Description
Grover Washington, Jr. Gold
Compilations generally do not serve jazz artists well, since they do not tend to have “hits” in the sense of “hits” in the pop field. But saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. was a crossover artist who did have hits in the pop and R&B charts, due to his willingness to play over light funk arrangements and use vocalists. He can be credited with virtually inventing the style of smooth jazz that later became so prevalent, and in that way he has been highly influential. This two-CD collection, running more than two-and-a-half hours, demonstrates that smooth jazz never got any better than it was when practiced by one of its founders. The set is practically flawless. A couple of minor R&B chart entries (“Tell Me About It Now” and “Snake Eyes”) are missing, but Washington’s best-known tracks are included, and the selections span his recordings from the early 1970s to his death in 1999, with material from 15 chart albums in addition to a late rap collaboration with Sylk 130, and a selection from the posthumously issued classical album Aria. The accomplishment of the compilers in creating such a thorough Washington collection is notable particularly because he recorded for several different labels from which tracks had to be licensed. As a subsidiary of Universal Music, Hip-O had access to his Kudu and Motown recordings, making up more than half the material, but there were also tracks recorded for Elektra that had to be licensed from Warner (including selections from Washington’s best-selling Winelight album), and from the mid-’80s he recorded for Columbia, so that meant paying Sony BMG for the later tunes. Actually, “Look at This” from the Columbia TV soundtrack to The Cosby Show, called A House Full of Love, could have been omitted; the voice-over by Bill Cosby is obnoxious. But with that exception, Gold is an outstanding consideration of Grover Washington, Jr.’s popular career.
Track Listing – Disc 1
1
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
Marvin Gaye / James Nyx, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
07:11
2
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Marvin Gaye
Grover Washington, Jr.
05:08
3
Where Is the Love
Ralph MacDonald / William Salter
Grover Washington, Jr.
05:08
4
No Tears (In the End)
Ralph MacDonald / William Salter
Grover Washington, Jr.
03:50
5
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Stevie Wonder
Grover Washington, Jr.
06:04
6
Mister Magic
Ralph MacDonald / William Salter
Grover Washington, Jr.
09:00
7
Black Frost
Bob James / Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
06:07
8
It Feels So Good
Ralph MacDonald / William Salter
Grover Washington, Jr.
08:17
9
Moonstreams
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
05:51
10
A Secret Place
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
08:13
11
Summer Song
Tyrone Brown
Grover Washington, Jr.
07:39
12
Reed Seed (Trio Tune)
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
04:52
Track Listing – Disc 2
1
Do Dat
Leonard “Doc” Gibbs
Grover Washington, Jr.
04:27
2
Bright Moments
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Grover Washington, Jr.
06:29
3
Let It Flow (For Dr. J)
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
05:52
4
Just the Two of Us
Ralph MacDonald / William Salter / Bill Withers
Grover Washington, Jr.
feat: Bill Withers
07:21
5
Be Mine (Tonight)
Ralph MacDonald / William Salter
Grover Washington, Jr.
feat: Grady Tate
06:25
6
Jamming
Bob Marley
Grover Washington, Jr.
05:07
7
The Best Is Yet to Come
Cynthia Biggs / Dexter Wansel
Grover Washington, Jr.
feat: Patti LaBelle
05:59
8
Inside Moves
Steve Gadd / Ralph MacDonald / William Salter
Grover Washington, Jr.
05:52
9
Look at This
Bill Cosby / Stu Gardner
Grover Washington, Jr.
feat: Bill Cosby
03:16
10
Summer Nights
Marcus Miller
Grover Washington, Jr.
06:15
11
Sacred Kind of Love
Sami McKinney / Karin Rybar
Grover Washington, Jr.
feat: Phyllis Hyman
05:40
12
Love Like This
Terry Cox
Grover Washington, Jr.
feat: Lalah Hathaway
04:52
13
For Love
King Britt / Tim Motzer
Grover Washington, Jr.
feat: Sylk 130
05:44
14
Vissi d’Arte (I Lived for Art)
Giacomo Puccini
Grover Washington, Jr.
03:51
Video – Just The Two Of Us 1981