the Falling Rain (Love Story)" (Carter, Askins, Hammett) - 4:58
- "Can We Be Lovers" (Carter, Freddie Williams) - 5:29
Personnel edit
- Teddy Pendergrass - lead vocals
- Charlene Hollaway, Cynthia Biggs, Annette Hardeman, G Syier Hawkins Brown,Elizabeth Hogue, Tenita Jordan - backing vocals
- Gene Robinson, Jeff Lee Johnson, Randy Bowland, William "Doc" Powell - guitar
- Miles Jaye - bass guitar, percussion, synthesizers, violin
- Joel Davis - keyboards
- Jerry Hey, Gary Grant - trumpet
- Bill Reichenbach Jr. - trombone
- Marc Russo - saxophone
- Daryl Burgee, J.T. Lewis - drums
- Randy Cantor - synthesizers, strings
- Douglas Grigsby III, Tom Barney - bass guitar
- Donald Robinson - Rhodes, piano
- John "Skip" Anderson - electric piano
References edit
- ^ Wilker, Deborah (12 June 1988). "Pendergrass a Joy to Hear". Sun-Sentinel. p. 3F.
- ^ Jones IV, James T. (18 May 1988). "Soul's sweet revival". USA Today. p. 1D.
- ^ "Teddy Pendergrass". Recording Academy. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Teddy Pendergrass". Billboard. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Teddy Pendergrass". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ McAdams, Janine C. (Jul 9, 1988). "Pendergrass Finds 'Joy' in Hot New Elektra Album". Billboard. 100 (28): 24.
- ^ Waldron, Clarence (Jul 11, 1988). "Teddy Pendergrass Says Marriage and Career Are a 'Joy'". Jet. 74 (15): 36.
- ^ "Joy Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ a b Grein, Paul (31 July 1988). "Teddy Serves Notice". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 60.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 537.
- ^ Milward, John (28 Apr 1988). "Pop, Soul, and Sex". Chicago Tribune. p. 17C.
- ^ Brown, Joe (27 May 1988). "Between Soul Roles and a Rocky Place". The Washington Post. p. N25.