His sophomore album, "Funky Beat", this time released on Arista Records proper in 1983, he explored textures that was going on musically at the time, the fledging {there's that word again} Hip Hop and break dancing scene. Along with those elements, he delved into beautiful ballads, smooth jazzy excursions, and straight ahead jazz fare. Let's take another look at some of the highlights of this terribly overlooked project that was largely produced by 'Nard, Lenny White, David Grusin, with Larry Rosen, and see what folks didn't get the first time around.
"Get Your Lover Back" ~ {Co-Written by Lenny White and Bernard Wright}
This Stevie Wonder "Superstition" groove influenced track incorporated all the elements the aforementioned song had, and that is, a thrown down and nasty Clavinet performance courtesy of Bobby Jones, a funk injected bass synthesizer rhythm pattern, and a consistent tom tom drum beat by way of the hands of percussion master, Lenny White. In this funk odyssey, you'll hear spacey synthesizer soundscapes that will remind one of a Cameo track. Speaking of which, Bernard later in his career did appear on several Larry Blackmon produced Cameo albums, as well as one of his side projects, Ca$hflow most notably. Another side of 'Nard that went largely unrecognized is his vocal abilities, he can actually sing, the brother's voice is not bad. He doesn't try to sing above his limitations, and the way he sings his lyrics, are very decipherable. ..... In layman's terms, you know what the hell he's saying.
"Funky Beat" ~ {Co-Written by Kevin Osborne, Kwesi Osborne, Lenny White, and Bernard Wright}
This break dancers anthem peaked at #39 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. Here we find our boy genius take a stab at rapping which was starting to creep it's way into the mainstream, particularly after The Sugar Hill Gang and Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five gave it the green light to do so. It's a very loose and sparse track. Even though much is not going on in terms of the instrumentation, it's still manages to get your feet moving. The drums and hanclaps are programmed this time out and they sound like, if my ears serve me right, the Oberheim DX Drum Machine, or the tried and true, Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer are used {I'd have to holla at Lenny to be sure}. In addition, 'Nard makes full use of the electric piano, more than likely the Yamaha CP-70. The deep, dark bass synth probably came courtesy of the ol reliable, and warm sounding, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 Polyphonic Synthesizer .... {Oh 'Naaaaard !!! Help here please ! I don't think I'm doing a good job playing "armchair Robert Moog". Please set a brother straight and let 'em know EXACTLY what you played :-( ..... LOL!} ..... He does good on an amazing improvised acoustic piano solo .... and no, I'm not going to guess what brand it is either ! .... Rachelle Cappelli adds wonderful harmonic support on the hooks in conjunction with the vocorder ....{Yup ! I can't seem to get out of that "armchair"} It sounds like 'Nard used the Roland SVC-350 or the TAL Vocorder. It's a cool song regardless of what vocal processing device he used ! :-) .... and thank goodness is wasn't that God forsaken Auto Tune !!! :-(
"Won't You Let Me Love You" ~ {Co-Written by the late, great Weldon Irvine and Bernard Wright}
Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen handled production chores on this beautifully written and arranged ballad. Clearly Urban AC "Quiet Storm" radio programs HAD TO have played this song back then !! ..... and if not, the radio promotions department at Arista Records during that time weren't doing their job. What can one expect from a Grusin/Rosen handled song such as this one here ? .... Well, in this case, one can expect to hear a medium size LIVE, NOT SAMPLED, string section, consisting of violins, violas and double basses. You can expect to hear a gentle and soothing bass synthesizer, to give it that "Calgon, Take Me Away" effect. You can anticipate hearing Bells as performed by Dave Grusin for added 'coloring', which are just the right ingredients for a romantic evening by the fireplace, and a couple bottles of wine for good measure ;-) One must have soulful and laid back background vocals courtesy of drummer Charlie Drayton, Frank Floyd, and Zack Sanders to set the tone of the dimmed lights. Having the drummer play a slow shuffle beat, wouldn't hurt either, as he expertly keeps the pace on par with the rhythm section. I'm guessing here, but it sounds like Buddy Williams, laying it down beautifully. {Hey man, I need a drummer check on this one, was that Buddy ? I don't have the COMPLETE individual song credit listings} ... and the acoustic piano solo is dead on and sorta reminds me of a Ramsey Lewis solo, but it's totally Bernard's.
