Straight from the Heart (Peabo Bryson album)

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Straight from the Heart is the tenth full-length album by R&B/soul singer-songwriter Peabo Bryson. It was released in 1984 on Elektra Records, his first of four discs for the label. The album peaked at #44 on the US Billboard 200, and featured three singles: his first top ten pop hit "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" (also #6 R&B, and #1 Adult contemporary), "Slow Dancin'" (#82 pop, #35 R&B), and "Learning the Ways of Love", which failed to chart. Bryson himself co-produced the record, as well as writing five of the eight songs himself and playing keyboards throughout the album.

Track listing

1. "Slow Dancin'" (Peabo Bryson) - 3:55
2. "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" (Michael Masser, Cynthia Weil, Tom Snow) - 4:14
3. "Straight from the Heart" (Bryson) - 4:35
4. "There's No Getting Over You (La Theme De Sharon)" (Bryson) - 4:02
5. "I Get Nervous" (Richard Feldman, Larry John McNally, Rick Kelly) - 4:10
6. "Learning the Ways of Love" (Gerry Goffin, Masser) - 3:12
7. "Real Deal" (Bryson) - 4:32
8. "Love Means Forever" (Bryson) - 4:21

Personnel

• James Bowling: flute (8)
• Charles Bryson: percussion (1)
• Peabo Bryson: lead vocals, Memorymoog (1, 3, 7, 8), percussion solo (1), rhythm arrangements (1), backing vocals (3, 7), arrangements (3, 4, 7, 8), Yamaha DX7 (4, 7)
• Lynn Davis: backing vocals (5)
• Ron Dover: tenor saxophone (3, 8), soprano saxophone (8), flute (8)
• Samuel T. Dukes: backing vocals (7)
• Richard Feldman: guitar (5)
• Michael Fisher: percussion (5)
• John Hauser: electric guitar (1, 3)
• Lee Holdridge: string arrangements and conductor (2, 6)
• Richard Horton: electric guitar (3, 7), acoustic guitar (8)
• Paul Jackson, Jr.: guitar (2, 6)
• Josie James: backing vocals (5)
• Louis Johnson: bass guitar (5)
• Rick Kelly: keyboards (5)
• Randy Kerber: acoustic piano (2, 6), Yamaha DX7 (2, 6)
• Marcy Levy: backing vocals (5)
• Richard Marx: backing vocals (2, 6)
• Michael Masser: rhythm track arrangements (2, 6)
• Gene Page: rhythm track arrangements (2, 6)
• Mark Parrish: Memorymoog (1, 8), Prophet 5 (7)
• Andre Robinson: Simmons drums (1, 3, 7, 8)
• John "J.R" Robinson: drums (5)
• Trammell Starks: Memorymoog (1, 3, 4, 7, 8), Yamaha DX7 (4, 7)
• Neil Stubenhaus: bass guitar (2, 6)
• Deborah Thomas: backing vocals (2, 6)
• Carlos Vega: drums (2, 6)
• Myra Walker: acoustic piano (1, 3, 7, 8), Fender Rhodes (1, 7, 8), Oberheim OB-X (3), backing vocals (3, 7), Yamaha DX7 (4)
• Dwight W. Watkins: bass guitar (1, 3, 8), Oberheim OB-X (3), backing vocals (3), flugelhorn (8)

Production

• Produced by Peabo Bryson (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 7 & 8); Richard Feldman and Rick Kelly (Track 5); Michael Masser (Tracks 2 & 6).
• Assistant producer: Dwight Watkins
• Engineers: Richard Feldman (Track 5); Russ Fowler (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8); Rick Kelly (Track 5); Michael Mancini (Tracks 2 & 6); Bill Schnee (Tracks 2 & 6).
• Assistant Engineer on Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8: Don M. Radick
• Mixing: Peabo Bryson, Russ Fowler and Dwight Watkins (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8).
• Recorded and Mixed at Cheshire Studio (Atlanta, GA).
• Track 5 recorded at Orca Studios (Encino, CA).
• Rhythm Tracks and Vocals on Tracks 2 & 6 recorded at Devonshire Studios (Burbank, CA).
• Strings recorded at Evergreen Studios (Burbank, CA).
• Mixed at Bill Schnee Studios (Los Angeles, CA).
• Mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA).
• Art Direction: HSU
• Photography: Beverly Parker

In popular culture

The song "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" was utilized as a love theme for Joe Perkins and Kelly Capwell on the American daytime drama Santa Barbara.^[1][2]

References

• Peabo Bryson, "Straight From The Heart" CD Liner Notes. Elektra Records, 1984