You're the One for Me

by D Train

Overview

Some of the most memorable and fresh-sounding R&B of the early to mid-'80s came from D Train, a group that had one foot in soul music and the other in urban contemporary. Blessed with a big, booming voice, lead vocalist James "D-Train" Williams was, in many respects, the epitome of the classic soul belter. Williams, like so many of the great soulsters of the 1960s and 1970s, brought a strong gospel influence to secular lyrics and wasn't afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. But in terms of production, Williams' partner, Hubert Eaves III, was very urban contemporary. When Eaves produced the duo's self-titled debut album in 1981 and 1982, he made sure that his distinctive keyboards were quite prominent. Horns and strings are employed, but keyboards are really the main instrument on funk gems like "You're the One for Me" (a major hit), "Keep on," and "Love Vibration." And keyboards are equally important on the ballads, which include the Philadelphia soul-influenced "Lucky Day" and an inspired remake of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David favorite "Walk on By" (which had previously been recorded by Isaac Hayes, Dionne Warwick, and Gloria Gaynor). Many 1970s funk bands thought of horn sections as part of the main course and keyboards as a mere side dish -- on this superb LP, it's just the opposite. Not that Eaves was alone in pushing R&B in a more keyboards-minded direction; anyone who listened to urban radio in 1982 realized that R&B producers in general were using more and more keyboards and synthesizers. From Eaves' attractive production to Williams' inspired singing and the duo's first-rate songwriting, D Train is a stunning debut all around. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	10/11/1993
Label:	Unidisc
UPC:	0068381123725
Rank:	2532

Album Credits

Performance Credits

D Train   Primary Artist
Marilyn Wright   Strings
Billy Patterson   Guitar
Harry Zaratzian   Viola
Steve Kroon   Percussion
Jesse Levy   Cello
Gene Bianco   Harp
Hubert Eaves III   Keyboards,Percussion
Earl Gardner   Trumpet
Max Ellen   Strings
Paul Gershman   Strings
Theodore Israel   Viola
Seymour Barab   Cello
Regis Iandiorio   Strings
James "D-Train" Williams   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Butch Campbell   Guitar
Kamau Adilifu   Trumpet
Janice Robinson   Trombone
Eugene Ghee   Saxophone
Ed Tree Moore   Guitar
William Spaceman Paterson   Guitar
Howard King   Drums
Seymour Berman   Viola
Frank Williams   Trumpet
Julien Barber   Viola

Technical Credits

Herb Powers   Mastering
Sinclair Acey   Contractor,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
James Williams   Vocal Arrangement,Composer
Gene Bianco   String Contractor
Ben Wisch   Engineer
Jay Mark   Engineer
Hubert Eaves III   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Horn Arrangements,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements,String Arrangements,Keyboard Programming,Keyboard Arrangements
Johnny Potoker   Engineer
Hal David   Composer
James "D-Train" Williams   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Lisa Fischer   Vocal Arrangement
Mike Potash   Assistant Engineer
Francois Kevorkian   Mixing
Gerry Kuster   Production Coordination
Trudy Schlachter   Photography,Art Direction
Pete Diorio   Engineer