Keys to the City is a studio album by Ramsey Lewis, released in May 1987 on Columbia Records.[1] The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and #11 on the Cashbox Jazz Albums chart.[2][3]
| Keys to the City | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1987 | |||
| Recorded |
| |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 41:46 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | George Butler (exec), Maurice White, Morris Butch Stewart, Larry Dunn, Chris Brunt | |||
| Ramsey Lewis chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background edit
Keys to the City was recorded at E & S Studios in Los Angeles, California; Home Sweet Home Studio in Evanston, Illinois; and Streeterville Studios in Chicago, Illinois.[1]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
Frank White of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted that Lewis "lets the fire roar to the surface."[6]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Keys to the City" | Larry Dunn, Ramsey Lewis | 5:57 |
| 2. | "You're Falling in Love" | Brenda Blonski, Morris (Butch) Stewart | 5:17 |
| 3. | "7-11" | Maurice White, Robyn Smith | 4:14 |
| 4. | "Strangers" | Chris Brunt, Larry Dunn, Luisa Justiz | 4:48 |
| 5. | "My Love Will Lead You Home" | Morris (Butch) Stewart | 6:15 |
| 6. | "Melody of Life" | Chris Brunt, Larry Dunn, Luisa Justiz | 6:08 |
| 7. | "Shamballa" | Maurice White, Robyn Smith | 4:11 |
| 8. | "Love and Understanding" | Larry Dunn, Luisa Justiz | 4:56 |
Personnel edit
- Ramsey Lewis - DX-7, Piano
- Roland Bautista - Guitar
- Tony Brown - Bass
- Chris Brunt - Drums, Percussion
- Chris Cameron - Synthesizer
- Larry Dunn - Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion
- Steven Dunn - Drums, Percussion
- Byron Gregory - Electric guitar
- Luisa Justiz - Vocals
- Brenda Mitchell-Stewart - Background vocals
- Don Myrick - Saxophone
- Joe Pusteri - Percussion
- Bill Ruppert - Electric guitar
- Robyn Smith - Drum Programming, Percussion, Synthesizer
- Morris Stewart - Synthesizer, Background vocals
- Wayne Stewart - Drums
- Maurice White - Percussion[1]
Charts edit
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | US Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums | 22[2] |
| US Cashbox Jazz Albums | 11[3] |
References edit
- ^ a b c d Ramsey Lewis: Keys To The City. Columbia Records. May 1987.
- ^ a b "Ramsey Lewis: Keys To The City (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
- ^ a b "Top Jazz Albums". archive.org. Vol. 51, no. 8. Cashbox Magazine. August 29, 1987. p. 15.
- ^ Ramsey Lewis: Keys to the City at AllMusic. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 424.
- ^ White, Frank (May 23, 1987). "Ramsey Lewis: Keys to the City". newspapers.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 161.