Search - Deniece Williams :: Water Under the Bridge

Deniece Williams' 1987 release is a long forgotten gem and h

I Love Music Man | 05/02/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I literally found a copy of this album on cassette back in the '80's when the lead single "Never Say Never" and its video were in heavy rotation. I remember the late Jermaine Stewart sang background vocals on the track and appeared in the video. That would be the only single to make an impact on the music charts from the Columbia Records release Water Under The Bridge by Deniece Williams. I thought the album was great, showcasing strong emotive vocals on a variety of songs that could have been hits on the r&b, pop, adult contemporary and even gospel charts. I hadn't listened to the cassette in over a decade, but still remembered how much I enjoyed the album as a whole and vowed to one day find it on cd. Thanks again to CDNow, I've been able to add another classic release to my growing collection of rare '7o's and '80's original issue cds. Even though the album came out during a time when r&b music was in flux and heading toward the New Jack sound, Water Under The Bridge was firmly rooted in late '80's production values with a heavy synth line and percussion, but also with a strong horn and keyboard section, reminiscent of '70's soul music, which added depth and maturity to the project and a richer tone. Deniece Williams had enjoyed a successful career in the soul and adult contemporary genres (don't forget her smash hit duets with Johnny Mathis) since the early '70's with her crystal clear, uber soprano litle girl vocals. Starting out as a vocal ingenue and protegé of Maurice White of Earth Wind & Fire, Ms. Williams' talents led to world wide recognition and a taste of superstar success with the release of "Let's Hear It for the Boy" from the Footloose soundtrack in 1984. This cd still holds up well, and upon my first re-listening I was so glad I now had this title on cd. To hear Niecy execute the vocal acrobatics she is famous for, while maintaining a pure vocal quality with the appropriate passion, playfulness or prayerfulness in her voice is something rarely heard from by today's popular singers. Her voice really touches the listener with songs like "I Confess" (with shades of "Let's Hear It..."), the title track and "Not By Chance" (think "Black Butterfly" & "Silly" respectively), "I Believe In You" (inspiring gospel track), and "Baby This Is Love" (think slower tempo "When Love Comes Calling") along with the rest of the tracks. I highly recommend this cd to any Deniece Williams fan or anyone looking for a great '80's cd from a talented female vocalist."