Positive is a studio album by the American singer Peabo Bryson, released in January 1988 by Elektra Records. The album peaked at number 157 on the US Billboard 200 and number 42 on the Billboard R&B albums chart. It was the last album Bryson recorded for Elektra before he briefly returned to Capitol Records. Positive was supported by the single "Without You", which was also the theme song to Leonard Part 6.
Critical reception
The Kingston Whig-Standard wrote that Bryson's "voice flutters and soars, delicate one moment, powerful the next, duelling with the different instruments." The Washington Post deemed Bryson "a smoothly persuasive soul man, not too pleading, not too aggressive."
Ron Wynn of AllMusic called Positive "largely undistinguished, although [Bryson] sang with more conviction and got better material and production than on most of his other Elektra albums. He scored another hit with a familiar weapon: the duet. This time his partner was Regina Belle."
Track listing
Personnel and credits
Musicians
Peabo Bryson – vocals, keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9) Gary Barlough – Synclavier programming (1–3, 6, 7, 10) Sir Dean Gant – keyboards (1, 7), Synclavier (1–3, 6, 7, 10), synth bass (1, 7), acoustic piano (2), synthesizers (2–6, 10), Moog synth solo (10) Vernon Fails – electric piano (2) George Martin – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), computer programming (4, 5, 8, 9) Dwight W. Watkins – keyboards (4, 5, 8, 9), bass guitar (4, 5, 8, 9), drum computer (4, 5, 8, 9), backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9) Michael J. Powell – guitars (1–3, 6, 10), acoustic guitar (7), electric guitar (7) Anthony Jackson – bass (2) Neil Stubenhaus – bass (3) Nathan East – bass (10) Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (1, 7, 10) Steve Ferrone – drums (2) Jonathan Moffett – drums (3) Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 7, 10) Brandon Fields – tenor sax solo (1), saxophone solo (6, 10), alto sax solo (7), soprano sax solo (7) Justo Almario – tenor sax solo (3) Keni Burke – backing vocals (1, 7, 10) Brenda Jones Williams – backing vocals (1, 4, 5, 7–10) Shirley Jones – backing vocals (1, 7, 10) Regina Belle – vocals (2) Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (2, 6) Bunny Hull – backing vocals (2, 6) Marva King – backing vocals (2, 6) Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (2) Valerie Pinkston – backing vocals (2, 6) Charles Bryson – backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9) Myra Walker – backing vocals (4, 5, 8, 9) Music arrangements Sir Dean Gant – arrangements (1–3, 6, 7, 10), BGV arrangements (10) Michael J. Powell – arrangements (1–3, 6, 10), BGV arrangements (7, 10) Keni Burke – BGV arrangements (1, 7) George Del Barrio – string arrangements (2) Cindy Mizelle – BGV arrangements (2) Peabo Bryson – arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9) Dwight W. Watkins – arrangements (4, 5, 8, 9)
Production
Sir Dean Gant – producer (1–3, 6, 7, 10) Michael J. Powell – producer (1–3, 6, 7, 10) Peabo Bryson – producer (4, 5, 8, 9) Dwight W. Watkins – producer (4, 5, 8, 9) Carol Bobolts – art direction Gilles Larrain – photography Timmothy Montgomery – make-up Technical credits Bernie Grundman – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California) Barney Perkins – engineer (1–3, 6, 7, 10), recording (2–6, 8, 9), mixing (2–6, 8, 9) Thom Kidd – recording (4, 5, 8, 9) Greg Townley – additional recording (1, 7, 10) Tom Wright – additional recording (1, 7, 10), recording (4, 5, 8, 9) Fred Law – additional recording (2, 3, 6) Keith Seppenen – additional recording (2, 3, 6) Milton Chan – assistant engineer (1–3, 6, 7, 10) Andy Harper – assistant engineer (1, 7, 10) Elliott Peters – assistant engineer (1–3, 6, 7, 10) Andrew Spiegelman – assistant engineer (2, 3, 6) Gerard Smerek – assistant engineer (2, 3, 6) Barry Leff – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9) Steve McCormick – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9) Lewis Padgett – assistant engineer (4, 5, 8, 9)
Charts Chart (1988) Peakposition
References