Awakening (Narada Michael Walden album)

Awakening
Studio album by Narada Michael Walden
Released	1979
Recorded	1978-1979
Studio	The Power Station and Electric Lady Studios (New York City, New York) Crystal Sound and Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Soul, R&B
Length	40:20
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Narada Michael Walden (all tracks), Patrick Adams (tracks 1-4), Sonny Burke (tracks 5-7), Wayne Henderson (tracks 8-9)
Narada Michael Walden chronology
I Cry, I Smile (1977) Awakening (1979) The Dance of Life (1979)

Awakening is the third full-length studio release from drummer/songwriter/producer Narada Michael Walden. It was the first of two 1979 releases for the artist and featured him (once again) writing all the songs, though he co-produced each track with someone else.

Track listing

• All songs written and arranged by Narada Michael Walden.

1. "Love Me Only" - 6:05
2. "I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance with You)" - 4:24
3. "Give Your Love a Chance" - 4:11
4. "They Want the Feeling" - 3:58
5. "Awakening Suite Part I: Childhood-Opening of the Heart" - 3:28
6. "The Awakening" - 4:30
7. "Listen to Me" - 4:54
8. "Full and Satisfied" - 3:35
9. "Will You Ever Know" - 4:59

Personnel

• Narada Michael Walden – lead vocals (1, 4, 6-8), acoustic piano (1, 9), drums, vocals (2, 3, 9), organ (2), "dream" bass (2), tambourine (2), timbales (2), slapstick (2), handclaps (2), glockenspiel (3)
• Clifford Carter – Fender Rhodes (1, 3, 4), Minimoog (1), clavinet (2), Moog bass (3)
• Patrick Adams – synthesizers (1), horn and string arrangements (1, 3), "inner space" effects (2)
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (5), Yamaha electric grand piano (6, 7)
• Michael Boddicker – synthesizers (5)
• Reginald "Sonny" Burke – synthesizers (5), acoustic piano (6)
• Bobby Lyle – keyboards (8)
• Ken Mazur – guitars (1, 2, 4), guitar melodies (3)
• Hiram Bullock – guitar solo (1, 4), guitars (2, 3)
• Ray Gomez – lead guitar (5)
• Jay Graydon – guitars (5, 6), lead guitar (7)
• Pat Thrall – guitars (6), rhythm guitar (7)
• Carlos Santana – lead guitar (6)
• Greg Poree – acoustic guitar (7)
• Steve Beckmeier – guitars (8)
• Norbert Sloley – bass (1, 2, 4)
• Keni Burke – bass (5-7)
• Nathaniel Phillips – bass (8, 9)
• Airto Moreira – percussion (6)
• Victor Feldman – vibraphone (7), marimba (8), cabasa (8), temple block (8)
• George Young – alto saxophone (2)
• Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (2, 3)
• Pete Christlieb – flute (9)
• Don Menza – flute (9)
• Wayne Henderson – trombone solo (7)
• Randy Brecker – trumpet (2), horn arrangements (2)
• James Decker – French horn (7, 9)
• David Duke – French horn (7, 9)
• Gayle Levant – harp (9)
• George Del Barrio – orchestra arrangements (6, 9), conductor (6, 7), string arrangements (7)
• Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (1, 4)
• Cheryl Alexander – backing vocals (1, 4)
• Patti Scialfa – backing vocals (4)
• John Bahler – backing vocals (7)
• Alex Brown – backing vocals (7, 8)
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (7, 8)
• Carla Vaughn – backing vocals (7, 8)
• Angela Winbush – backing vocals (7)
• Judy Brown – backing vocals (8)

Production

• Narada Michael Walden – producer (1-4), associate producer (5-9)
• Patrick Adams – associate producer (1-4)
• Sonny Burke – producer (5-7)
• Wayne Henderson – producer (8, 9)
• Bob Clearmountain – recording (1-4), mixing (1-4, 9)
• Michael Frondelli – vocal recording (1, 4)
• Jimmy Schfflett – recording (5-7)
• Allen Sides – mixing (5, 7, 8), recording (6, 8, 9)
• Dennis King – mastering at Atlantic Studios (New York, NY)
• Norman Seeff – cover photography
• David Henderson – inner sleeve photography
• Gregory Digiovine – management

References

External links

• Allmusic review
• Awakening at Discogs.com