From the Bottom Up

by Brownstone

Overview

The Los Angeles-based R&B vocal trio Brownstone released its first album From the Bottom Up (on Michael Jackson's label) in 1995. A solid debut, From the Bottom Up showcases the group's considerable vocal talents, but Brownstone is somewhat distinctive in that the group's members also had a hand in writing their own material. Predictably, the album's songs alternate between R&B funk workouts and slinky slow jams, but the vocals rise above the material, making the album a delightful listen. The opener, "Party Wit' Me," gets things off to a funky start, and the hip-shakers "Pass the Lovin'" and "True to Me" prove Brownstone, unlike many R&B vocal groups, doesn't rely too heavily on ballads. Fortunately, the album's slow numbers are just as strong as the more up-tempo material; the group's Gospel influences are evident in the album's hit single, "If You Love Me" (a slow-burning slice of R&B vocal heaven) and especially in the slow, sad "Don't Cry for Me." Brownstone's unlikely cover of the Eagles' hit ballad "I Can't Tell You Why" is one of the album's most successful tracks, as is the beautiful, piano-led "Half of You." From the Bottom Up is somewhat undermined by an overabundance of producers (of the album's 12 tunes, the group uses no less than ten producers/production teams). But this doesn't take away from the quality of the songs and the solid vocal performances. ~ William Cooper

Product Details

Release Date:	01/10/2025
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0196588794117

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Party Wit Me
2. Grapevyne
3. If You Love Me
4. Sometimes Dancin'
5. I Can't Tell You Why
6. Don't Cry For Me

Disc 2

7. Pass The Lovin'
8. Fruit Of Life
9. True To Me
10. Wipe It Up
11. Deeper Feelings (Ooh La La)
12. Half Of You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Brownstone   Primary Artist
Troy Taylor   Guest Artist,Bass,Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion
Keith Lewis   Keyboards
Shawn Lilly   Multi Instruments
P. Dennis Mitchell   Percussion
Torrel Ruffin   Guitar
Eduardo Rickets   Percussion
Ida Bodin   Bass,Standup Bass,Bass (Upright)
James Strong   Bass
Marlon McClain   Guitar
Nicci Gilbert   Percussion
Gordon Chambers   Piano,Vocals,Piano (Grand)

Technical Credits

Russell Elevado   Tracking,Engineer
Don Henley   Composer
Chad Fridirici   Engineer,Second Engineer
Jay Lean   Mixing,Engineer
John P. Strohm   Composer
Dennis Mitchell   Engineer
Jorge Corante   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming,Instrumentation,Assistant Engineer,Assistant Tracking Engineer
Karlin   Composer,Producer
Troy Taylor   Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Keith Lewis   Producer,Programming
John O'Brien   Composer
Lloyd James   Composer
Juliana Hatfield   Composer
Gerald Baillergeau   Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Shawn Lilly   Composer,Instrumentation
Danny Alonso   Second Engineer,Assistant Engineer
P. Dennis Mitchell   Engineer
Alan Yoshida   Mastering
Rob Paustian   Engineer,Tracking
Gabe Chiesa   Assistant Engineer
Doug Erb   Design
Soulshock   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Ken Kessie   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Charles Farrar   Producer
Mary Maurer   Art Direction
Charlie Watts   Mixing,Engineer
Jerry Greenberg   Mixing,Producer,Executive Producer
Ryan Arnold   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
Charmayne Maxwell   Composer,Lyricist
Warren Mantooth   Photography
Keston Wright   Engineer,Tracking
Ron Martin   Composer
Dave "Jam" Hall   Composer,Producer,Vocal Producer
Dewey Browder III   Composer,Producer,Instrumentation,Vocal Arrangement
Nicci Gilbert   Mixing,Writer,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Michael Vail Blum   Mixing
Michael Jackson   Executive Producer
Gordon Chambers   Writer,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Vocal Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Thom Russo   Mixing,Mixing Assistant
Timothy B. Schmit   Composer
Dave Way   Mixing
Brownstone   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Vocal Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Glenn Frey   Composer
Darin Whittington   Composer,Producer