Return

by The Winans

Overview

The frustrating truth about a lot of R&B and soul that's being made today is that everything tends to be so identi-kit that it's difficult to tell one label from another, one act from another. A soul act on Motown sounds like one on Epic sounds like one on Qwest -- all twinkling synthesizers, obnoxious drum machines doing the same programmed beats, all low smooth bass, all the same neatly arranged vocal harmonies. It's all very professional, all very formal, and one wonders, even with gospel acts like the Winans, whether there's any soul left after the gloss has leeched out the interesting wrinkles. It's a sad truth that most of the technology that's been developed since the introduction of MIDI has wound up backing up either R&B acts or new age performers. That major gripe aside, what about this new Winans album, Return? Well, it's a nice enough affair, despite the fact that they open the album with one of those mutant rap songs that's also meant to be a forceful number about it being time to stand up and be counted. After that it's a not-too-obnoxious mix of standard-sounding modern R&B and Isley-flavored ballads in which the floating harmonies of the Winans are a constant key. They're just about rough- edged enough still, and forceful enough, that the vocals carry through the synthesizer barrages. On the whole, though, the best numbers here are probably the ballads, such as "When You Cry" and "Together We Stand," in which a real human band interacts nicely with the voices. It's an interesting example, in fact, to listen to the juxtaposition of "Together We Stand" and the following track, "This Time It's Personal" -- the latter is a cool, ticking number that does a fair bit of bible-thumping, and has the voices buried under or fighting against a harsh backing track. It's a rather annoying example; the song itself isn't particularly inspiring, and the way in which the performances end up struggling against each other is something of an indictment of the technology in use. The same problem crops up with just about all the tracks produced with machinery -- the high end is harsh and brittle, and the rhythm arrangements, never mind anything else, are extremely irritating. Musically, trying to mix gospel with modern R&B is tricky at best, frustrating at worst, and the half-and-half mix here is truly annoying. One hopes that the next time will see the Winans taking their admittedly solid songs into the studio with altogether more flexible performers. Gospel is very much a music of the spirit, and there's very little spirit evident in most of the music on Return. ~ Steven McDonald

Product Details

Release Date:	04/12/1990
Label:	Qwest
UPC:	0075992616126

Tracks

1. It's Time
2. Everyday the Same
3. Don't Leave Me
4. A Friend
5. Gonna Be Alright
6. When You Cry
7. Together We Stand
8. This Time It's Personal
9. Free
10. Wherever I Go

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Winans   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Aaron Hall   Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Teddy Riley   Guest Artist,Rap
Kenny G   Guest Artist,Soloist,Saxophone
Stevie Wonder   Guest Artist,Vocals,Harmonica
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Michael Williams   Drums,Drums,Drums (Snare)
Carvin Winans   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Donnie Lyle   Guitar,Guitar (Baritone)
Dana Davis   Drums
Ben Keys   Synthesizer
David Ward II   Synthesizer
Valdez Brandley   Keyboards
Ronald Winans   Vocals
Ron Winans   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Valdez Brantley   Keyboards
Marvin Winans   Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Vernon D. Fails   Keyboards
Michael J. Powell   Drums,Guitar
Michael Winans   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Lanar Brantley   Bass,Keyboards

Technical Credits

Steve King   Engineer
Teddy Riley   Producer,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Musician
Bernard Belle   Composer,Producer
Bernie Grundman   Mastering
Barney Perkins   Mixing
Joan Armatrading   Composer
Gene Griffin   Mixing,Composer
Tammy Lucas   Composer,Lyricist
Carvin Winans   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Way   Mixing,Engineer
Harry Rushakoff   Composer
Barry Hankerson   Executive Producer
Luther Barnes   Composer
CeCe Winans   Composer
Ben Keys   Synthesizer Programming
Valdez Brandley   Arranger
Dave Gorton   Photography
Johnette Napolitano   Composer
John P. Kee   Composer
Jason Roberts   Engineer,Overdub Engineer
Ron Winans   Composer
Valdez Brantley   Arranger,Drum Programming,Rhythm Arrangements,Keyboard Programming
Marvin Winans   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Vernon D. Fails   Arranger,Rhythm Arrangements,String Arrangements
Michael J. Powell   Arranger,Producer,Rhythm Arrangements,String Arrangements
Michael Winans   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Mike Brown   Engineer,Overdub Engineer
Harry Nilsson   Composer
The Winans   Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Assistant Producer
Michael Brown   Overdub Engineer
Lanar Brantley   Composer,Rhythm Arrangements
Milton Chan   Assistant Engineer
Warren Woods   Engineer,Overdub Engineer
Mary Ann Dibs   Design,Art Direction
Barry Handerson   Engineer
Garzelle McMurray   Contractor,Assistant Producer,Production Assistant
Benny Medina   Engineer,Executive Producer
Leroy Hyter   Composer,Lyricist
Regina Winans   Composer
Gigi Weatherspoon   Production Assistant
Dave Ward   Synthesizer Programming
Brett Richardson   Assistant Engineer
Bernard Bell   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Jennifer Brantley   Composer
Vernon Fails   Arranger