Mr. C

by Norman Connors

Overview

Mr. C saw Norman Connors descend from chart action a little too soon, as it boasts a handful of cuts that should've performed well. Only "She's Gone," the leadoff number featuring Connors on vocals, registered on the black singles chart. Like the remainder of the record's first side, "She's Gone" sees Connors moving into synthesized sounds and rhythm programming -- if he hadn't lost the jazz purists through his jazz-funk and fusion cuts of the mid- to late '70s, they were surely completely gone after hearing this material. Suffice to say, this album has more in common with Cameo and D Train than Sam Rivers and John Coltrane. The first half is a straight-up party record, full of brisk arrangements and tugging melodic hooks. Despite the heavy use of electronics, this record employed another laundry list of guest musicians, including Marion Meadows, Pee Wee Ford, and Paulinho Da Costa. Most of these people are present on the album's second side, which moves back into the jazzy, smooth R&B favored by Connors on albums like This Is Your Life and Take It to the Limit. Lovers of both electrified and lush early-'80s R&B should not overlook this one. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	08/29/2025
Label:	Be With Records
UPC:	4251804184649

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Norman Connors   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Drums,Vocals,Conductor,Percussion
George Barrow   Flute
Mitch Holder   Guitar
Art Webb   Flute
Darlene Coleman   Vocals (Background)
Howard McQuary   Conductor,Keyboards
Kenny Hudson   Percussion
Seldon Powell   Flute
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Mortonette Jenkins   Vocals (Background)
Walt Johnson   Trumpet
Lisa Roberts   Vocals (Background)
Pee Wee Ford   Bass
George Dearing   Guitar
Charles Finley   Trumpet
Duke Jones   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Onaje Allan Gumbs   Synthesizer
Ben Barrett   Horn Conductor
Gary Grant   Trumpet
Phyllis Saint James   Vocals (Background)
Gary Herbig   Woodwind
Gary Coleman   Percussion
Garnett Brown   Trombone
Dean Gant   Keyboards
Marlo Henderson   Guitar
Ben Wright   Conductor
Victor Paz   Flugelhorn
William Green   Woodwind
William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr.   Trombone
Jean Carn   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Dennis Davis   Drums
Robin Eubanks   Trombone
Marion Meadows   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Nathan East   Bass
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler   Drums
Maxi Anderson   Vocals (Background)
McKinley Jackson   Conductor

Technical Credits

Norman Connors   Vocal Contractor,Vocal Arrangement,Arranger,Producer,Consultant,Vocal Producer
Zane Grey   Composer
Darroll Gustamachio   Engineer
Tom Cummings   Assistant Engineer
Howard McQuary   Arranger,Vocal Arrangement
P. Smith   Composer
Seldon Powell   Contractor
Chris Howard   Engineer
Jacques Burvick   Composer
Pete Cannarozzi   Synthesizer Programming
Sandy Torano   Composer
Starship Orchestra   Composer
Bob "Zyggy" Winnard   Assistant Engineer
Duke Jones   Horn Arrangements
Onaje Allan Gumbs   Horn Arrangements,Synthesizer Arrangements
Ben Barrett   Strings Contractor,Rhythm Coordination
Mallory Earl   Mixing,Engineer
Phyllis Saint James   Vocal Contractor,Vocal Arrangement
Ben Wright   Arranger
Jean Carn   Duet
Len Ron Hanks   Composer
Marion Meadows   Composer,Horn Arrangements
Nigel Martinez   Composer
McKinley Jackson   Arranger