My Melody is the fifth studio album by American singer Deniece Williams, released in March 1981 by ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart. My Melody was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Overview "Silly" and "What Two Can Do" were released as singles with each peaking at No. 11 and No. 17, respectively, on the Billboard R&B singles chart.

Critical reception

Andrew Hamilton of AllMusic declared: "Deniece's heavenly soprano is as impressive as ever under the guidance of producer Thom Bell. The sweet Philly sound architect keeps Williams' expressive, high-range vocals under wraps, transforming her into a bel canto singer on eight delightful selections." The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that "although her roots are R&B, Miss Williams transcends easy categorisation with this collection of material and her versatile presentation." Stephen Holden of The New York Times found that "My Melody, Miss Williams's fourth solo album, is an inspired collaboration with Thom Bell, the Philadelphia songwriter and producer whose hits with the Stylistics and the Spinners in the early 70's epitomized pop-soul elegance." Phyl Garland of Stereo Review wrote that "several of the songs have a comfortable, nestling down quality that makes the album, if not one of her best, at least easy to enjoy."

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1981) Peakposition

Year-end charts Chart (1981) Position US Billboard 200 86 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 16

+ Singles – Billboard Year Single Chart Position 1981 "It's Your Conscience" Soul Singles 45 US 1981 "Silly" Billboard Hot 100 53 US 1981 "Silly" Soul Singles 11 US 1981 "What Two Can Do" Soul Singles 17 US

Personnel Musicians Deniece Williams – lead vocals Thom Bell – keyboards, backing vocals, arrangements and conductor George Merrill – keyboards, backing vocals Bobby Eli – guitar Bill Neale – guitar Bob Babbitt – bass guitar Charles Collins – drums Ed Shea – percussion Larry Washington – percussion Don Renaldo – strings, horns Carl Helm – backing vocals

Production Producers – Thom Bell and Deniece Williams Production Coordination – JoDee Omar and Bo Ryan Rhythm Tracks and Vocals engineered by Jim Gallagher and Don Murray. Strings and Horns engineered by Jim Gallagher and Arthur Stoppe. Mixed by Don Murray at Monterey Sound Studios (Glendale, CA). Mastered by Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab (Los Angeles, CA). Art Direction – Desmond Strobel Photography – Charles William Bush Fashions – Ann Taylor

References