The Best Is Yet To Come (Grover Washington Jr. song)
Encyclopedia
"The Best Is Yet To Come" is a 1982 song written by Philadelphia-based songwriters Cynthia Biggs and Dexter Wansel
, who also produced the song as a duet between jazz
saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.
and American
recording artist Patti LaBelle
. It was released as a single in February 1983 on Washington's Elektra label. It became Washington's second biggest hit following the success of his Bill Withers
duet, "Just the Two of Us", reaching number fourteen on the Billboard
R&B singles chart and reaching number-four on the Billboard Hot 100
's Bubbling Under chart. The song features Washington's trademark saxophone riffs and an inspiring vocal delivery from LaBelle, who first sings it in her mid-range, before reaching higher vocal ranges near the end of the song, similar to the direction she took when she recorded "If Only You Knew
" several months earlier. The song later won LaBelle her first Grammy Award
nomination in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. After the success of "The Best Is Yet To Come", LaBelle's label, Philadelphia International Records
, released "If Only You Knew", also written by Biggs and Wansel with minor contribution by Kenny Gamble as the first single off her second PIR album, I'm in Love Again
. It led to LaBelle finding chart success with the single. LaBelle rarely performed "The Best Is Yet To Come" live in concert. After the eighties, it was not included in her set list; LaBelle included the song back in her set list during recent tours however.
Dexter Wansel
Dexter Gilman Wansel is an American keyboardist, raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He contributed to the development of the Philly Sound and worked with producers Gamble and Huff at Philadelphia International Records. Wansel led the musical group, Yellow Sunshine...
, who also produced the song as a duet between jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr.
Grover Washington, Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
recording artist Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
. It was released as a single in February 1983 on Washington's Elektra label. It became Washington's second biggest hit following the success of his Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
duet, "Just the Two of Us", reaching number fourteen on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B singles chart and reaching number-four on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
's Bubbling Under chart. The song features Washington's trademark saxophone riffs and an inspiring vocal delivery from LaBelle, who first sings it in her mid-range, before reaching higher vocal ranges near the end of the song, similar to the direction she took when she recorded "If Only You Knew
If Only You Knew
If Only You Knew was a single written and produced primarily by Dexter Wansel and Cynthia Biggs for American singer Patti LaBelle's sixth solo album, I'm in Love Again. It was released as the album's official first single in 1983, spending four weeks at number one on the U.S...
" several months earlier. The song later won LaBelle her first Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category. After the success of "The Best Is Yet To Come", LaBelle's label, Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
, released "If Only You Knew", also written by Biggs and Wansel with minor contribution by Kenny Gamble as the first single off her second PIR album, I'm in Love Again
I'm in Love Again
I'm In Love Again is the sixth solo album released by singer Patti LaBelle in late 1983. Featuring the hits "If Only You Knew" and "Love, Need and Want You", this album is credited with reviving the singer's career after years of chart struggles on both the pop and R&B charts.-History:Patti LaBelle...
. It led to LaBelle finding chart success with the single. LaBelle rarely performed "The Best Is Yet To Come" live in concert. After the eighties, it was not included in her set list; LaBelle included the song back in her set list during recent tours however.
Credits
- Lead and background vocals by Patti LaBellePatti LaBellePatricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
- Saxophone performed by Grover Washington, Jr.Grover Washington, Jr.Grover Washington, Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and...
- Written and produced by Dexter WanselDexter WanselDexter Gilman Wansel is an American keyboardist, raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He contributed to the development of the Philly Sound and worked with producers Gamble and Huff at Philadelphia International Records. Wansel led the musical group, Yellow Sunshine...
and Cynthia Biggs - Instrumentation by Sigma Sound Studio musicians
Charts
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Bubbling Under Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
14 |