Joy is a studio album by the American singer Teddy Pendergrass, released in 1988 on Elektra Records. It was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" category.
Joy peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B chart, Pendergrass's highest placing on the chart since 1979's No. 1 album Teddy. It peaked at No. 45 on the UK Albums Chart.
Production The album was produced by Reggie and Vincent Calloway, Nick Martinelli, Miles Jaye, and Pendergrass. It was mostly recorded at Victory Studios, in Philadelphia.
Critical reception
The Chicago Tribune called the album "an accomplished meditation on romantic love and perhaps an exercise in imagination." The Washington Post praised the "dusky purr on slow-groove songs like '2 A.M.' and 'Love Is the Power'." The Los Angeles Times wrote that Pendergrass's "smoldering style has been replaced by a sleek, sophisticated sound that recalls the urbane elegance of Luther Vandross' best work."
Track listing "Joy" (Reggie Calloway, Vincent Calloway, Joel Davis) – 6:18 "2 A.M." (James S. Carter, Kevin J. Askins, Marvin Hammett) – 5:25 "Good to You" (Miles Jaye) – 5:13 "I'm Ready" (Jaye) – 5:12 "Love Is the Power" (R. Calloway, V. Calloway, Davis) – 6:16 "This Is the Last Time" (Gabriel Hardeman, Annette Hardeman) – 6:27 "Through the Falling Rain (Love Story)" (Carter, Askins, Hammett) – 4:58 "Can We Be Lovers" (Carter, Freddie Williams) – 5:29
Personnel
Vocalists Teddy Pendergrass – lead vocals Annette Hardeman – backing vocals Charlene Hollaway – backing vocals, vocal solo (6) Cynthia Biggs – backing vocals (1, 5, 6) Elizabeth Hogue – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8) Tenita Jordan – backing vocals (4) Miles Jaye – backing vocals (8)
Musicians Joel Davis – keyboards (1, 5) Miles Jaye – synthesizers (2–4, 7, 8), bass guitar (2, 3, 7), rhythm tracks (2–4, 7), violin (2), percussion (8) Randy Cantor – synthesizers (6), strings (6) Donald Robinson – Rhodes electric piano (6), acoustic piano (6) John "Skip" Anderson – electric piano (8) Gene Robinson – guitars (1, 5) Jef Lee Johnson – guitars (2–4, 7) Randy Bowland – guitars (6) William "Doc" Powell – guitars (8) Doug Grigsby – bass (6) Tom Barney – bass guitar (8) Keith Robertson – tom drum programming (1, 5) Daryl Burgee – drums (6) J.T. Lewis – drums (8) Marc Russo – saxophones (1, 5) Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (1, 5) Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 5) Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 5), horn arrangements (1, 5)
Production Teddy Pendergrass – executive producer, producer (2, 7, 8) Reggie Calloway – producer (1, 5) Vince Calloway – producer (1, 5) Miles Jaye – producer (2–4, 7, 8) Mike Martinelli – producer (6) Carol Friedman – art direction, photography Henrietta Condak – design Lisa Silvestri – stylist Bomba De Clereq – clothing
Technical credits Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York) Craig Burbidge – engineer (1, 5) Mitch Goldfarb – engineer (1–5, 7, 8), mix engineer (2–4, 7, 8) Robin Jenney – engineer (1, 5) Donnie Kraft – engineer (1, 5) Taavi Mote – mix engineer (1, 5) Harry Mosley – engineer (6) Bruce Weeden – engineer (6), mix engineer (6) Andy Batwinas – assistant engineer (1, 5) Liz Cluse – assistant engineer (1, 5) Brooke Hendricks – assistant engineer (1–5, 7, 8) Robert Kloss – assistant engineer (1, 5) Len Wehling – assistant engineer (1, 5) Paul Winger – assistant engineer (1, 5) Ryan Dorn – assistant engineer (2, 4) Jon Smeltz – assistant engineer (2)
References