Friday Flashback :: Deniece Williams' "Free"
If there is another song that epitomizes the "Quiet Storm" (shout out to WHUR-FM, the home of the Quiet Storm) genre of R&B, I can't think of it.
From her humble beginnings as a candy-striper at a Chicago hospital, Gary, Indiana-born Deniece Williams broke through and won big time with this slow-jam anthem. After toiling away during the early '70s as a backup singer for a line of stellar music stars: Stevie Wonder, Minnie Ripperton, and Roberta Flack, just to name a few, she finally had her turn at the bar of greatness with her sultry, soft and sexy sound -- and it should come as no surprise to any music fan to know that her pipes were developed praising God in the pentecostal church. Thank God she moved into R&B because her music helped more than a few of us to be conceived!
Aside from all that, "Free" was supposed to be an Earth, Wind and Fire track, but they passed on it. Well, I should say, Philip Bailey didn't do the vocals; but EW&F members formed the whole band that accompanied Williams on the LP This Is Niecey, while Maurice White was behind the boards doing production for the album.
While the men from the elements crafted the instrumentation that helped to set the mood, it was her female forebears that made "Free" what it is today. Out of everything she recorded, this low-key song demonstrates most how her time with Ripperton influenced her sound. It's clear that Deniece could have belted out a moaner, and groaner steamy sensual cut. Instead, she went the velvet glove-softness route, showing a bedroom whisper was quite effective at getting her musical message across.
Niecey has gone back to gospel, but she's left us a few carnal classics, and this is one of the best.
The Flashback for the First Friday of February, is "Free," by the beautiful Deniece Williams.
Album: This Is Niecey
Released: 1976
Billboard peak: #2, Black Singles
Play the Track: Free (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
From her humble beginnings as a candy-striper at a Chicago hospital, Gary, Indiana-born Deniece Williams broke through and won big time with this slow-jam anthem. After toiling away during the early '70s as a backup singer for a line of stellar music stars: Stevie Wonder, Minnie Ripperton, and Roberta Flack, just to name a few, she finally had her turn at the bar of greatness with her sultry, soft and sexy sound -- and it should come as no surprise to any music fan to know that her pipes were developed praising God in the pentecostal church. Thank God she moved into R&B because her music helped more than a few of us to be conceived!
Aside from all that, "Free" was supposed to be an Earth, Wind and Fire track, but they passed on it. Well, I should say, Philip Bailey didn't do the vocals; but EW&F members formed the whole band that accompanied Williams on the LP This Is Niecey, while Maurice White was behind the boards doing production for the album.
While the men from the elements crafted the instrumentation that helped to set the mood, it was her female forebears that made "Free" what it is today. Out of everything she recorded, this low-key song demonstrates most how her time with Ripperton influenced her sound. It's clear that Deniece could have belted out a moaner, and groaner steamy sensual cut. Instead, she went the velvet glove-softness route, showing a bedroom whisper was quite effective at getting her musical message across.
Niecey has gone back to gospel, but she's left us a few carnal classics, and this is one of the best.
The Flashback for the First Friday of February, is "Free," by the beautiful Deniece Williams.
Album: This Is NieceyReleased: 1976
Billboard peak: #2, Black Singles
Play the Track: Free (to download, Mac users, Control-click, and choose 'Save Link As...' Windows users right-click the link and choose 'Save Target As...').
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