The Glow of Love
Encyclopedia
The Glow of Love is the debut studio album by the Italian/U.S. ensemble Change
. It was released in 1980 and reached number twenty-nine on the US Billboard Album Chart
and ten on the US Billboard Black Albums
chart. The Glow of Love includes the singles
"A Lover's Holiday
", "Searching" and "The Glow of Love".
The band recorded the songs for album at Fontoprint Studios, Bolognia, Italy. The songs were then taken to Power Station Studios
, New York City for the recording of the vocals. "Searching" and the title track were recorded and mixed at Media Sound Studios, New York. The sessions were then mastered at Sterling Sound Studios. Receiving positive reviews the album was originally released as an LP
in 1980. The artwork was designed and illustrated by Greg Porto.
and Bernard Edwards
' Chic
sound is noted as a heavy influence but Henderson argues that knowledgeable disco and R&B enthusiasts knew better; Change wasn't a carbon copy of Chic any more than jazz great Chet Baker
was a clone of Miles Davis
. "A Lover's Holiday
" is marked as a playful opener, while "It's a Girl's Affair" and "Angel in my Pocket" are highlighted as sassy and passionate.
Robert Christgau
writing at the time, summarises the album as New and true and gay, and having the complete bag of [Disco/R&B] tricks. The influence of Chic is again noted in "A Lover's Holiday" which he describes as a Rodgers-&-Edwards rip. Christgau compares "The End" to the electronic music of good ole Giorgio Moroder
.
The album's showcasing of Luther Vandross
is highlighted in most reviews. Ed Hogan writing for Allmusic describes the "The Glow of Love" as a startling introduction to Vandross' dazzling singing style. Henderson remarks that the laid-back title song which Vandross sang on became a quiet storm favorite and demonstrates that not everything Change recorded was aimed at the dancefloor. Vandross had yet to secure a solo career in 1980, although many of the people who heard his performances on those two gems agreed that a solo career was inevitable.
Recorded at Fontoprint Studios, Bolognia, Italy. All vocals recorded and mixed at Power Station Studios, New York City. "The Glow of Love" and "Searching" recorded and mixed at Media Sound Studios, New York City. Mastered at Sterling Sound Inc., New York City.
Change (band)
Change was an Italian-American post-disco group formed in Bologna, Italy in 1979 by businessman and executive producer Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi...
. It was released in 1980 and reached number twenty-nine on the US Billboard Album Chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and ten on the US Billboard Black Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. The Glow of Love includes the singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"A Lover's Holiday
A Lover's Holiday
"A Lover's Holiday" is a 1980 crossover dance/soul single by Change, from the album, The Glow of Love. "A Lover's Holiday", along with the album's title track and "Searching" were very successful on the dance charts, spending nine weeks at #1.The three tracks were the most successful dance chart...
", "Searching" and "The Glow of Love".
The band recorded the songs for album at Fontoprint Studios, Bolognia, Italy. The songs were then taken to Power Station Studios
Avatar Studios
Avatar Studios, formerly known as The Power Station, is a recording studio at 441 West 53rd Street in Manhattan, New York City.The building was originally a Consolidated Edison power plant; but after a period of vacancy, it was used as a sound stage for the television game show Let's Make a Deal...
, New York City for the recording of the vocals. "Searching" and the title track were recorded and mixed at Media Sound Studios, New York. The sessions were then mastered at Sterling Sound Studios. Receiving positive reviews the album was originally released as an LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
in 1980. The artwork was designed and illustrated by Greg Porto.
Reception
The Glow of Love received positive reviews from the majority of critics. Alex Henderson writing retrospectively for Allmusic awarded the album 4.5 stars describing it as a disco/R&B masterpiece and Change's most essential album. Nile RodgersNile Rodgers
Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
and Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards
Bernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
' Chic
Chic (band)
Chic was an African American disco and R&B band that was organized during 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. It is known best for its commercially successful disco songs, including "Dance, Dance, Dance " , "Everybody Dance" , "Le Freak" , "I Want Your Love" , "Good Times"...
sound is noted as a heavy influence but Henderson argues that knowledgeable disco and R&B enthusiasts knew better; Change wasn't a carbon copy of Chic any more than jazz great Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
was a clone of Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
. "A Lover's Holiday
A Lover's Holiday
"A Lover's Holiday" is a 1980 crossover dance/soul single by Change, from the album, The Glow of Love. "A Lover's Holiday", along with the album's title track and "Searching" were very successful on the dance charts, spending nine weeks at #1.The three tracks were the most successful dance chart...
" is marked as a playful opener, while "It's a Girl's Affair" and "Angel in my Pocket" are highlighted as sassy and passionate.
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
writing at the time, summarises the album as New and true and gay, and having the complete bag of [Disco/R&B] tricks. The influence of Chic is again noted in "A Lover's Holiday" which he describes as a Rodgers-&-Edwards rip. Christgau compares "The End" to the electronic music of good ole Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
.
The album's showcasing of Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
is highlighted in most reviews. Ed Hogan writing for Allmusic describes the "The Glow of Love" as a startling introduction to Vandross' dazzling singing style. Henderson remarks that the laid-back title song which Vandross sang on became a quiet storm favorite and demonstrates that not everything Change recorded was aimed at the dancefloor. Vandross had yet to secure a solo career in 1980, although many of the people who heard his performances on those two gems agreed that a solo career was inevitable.
Track listing
Personnel
- David Romani and Paolo Gianolo - Composing, Arrangement, Conductor
- David Romani and Mauro MalavasiMauro MalavasiMauro Malavasi is an Italian pianist, songwriter and producer.Malavasi had during the early 70s educated himself at the conservatory of Bologna, Italy in the composition, choir and orchestral disciplines. During those years he also developed his piano to become a masterful piano player...
- Composing, Arrangement ("The Glow of Love") - Mauro MalavasiMauro MalavasiMauro Malavasi is an Italian pianist, songwriter and producer.Malavasi had during the early 70s educated himself at the conservatory of Bologna, Italy in the composition, choir and orchestral disciplines. During those years he also developed his piano to become a masterful piano player...
- Composing, Arrangement ("Searching") - Wayne Garfield, Paul Slade, Tanyayette Willoughby - Lyrics
- Jacques Fred PetrusJacques Fred PetrusJacques Fred Petrus was a French-Italian businessman and a pioneer of Italian Disco music.-Early years:...
- Producer, Executive Producer (for Little Macho Music Co., Inc., New York) - Mauro MalavasiMauro MalavasiMauro Malavasi is an Italian pianist, songwriter and producer.Malavasi had during the early 70s educated himself at the conservatory of Bologna, Italy in the composition, choir and orchestral disciplines. During those years he also developed his piano to become a masterful piano player...
- Executive Producer (for Little Macho Music Co., Inc., New York) - All songs played by the Good Music Orchestra
- Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
- Lead Vocals ("The Glow of Love" and "Searching")
Recorded at Fontoprint Studios, Bolognia, Italy. All vocals recorded and mixed at Power Station Studios, New York City. "The Glow of Love" and "Searching" recorded and mixed at Media Sound Studios, New York City. Mastered at Sterling Sound Inc., New York City.
- Maurizio Biancani - Engineering (Fontoprint Studios)
- Bill Scheniman - Engineering (Power Station Studios)
- MHB - Engineering (Media Sound Studios)
- Ray Caviano and Bob Siegele - Album Coordination
- Greg Porto - Album Design and Illustration
- Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
and Jocelyn ShawJocelyn BrownJocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer...
- Many Thanks
Charts
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Pop Albums Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
29 |
| U.S. Billboard Black Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
10 |