Just Be My Lady is an album by the American R&B and funk musician Larry Graham, released in 1981.[2][3] Graham re-recorded the title track for his 1998 album, GCS 2000.[4]
| Just Be My Lady | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Studio | The Music Machine, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | R&B, funk | |||
| Label | Warner[1] | |||
| Producer | Larry Graham | |||
| Larry Graham chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 46 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.[5] It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top Black Albums chart.[6]
Production
editGraham continued to move away from funk music, putting more emphasis on his R&B ballads.[7] He produced the album and played almost all of the instruments.[8] "Guess Who" is a cover of the Jesse Belvin song.[9]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [1] |
| The New Rolling Stone Record Guide | [11] |
The Washington Informer thought that "Graham has established himself as a vocal personality that rivals, perhaps overshadows, his instrumental personality—one drips with tenderness while the other booms furiously."[12] Stereo Review called the album "a set of slow ballads oozed out in Lou Rawls-like low gear."[9] The Bangor Daily News determined that "what traces of his old R&B background exist have been pasteurized and homogenized."[13]
AllMusic wrote that "some selections are shaded with Graham's doo wop and gospel influence, and all have much appeal."[10] Dave Marsh, in The New Rolling Stone Record Guide, dismissed Graham as "one of those lugubriously philosophizing soul crooners."[11]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Larry Graham; except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Just Be My Lady" | 4:24 | |
| 2. | "Loving You Is Beautiful" | 4:29 | |
| 3. | "Guess Who" | Jesse Belvin, Jo Ann Belvin | 4:58 |
| 4. | "Our Love Keeps Growing Strong" | 4:14 | |
| 5. | "Can't Nobody Take Your Place" | 4:40 | |
| 6. | "No Place Like Home" | 3:40 | |
| 7. | "Baby, You Are My Sunshine" | 4:06 | |
| 8. | "I Just Love You" | 3:38 | |
| 9. | "Feels Like Love" | 3:26 | |
| 10. | "Remember When" | 4:07 |
Personnel
edit- Larry Graham - lead and backing vocals, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, arrangements
- Wilton Rabb - guitar, backing vocals
- Eric Daniels - keyboards, backing vocals
- Noel Closson - drums on "Our Love Keeps Growing Strong", "Our Love Keeps Growing Strong" and "Feels Like Love"
- Carroll Stephens - strings
- Technical
- Tina Graham - production assistance, backing vocals
References
edit- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 849.
- ^ "Larry Graham Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Gregory, Hugh (1995). Soul Music A-Z. Da Capo Press. p. 123.
- ^ Jones, Steve (2 Feb 1999). "R&B: Graham Central Station GCS 2000". USA Today. p. 4D.
- ^ "Larry Graham". Billboard.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (August 14, 2001). Funk. Backbeat Books. ISBN 9780879306298 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Balladeering Graham Thanks Fans with Contest". Jet. Vol. 60, no. 22. Aug 13, 1981. p. 18.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Fireside Books. 1995. pp. 410–411.
- ^ a b Albertston, Chris (December 1981). "Larry Graham: Just Be My Lady". Stereo Review. Vol. 46, no. 12. pp. 85–86.
- ^ a b "Just Be My Lady". AllMusic.
- ^ a b The New Rolling Stone Record Guide. Random House. 1983. p. 203.
- ^ Brower, W. A. (Oct 12, 1983). "Review: Graham at His Best". The Washington Informer. No. 51. p. 14.
- ^ Bright, David (5 Sep 1981). "First Impressions". ME. Bangor Daily News. p. 57.