"Won't You Let Me Love You" can STILL work at Urban AC radio in 2011, if a brave and daring Music Director goes out on a limb to risk his or her "walking on egg shelled job", and add this song to their late night playlist. .... and please, please, please Mr./Miss Music Director, forgive Bernard for not being Bruno Mars, Trey Songz, or any other "flash in the pan artist" you play 50 times in one hour :-( ... and please have mercy on his soul for him having more talent in his left index finger, AT 19/20 YEARS OLD MIND YOU, than ALL of those "15 Minutes Of Famers" you play combined !!!! (((((MEAN LOOK ON FACE)))) Please, be easy on him ! :-( .. He can't help it if he knows to read and write music on staff paper :-( .... Oh my, and please don't bust his chops for knowing and hearing the difference between an C flat minor chord, and an F# sharp major chord :-( .... tell you what Mr. or Miss Urban AC Music Director in 2011, play this song on your late night, say around 11:00PM, .... just try it out. Then ask the listeners to call into the station to voice their opinions .... but don't tell them who it is until AFTER you've received a few call-ins. Not only will they want to know who it is, they'll want to know if you could play it again. I GUARANTEE IT !!
Some of your predecessors made that grave mistake by not adding this song to their playlists during that time, so I strongly URGE you NOT to make the same mistake twice. Chaka Khan recorded a song titled, "You Can Make The Story Right" on her 1992 Warner Bros. album, "The Woman I Am" .... which is, yet ANOTHER album you probably did not, or do not play !! But that's for another review ! .... But you too, can make this story right, by adding this song to your playlist :-) ..... Hmmm ?!?! As a matter of fact, here it is for inspiration. It's a live version, but it'll do ! www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S__J-lFxj8 .... Better yet, do like Michael Jackson as he said in "Man In The Mirror", and make that change !! :-) .... Yup ! You guessed it ! Here it is for motivation ! ;-) www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps .... NOW ! .... Moving along !! :-) ...... and I can even do one better than that, I'll let you hear it for yourself. ~ {SEE ACCOMPANYING YOUTUBE AUDIO ONLY VIDEO AFTER TO HEAR IT IN IT'S ENTIRETY .... IT'S THE ONE ON THE TOP}
"Mr. Clean" ~ {Written by Weldon Irvine}
This song is 5 minutes and 37 seconds of sheer funk, groove, chill, and gut bucket music you can ask for. On bass guitar you got the super talented bassist Sekou Bunch holding it down, and on guitar you have the 6 string assassin Ronny Drayton plucking and note bending his sounds to please your earlobes. Doing his thing on percussions is the always reliable Errol "Crusher" Bennett. Keeping the funk flowing and in the pocket, you got "Mr. On The One" himself, Charlie Drayton. Then you have a mesmerizing performance on the acoustic piano courtesy of the late mega genius, Mr. Weldon Irvine. .... and last, but certainly not least, you got the "MAN" himself, Bernard Wright, on synthesizer working those super fast fingers of his on .... whatever synthesizer he's using. I'm not even going to guess what kind, or what brand it is, I'm just going to enjoy listening to it ! ... that's my best bet ! ;-)
"Keep Doing That Right Thing" ~ {Co-Written By Weldon Irvine and Bernard Wright} ~ {SEE ACCOMPANYING YOUTUBE AUDIO ONLY VIDEO AFTER "WON'T YOU LET ME LOVE YOU" TO HEAR IT IN IT'S ENTIRETY}
Now this is a song radio will SURELY not touch ! .... It's TOO positive :-( .... But what a great song it is ! If you listen carefully, it MAY remind you of the classic Disney song "When You Wish Upon A Star" .... but so what !! It's a feel good song, with an incredible melody that'll actually have you singing along. It's a very wordy song, so I suggest you download the lyrics and follow along.
If you're really in tune with that Jamaica, Queens crew of musicians, you'll notice the bass synth "sound" in the way it was programmed, is very reminiscent of Tom Browne's "Mr. Business". It could as well be Bernard playing the bass synth. {Another verification for you 'Nard, was that you on that track ? I don't have the album, but know the song very well}. Here it is for you all to compare. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4XOaQtWk-Q ...... and if you're really into your music, you'll noticed the bass synthesizer rhythm pattern is in the same vein as Stevie Wonder's "Boogie On Reggae Woman". Once again, here it is for you to hear and compare : www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylQMhYqSntk
As you all know, or may not know, Bernard returned the solo recording scene 2 years later to record the equally brilliant album, 1985's "Mr. Wright" on EMI/Manhattan Records, paring him once again with producer, Lenny White. That set contained the hit R&B song, "Who Do You Love". Bernard to this day is still making music in his adopted hometown of Dallas. If you're ever down there, or live there, go check him out.
Musically Yours,
Ran Man
You can purchase this fantastic album, and the classic 1981 " 'Nard" combined on one compact disc through UK based Cherry Red Records. Here's the link that will take you directly to the order page : www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/artists/bernardwright.php
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